CWEweakness

CWE-312 Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information

Official page ↗
Abstraction
Base
Structure
Simple
Status
Draft
Languages
Go, Not Language-Specific
CWE version
5.0

Description

The product stores sensitive information in cleartext within a resource that might be accessible to another control sphere.

Common consequences

• Confidentiality: Read Application Data — An attacker with access to the system could read sensitive information stored in cleartext (i.e., unencrypted). Even if the information is encoded in a way that is not human-readable, certain techniques could determine which encoding is being used, then decode the information.

Potential mitigations

• [Implementation, System Configuration, Operation] When storing data in the cloud (e.g., S3 buckets, Azure blobs, Google Cloud Storage, etc.), use the provider's controls to encrypt the data at rest. [REF-1297] [REF-1299] [REF-1301] • [Implementation, System Configuration, Operation] In some systems/environments such as cloud, the use of "double encryption" (at both the software and hardware layer) might be required, and the developer might be solely responsible for both layers, instead of shared responsibility with the administrator of the broader system/environment.

Detection methods

• Automated Static Analysis: Automated static analysis, commonly referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST), can find some instances of this weakness by analyzing source code (or binary/compiled code) without having to execute it. Typically, this is done by building a model of data flow and control flow, then searching for potentially-vulnerable patterns that connect "sources" (origins of input) with "sinks" (destinations where the data interacts with external components, a lower layer such as the OS, etc.)

Observed examples

• CVE-2022-26390: wireless battery product stores credentials and Personal Health Information (PHI) without encryption • CVE-2022-30275: Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) uses a driver that relies on a password stored in plaintext. • CVE-2009-2272: password and username stored in cleartext in a cookie • CVE-2009-1466: password stored in cleartext in a file with insecure permissions • CVE-2009-0152: chat program disables SSL in some circumstances even when the user says to use SSL. • CVE-2009-1603: Chain: product uses an incorrect public exponent when generating an RSA key, which effectively disables the encryption • CVE-2009-0964: storage of unencrypted passwords in a database • CVE-2008-6157: storage of unencrypted passwords in a database • CVE-2008-6828: product stores a password in cleartext in memory • CVE-2008-1567: storage of a secret key in cleartext in a temporary file • CVE-2008-0174: SCADA product uses HTTP Basic Authentication, which is not encrypted • CVE-2007-5778: login credentials stored unencrypted in a registry key • CVE-2001-1481: Cleartext credentials in world-readable file. • CVE-2005-1828: Password in cleartext in config file. • CVE-2005-2209: Password in cleartext in config file. • CVE-2002-1696: Decrypted copy of a message written to disk given a combination of options and when user replies to an encrypted message. • CVE-2004-2397: Cleartext storage of private key and passphrase in log file when user imports the key. • CVE-2002-1800: Admin password in cleartext in a cookie. • CVE-2001-1537: Default configuration has cleartext usernames/passwords in cookie. • CVE-2001-1536: Usernames/passwords in cleartext in cookies. • CVE-2005-2160: Authentication information stored in cleartext in a cookie.

Related

Attack pattern · CAPEC (1)

  • CAPEC-37 Retrieve Embedded Sensitive Data attack pattern

Observed example · CVE (21)

  • CVE-2022-26390 The Baxter Spectrum Wireless Battery Module (WBM) stores network credentials and PHI (only applicable to Spectrum IQ pumps using auto… vulnerability
  • CVE-2022-30275 The Motorola MOSCAD Toolbox software through 2022-05-02 relies on a cleartext password. vulnerability
  • CVE-2009-2272 The Huawei D100 stores the administrator's account name and password in cleartext in a cookie, which allows context-dependent attackers to… vulnerability
  • CVE-2008-6828 Symantec Altiris Deployment Solution 6.x before 6.9.355 SP1 stores the Application Identity Account password in memory in cleartext, which… vulnerability
  • CVE-2009-1466 Application Access Server (A-A-S) 2.0.48 stores (1) passwords and (2) the port keyword in cleartext in aas.ini, which allows local users to… vulnerability
  • CVE-2009-0152 iChat in Apple Mac OS X 10.5 before 10.5.7 disables SSL for AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) communication in certain circumstances that are… vulnerability
  • CVE-2009-1603 src/tools/pkcs11-tool.c in pkcs11-tool in OpenSC 0.11.7, when used with unspecified third-party PKCS#11 modules, generates RSA keys with… vulnerability
  • CVE-2009-0964 UserView_list.php in PHPRunner 4.2, and possibly earlier, stores passwords in cleartext in the database, which allows attackers to gain… vulnerability
  • CVE-2008-6157 SepCity Classified Ads stores the admin password in cleartext in data/classifieds.mdb, which allows context-dependent attackers to obtain… vulnerability
  • CVE-2008-1567 phpMyAdmin before 2.11.5.1 stores the MySQL (1) username and (2) password, and the (3) Blowfish secret key, in cleartext in a Session file… vulnerability
  • CVE-2008-0174 GE Fanuc Proficy Real-Time Information Portal 2.6 and earlier uses HTTP Basic Authentication, which transmits usernames and passwords in… vulnerability
  • CVE-2007-5778 Mobile Spy (1) stores login credentials in cleartext under the RetinaxStudios registry key, and (2) sends login credentials and log data… vulnerability
  • CVE-2005-2209 Capturix ScanShare 1.06 build 50 stores sensitive information such as the password in cleartext in capturixss_cfg.ini, which is readable by… vulnerability
  • CVE-2005-2160 IMail stores usernames and passwords in cleartext in a cookie, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information. vulnerability
  • CVE-2005-1828 D-Link DSL-504T stores usernames and passwords in cleartext in the router configuration file, which allows remote attackers to obtain… vulnerability
  • CVE-2004-2397 The web-based Management Console in Blue Coat Security Gateway OS 3.0 through 3.1.3.13 and 3.2.1, when importing a private key, stores the… vulnerability
  • CVE-2002-1696 Microsoft Outlook plug-in PGP version 7.0, 7.0.3, and 7.0.4 silently saves a decrypted copy of a message to hard disk when "Automatically… vulnerability
  • CVE-2002-1800 phpRank 1.8 stores the administrative password in plaintext on the server and in the "ap" cookie, which allows remote attackers to retrieve… vulnerability
  • CVE-2001-1481 Xitami 2.4 through 2.5 b4 stores the Administrator password in plaintext in the default.aut file, whose default permissions are… vulnerability
  • CVE-2001-1536 Autogalaxy stores usernames and passwords in cleartext in cookies, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain authentication… vulnerability
  • CVE-2001-1537 The default "basic" security setting' in config.php for TWIG webmail 2.7.4 and earlier stores cleartext usernames and passwords in cookies,… vulnerability

Child of · CWE (2)

  • CWE-311 Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data weakness
  • CWE-922 Insecure Storage of Sensitive Information weakness

Referenced by CAPEC · weakness (1)

  • CAPEC-37 Retrieve Embedded Sensitive Data attack pattern

Referenced by CVE · weakness (894)

  • CVE-2026-110200 IBM Langflow OSS 1.0.0 through 1.12.4 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to obtain sensitive information due to cleartext storage… vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-116691 MLflow is an open source AI engineering platform for agents, large language models, and machine learning models. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-77054 boneIO Black stores passwords, including the MQTT broker and web panel passwords, in cleartext. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-114223 NT OneAPP developed by NewType Infortech has an Exposure of Sensitive Information vulnerability. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-115400 crawlseo before version 0.2.5 contains a cleartext storage vulnerability that allows attackers with database read access to obtain Google… vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-96293 A cleartext storage of sensitive information vulnerability in WatchGuard Endpoint Security's Full Disk Encryption feature for macOS allows… vulnerability
  • CVE-2025-7203 The Management Console and product files expose sensitive data, including remote log server credentials, truststore passwords, and keystore… vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-111993 A flaw has been found in Soarkey StudentManagement up to e08f7f1d5015af407aa4cca0ada3dea189b4937e. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-105271 "ゲオアプリ" provided by GEO CORPORATION contains an issue with cleartext storage of sensitive information, which may allow an attacker to… vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-19864 Eclipse Jetty's `SessionAuthentication` retains authentication credentials in a serializable object. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-77564 Talos Linux is a Linux distribution built for Kubernetes deployments. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-102539 Super Productivity is an advanced todo list app with integrated timeboxing and time tracking capabilities. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-109426 Telegram-Stremio through 5.1.0 contains an insecure storage vulnerability that allows attackers with access to the MongoDB database,… vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-108728 Flyte 2.0.1 through 2.0.51 contains a cleartext secret storage vulnerability that allows users with Pod read access to obtain secrets by… vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-107807 Nginx UI is a web user interface for the Nginx web server. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-107857 Mindwtr is a free offline-first task management application for desktop and mobile. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-62376 Vikunja is an open-source self-hosted task management platform. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-102368 Affected Tapo device firmware stores device-specific cryptographic material in plaintext within nonvolatile storage. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-103096 API key is hardcoded and retrievable from the application package. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-103097 An API key is hardcoded and retrievable from the application package. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-100288 Cleartext storage of sensitive information in the database in Devolutions Server 2026.3.5.0 and earlier allows an attacker with read access… vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-100862 heym, a workflow automation platform, stores and returns multiple capability secrets in plaintext in versions prior to 0.0.91. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-100581 OpenClaw for iOS before 2026.8.11 stores Gateway credentials as cleartext JSON in App Group UserDefaults instead of the device Keychain. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-63207 Zammad is a web based open source helpdesk/customer support system. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-67236 RabbitMQ is a messaging and streaming broker. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-67221 RabbitMQ is a messaging and streaming broker. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-96549 A vulnerability has been found in sfturing hosp_order up to 627f426331da8086ce8fff2017d65b1ddef384f8. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-77250 MCP Atlassian is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Atlassian products (Confluence and Jira). vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-63406 AnyCable is a realtime server for reliable two-way communication that supports any backend. vulnerability
  • CVE-2026-81321 CM2507 IP cameras store configured wireless network credentials in cleartext within the device filesystem. vulnerability
Show all 894 ›

Referenced by CWE · child of (7)

  • CWE-313 Cleartext Storage in a File or on Disk weakness
  • CWE-314 Cleartext Storage in the Registry weakness
  • CWE-315 Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in a Cookie weakness
  • CWE-316 Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in Memory weakness
  • CWE-317 Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in GUI weakness
  • CWE-318 Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in Executable weakness
  • CWE-526 Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in an Environment Variable weakness

Referenced by CWE · has member (2)

  • CWE-1468 Weaknesses Addressed by the OWASP Golang Secure Coding Practices Guide view
  • CWE-884 CWE Cross-section view

Referenced by OWASP · mapped cwe (2)