Base · Medium

CWE-115: Misinterpretation of Input

The product misinterprets an input, whether from an attacker or another product, in a security-relevant fashion.

CWE-115 · Base Level ·2 CVEs

Description

The product misinterprets an input, whether from an attacker or another product, in a security-relevant fashion.

Potential Impact

Integrity

Unexpected State

Detection Methods

  • Fuzzing High — Fuzz testing (fuzzing) is a powerful technique for generating large numbers of diverse inputs - either randomly or algorithmically - and dynamically invoking the code with those inputs. Even with random inputs, it is often capable of generating unexpected results such as crashes, memory corruption,

Real-World CVE Examples

CVE IDDescription
CVE-2005-2225Product sees dangerous file extension in free text of a group discussion, disconnects all users.
CVE-2001-0003Product does not correctly import and process security settings from another product.

Taxonomy Mappings

  • PLOVER: — Misinterpretation Error

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CWE-115?

CWE-115 (Misinterpretation of Input) is a software weakness identified by MITRE's Common Weakness Enumeration. It is classified as a Base-level weakness. The product misinterprets an input, whether from an attacker or another product, in a security-relevant fashion.

How can CWE-115 be exploited?

Attackers can exploit CWE-115 (Misinterpretation of Input) to unexpected state. This weakness is typically introduced during the Architecture and Design, Implementation phase of software development.

How do I prevent CWE-115?

Follow secure coding practices, conduct code reviews, and use automated security testing tools (SAST/DAST) to detect this weakness early in the development lifecycle.

What is the severity of CWE-115?

CWE-115 is classified as a Base-level weakness (Medium abstraction). It has been observed in 2 real-world CVEs.