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CWE-483

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CWE-483

Incorrect Block Delimitation

Base
Draft

Description

The code does not explicitly delimit a block that is intended to contain 2 or more statements, creating a logic error.

In some languages, braces (or other delimiters) are optional for blocks. When the delimiter is omitted, it is possible to insert a logic error in which a statement is thought to be in a block but is not. In some cases, the logic error can have security implications.

Common Consequences

Scope

Confidentiality
Integrity
Availability

Impact

Alter Execution Logic

Potential Mitigations

Implementation

Always use explicit block delimitation and use static-analysis technologies to enforce this practice.

CVE-2014-1266

Chain: incorrect "goto" in Apple SSL product bypasses certificate validation, allowing Adversary-in-the-Middle (AITM) attack (Apple "goto fail" bug). CWE-705 (Incorrect Control Flow Scoping) -> CWE-561 (Dead Code) -> CWE-295 (Improper Certificate Validation) -> CWE-393 (Return of Wrong Status Code) -> CWE-300 (Channel Accessible by Non-Endpoint). The code's whitespace indentation did not reflect the actual control flow (CWE-1114) and did not explicitly delimit the block (CWE-483), which could have made it more difficult for human code auditors to detect the vulnerability.

Applicable Platforms

C
C++

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