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CWE WEAKNESSES  /  CWE-459

CWE-459

Incomplete Cleanup

Base

What it is

The product does not properly "clean up" and remove temporary or supporting resources after they have been used.

Impact

Other, Confidentiality, IntegrityOther, Read Application Data, Modify Application Data, DoS: Resource Consumption (Other)

Mitigations

  • [Architecture and Design, Implementation] Temporary files and other supporting resources should be deleted/released immediately after they are no longer needed.

Real-world CVE examples

  • CVE-2000-0552 — World-readable temporary file not deleted after use.
  • CVE-2005-2293 — Temporary file not deleted after use, leaking database usernames and passwords.
  • CVE-2002-0788 — Interaction error creates a temporary file that can not be deleted due to strong permissions.
  • CVE-2002-2066 — Alternate data streams for NTFS files are not cleared when files are wiped (alternate channel / infoleak).
  • CVE-2002-2067 — Alternate data streams for NTFS files are not cleared when files are wiped (alternate channel / infoleak).
  • CVE-2002-2068 — Alternate data streams for NTFS files are not cleared when files are wiped (alternate channel / infoleak).
  • CVE-2002-2069 — Alternate data streams for NTFS files are not cleared when files are wiped (alternate channel / infoleak).
  • CVE-2002-2070 — Alternate data streams for NTFS files are not cleared when files are wiped (alternate channel / infoleak).
  • CVE-2005-1744 — Users not logged out when application is restarted after security-relevant changes were made.

Related weaknesses

Test & detect

Browse all common weaknesses, check related exploited CVEs, or map to ATT&CK techniques.

Source: MITRE CWE. View on cwe.mitre.org →

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