CWE-521 256 CVEs MITRE definition ↗

CWE-521: Weak Password Requirements

Overview

CWE-521 (Weak Password Requirements) 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 product does not require that users should have strong passwords.

Background details

Extended context from the CWE catalog (rendered from MITRE XHTML).

Authentication mechanisms often rely on a memorized secret (also known as a password) to provide an assertion of identity for a user of a system. It is therefore important that this password be of sufficient complexity and impractical for an adversary to guess. The specific requirements around how complex a password needs to be depends on the type of system being protected. Selecting the correct password requirements and enforcing them through implementation are critical to the overall success of the authentication mechanism.

Applicable platforms

Kind Name Class Prevalence OS / CPE
language Not Language-Specific Undetermined
technology Not Technology-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-2024-40684 2026-05-27 IBM Operations Analytics - Log Analysis 1.3.5.0, 1.3.5.1, 1.3.5.2, 1.3.5.3, 1.3.6.0, 1.3.6.1, 1.3.7.0, 1.3.7.1, 1.3.7.2, and 1.3.8.0, 1.3.8.1, 1.3.8.2, 1.3.8.3, 1.3.8.4 IBM SmartCloud Analytics - Log …
CVE-2026-9394 2026-05-24 A vulnerability was determined in Besen BS20 EV Charging Station up to 20260426. This impacts an unknown function of the component Bluetooth Low Energy Handler. Executing a manipulation can lead to we…
CVE-2026-41038 2026-04-21 This vulnerability exists in Quantum Networks router due to lack of enforcement of strong password policies in the web-based management interface. An attacker on the same network could exploit this vu…
CVE-2026-6284 2026-04-17 An attacker with network access to the PLC is able to brute force discover passwords to gain unauthorized access to systems and services. The limited password complexity and no password input limiters…
CVE-2026-33771 2026-04-09 A Weak Password Requirements vulnerability in the password management function of Juniper Networks CTP OS might allow an unauthenticated, network-based attacker to exploit weak passwords of local acco…
CVE-2026-34203 2026-03-31 Nautobot is a Network Source of Truth and Network Automation Platform. Prior to versions 2.4.30 and 3.0.10, user creation and editing via the REST API fails to apply the password validation rules defi…
CVE-2025-55269 2026-03-26 HCL Aftermarket DPC is affected by Weak Password Policy vulnerability, which makes it easier for attackers to guess weak passwords or use brute-force techniques to gain unauthorized access to user acc…
CVE-2026-27575 2026-02-25 Vikunja is an open-source self-hosted task management platform. Prior to version 2.0.0, the application allows users to set weak passwords (e.g., 1234, password) without enforcing minimum strength req…
CVE-2026-25715 2026-02-20 The web management interface of the device allows the administrator username and password to be set to blank values. Once applied, the device permits authentication with empty credentials over the w…
CVE-2026-1408 2026-01-25 A weakness has been identified in Beetel 777VR1 up to 01.00.09/01.00.09_55. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the component UART Interface. Executing a manipulation can lead to weak password …
CVE-2025-55252 2026-01-19 HCL AION  version 2 is affected by a Weak Password Policy vulnerability. This can  allow the use of easily guessable passwords, potentially resulting in unauthorized access
CVE-2025-68963 2026-01-14 Man-in-the-middle attack vulnerability in the Clone module. Impact: Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may affect service confidentiality.
CVE-2025-68716 2026-01-08 KAYSUS KS-WR3600 routers with firmware 1.0.5.9.1 enable the SSH service enabled by default on the LAN interface. The root account is configured with no password, and administrators cannot disable SSH …
CVE-2025-23408 2025-12-12 Weak Password Requirements vulnerability in Apache Fineract. This issue affects Apache Fineract: through 1.10.1. The issue is fixed in version 1.11.0. Users are encouraged to upgrade to version 1.13…
CVE-2025-67513 2025-12-10 FreePBX Endpoint Manager is a module for managing telephony endpoints in FreePBX systems. Versions prior to 16.0.96 and 17.0.1 through 17.0.9 have a weak default password. By default, this is a 6 digi…
CVE-2025-53963 2025-12-04 An issue was discovered on Thermo Fisher Ion Torrent OneTouch 2 INS1005527 devices. They run an SSH server accessible over the default port 22. The root account has a weak default password of ionadmin…
CVE-2025-65014 2025-11-18 LibreNMS is an auto-discovering PHP/MySQL/SNMP based network monitoring tool. Prior to version 25.11.0, a weak password policy vulnerability was identified in the user management functionality of the …
CVE-2025-63800 2025-11-18 The password change endpoint in Open Source Point of Sale 3.4.1 allows users to set their account password to an empty string due to missing server-side validation. When an authenticated user omits or…
CVE-2025-63747 2025-11-17 QaTraq 6.9.2 ships with administrative account credentials which are enabled in default installations and permit immediate login via the web application login page. Because the account provides admini…
CVE-2025-55034 2025-11-15 General Industrial Controls Lynx+ Gateway is vulnerable to a weak password requirement vulnerability, which may allow an attacker to execute a brute-force attack resulting in unauthorized access and…

Content submission

Name
Anonymous Tool Vendor (under NDA)
Date
2006-07-19
Version
Draft 3

Content modifications

Date Name Version Importance Comment
2008-07-01 Eric Dalci 1.0 updated Potential_Mitigations, Time_of_Introduction
2008-08-15 1.0 Suggested OWASP Top Ten 2004 mapping
2008-09-08 CWE Content Team 1.0 updated Description, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
2009-05-27 CWE Content Team 1.4 updated Related_Attack_Patterns
2011-03-29 CWE Content Team 1.12 updated Potential_Mitigations, Relationships
2011-06-01 CWE Content Team 1.13 updated Common_Consequences
2012-05-11 CWE Content Team 2.2 updated Common_Consequences, References, Relationships
2014-07-30 CWE Content Team 2.8 updated Relationships
2017-11-08 CWE Content Team 3.0 updated Modes_of_Introduction, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
2019-06-20 CWE Content Team 3.3 updated Relationships
2020-02-24 CWE Content Team 4.0 updated Applicable_Platforms, Description, Modes_of_Introduction, Potential_Mitigations, References
2020-08-20 CWE Content Team 4.2 updated Related_Attack_Patterns
2021-10-28 CWE Content Team 4.6 updated Relationships
2022-10-13 CWE Content Team 4.9 updated Observed_Examples, Potential_Mitigations, Relationships
2023-04-27 CWE Content Team 4.11 updated Detection_Factors, Relationships
2023-06-29 CWE Content Team 4.12 updated Mapping_Notes
2025-09-09 CWE Content Team 4.18 updated Potential_Mitigations, References
2025-12-11 CWE Content Team 4.19 updated Background_Details, Description, Diagram, Potential_Mitigations, Relationships, Weakness_Ordinalities

Contributions

Type Name Date Comment
Feedback Camille Gouttebroze 2025-03-17 suggested removal of password expiration as an acceptable mitigation and provided references
cvelogic Threat Intelligence