CWE-298: Improper Validation of Certificate Expiration
A certificate expiration is not validated or is incorrectly validated.
How it's found
Improper Validation of Certificate Expiration is a specific, narrowly defined instance of a broader pattern. Testers confirm it with targeted code review and a proof-of-concept input that exercises the exact code path this weakness describes.
Consequences
- Other: The data read from the system vouched for by the expired certificate may be flawed due to malicious spoofing.
- Other: Trust may be assigned to certificates that have been abandoned due to age.
Mitigations
- Architecture and Design: Check for expired certificates and provide the user with adequate information about the nature of the problem and how to proceed.
- Implementation: If certificate pinning is being used, ensure that all relevant properties of the certificate are fully validated before the certificate is pinned, including the expiration.
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-298?
A certificate expiration is not validated or is incorrectly validated.
How do you find Improper Validation of Certificate Expiration?
Improper Validation of Certificate Expiration is a specific, narrowly defined instance of a broader pattern. Testers confirm it with targeted code review and a proof-of-concept input that exercises the exact code path this weakness describes.
What is the impact of CWE-298?
Other: The data read from the system vouched for by the expired certificate may be flawed due to malicious spoofing. Other: Trust may be assigned to certificates that have been abandoned due to age.
Does TurboPentest test for Improper Validation of Certificate Expiration?
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
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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