The product performs an operation that triggers an external diagnostic or error message that is not directly generated or controlled by the product, such as an error generated by the programming language interpreter that a software application uses. The error can contain sensitive system information.

How do you prevent CWE-211?

Configure the application's environment in a way that prevents errors from being generated. For example, in PHP, disable display_errors.

What are the consequences of CWE-211?

Exploiting CWE-211 can lead to: Read Application Data.

CWE-211: Externally-Generated Error Message Containing Sensitive Information

RadicalNotion.AI

Code examples

Illustrative examples from MITRE showing how the weakness appears in code.

The following servlet code does not catch runtime exceptions, meaning that if such an exception were to occur, the container may display potentially dangerous information (such as a full stack trace).

Vulnerable example

java

public void doPost(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException, IOException {

In the following Java example the class InputFileRead enables an input file to be read using a FileReader object. In the constructor of this class a default input file path is set to some directory on the local file system and the method setInputFile must be called to set the name of the input file to be read in the default directory. The method readInputFile will create the FileReader object and will read the contents of the file. If the method setInputFile is not called prior to calling the method readInputFile then the File object will remain null when initializing the FileReader object. A Java RuntimeException will be raised, and an error message will be output to the user.

Vulnerable example

java

public class InputFileRead {

However, the error message output to the user contains information regarding the default directory on the local file system. This information can be exploited and may lead to unauthorized access or use of the system. Any Java RuntimeExceptions that are handled should not expose sensitive information to the user.

CWE-211: Externally-Generated Error Message Containing Sensitive Information

Overview

Common consequences

How it happens

When it is introduced

Applies to

How to prevent it

Code examples

Illustrative examples

Terminology & mappings

Mapped taxonomies

Frequently asked questions

References

Stay ahead of CWE-211

Overview

Common consequences

How it happens

When it is introduced

Applies to

How to prevent it

Code examples

Illustrative examples

Related weaknesses

Parent

Child

Terminology & mappings

Mapped taxonomies

Frequently asked questions

References

Stay ahead of CWE-211