CWE Database
/

CWE-841

Back to CWE list

CWE-841

Improper Enforcement of Behavioral Workflow

Class
Incomplete

Description

The product supports a session in which more than one behavior must be performed by an actor, but it does not properly ensure that the actor performs the behaviors in the required sequence.

{"xhtml:p":["By performing actions in an unexpected order, or by omitting steps, an attacker could manipulate the business logic of the product or cause it to enter an invalid state. In some cases, this can also expose resultant weaknesses.","For example, a file-sharing protocol might require that an actor perform separate steps to provide a username, then a password, before being able to transfer files. If the file-sharing server accepts a password command followed by a transfer command, without any username being provided, the product might still perform the transfer.","Note that this is different than CWE-696, which focuses on when the product performs actions in the wrong sequence; this entry is closely related, but it is focused on ensuring that the actor performs actions in the correct sequence.","Workflow-related behaviors include:"],"xhtml:ul":[{"xhtml:li":["Steps are performed in the expected order.","Required steps are not omitted.","Steps are not interrupted.","Steps are performed in a timely fashion."]}]}

Common Consequences

Scope

Other

Impact

Alter Execution Logic

CVE-2011-0348

Bypass of access/billing restrictions by sending traffic to an unrestricted destination before sending to a restricted destination.

CVE-2007-3012

Attacker can access portions of a restricted page by canceling out of a dialog.

CVE-2009-5056

Ticket-tracking system does not enforce a permission setting.

CVE-2004-2164

Shopping cart does not close a database connection when user restores a previous order, leading to connection exhaustion.

CVE-2003-0777

Chain: product does not properly handle dropped connections, leading to missing NULL terminator (CWE-170) and segmentation fault.

CVE-2005-3327

Chain: Authentication bypass by skipping the first startup step as required by the protocol.

CVE-2004-0829

Chain: File server crashes when sent a "find next" request without an initial "find first."

CVE-2010-2620

FTP server allows remote attackers to bypass authentication by sending (1) LIST, (2) RETR, (3) STOR, or other commands without performing the required login steps first.

CVE-2005-3296

FTP server allows remote attackers to list arbitrary directories as root by running the LIST command before logging in.

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