CWE-257 64 CVEs MITRE definition ↗

CWE-257: Storing Passwords in a Recoverable Format

Overview

CWE-257 (Storing Passwords in a Recoverable Format) documents a weakness type used across vulnerability databases and security assessments. Use the sections below for definition, context, and mapped CVEs.

Security impact
Security impact: Depends on product and context; use CVE records, severity scores, and MITRE guidance to prioritize.

Description

The storage of passwords in a recoverable format makes them subject to password reuse attacks by malicious users. In fact, it should be noted that recoverable encrypted passwords provide no significant benefit over plaintext passwords since they are subject not only to reuse by malicious attackers but also by malicious insiders. If a system administrator can recover a password directly, or use a brute force search on the available information, the administrator can use the password on other accounts.

Applicable platforms

Kind Name Class Prevalence OS / CPE
language Not Language-Specific Undetermined

Related CVEs in this database

These CVEs are mapped to this weakness in this database and kept for traceability and search.

CVE Published Summary
CVE-2026-1836 2026-06-12 The system stores the username and password from the login form after submitting the request. This could allow an attacker with access to the platform to return to the browser and view the login crede…
CVE-2026-22576 2026-04-14 A storing passwords in a recoverable format vulnerability in Fortinet FortiSOAR PaaS 7.6.0 through 7.6.4, FortiSOAR PaaS 7.5.0 through 7.5.2, FortiSOAR PaaS 7.4 all versions, FortiSOAR PaaS 7.3 all ve…
CVE-2026-22574 2026-04-14 A storing passwords in a recoverable format vulnerability in Fortinet FortiSOAR PaaS 7.6.0 through 7.6.4, FortiSOAR PaaS 7.5.0 through 7.5.2, FortiSOAR PaaS 7.4 all versions, FortiSOAR PaaS 7.3 all ve…
CVE-2025-8095 2026-04-14 The OECH1 prefix encoding is intended to obfuscate values across the OpenEdge platform.  It has been identified as cryptographically weak and unsuitable for stored encodings and enterprise application…
CVE-2016-15058 2026-04-03 Hirschmann HiLCOS Classic Platform switches Classic L2E, L2P, L3E, L3P versions prior to 09.0.06 and Classic L2B prior to 05.3.07 contain a credential exposure vulnerability where user passwords are s…
CVE-2026-22614 2026-03-10 The encryption mechanism used in Eaton's EasySoft project file was insecure and susceptible to brute force attacks, an attacker with access to this file and the local host machine could potentially re…
CVE-2026-30785 2026-03-05 Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution'), Use of Password Hash With Insufficient Computational Effort vulnerability in rustdesk-client RustDesk Client …
CVE-2026-20128 2026-02-25 A vulnerability in the Data Collection Agent (DCA) feature of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to gain DCA user privileges on an affected system. This v…
CVE-2025-57796 2026-01-28 Explorance Blue versions prior to 8.14.12 use reversible symmetric encryption with a hardcoded static key to protect sensitive data, including user passwords and system configurations. This approach a…
CVE-2025-14295 2026-01-22 Storing Passwords in a Recoverable Format vulnerability in Automated Logic WebCTRL on Windows, Carrier i-Vu on Windows. Storing Passwords in a Recoverable Format vulnerability (CWE-257) in the Web ses…
CVE-2025-8307 2026-01-08 Asseco InfoMedica is a comprehensive solution used to manage both administrative and medical tasks in the healthcare sector. Passwords of all users are stored in a database in an encoded format. An at…
CVE-2025-34180 2025-12-15 NetSupport Manager < 14.12.0001 relies on a shared Gateway Key for authentication between Manager/Control, Client, and Connectivity Server components. The key is stored using a reversible encoding sc…
CVE-2025-40774 2025-10-14 A vulnerability has been identified in SiPass integrated (All versions < V3.0). Affected server applications store user passwords encrypted in its database. Decryption keys are accessible to users wit…
CVE-2025-35054 2025-10-09 Newforma Info Exchange (NIX) stores credentials used to configure NPCS in 'HKLM\Software\WOW6432Node\Newforma\<version>\Credentials'. The credentials are encrypted but the encryption key is stored in…
CVE-2025-0280 2025-09-03 A security vulnerability in HCL Compass can allow attacker to gain unauthorized database access.
CVE-2025-58049 2025-08-28 XWiki Platform is a generic wiki platform offering runtime services for applications built on top of it. In versions from 14.4.2 to before 16.4.8, 16.5.0-rc-1 to before 16.10.7, and 17.0.0-rc-1 to bef…
CVE-2025-57789 2025-08-20 During the brief window between installation and the first administrator login, remote attackers may exploit the default credential to gain admin control. This is limited to the setup phase, before an…
CVE-2025-8904 2025-08-13 Amazon EMR Secret Agent creates a keytab file containing Kerberos credentials. This file is stored in the /tmp/ directory. A user with access to this directory and another account can potentially decr…
CVE-2025-44958 2025-08-04 RUCKUS Network Director (RND) before 4.5 stores passwords in a recoverable format.
CVE-2025-6996 2025-07-08 Improper use of encryption in the agent of Ivanti Endpoint Manager before version 2024 SU3 and 2022 SU8 Security Update 1 allows a local authenticated attacker to decrypt other users’ passwords.

Content submission

Name
CLASP
Date
2006-07-19
Version
Draft 3

Content modifications

Date Name Version Importance Comment
2008-09-08 CWE Content Team 1.0 updated Common_Consequences, Relationships, Other_Notes, Taxonomy_Mappings, Weakness_Ordinalities
2008-10-14 CWE Content Team 1.0.1 updated Demonstrative_Examples, Description, Maintenance_Notes, Potential_Mitigations
2010-02-16 CWE Content Team 1.8 updated Relationships
2011-06-01 CWE Content Team 1.13 updated Common_Consequences, Demonstrative_Examples
2012-05-11 CWE Content Team 2.2 updated Demonstrative_Examples, Relationships
2012-10-30 CWE Content Team 2.3 updated Demonstrative_Examples
2014-06-23 CWE Content Team 2.7 updated Description, Other_Notes
2014-07-30 CWE Content Team 2.8 updated Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
2017-11-08 CWE Content Team 3.0 updated Applicable_Platforms, Causal_Nature, Demonstrative_Examples, Likelihood_of_Exploit, Modes_of_Introduction, Relationships
2020-02-24 CWE Content Team 4.0 updated References, Relationships
2021-03-15 CWE Content Team 4.4 updated Demonstrative_Examples, Maintenance_Notes
2021-10-28 CWE Content Team 4.6 updated Relationships
2023-04-27 CWE Content Team 4.11 updated Detection_Factors, Relationships
2023-06-29 CWE Content Team 4.12 updated Mapping_Notes
2023-10-26 CWE Content Team 4.13 updated Observed_Examples
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