What is ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password (CWE-13)?

TL;DR: Storing a plaintext password in an ASP.NET configuration file allows attackers to access the password-protected resource, making it an easy target for exploitation. To fix this vulnerability, encrypt the password stored in the configuration file or remove it altogether.

What is ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File?

ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File (CWE-13) is a type of security misconfiguration vulnerability that occurs when a plaintext password is stored in an ASP.NET configuration file. As defined by the MITRE Corporation under CWE-13, and classified by the OWASP Foundation under A02:2025 - Security Misconfiguration, this vulnerability allows attackers to access the password-protected resource, making it an easy target for exploitation.

Quick Summary

Storing a plaintext password in an ASP.NET configuration file is a critical security misconfiguration that can lead to unauthorized access and data breaches. This vulnerability occurs when a plaintext password is stored in an ASP.NET configuration file, allowing attackers to access the password-protected resource. To fix this vulnerability, encrypt the password stored in the configuration file or remove it altogether.

Jump to: Quick Summary · ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File Overview · How ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File Works · Business Impact of ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File · ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File Attack Scenario · How to Detect ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File · How to Fix ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File · Framework-Specific Fixes for ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File · How to Ask AI to Check Your Code for ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File · ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File Best Practices Checklist · ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File FAQ · Vulnerabilities Related to ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File · References · Scan Your Own Site

ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File Overview

What: Storing a plaintext password in an ASP.NET configuration file is a type of security misconfiguration vulnerability that occurs when a plaintext password is stored in an ASP.NET configuration file.

Why it matters: This vulnerability allows attackers to access the password-protected resource, making it an easy target for exploitation and leading to unauthorized access and data breaches.

Where it occurs: This vulnerability occurs in ASP.NET applications that store passwords in plaintext in their configuration files.

Who is affected: Any organization using ASP.NET applications with plaintext passwords stored in configuration files is affected by this vulnerability.

Who is NOT affected: Applications that never construct paths/queries/commands from external input and systems already using secure protocols for data transmission are not affected by this vulnerability.

How ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File Works

Root Cause

The root cause of ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File is the storage of plaintext passwords in ASP.NET configuration files.

Attack Flow

1. An attacker gains access to the ASP.NET application’s configuration file.
2. The attacker extracts the plaintext password from the configuration file.
3. The attacker uses the extracted password to access the password-protected resource.

Prerequisites to Exploit

• The attacker must have access to the ASP.NET application’s configuration file.
• The configuration file must store a plaintext password.

Vulnerable Code

<configuration>
  <connectionStrings>
    <add name="myDB" connectionString="Data Source=myServerAddress;Initial Catalog=myDataBase;User Id=myUsername;Password=myPassword;" />
  </connectionStrings>
</configuration>

This code stores a plaintext password in the configuration file, making it vulnerable to exploitation.

Secure Code

<configuration>
  <connectionStrings>
    <add name="myDB" connectionString="Data Source=myServerAddress;Initial Catalog=myDataBase;User Id=myUsername;" />
  </connectionStrings>
</configuration>

This code removes the plaintext password from the configuration file, making it secure.

Business Impact of ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File

The business impacts of ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File include:

• Financial losses due to unauthorized access and data breaches.
• Compliance issues due to failure to meet security standards.
• Reputational damage due to public disclosure of the vulnerability.

Confidentiality: Unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in the password-protected resource.

Integrity: Modification of sensitive data stored in the password-protected resource.

Availability: Disruption of service due to unauthorized access and modification of sensitive data.

ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File Attack Scenario

1. An attacker gains access to the ASP.NET application’s configuration file.
2. The attacker extracts the plaintext password from the configuration file.
3. The attacker uses the extracted password to access the password-protected resource.
4. The attacker modifies sensitive data stored in the password-protected resource.

How to Detect ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File

Manual Testing

• Review the ASP.NET application’s configuration files for plaintext passwords.
• Use a manual testing tool to simulate an attack on the password-protected resource.

Automated Scanners (SAST / DAST)

• Use an automated scanner to detect plaintext passwords in the configuration file.
• Use an automated scanner to simulate an attack on the password-protected resource.

PenScan Detection

PenScan’s scanner engines can detect ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File by analyzing the configuration files for plaintext passwords and simulating an attack on the password-protected resource.

False Positive Guidance

When reviewing the results of a manual or automated test, be aware that some patterns may look risky but are actually safe due to context. For example, if the pattern is part of a secure protocol, it may not be exploitable.

How to Fix ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File

• Encrypt the password stored in the configuration file.
• Remove the plaintext password from the configuration file altogether.

Framework-Specific Fixes for ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File

C#

<configuration>
  <connectionStrings>
    <add name="myDB" connectionString="Data Source=myServerAddress;Initial Catalog=myDataBase;User Id=myUsername;" />
  </connectionStrings>
</configuration>

This code removes the plaintext password from the configuration file, making it secure.

Java

<configuration>
  <connectionStrings>
    <add name="myDB" connectionString="Data Source=myServerAddress;Initial Catalog=myDataBase;User Id=myUsername;" />
  </connectionStrings>
</configuration>

This code removes the plaintext password from the configuration file, making it secure.

Python/Django

DATABASES = {
    'default': {
        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.mysql',
        'NAME': 'myDB',
        'USER': 'myUsername',
        'PASSWORD': '',
        'HOST': 'myServerAddress',
        'PORT': ''
    }
}

This code removes the plaintext password from the configuration file, making it secure.

PHP

$connection = mysql_connect('myServerAddress', 'myUsername', '');
mysql_select_db('myDataBase', $connection);

This code removes the plaintext password from the configuration file, making it secure.

How to Ask AI to Check Your Code for ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File

You can ask an AI coding assistant to review your code and suggest fixes for ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File by providing a copy-pasteable prompt:

Review the following C# code block for potential CWE-13 ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File vulnerabilities and rewrite it using secure protocols for data transmission:

<configuration>
  <connectionStrings>
    <add name="myDB" connectionString="Data Source=myServerAddress;Initial Catalog=myDataBase;User Id=myUsername;Password=myPassword;" />
  </connectionStrings>
</configuration>

This code stores a plaintext password in the configuration file, making it vulnerable to exploitation.

ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File Best Practices Checklist

✅ Store passwords securely using secure protocols for data transmission. ✅ Remove plaintext passwords from configuration files altogether. ✅ Regularly review and update configuration files to ensure security standards are met.

ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File FAQ

How is ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File defined?

ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File (CWE-13) is a type of security misconfiguration vulnerability that occurs when a plaintext password is stored in an ASP.NET configuration file, allowing attackers to access the password-protected resource.

What are the common consequences of ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File?

The common consequences of ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File include gaining privileges or assuming identity, which can lead to unauthorized access and data breaches.

How does ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File work?

ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File occurs when a plaintext password is stored in an ASP.NET configuration file, allowing attackers to access the password-protected resource.

What are the business impacts of ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File?

The business impacts of ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File include financial losses, compliance issues, and reputational damage due to unauthorized access and data breaches.

How can I detect ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File?

You can detect ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File using manual testing, automated scanners (SAST / DAST), and PenScan detection.

How can I fix ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File?

You can fix ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File by encrypting the password stored in the configuration file or removing it altogether.

What are some best practices for preventing ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File?

Some best practices for preventing ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File include storing passwords securely, using secure protocols for data transmission, and regularly reviewing and updating configuration files.

Vulnerabilities Related to ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File

This table lists vulnerabilities related to ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File, including CWE-260: Password in Configuration File (ChildOf).

References

• MITRE
• OWASP A02:2025 - Security Misconfiguration
• CAPEC
• NVD

Scan Your Own Site

Manual code review catches what you know to look for. An automated scan catches what you didn’t. Scan your own website using PenScan to find ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Password in Configuration File and other risks before an attacker does.