What is CWE-304?
The product implements an authentication technique, but it skips a step that weakens the technique.
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CWE-304: Missing Critical Step in Authentication
Data statistics
OWASP TOP 10:2025 RANK7 — A07:2025 — Authentication Failures
RELATED CVES (365 DAYS)12
ABSTRACTIONBase
Vulnerabilities mapped to CWE-304
12 vulnerabilities500% increase year over year
Vulnerabilities in CISA KEV for CWE-304
0 vulnerabilities
The product implements an authentication technique, but it skips a step that weakens the technique.
Authentication techniques should follow the algorithms that define them exactly, otherwise authentication can be bypassed or more easily subjected to brute force attacks.
Characteristics
Modes of introduction
- Implementation: REALIZATION: This weakness is caused during implementation of an architectural security tactic.
Common consequences
| Impact | Scope | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Bypass Protection Mechanism, Gain Privileges or Assume Identity, Read Application Data, Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands | Access Control, Integrity, Confidentiality | This weakness can lead to the exposure of resources or functionality to unintended actors, possibly providing attackers with sensitive information or allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code. |
Detection methods
| Method | Approach | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Automated Static Analysis | Automated static analysis, commonly referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST), can find some instances of this weakness by analyzing source code (or binary/compiled code) without having to execute it. Typically, this is done by building a model of data flow and control flow, then searching for potentially-vulnerable patterns that connect "sources" (origins of input) with "sinks" (destinations where the data interacts with external components, a lower layer such as the OS, etc.) | High |
Representative vulnerabilities
Below are representative vulnerabilities related to this CWE, prioritized by severity.
Sources (2)
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