CWE-228: Improper Handling of Syntactically Invalid Structure
The product does not handle or incorrectly handles input that is not syntactically well-formed with respect to the associated specification.
How it's found
Improper Handling of Syntactically Invalid Structure describes a general pattern rather than a single fixed bug. Testers use a mix of static analysis and manual code review to find where a target's code matches this pattern, then confirm exploitability by hand.
Consequences
- Unexpected State, DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart, DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU): If an input is syntactically invalid, then processing the input could place the system in an unexpected state that could lead to a crash, consume available system resources or other unintended behaviors.
Where this fits in a TurboPentest engagement
TurboPentest's agentic pentest is powerful and covers a broad range of issues automatically. This particular class is best confirmed in a manual IntegSec engagement, where human pentesters apply deeper methodology and a larger context window than any automated pass.
Frequently asked questions
What is CWE-228?
The product does not handle or incorrectly handles input that is not syntactically well-formed with respect to the associated specification.
How do you find Improper Handling of Syntactically Invalid Structure?
Improper Handling of Syntactically Invalid Structure describes a general pattern rather than a single fixed bug. Testers use a mix of static analysis and manual code review to find where a target's code matches this pattern, then confirm exploitability by hand.
What is the impact of CWE-228?
Unexpected State, DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart, DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU): If an input is syntactically invalid, then processing the input could place the system in an unexpected state that could lead to a crash, consume available system resources or other unintended behaviors.
Does TurboPentest test for Improper Handling of Syntactically Invalid Structure?
TurboPentest's agentic pentest is powerful and covers a broad range of issues automatically. This particular class is best confirmed in a manual IntegSec engagement, where human pentesters apply deeper methodology and a larger context window than any automated pass.
Related CWEs
- Pillar weaknessCWE-703: Improper Check or Handling of Exceptional Conditions
- Pillar weaknessCWE-707: Improper Neutralization
- Base weaknessCWE-203: Observable Discrepancy
- Base weaknessCWE-209: Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information
- Base weaknessCWE-252: Unchecked Return Value
- Base weaknessCWE-391: Unchecked Error Condition
About this reference
These security references are maintained by IntegSec, an offensive-security firm whose team holds CISSP, OSCP, and OSCE certifications and has run thousands of penetration tests. Content is kept current as tools, standards, and attack techniques evolve.
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