CWE-493: Critical Public Variable Without Final Modifier
The product has a critical public variable that is not final, which allows the variable to be modified to contain unexpected values.
How it's found
Critical Public Variable Without Final Modifier 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.
If a field is non-final and public, it can be changed once the value is set by any function that has access to the class which contains the field. This could lead to a vulnerability if other parts of the program make assumptions about the contents of that field.
Consequences
- Modify Application Data: The object could potentially be tampered with.
- Read Application Data: The object could potentially allow the object to be read.
Mitigations
- Implementation: Declare all public fields as final when possible, especially if it is used to maintain internal state of an Applet or of classes used by an Applet. If a field must be public, then perform all appropriate sanity checks before accessing the field from your code.
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-493?
The product has a critical public variable that is not final, which allows the variable to be modified to contain unexpected values.
How do you find Critical Public Variable Without Final Modifier?
Critical Public Variable Without Final Modifier 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-493?
Modify Application Data: The object could potentially be tampered with. Read Application Data: The object could potentially allow the object to be read.
Does TurboPentest test for Critical Public Variable Without Final Modifier?
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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