1424
Description
The product contains an account lockout protection mechanism, but the mechanism is too
restrictive and can be triggered too easily, which allows attackers to deny service to legitimate
users by causing their accounts to be locked out.
Extended Description
Account lockout is a security feature often present in applications as a countermeasure to the
brute force attack on the password based authentication mechanism of the system. After a certain
number of failed login attempts, the users' account may be disabled for a certain period of time
or until it is unlocked by an administrator. Other security events may also possibly trigger account
lockout. However, an attacker may use this very security feature to deny service to legitimate
system users. It is therefore important to ensure that the account lockout security mechanism is not
overly restrictive.
Relationships
The table(s) below shows the weaknesses and high level categories that are related to this
weakness. These relationships are defined as ChildOf, ParentOf, MemberOr and give insight to
similar items that may exist at higher and lower levels of abstraction. In addition, relationships such
as PeerOf and CanAlsoBe are defined to show similar weaknesses that may want to be explored.
Relevant to the view "Research Concepts" (CWE-1000)
Nature Type ID Name Page
ChildOf 287 Improper Authentication 692
Relevant to the view "Architectural Concepts" (CWE-1008)
Nature Type ID Name Page
MemberOf 1017 Lock Computer 2431
Relevant to the view "Software Development" (CWE-699)
Nature Type ID Name Page
MemberOf 1211 Authentication Errors 2475
MemberOf 1216 Lockout Mechanism Errors 2478
Applicable Platforms
Language : Not Language-Specific (Prevalence = Undetermined)
Likelihood Of Exploit
High
Common Consequences
Scope Impact Likelihood
Availability DoS: Resource Consumption (Other)
Users could be locked out of accounts.
Potential Mitigations
Phase: Architecture and Design
Implement more intelligent password throttling mechanisms such as those which take IP address
into account, in addition to the login name.
Phase: Architecture and Design
Implement a lockout timeout that grows as the number of incorrect login attempts goes up,
eventually resulting in a complete lockout.
Phase: Architecture and Design
CWE Version 4.14
CWE-646: Reliance on File Name or Extension of Externally-Supplied File
CWE-646: Reliance on File Name or Extension of Externally-Supplied File