What is Password Aging with Long Expiration (CWE-263)?

TL;DR: Password Aging with Long Expiration (CWE-263) is a security misconfiguration vulnerability that occurs when a password aging policy has an expiration period that is too long, allowing attackers to exploit weak passwords. To fix this issue, implement a password aging policy with short expiration periods and enforce strong password requirements.

At-a-Glance

What is Password Aging with Long Expiration?

Password Aging with Long Expiration (CWE-263) is a type of security misconfiguration vulnerability that occurs when a password aging policy has an expiration period that is too long, allowing attackers to exploit weak passwords. As defined by the MITRE Corporation under CWE-263, and classified by the OWASP Foundation under A05:2021 - Security Misconfiguration…

Quick Summary

Password Aging with Long Expiration (CWE-263) can lead to compromised user accounts and potential data breaches due to weak passwords. It is essential to implement a password aging policy with short expiration periods and enforce strong password requirements to prevent this vulnerability.

Jump to: What is Password Aging with Long Expiration? · Quick Summary · Password Aging with Long Expiration Overview · How Password Aging with Long Expiration Works · Business Impact of Password Aging with Long Expiration · Password Aging with Long Expiration Attack Scenario · How to Detect Password Aging with Long Expiration · How to Fix Password Aging with Long Expiration · Framework-Specific Fixes for Password Aging with Long Expiration · How to Ask AI to Check Your Code for Password Aging with Long Expiration · Password Aging with Long Expiration Best Practices Checklist · Password Aging with Long Expiration FAQ · Vulnerabilities Related to Password Aging with Long Expiration · References · Scan Your Own Site

Password Aging with Long Expiration Overview

What

Password Aging with Long Expiration (CWE-263) is a type of security misconfiguration vulnerability that occurs when a password aging policy has an expiration period that is too long, allowing attackers to exploit weak passwords.

Why it matters

CWE-263 can lead to compromised user accounts and potential data breaches due to weak passwords. It is essential to implement a password aging policy with short expiration periods and enforce strong password requirements to prevent this vulnerability.

Where it occurs

Password Aging with Long Expiration (CWE-263) typically occurs in web applications, authentication systems, and password managers that have an outdated or poorly configured password aging policy.

Who is affected

Any user whose account has a weak password that is not regularly changed may be affected by CWE-263. This can include employees, customers, or any other individuals who use the application or system.

Who is NOT affected

Users who regularly change their passwords and use strong, unique passwords are less likely to be affected by CWE-263.

How Password Aging with Long Expiration Works

Root Cause

The root cause of CWE-263 is a password aging policy that has an expiration period that is too long, allowing attackers to exploit weak passwords.

Attack Flow

1. An attacker attempts to gain access to a user’s account by guessing or cracking the weak password.
2. The password aging policy allows the weak password to remain active for an extended period, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation.
3. The attacker gains access to the user’s account and can potentially cause damage or steal sensitive information.

Prerequisites to Exploit

• A weak password that is not regularly changed
• A password aging policy with a long expiration period
• An attacker who has sufficient knowledge and resources to exploit the vulnerability

Vulnerable Code

import datetime

def check_password_expiration(password):
    # Check if the password is expired
    if datetime.date.today() - password['expiration_date'] > datetime.timedelta(days=90):
        return True
    else:
        return False

This code demonstrates a vulnerable password aging policy that allows weak passwords to remain active for an extended period.

Secure Code

import datetime

def check_password_expiration(password):
    # Check if the password is expired
    if datetime.date.today() - password['expiration_date'] > datetime.timedelta(days=14):
        return True
    else:
        return False

This code demonstrates a secure password aging policy that enforces regular password changes and prevents weak passwords from remaining active for an extended period.

Business Impact of Password Aging with Long Expiration

Confidentiality

• Compromised user accounts can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, including financial data, personal identifiable information (PII), or confidential business data.
• Weak passwords can be easily guessed or cracked by attackers, allowing them to gain access to sensitive information.

Integrity

• Weak passwords can allow attackers to modify or delete sensitive information, compromising the integrity of the system.

Availability

• CWE-263 can lead to downtime or service disruptions if an attacker gains access to a user’s account and causes damage to the system.

Password Aging with Long Expiration Attack Scenario

1. An attacker attempts to gain access to a user’s account by guessing or cracking the weak password.
2. The password aging policy allows the weak password to remain active for an extended period, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation.
3. The attacker gains access to the user’s account and can potentially cause damage or steal sensitive information.

How to Detect Password Aging with Long Expiration

Manual Testing

• Review the password aging policy and configuration
• Check if weak passwords are allowed to remain active for an extended period
• Verify that regular password changes are enforced

Automated Scanners (SAST / DAST)

• Use automated scanners to detect CWE-263 in web applications, authentication systems, and password managers
• Contrast what static analysis catches here vs. what needs dynamic/runtime testing to find

PenScan Detection

• PenScan’s scanner engines actively test for CWE-263 and provide actionable recommendations to fix the issue.

False Positive Guidance

• Be cautious when reviewing findings from automated scanners, as some may be false positives due to legitimate password aging policies or configuration settings.
• Verify the findings with manual testing and review of system logs.

How to Fix Password Aging with Long Expiration

• Implement a password aging policy with short expiration periods (e.g., 14 days)
• Enforce strong password requirements, such as requiring complex passwords and regular password changes
• Regularly review and update the password aging policy to ensure it remains effective

Framework-Specific Fixes for Password Aging with Long Expiration

Java

import java.security.SecureRandom;

public class PasswordAgingPolicy {
    private static final int EXPIRATION_PERIOD = 14; // days

    public boolean isPasswordExpired(String password) {
        // Check if the password is expired
        if (password.getExpirationDate().getTime() - System.currentTimeMillis() > EXPIRATION_PERIOD * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000) {
            return true;
        } else {
            return false;
        }
    }
}

Node.js

const crypto = require('crypto');

function checkPasswordExpiration(password) {
    // Check if the password is expired
    if (password.expirationDate.getTime() - Date.now() > 14 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000) {
        return true;
    } else {
        return false;
    }
}

Python/Django

import datetime

def check_password_expiration(password):
    # Check if the password is expired
    if password.expiration_date - datetime.date.today() > datetime.timedelta(days=14):
        return True
    else:
        return False

PHP

function checkPasswordExpiration($password) {
    // Check if the password is expired
    if ($password->expirationDate - date('Y-m-d') > 14 * 24 * 60 * 60) {
        return true;
    } else {
        return false;
    }
}

How to Ask AI to Check Your Code for Password Aging with Long Expiration

You can use the following prompt to review your code with an AI coding assistant: “Review the following [language] code block for potential CWE-263 Password Aging with Long Expiration vulnerabilities and rewrite it using password aging policy with short expiration periods.”

Password Aging with Long Expiration Best Practices Checklist

✅ Implement a password aging policy with short expiration periods (e.g., 14 days) ✅ Enforce strong password requirements, such as requiring complex passwords and regular password changes ✅ Regularly review and update the password aging policy to ensure it remains effective ✅ Use automated scanners to detect CWE-263 in web applications, authentication systems, and password managers

Password Aging with Long Expiration FAQ

How does CWE-263 occur?

CWE-263 occurs when a password aging policy has an expiration period that is too long, allowing attackers to exploit weak passwords.

What are the consequences of CWE-263?

The consequences of CWE-263 include compromised user accounts and potential data breaches due to weak passwords.

How can I prevent CWE-263?

To prevent CWE-263, implement a password aging policy with short expiration periods and enforce strong password requirements.

What are the related weaknesses to CWE-263?

The related weaknesses to CWE-263 include CWE-1390 (Weak Authentication) and CAPEC-16 (Password Cracking).

How can I detect CWE-263?

You can detect CWE-263 using manual testing, automated scanners, and PenScan’s detection capabilities.

What are the framework-specific fixes for CWE-263?

The framework-specific fixes for CWE-263 include implementing a password aging policy with short expiration periods in Java, Node.js, Python/Django, and PHP.

How can I ask AI to check my code for CWE-263?

You can use the following prompt to review your code with an AI coding assistant: “Review the following [language] code block for potential CWE-263 Password Aging with Long Expiration vulnerabilities and rewrite it using password aging policy with short expiration periods.”

Vulnerabilities Related to Password Aging with Long Expiration

References

• MITRE CWE-263
• CAPEC-16
• 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 Password Aging with Long Expiration and other risks before an attacker does.