CWE · MITRE source
CWE-256Plaintext Storage of a Password
The product stores a password in plaintext within resources such as memory or files.
Last updated: 15 October 2026 10:21 UTC
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
This weakness contributes to A06:2025 Insecure Design.
Control responseHuman-reviewed
Answering this weakness across the control lifecycle, from our framework cross-walks.
Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53 / CSF Protect)
SC-28Protection of Information at RestPR.DS-01PR.DS-10PR.AA-01
Detect
Catch it (CSF Detect / Respond)
—
Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
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Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
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NIST 800-53 r5 controls PROPOSED for this weakness (1)AI-assisted
These are model PROPOSALS, not graded mappings. They come
from controls_to_cwe_proposals, which carries no grade field at
all; across the CWE pages 1,540 of 1,722 such associations (89%) have never
been graded by anything. The heading said “address” until
2026-09-29, which asserted a relationship the data does not carry.
Graded cross-walks are on the framework map, not here.
| Control | Title | Family | Why it addresses this CWE |
|---|---|---|---|
SC-28 | Protection of Information at Rest | SC | graded full Protection of passwords and credentials at rest forces encryption or equivalent controls instead of plaintext storage. |
Top CVEs of this weakness type, ranked by Risk Priority
| CVE | Risk | CVSS | EPSS | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CVE-2017-16714 UPD | 7.7 | 9.8 | 0.0243 | 2018-09-06 |
CVE-2020-6961 UPD | 7.7 | 10.0 | 0.0162 | 2020-01-24 |
CVE-2018-7510 UPD | 7.6 | 9.8 | 0.0141 | 2018-06-06 |
CVE-2018-8851 UPD | 7.6 | 9.8 | 0.0131 | 2018-07-24 |
CVE-2017-7913 UPD | 7.5 | 9.8 | 0.0118 | 2017-05-29 |
CVE-2025-27656 UPD | 7.5 | 9.8 | 0.0090 | 2025-03-05 |
CVE-2024-36081 UPD | 7.4 | 9.8 | 0.0057 | 2024-05-19 |
CVE-2024-33375 UPD | 7.4 | 9.8 | 0.0062 | 2024-06-14 |
CVE-2025-27662 UPD | 7.4 | 9.8 | 0.0062 | 2025-03-05 |
CVE-2025-6560 UPD | 7.4 | 9.8 | 0.0063 | 2025-06-24 |
CVE-2024-23486 UPD | 7.3 | 9.8 | 0.0056 | 2024-04-15 |
CVE-2024-5960 UPD | 7.3 | 9.8 | 0.0044 | 2024-09-18 |
CVE-2025-5893 UPD | 7.3 | 9.8 | 0.0048 | 2025-06-09 |
CVE-2025-6561 UPD | 7.3 | 9.8 | 0.0055 | 2025-06-26 |
CVE-2024-55026 | 7.2 | 9.8 | 0.0036 | 2026-03-03 |
CVE-2026-21660 UPD | 7.1 | 9.8 | 0.0023 | 2026-02-27 |
CVE-2022-36308 UPD | 7.0 | 9.1 | 0.0075 | 2022-08-16 |
CVE-2024-26165 UPD | 6.9 | 8.8 | 0.0192 | 2024-03-12 |
CVE-2024-6118 UPD | 6.9 | 9.1 | 0.0048 | 2024-08-05 |
CVE-2023-4918 UPD | 6.6 | 8.8 | 0.0057 | 2023-09-12 |
CVE-2024-3622 UPD | 6.6 | 8.8 | 0.0052 | 2024-04-25 |
CVE-2020-5374 UPD | 6.5 | 8.8 | 0.0104 | 2020-07-14 |
CVE-2023-41610 UPD | 6.5 | 8.8 | 0.0040 | 2024-09-18 |
CVE-2025-15113 UPD | 6.5 | 9.3 | 0.0047 | 2025-12-30 |
CVE-2019-10921 UPD | 6.3 | 7.5 | 0.0245 | 2019-05-14 |