CWE-219

Variant Abstraction Level
Pillar — Highest-level weakness category
Class — Abstract, language-independent
Base — Specific enough to detect
Variant — Tied to specific technology
Compound — Requires multiple weaknesses Draft MITRE CWE Status
Stable — Fully reviewed and complete
Draft — Under development, may change
Incomplete — Partially defined by MITRE
Deprecated — No longer recommended
Obsolete — Replaced by another CWE
Storage of File with Sensitive Data Under Web Root

Description

The product stores sensitive data under the web document root with insufficient access control, which might make it accessible to untrusted parties.

Besides public-facing web pages and code, products may store sensitive data, code that is not directly invoked, or other files under the web document root of the web server. If the server is not configured or otherwise used to prevent direct access to those files, then attackers may obtain this sensitive data.

Consequences

Confidentiality — Read Application Data

Mitigations

Phase: Implementation, System Configuration

Avoid storing information under the web root directory.

Phase: System Configuration

Access control permissions should be set to prevent reading/writing of sensitive files inside/outside of the web directory.