CWE-1173 Base Draft

Improper Use of Validation Framework

This vulnerability occurs when a software application either fails to use or incorrectly implements a built-in or library-provided input validation framework.

Definition

What is CWE-1173?

This vulnerability occurs when a software application either fails to use or incorrectly implements a built-in or library-provided input validation framework.
Modern programming languages and libraries offer robust validation frameworks designed to make input checking simpler and more consistent. When developers bypass or misconfigure these tools, they often have to write custom validation logic, which is error-prone and can leave gaps that attackers exploit. This manual approach also hurts code maintainability, as other developers might not recognize the scattered validation logic meant to replace the standard framework. While the missing framework itself isn't directly exploitable, it frequently leads to weak or inconsistent input sanitization downstream, creating openings for injection attacks or data corruption. Managing this at scale is difficult; an ASPM like Plexicus can help you track and remediate these architectural flaws across your entire stack, ensuring validation frameworks are used correctly to enforce security from the start.
Real-world impact

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-1173

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-1173

  • Implementation Properly use provided input validation frameworks.
Detection signals

How to detect CWE-1173

Automated Static Analysis

Some instances of improper input validation can be detected using automated static analysis. A static analysis tool might allow the user to specify which application-specific methods or functions perform input validation; the tool might also have built-in knowledge of validation frameworks such as Struts. The tool may then suppress or de-prioritize any associated warnings. This allows the analyst to focus on areas of the software in which input validation does not appear to be present. Except in the cases described in the previous paragraph, automated static analysis might not be able to recognize when proper input validation is being performed, leading to false positives - i.e., warnings that do not have any security consequences or require any code changes.

Plexicus auto-fix

Plexicus auto-detects CWE-1173 and opens a fix PR in under 60 seconds.

Codex Remedium scans every commit, identifies this exact weakness, and ships a reviewer-ready pull request with the patch. No tickets. No hand-offs.

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Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

What is CWE-1173?

This vulnerability occurs when a software application either fails to use or incorrectly implements a built-in or library-provided input validation framework.

How serious is CWE-1173?

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-1173?

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

How can I prevent CWE-1173?

Properly use provided input validation frameworks.

How does Plexicus detect and fix CWE-1173?

Plexicus's SAST engine matches the data-flow signature for CWE-1173 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-1173?

MITRE publishes the canonical definition at https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1173.html. You can also reference OWASP and NIST documentation for adjacent guidance.

Related weaknesses

Weaknesses related to CWE-1173

CWE-20 Parent

Improper Input Validation

This vulnerability occurs when an application accepts data from an external source but fails to properly verify that the data is safe and…

CWE-102 Sibling

Struts: Duplicate Validation Forms

This vulnerability occurs when an application defines multiple Struts validation forms with identical names. The framework then…

CWE-103 Sibling

Struts: Incomplete validate() Method Definition

This vulnerability occurs in a Struts application when a validator form either completely omits a validate() method or includes one but…

CWE-104 Sibling

Struts: Form Bean Does Not Extend Validation Class

This vulnerability occurs in Apache Struts applications when a form bean class does not properly extend the framework's validation class.…

CWE-105 Sibling

Struts: Form Field Without Validator

This vulnerability occurs when a Struts application form contains an input field that lacks a corresponding validator, leaving it open to…

CWE-106 Sibling

Struts: Plug-in Framework not in Use

This weakness occurs when a Java application, particularly one using the Struts framework, does not implement a structured input…

CWE-107 Sibling

Struts: Unused Validation Form

This vulnerability occurs when a Struts application contains validation form definitions that are no longer linked to any active form or…

CWE-108 Sibling

Struts: Unvalidated Action Form

In Apache Struts, every Action Form that processes user input must have a corresponding validation form configured. Missing this…

CWE-109 Sibling

Struts: Validator Turned Off

This vulnerability occurs when an application built with Apache Struts intentionally disables its built-in validation framework. By…

Resources

Further reading

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