logo
Home/CWEs/CWE-766/

CWE-766 - Critical Data Element Declared Public

  • Abstraction:Base
  • Structure:Simple
  • Status:Incomplete
  • Release Date:2009-05-27
  • Latest Modification Date:2024-02-29

Weakness Name

Critical Data Element Declared Public

Description

The product declares a critical variable, field, or member to be public when intended security policy requires it to be private.

This issue makes it more difficult to maintain the product, which indirectly affects security by making it more difficult or time-consuming to find and/or fix vulnerabilities. It also might make it easier to introduce vulnerabilities.

Common Consequences

Scope: Integrity, Confidentiality

Impact: Read Application Data, Modify Application Data

Notes: Making a critical variable public allows anyone with access to the object in which the variable is contained to alter or read the value.

Scope: Other

Impact: Reduce Maintainability

Related Weaknesses

CWE-732Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical ResourceHigh

CWE-1061Insufficient Encapsulation