What is CWE-321?
The product uses a hard-coded, unchangeable cryptographic key.
Analyzing data...
CWE-321: Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key
Data statistics
OWASP TOP 10:2025 RANK4 — A04:2025 — Cryptographic Failures
RELATED CVES (365 DAYS)84
ABSTRACTIONVariant
LIKELIHOOD OF EXPLOITHigh
Vulnerabilities mapped to CWE-321
84 vulnerabilities366.7% increase year over year
Vulnerabilities in CISA KEV for CWE-321
0 vulnerabilities
The product uses a hard-coded, unchangeable cryptographic key.
Characteristics
Modes of introduction
- Architecture and Design: 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 | 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. |
Risk mitigations
- Architecture and DesignPrevention schemes mirror that of hard-coded password storage.
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.
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