CWE Database
/

CWE-749

Back to CWE list

CWE-749

Exposed Dangerous Method or Function

Base
Incomplete

Description

The product provides an Applications Programming Interface (API) or similar interface for interaction with external actors, but the interface includes a dangerous method or function that is not properly restricted.

{"xhtml:p":["This weakness can lead to a wide variety of resultant weaknesses, depending on the behavior of the exposed method. It can apply to any number of technologies and approaches, such as ActiveX controls, Java functions, IOCTLs, and so on.","The exposure can occur in a few different ways:"],"xhtml:ul":[{"xhtml:li":["The function/method was never intended to be exposed to outside actors.","The function/method was only intended to be accessible to a limited set of actors, such as Internet-based access from a single web site."]}]}

Parent Weaknesses (ChildOf)

Common Consequences

Scope

Integrity
Confidentiality
Availability
Access Control
Other

Impact

Gain Privileges or Assume Identity, Read Application Data, Modify Application Data, Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands, Other

Potential Mitigations

Architecture and Design

If you must expose a method, make sure to perform input validation on all arguments, limit access to authorized parties, and protect against all possible vulnerabilities.

Architecture and Design
Implementation

Identify all exposed functionality. Explicitly list all functionality that must be exposed to some user or set of users. Identify which functionality may be: Ensure that the implemented code follows these expectations. This includes setting the appropriate access modifiers where applicable (public, private, protected, etc.) or not marking ActiveX controls safe-for-scripting. accessible to all users restricted to a small set of privileged users prevented from being directly accessible at all

CVE-2007-6382

arbitrary Java code execution via exposed method

CVE-2007-1112

security tool ActiveX control allows download or upload of files

Applicable Platforms

Not Language-Specific

Security Training

Train your team to recognize and prevent security threats with our comprehensive security awareness program.

Start Training

Vulnerability Scanning

Discover vulnerabilities in your applications and infrastructure before attackers do.

Scan Now