CWE-321 is Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key. The flaw arises when the product uses a hard-coded, unchangeable cryptographic key. The database currently holds 132 vulnerabilities mapped to CWE-321 and none of them are in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
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No vulnerability data in CISA KEV for CWE-321
The product uses a hard-coded, unchangeable cryptographic key.
| Impact | Scope | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Bypass Protection Mechanism, Gain Privileges or Assume Identity, Read Application Data | Access Control | If hard-coded cryptographic keys are used, it is almost certain that malicious users will gain access through the account in question. The use of a hard-coded cryptographic key significantly increases the possibility that encrypted data may be recovered. |
| 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 |
Below are representative vulnerabilities related to this CWE, prioritized by severity.
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