Missing Initialization
Weakness ID: 456 (Weakness Base)Status: Draft
+ Description

Description Summary

The software does not initialize critical variables, which causes the execution environment to use unexpected values.
+ Time of Introduction
  • Implementation
+ Applicable Platforms

Languages

All

+ Demonstrative Examples

Example 1

Here, an uninitialized field in a Java class is used in a seldom-called method, which would cause a NullPointerException to be thrown.

(Bad Code)
Example Language: Java 
private User user;
public void someMethod() {
// Do something interesting.
...

// Throws NPE if user hasn't been properly initialized.
String username = user.getName();
}
+ Observed Examples
ReferenceDescription
CVE-2005-2978Product uses uninitialized variables for size and index, leading to resultant buffer overflow.
CVE-2005-2109Internal variable in PHP application is not initialized, allowing external modification.
CVE-2005-2193Array variable not initialized in PHP application, leading to resultant SQL injection.
+ Potential Mitigations

Check that critical variables are initialized.

Use a static analysis tool to spot non-initialized variables.

+ Other Notes

This weakness is a major factor in a number of resultant weaknesses, especially in web applications that allow global variable initialization (such as PHP) with libraries that can be directly requested.

+ Relationships
NatureTypeIDNameView(s) this relationship pertains toView(s)
ChildOfCategoryCategory452Initialization and Cleanup Errors
Development Concepts (primary)699
ChildOfWeakness BaseWeakness Base665Improper Initialization
Research Concepts (primary)1000
ChildOfCategoryCategory8082010 Top 25 - Weaknesses On the Cusp
Weaknesses in the 2010 CWE/SANS Top 25 Most Dangerous Programming Errors (primary)800
CanPrecedeWeakness BaseWeakness Base89Improper Sanitization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
Research Concepts1000
CanPrecedeWeakness BaseWeakness Base98Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program ('PHP File Inclusion')
Research Concepts1000
CanPrecedeWeakness BaseWeakness Base120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
Research Concepts1000
ParentOfWeakness VariantWeakness Variant457Use of Uninitialized Variable
Development Concepts (primary)699
Research Concepts (primary)1000
CanAlsoBeWeakness BaseWeakness Base454External Initialization of Trusted Variables or Data Stores
Research Concepts1000
+ Research Gaps

It is highly likely that a large number of resultant weaknesses have missing initialization as a primary factor, but researcher reports generally do not provide this level of detail.

+ Taxonomy Mappings
Mapped Taxonomy NameNode IDFitMapped Node Name
PLOVERMissing Initialization
+ Content History
Submissions
Submission DateSubmitterOrganizationSource
PLOVERExternally Mined
Modifications
Modification DateModifierOrganizationSource
2008-07-01Sean EidemillerCigitalExternal
added/updated demonstrative examples
2008-07-01Eric DalciCigitalExternal
updated Potential Mitigations, Time of Introduction
2008-09-08CWE Content TeamMITREInternal
updated Relationships, Other Notes, Taxonomy Mappings
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