CWE-909—Missing Initialization of Resource

Weakness Name

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.

Common Consequences

Scope:

Confidentiality

Impact:

Read Memory, Read Application Data

Notes:

When reusing a resource such as memory or a program variable, the original contents of that resource may not be cleared before it is sent to an untrusted party.

Scope:

Availability

Impact:

DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart

Notes:

The uninitialized resource may contain values that cause program flow to change in ways that the programmer did not intend.

Related Weaknesses

• CWE-665Improper InitializationMedium
• CWE-908Use of Uninitialized ResourceMedium