CWE-324: Use of a Key Past its Expiration Date
The product uses a cryptographic key or password past its expiration date, which diminishes its safety significantly by increasing the timing window for cracking attacks against that key.
How it's found
Use of a Key Past its Expiration Date is typically found by tracing untrusted input from where it enters the system to the point where it is used without the check or neutralization this weakness describes, combining manual code review with dynamic testing.
While the expiration of keys does not necessarily ensure that they are compromised, it is a significant concern that keys which remain in use for prolonged periods of time have a decreasing probability of integrity. For this reason, it is important to replace keys within a period of time proportional to their strength.
Consequences
- Bypass Protection Mechanism, Gain Privileges or Assume Identity: The cryptographic key in question may be compromised, providing a malicious user with a method for authenticating as the victim.
Mitigations
- Architecture and Design: Adequate consideration should be put in to the user interface in order to notify users previous to the key's expiration, to explain the importance of new key generation and to walk users through the process as painlessly as possible.
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-324?
The product uses a cryptographic key or password past its expiration date, which diminishes its safety significantly by increasing the timing window for cracking attacks against that key.
How do you find Use of a Key Past its Expiration Date?
Use of a Key Past its Expiration Date is typically found by tracing untrusted input from where it enters the system to the point where it is used without the check or neutralization this weakness describes, combining manual code review with dynamic testing.
What is the impact of CWE-324?
Bypass Protection Mechanism, Gain Privileges or Assume Identity: The cryptographic key in question may be compromised, providing a malicious user with a method for authenticating as the victim.
Does TurboPentest test for Use of a Key Past its Expiration Date?
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.
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