CWE-1045 Base Incomplete

Parent Class with a Virtual Destructor and a Child Class without a Virtual Destructor

This occurs when a base class defines a virtual destructor, but a derived class inherits from it without declaring its own virtual destructor.

Definition

What is CWE-1045?

This occurs when a base class defines a virtual destructor, but a derived class inherits from it without declaring its own virtual destructor.
When you delete an object through a pointer to its base class, the destructor call must propagate correctly down the inheritance chain. If the child class manages its own resources (like memory, file handles, or network connections) but lacks a virtual destructor, only the parent's destructor will be invoked. This leaves the child's cleanup logic unexecuted, causing resource leaks and leaving the program in an unstable state. While this is fundamentally a reliability issue that can lead to memory leaks (CWE-401), it can become a security vulnerability if an attacker can trigger or exploit the resulting instability. For example, sustained memory leaks can lead to denial of service, and corrupted program state might be leveraged for further attacks. The fix is straightforward: always declare a virtual destructor in any class that is intended to be inherited from, ensuring proper cleanup for all derived types.
Real-world impact

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-1045

No public CVE references are linked to this CWE in MITRE's catalog yet.

How attackers exploit it

Step-by-step attacker path

  1. 1

    Identify a code path that handles untrusted input without validation.

  2. 2

    Craft a payload that exercises the unsafe behavior — injection, traversal, overflow, or logic abuse.

  3. 3

    Deliver the payload through a normal request and observe the application's reaction.

  4. 4

    Iterate until the response leaks data, executes attacker code, or escalates privileges.

Vulnerable code example

Vulnerable pseudo

MITRE has not published a code example for this CWE. The pattern below is illustrative — see Resources for canonical references.

Vulnerable pseudo 
// Example pattern — see MITRE for the canonical references.
function handleRequest(input) {
  // Untrusted input flows directly into the sensitive sink.
  return executeUnsafe(input);
}
Secure code example

Secure pseudo

Secure pseudo 
// Validate, sanitize, or use a safe API before reaching the sink.
function handleRequest(input) {
  const safe = validateAndEscape(input);
  return executeWithGuards(safe);
}
What changed: the unsafe sink is replaced (or the input is validated/escaped) so the same payload no longer triggers the weakness.
Prevention checklist

How to prevent CWE-1045

  • Architecture Use safe-by-default frameworks and APIs that prevent the unsafe pattern from being expressible.
  • Implementation Validate input at trust boundaries; use allowlists, not denylists.
  • Implementation Apply the principle of least privilege to credentials, file paths, and runtime permissions.
  • Testing Cover this weakness in CI: SAST rules + targeted unit tests for the data flow.
  • Operation Monitor logs for the runtime signals listed in the next section.
Detection signals

How to detect CWE-1045

SAST High

Run static analysis (SAST) on the codebase looking for the unsafe pattern in the data flow.

DAST Moderate

Run dynamic application security testing against the live endpoint.

Runtime Moderate

Watch runtime logs for unusual exception traces, malformed input, or authorization bypass attempts.

Code review Moderate

Code review: flag any new code that handles input from this surface without using the validated framework helpers.

Plexicus auto-fix

Plexicus auto-detects CWE-1045 and opens a fix PR in under 60 seconds.

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Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

What is CWE-1045?

This occurs when a base class defines a virtual destructor, but a derived class inherits from it without declaring its own virtual destructor.

How serious is CWE-1045?

MITRE has not published a likelihood-of-exploit rating for this weakness. Treat it as medium-impact until your threat model proves otherwise.

What languages or platforms are affected by CWE-1045?

MITRE has not specified affected platforms for this CWE — it can apply across most application stacks.

How can I prevent CWE-1045?

Use safe-by-default frameworks, validate untrusted input at trust boundaries, and apply the principle of least privilege. Cover the data-flow signature in CI with SAST.

How does Plexicus detect and fix CWE-1045?

Plexicus's SAST engine matches the data-flow signature for CWE-1045 on every commit. When a match is found, our Codex Remedium agent opens a fix PR with the corrected code, tests, and a one-line summary for the reviewer.

Where can I learn more about CWE-1045?

MITRE publishes the canonical definition at https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1045.html. You can also reference OWASP and NIST documentation for adjacent guidance.

Related weaknesses

Weaknesses related to CWE-1045

CWE-1076 Parent

Insufficient Adherence to Expected Conventions

This weakness occurs when software code, design, documentation, or other components fail to follow established industry or…

CWE-1070 Sibling

Serializable Data Element Containing non-Serializable Item Elements

This weakness occurs when a class or data structure is marked as serializable, but it contains one or more member elements that cannot be…

CWE-1078 Sibling

Inappropriate Source Code Style or Formatting

This weakness occurs when source code violates established style guidelines for formatting, indentation, whitespace, or commenting, making…

CWE-1079 Sibling

Parent Class without Virtual Destructor Method

This occurs when a base class, designed to be inherited from, does not declare its destructor as virtual. This oversight prevents proper…

CWE-1082 Sibling

Class Instance Self Destruction Control Element

This vulnerability occurs when an object's code contains logic that triggers its own deletion or destruction during runtime.

CWE-1087 Sibling

Class with Virtual Method without a Virtual Destructor

This occurs when a class defines a virtual method but does not also provide a virtual destructor.

CWE-1091 Sibling

Use of Object without Invoking Destructor Method

This weakness occurs when a program accesses an object but fails to properly call its destructor or finalizer method. This leaves the…

CWE-1097 Sibling

Persistent Storable Data Element without Associated Comparison Control Element

This weakness occurs when a persistent data object lacks the necessary methods to be properly compared, which can lead to inconsistent or…

CWE-1098 Sibling

Data Element containing Pointer Item without Proper Copy Control Element

This weakness occurs when a data structure contains a pointer, but the code lacks proper methods to copy or initialize that pointer safely.

Resources

Further reading

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