CWE-555
Weakness AllowedJ2EE Misconfiguration: Plaintext Password in Configuration File
Abstraction: Variant · Status: Draft
The J2EE application stores a plaintext password in a configuration file.
Mapping guidance
This CWE entry is at the Variant level of abstraction, which is a preferred level of abstraction for mapping to the root causes of vulnerabilities.
Carefully read both the name and description to ensure that this mapping is an appropriate fit. Do not try to 'force' a mapping to a lower-level Base/Variant simply to comply with this preferred level of abstraction.
Modes of introduction
Detection methods
Automated Static Analysis
Automated static analysis, commonly referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST), can find some instances of this weakness by analyzing source code (or binary/compiled code) without having to execute it. Typically, this is done by building a model of data flow and control flow, then searching for potentially-vulnerable patterns that connect "sources" (origins of input) with "sinks" (destinations where the data interacts with external components, a lower layer such as the OS, etc.)
Content history
added/updated demonstrative examples
updated Potential_Mitigations, Time_of_Introduction
updated Description, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
updated Description
updated Common_Consequences
updated Relationships
updated Potential_Mitigations
updated Relationships
updated Taxonomy_Mappings
updated Relationships
updated Relationships
updated Relationships
updated Mapping_Notes
updated Applicable_Platforms, Weakness_Ordinalities
updated Common_Consequences, Description, Detection_Factors
3 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
CVE-2023-20059 (GCVE-0-2023-20059)
Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2023-03-23 00:00 – Updated: 2024-10-25 16:02| URL | Tags |
|---|---|
| https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/c… | vendor-advisory |
| Vendor | Product | Version | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center (DNA Center) |
Affected:
n/a
|
{
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"dateUpdated": "2024-08-02T08:57:35.553Z",
"orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
"shortName": "CVE"
},
"references": [
{
"name": "20230322 Cisco DNA Center Information Disclosure Vulnerability",
"tags": [
"vendor-advisory",
"x_transferred"
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"url": "https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-dnac-infodisc-pe7zAbdR"
}
],
"title": "CVE Program Container"
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"id": "CVE-2023-20059",
"options": [
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"Exploitation": "none"
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"Technical Impact": "partial"
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"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2024-10-25T14:36:12.342726Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
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"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2024-10-25T16:02:49.507Z",
"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"shortName": "CISA-ADP"
},
"title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
}
],
"cna": {
"affected": [
{
"product": "Cisco Digital Network Architecture Center (DNA Center)",
"vendor": "Cisco",
"versions": [
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "n/a"
}
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],
"datePublic": "2023-03-22T00:00:00.000Z",
"descriptions": [
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"lang": "en",
"value": "A vulnerability in the implementation of the Cisco Network Plug-and-Play (PnP) agent of Cisco DNA Center could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to view sensitive information in clear text. The attacker must have valid low-privileged user credentials. This vulnerability is due to improper role-based access control (RBAC) with the integration of PnP. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the device and sending a query to an internal API. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to view sensitive information in clear text, which could include configuration files."
}
],
"exploits": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "The Cisco PSIRT is not aware of any public announcements or malicious use of the vulnerability that is described in this advisory."
}
],
"metrics": [
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"cvssV3_1": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "NETWORK",
"availabilityImpact": "NONE",
"baseScore": 4.3,
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"confidentialityImpact": "LOW",
"integrityImpact": "NONE",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N",
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"dateUpdated": "2023-03-23T00:00:00.000Z",
"orgId": "d1c1063e-7a18-46af-9102-31f8928bc633",
"shortName": "cisco"
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"references": [
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"name": "20230322 Cisco DNA Center Information Disclosure Vulnerability",
"tags": [
"vendor-advisory"
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"url": "https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-dnac-infodisc-pe7zAbdR"
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"source": {
"advisory": "cisco-sa-dnac-infodisc-pe7zAbdR",
"defect": [
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"CSCwd19443"
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"discovery": "INTERNAL"
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"datePublished": "2023-03-23T00:00:00.000Z",
"dateReserved": "2022-10-27T00:00:00.000Z",
"dateUpdated": "2024-10-25T16:02:49.507Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
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"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.1"
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GHSA-723J-VWR2-6865
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-03-23 18:30 – Updated: 2023-03-30 21:30A vulnerability in the implementation of the Cisco Network Plug-and-Play (PnP) agent of Cisco DNA Center could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to view sensitive information in clear text. The attacker must have valid low-privileged user credentials. This vulnerability is due to improper role-based access control (RBAC) with the integration of PnP. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the device and sending a query to an internal API. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to view sensitive information in clear text, which could include configuration files.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-20059"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-312",
"CWE-555"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-03-23T17:15:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "A vulnerability in the implementation of the Cisco Network Plug-and-Play (PnP) agent of Cisco DNA Center could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to view sensitive information in clear text. The attacker must have valid low-privileged user credentials. This vulnerability is due to improper role-based access control (RBAC) with the integration of PnP. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the device and sending a query to an internal API. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to view sensitive information in clear text, which could include configuration files.",
"id": "GHSA-723j-vwr2-6865",
"modified": "2023-03-30T21:30:23Z",
"published": "2023-03-23T18:30:19Z",
"references": [
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"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20059"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-dnac-infodisc-pe7zAbdR"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
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"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-RV79-M662-C92X
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-07-21 15:30 – Updated: 2025-07-22 18:30An issue was discovered in CommScope Ruckus Unleashed prior to 200.15.6.12.304, where an authenticated request to the management endpoint /admin/_cmdstat.jsp discloses the administrator password in a trivially reversible obfuscated form. The same obfuscation method persists in configuration prior to 200.18.7.1.302, allowing anyone who obtains the system configuration to recover the plaintext credentials.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-46119"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-555"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-07-21T15:15:28Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "An issue was discovered in CommScope Ruckus Unleashed prior to 200.15.6.12.304, where an authenticated request to the management endpoint `/admin/_cmdstat.jsp` discloses the administrator password in a trivially reversible obfuscated form. The same obfuscation method persists in configuration prior to 200.18.7.1.302, allowing anyone who obtains the system configuration to recover the plaintext credentials.",
"id": "GHSA-rv79-m662-c92x",
"modified": "2025-07-22T18:30:40Z",
"published": "2025-07-21T15:30:31Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-46119"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://sector7.computest.nl/post/2025-07-ruckus-unleashed"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.ruckuswireless.com/security_bulletins/330"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://commscope.com"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
Mitigation
Do not hardwire passwords into your software.
Mitigation
Use industry standard libraries to encrypt passwords before storage in configuration files.
No CAPEC attack patterns related to this CWE.