CWE-285βImproper Authorization
PUBLISHEDweakness recordHigh
released 2006-07-19 Β· last modified 2026-04-30
Metadata
- CWE ID:
- CWE-285
- Abstraction:
- Class
- Structure:
- Simple
- Status:
- Draft
- Release Date:
- 2006-07-19
- Latest Modification Date:
- 2026-04-30
Weakness Name
Improper Authorization
Description
The product does not perform or incorrectly performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action.
Common Consequences
- Scope:
- Confidentiality
- Impact:
- Read Application Data, Read Files or Directories
- Notes:
- An attacker could read sensitive data, either by reading the data directly from a data store that is not properly restricted, or by accessing insufficiently-protected, privileged functionality to read the data.
- Scope:
- Integrity
- Impact:
- Modify Application Data, Modify Files or Directories
- Notes:
- An attacker could modify sensitive data, either by writing the data directly to a data store that is not properly restricted, or by accessing insufficiently-protected, privileged functionality to write the data.
- Scope:
- Access Control
- Impact:
- Gain Privileges or Assume Identity, Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
- Notes:
- When access control checks are not applied consistently - or not at all - an attacker could gain privileges and execute unauthorized code or commands by modifying or reading critical data directly, or by accessing insufficiently-protected, privileged functionality.
