CWE-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel

What is CWE-288?

CWE-288 is Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel. The flaw arises when the product requires authentication, but the product has an alternate path or channel that does not require authentication. The database currently holds 186 vulnerabilities mapped to CWE-288 and 6 of them are in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Analyzing data...

OWASP TOP 10:2025 RANK7 — A07:2025 — Authentication Failures
Related CVES (365 days)186
AbstractionBase
Likelihood of exploit-

Vulnerabilities mapped to CWE-288

186 vulnerabilities210% increase year over year

Vulnerabilities in CISA KEV for CWE-288

6 vulnerabilitiesNo change year over year

Official definition

ByMitre CWE

The product requires authentication, but the product has an alternate path or channel that does not require authentication.

Characteristics

Modes of introduction

  • Architecture and Design: COMMISSION: This weakness refers to an incorrect design related to an architectural security tactic.
  • Architecture and Design: This is often seen in web applications that assume that access to a particular CGI program can only be obtained through a "front" screen, when the supporting programs are directly accessible. But this problem is not just in web apps.

Common consequences

ImpactScopeExplanation
Bypass Protection MechanismAccess Control-

Risk mitigations

  1. Architecture and DesignFunnel all access through a single choke point to simplify how users can access a resource. For every access, perform a check to determine if the user has permissions to access the resource.

Representative vulnerabilities

Below are representative vulnerabilities related to this CWE, prioritized by severity.

Sources (2)
MITRE CWE
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