Description
The product does not properly handle when the same input uses several different (mixed) encodings.
Potential Impact
Integrity
Unexpected State
Mitigations & Prevention
Avoid making decisions based on names of resources (e.g. files) if those resources can have alternate names.
Assume all input is malicious. Use an "accept known good" input validation strategy, i.e., use a list of acceptable inputs that strictly conform to specifications. Reject any input that does not strictly conform to specifications, or transform it into something that does. When performing input validation, consider all potentially relevant properties, including length, type of input, the full range of acceptable values, missing or extra inputs, syntax, consistency across relat
Use and specify an output encoding that can be handled by the downstream component that is reading the output. Common encodings include ISO-8859-1, UTF-7, and UTF-8. When an encoding is not specified, a downstream component may choose a different encoding, either by assuming a default encoding or automatically inferring which encoding is being used, which can be erroneous. When the encodings are inconsistent, the downstream component might treat some character or byte sequences as special, even
Inputs should be decoded and canonicalized to the application's current internal representation before being validated (CWE-180). Make sure that the application does not decode the same input twice (CWE-174). Such errors could be used to bypass allowlist validation schemes by introducing dangerous inputs after they have been checked.
Related Weaknesses
Taxonomy Mappings
- PLOVER: — Mixed Encoding
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CWE-175?
CWE-175 (Improper Handling of Mixed Encoding) is a software weakness identified by MITRE's Common Weakness Enumeration. It is classified as a Variant-level weakness. The product does not properly handle when the same input uses several different (mixed) encodings.
How can CWE-175 be exploited?
Attackers can exploit CWE-175 (Improper Handling of Mixed Encoding) to unexpected state. This weakness is typically introduced during the Implementation phase of software development.
How do I prevent CWE-175?
Key mitigations include: Avoid making decisions based on names of resources (e.g. files) if those resources can have alternate names.
What is the severity of CWE-175?
CWE-175 is classified as a Variant-level weakness (Low-Medium abstraction). Its actual severity depends on the specific context and how the weakness manifests in your application.