CWE · MITRE source
CWE-420Unprotected Alternate Channel
The product protects a primary channel, but it does not use the same level of protection for an alternate channel.
Last updated: 14 October 2026 20:41 UTC
Control responseHuman-reviewed
Answering this weakness across the control lifecycle, from our framework cross-walks.
NIST 800-53 r5 controls PROPOSED for this weakness (3)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 |
|---|---|---|---|
AC-17 | Remote Access | AC | Usage restrictions and authorization for remote access protect against unprotected alternate channels. |
RA-6 | Technical Surveillance Countermeasures Survey | RA | TSCM surveys detect and neutralize unprotected alternate channels introduced by surveillance equipment or modifications. |
SC-41 | Port and I/O Device Access | SC | Removes or disables unprotected alternate I/O channels that could otherwise be used to bypass primary controls. |
Top CVEs of this weakness type, ranked by Risk Priority
| CVE | Risk | CVSS | EPSS | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CVE-2023-20198 KEV UPD | 10.0 | 10.0 | 0.9957 | 2023-10-16 |
CVE-2024-10081 UPD | 9.1 | 10.0 | 0.3992 | 2024-11-06 |
CVE-2025-54309 KEV UPD | 8.9 | 9.0 | 0.9511 | 2025-07-18 |
CVE-2025-13315 UPD | 8.9 | 9.8 | 0.3253 | 2025-11-19 |
CVE-2026-40217 UPD | 7.1 | 8.8 | 0.0340 | 2026-04-10 |
CVE-2025-52921 UPD | 7.0 | 9.9 | 0.0054 | 2025-06-23 |
CVE-2023-4570 UPD | 6.5 | 8.8 | 0.0032 | 2023-10-05 |
CVE-2025-62001 UPD | 6.5 | 8.8 | 0.0035 | 2025-12-18 |
CVE-2023-31241 UPD | 6.4 | 8.6 | 0.0076 | 2023-05-22 |
CVE-2025-8557 UPD | 6.4 | 8.8 | 0.0025 | 2025-09-11 |
CVE-2025-53967 UPD | 6.4 | 8.0 | 0.0583 | 2025-10-08 |
CVE-2025-54351 UPD | 6.3 | 8.9 | 0.0041 | 2025-08-03 |
CVE-2025-67303 UPD | 6.1 | 7.5 | 0.0139 | 2026-01-05 |
CVE-2024-6242 UPD | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.1110 | 2024-08-01 |
CVE-2023-28840 UPD | 5.9 | 7.5 | 0.0256 | 2023-04-04 |
CVE-2025-1095 UPD | 5.9 | 8.8 | 0.0014 | 2025-04-08 |
CVE-2023-7266 UPD | 5.7 | 7.5 | 0.0028 | 2024-12-28 |
CVE-2025-41727 UPD | 5.6 | 7.8 | 0.0018 | 2026-01-27 |
CVE-2024-8038 UPD | 5.5 | 7.9 | 0.0021 | 2024-10-02 |
CVE-2025-59033 UPD | 5.5 | 7.4 | 0.0028 | 2025-09-08 |
CVE-2023-28842 UPD | 5.3 | 6.8 | 0.0144 | 2023-04-04 |
CVE-2026-43505 | 5.1 | 6.5 | 0.0035 | 2026-05-01 |
CVE-2020-8558 UPD | 4.9 | 5.4 | 0.0360 | 2020-07-27 |
CVE-2023-52718 UPD | 4.7 | 6.4 | 0.0016 | 2024-12-28 |
CVE-2024-4444 UPD | 4.6 | 5.3 | 0.0071 | 2024-05-14 |