CWE Top 25 for 2024

The CWE Top 25 for 2024 highlights the most critical software vulnerabilities, offering a roadmap for improving security in software development. Created based on high-severity vulnerability reports from mid-2023 to mid-2024, this list serves as a vital resource for identifying and addressing common weaknesses. The following summary outlines key findings, the methodology behind the rankings, and actionable recommendations for reducing security risks.

What is CWE Top 25?

• A list of the most dangerous software weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities.
• Created based on reports of high-severity vulnerabilities from mid-2023 to mid-2024.

CWE vs. CVE

• CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration): Describes potential flaws in software or hardware that could result in vulnerabilities.
• CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures): Catalogs known vulnerabilities in specific products.

Top 10 Weaknesses in CWE Top 25 (2024)

1. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) (CWE-79, Score: 56.92): Allows attackers to execute malicious scripts in users’ browsers. Types: Reflected, Stored, DOM-based.
2. Out-of-Bounds Write (Buffer Overflow) (CWE-787, Score: 45.20): Permits code to access unintended memory locations.
3. SQL Injection (CWE-89, Score: 35.88): Enables unauthorized execution of database commands.
4. Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) (CWE-352, Score: 19.57): Forces users to execute unwanted actions on authenticated web applications.
5. Path Traversal (CWE-22, Score: 12.74): Exploits directory traversal to access restricted files.
6. Out-of-Bounds Read (CWE-125, Score: 11.42): Allows access to unintended memory for reading.
7. OS Command Injection (CWE-78, Score: 11.30): Injects and executes unauthorized operating system commands.
8. Use After Free (CWE-416, Score: 10.19): Accesses memory after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior.
9. Missing Authorization (CWE-862, Score: 10.11): Lack of checks to ensure users have proper permissions.
10. Unrestricted Upload of Dangerous File Types (CWE-434, Score: 10.03): Allows upload of malicious files without proper validation.

Key Findings

• Memory management vulnerabilities and input handling flaws dominate the list.
• Four of the top five issues are specific to web applications, emphasizing the risks in web security.
• A new entry in the top 10 is Missing Authorization (CWE-862), replacing Improper Input Validation, which dropped to 12th place.

How Are CWE Top 25 Scores Calculated?

• Source Data: Derived from CVE reports during the analysis period.

• Scoring: Combines vulnerability frequency with the average CVSS score (Common Vulnerability Scoring System).

• Methodology Change (2024): Focused on individual weaknesses in attack chains rather than aggregated weaknesses.

CWE Top 25 vs. OWASP Top 10

• CWE Top 25: Covers all types of software vulnerabilities and ranks individual weaknesses based on severity and frequency.

• OWASP Top 10: Focuses exclusively on web applications and groups weaknesses into broader categories.

Main Vulnerability Categories

• Untrusted Input Handling (11 CWE, 60% of total score): Includes SQL Injection, file uploads, and deserialization risks.

• Memory Management Errors (6 CWE, 26% of total score): Typically found in C/C++ programs, leading to critical issues like remote code execution.

• Access Control Issues (8 CWE, 14% of total score): Includes authentication and authorization errors, as well as data leaks.

Practical Applications of CWE Top 25

Serves as a guide for prioritizing developer training and security testing.

Recommendations for addressing the three main vulnerability categories:

• Input Validation: Treat all inputs as untrusted. Validate files, database queries, and local resources. Application and API scanners can be used to detect vulnerabilities. For example, Invicti (formerly Netsparker) and Acunetix web security solutions.

• Memory Safety: Focus on secure memory management in C/C++ programs, especially for embedded systems and network devices.

• Access Control: Design systems with detailed access control mechanisms, including authentication and authorization for all access points.

The CWE Top 25 for 2024 emphasizes long-standing security flaws that continue to pose significant risks. Addressing vulnerabilities in input handling, memory management, and access control can greatly reduce the likelihood of severe security incidents. By leveraging the CWE Top 25, organizations can improve software security and protect against common threats with relatively small but targeted efforts.