CWE-1273 Base Incomplete

Device Unlock Credential Sharing

This vulnerability occurs when the secret keys or passwords required to unlock a device's hidden features are shared between multiple organizations, creating a chain of trust where sensitive access…

Definition

What is CWE-1273?

This vulnerability occurs when the secret keys or passwords required to unlock a device's hidden features are shared between multiple organizations, creating a chain of trust where sensitive access can be leaked.
Device unlocking typically activates hidden debug or manufacturer modes, such as the ability to dump full system memory or bypass hardware protections. These powerful features are locked in production and require special credentials to access, often needed by different companies in the supply chain for testing and troubleshooting. The security risk escalates when these unlock credentials must be shared between separate entities like the chip designer, the manufacturer (foundry), and assembly testers. Each company may have vastly different security policies and levels of secrecy, turning a single secret into multiple points of potential exposure and significantly increasing the chance of a damaging credential leak.
Real-world impact

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-1273

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 Other

This example shows how an attacker can take advantage of compromised credentials.

Vulnerable Other 
Suppose a semiconductor chipmaker, "C", uses the foundry "F" for fabricating its chips. Now, F has many other customers in addition to C, and some of the other customers are much smaller companies. F has dedicated teams for each of its customers, but somehow it mixes up the unlock credentials and sends the unlock credentials of C to the wrong team. This other team does not take adequate precautions to protect the credentials that have nothing to do with them, and eventually the unlock credentials of C get leaked.
Secure code example

Secure Other

When the credentials of multiple organizations are stored together, exposure to third parties occurs frequently.

Secure Other 
Vertical integration of a production company is one effective method of protecting sensitive credentials. Where vertical integration is not possible, strict access control and need-to-know are methods which can be implemented to reduce these risks.
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-1273

  • Integration Ensure the unlock credentials are shared with the minimum number of parties and with utmost secrecy. To limit the risk associated with compromised credentials, where possible, the credentials should be part-specific.
  • Manufacturing Ensure the unlock credentials are shared with the minimum number of parties and with utmost secrecy. To limit the risk associated with compromised credentials, where possible, the credentials should be part-specific.
Detection signals

How to detect CWE-1273

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-1273 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-1273?

This vulnerability occurs when the secret keys or passwords required to unlock a device's hidden features are shared between multiple organizations, creating a chain of trust where sensitive access can be leaked.

How serious is CWE-1273?

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-1273?

MITRE lists the following affected platforms: VHDL, Verilog, Compiled, Not OS-Specific, Not Architecture-Specific, Other, Not Technology-Specific.

How can I prevent CWE-1273?

Ensure the unlock credentials are shared with the minimum number of parties and with utmost secrecy. To limit the risk associated with compromised credentials, where possible, the credentials should be part-specific. Ensure the unlock credentials are shared with the minimum number of parties and with utmost secrecy. To limit the risk associated with compromised credentials, where possible, the credentials should be part-specific.

How does Plexicus detect and fix CWE-1273?

Plexicus's SAST engine matches the data-flow signature for CWE-1273 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-1273?

MITRE publishes the canonical definition at https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1273.html. You can also reference OWASP and NIST documentation for adjacent guidance.

Related weaknesses

Weaknesses related to CWE-1273

CWE-200 Parent

Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor

This weakness occurs when an application unintentionally reveals sensitive data to someone who shouldn't have access to it.

CWE-1258 Sibling

Exposure of Sensitive System Information Due to Uncleared Debug Information

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CWE-1295 Sibling

Debug Messages Revealing Unnecessary Information

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CWE-1431 Sibling

Driving Intermediate Cryptographic State/Results to Hardware Module Outputs

This vulnerability occurs when a hardware cryptographic module leaks sensitive internal data through its output channels. Instead of only…

CWE-201 Sibling

Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data

This vulnerability occurs when an application sends data to an external party, but accidentally includes sensitive information—like…

CWE-203 Sibling

Observable Discrepancy

This vulnerability occurs when an application responds differently to unauthorized users based on internal conditions. Attackers can…

CWE-209 Sibling

Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information

This vulnerability occurs when an application reveals sensitive details about its internal systems, user data, or environment within error…

CWE-213 Sibling

Exposure of Sensitive Information Due to Incompatible Policies

This vulnerability occurs when a system's data handling aligns with the developer's security rules but accidentally reveals information…

CWE-215 Sibling

Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Debugging Code

This vulnerability occurs when developers embed sensitive data, such as passwords or API keys, within debugging statements like logs or…

Resources

Further reading

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