CWE-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File

What is CWE-532?

CWE-532 is Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File. The flaw arises when the product writes sensitive information to a log file. The database currently holds 242 vulnerabilities mapped to CWE-532 and none of them are in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

OWASP TOP 10:2025 RANK9 — A09:2025 — Security Logging & Alerting Failures
Related CVES (365 days)242
AbstractionBase
Likelihood of exploitMedium

Vulnerabilities mapped to CWE-532

242 vulnerabilities218% increase year over year

No data

No vulnerability data in CISA KEV for CWE-532

Official definition

ByMitre CWE

The product writes sensitive information to a log file.

Characteristics

Modes of introduction

  • Architecture and Design: COMMISSION: This weakness refers to an incorrect design related to an architectural security tactic.
  • Implementation
  • Operation

Common consequences

ImpactScopeExplanation
Read Application DataConfidentialityLogging sensitive user data, full path names, or system information often provides attackers with an additional, less-protected path to acquiring the information.

Risk mitigations

  1. Architecture and Design, ImplementationConsider seriously the sensitivity of the information written into log files. Do not write secrets into the log files.
  2. DistributionRemove debug log files before deploying the application into production.
  3. OperationProtect log files against unauthorized read/write.
  4. ImplementationAdjust configurations appropriately when software is transitioned from a debug state to production.

Detection methods

MethodApproachEffectiveness
Automated Static AnalysisAutomated 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)
MITRE CWE
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