CWE-909
Missing Initialization of Resource
Description
The product does not initialize a critical resource.
Many resources require initialization before they can be properly used. If a resource is not initialized, it could contain unpredictable or expired data, or it could be initialized to defaults that are invalid. This can have security implications when the resource is expected to have certain properties or values.
Parent Weaknesses (ChildOf)
Related Weaknesses
Common Consequences
Scope
Impact
Read Memory, Read Application Data
Scope
Impact
DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
Potential Mitigations
Explicitly initialize the resource before use. If this is performed through an API function or standard procedure, follow all specified steps.
Pay close attention to complex conditionals that affect initialization, since some branches might not perform the initialization.
Avoid race conditions (CWE-362) during initialization routines.
Run or compile your product with settings that generate warnings about uninitialized variables or data.
CVE-2020-20739A variable that has its value set in a conditional statement is sometimes used when the conditional fails, sometimes causing data leakage
CVE-2005-1036Chain: Bypass of access restrictions due to improper authorization (CWE-862) of a user results from an improperly initialized (CWE-909) I/O permission bitmap
Applicable Platforms
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