weakness.md

Weakness Object

a mistake or condition that, if left unaddressed, could under the proper conditions contribute to a cyber-enabled capability being vulnerable to attack, allowing an adversary to make items function in unintended ways.

Property	Type	Description	Required?
description	Markdown String	should be short and limited to the key points that define this weakness	✓
id	String	Globally unique URI identifying this object.	✓
schema_version	String	CTIM schema version for this entity	✓
type	WeaknessTypeIdentifier String	The fixed value weakness	✓
abstraction_level	WeaknessAbstractionLevel String	defines the abstraction level for this weakness
affected_resources	SystemResource String List	identify system resources that can be affected by an exploit of this weakness
alternate_terms	AlternateTerm Object List	indicates one or more other names used to describe this weakness
architectures	Architecture Object List	Applicable architectures
background_details	Markdown String	information that is relevant but not related to the nature of the weakness itself
common_consequences	Consequence Object List	specify individual consequences associated with a weakness
detection_methods	DetectionMethod Object List	identify methods that may be employed to detect this weakness, including their strengths and limitations
external_ids	String List
external_references	ExternalReference Object List	Specifies a list of external references which refers to non-CTIM information. This property is used to provide one or more URLs, descriptions, or IDs to records in other systems.
functional_areas	FunctionalArea String List	identifies the functional area of the software in which the weakness is most likely to occur
language	ShortString String	The human language this object is specified in.
languages	Language Object List	Applicable Languages
likelihood	HighMedLow String	Likelihood of exploit
modes_of_introduction	ModeOfIntroduction Object List	information about how and when a given weakness may be introduced
notes	Note Object List	provide any additional comments about the weakness
operating_systems	OperatingSystem Object List	Applicable operating systems
paradigms	Paradigm Object List	Applicable paradigms
potential_mitigations	Mitigation Object List	describe potential mitigations associated with a weakness
revision	Integer	A monotonically increasing revision, incremented each time the object is changed.
short_description	MedString String	A single line, short summary of the object.
source	MedString String
source_uri	String
structure	WeaknessStructure String	defines the structural nature of the weakness
technologies	Technology Object List	Applicable technologies
timestamp	Inst (Date)	The time this object was created at, or last modified.
title	ShortString String	A short title for this object, used as primary display and reference value
tlp	TLP String	Specification for how, and to whom, this object can be shared.

• Reference: WeaknessType

Property abstraction_level ∷ WeaknessAbstractionLevel String

defines the abstraction level for this weakness

• This entry is optional

  • defines the different abstraction levels that apply to a weakness. A Class is the most abstract type of weakness, typically described independent of any specific language or technology. A Base is a more specific type of weakness that is still mostly independent of a resource or technology, but with sufficient details to provide specific methods for detection and prevention. A Variant is a weakness that is described at a very low level of detail, typically limited to a specific language or technology. A Compound weakness is a meaningful aggregation of several weaknesses, currently known as either a Chain or Composite.
  • Allowed Values:
    • Base
    • Class
    • Compound
    • Variant
  • Reference: AbstractionEnumeration

Property affected_resources ∷ SystemResource String List

identify system resources that can be affected by an exploit of this weakness

• This entry is optional

• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

  • defines a resource of a system
  • Allowed Values:
    • CPU
    • File or Directory
    • Memory
    • System Process
  • Reference: ResourceEnumeration

Property alternate_terms ∷ AlternateTerm Object List

indicates one or more other names used to describe this weakness

• This entry is optional
• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

• AlternateTerm Object Value
  • Details: AlternateTerm Object

Property architectures ∷ Architecture Object List

Applicable architectures

• This entry is optional
• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

• Architecture Object Value
  • Details: Architecture Object

Property background_details ∷ Markdown String

information that is relevant but not related to the nature of the weakness itself

• This entry is optional

  • Markdown string with at most 5000 characters

Property common_consequences ∷ Consequence Object List

specify individual consequences associated with a weakness

• This entry is optional
• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

• Consequence Object Value
  • Details: Consequence Object

Property description ∷ Markdown String

should be short and limited to the key points that define this weakness

• This entry is required

  • Markdown string with at most 5000 characters

Property detection_methods ∷ DetectionMethod Object List

identify methods that may be employed to detect this weakness, including their strengths and limitations

• This entry is optional
• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

• DetectionMethod Object Value
  • Details: DetectionMethod Object

Property external_ids ∷ String List

• This entry is optional
• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

Property external_references ∷ ExternalReference Object List

Specifies a list of external references which refers to non-CTIM information. This property is used to provide one or more URLs, descriptions, or IDs to records in other systems.

• This entry is optional
• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

• ExternalReference Object Value
  • Details: ExternalReference Object

Property functional_areas ∷ FunctionalArea String List

identifies the functional area of the software in which the weakness is most likely to occur

• This entry is optional

• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

  • Defines the different functional areas of software in which the weakness may appear
  • Allowed Values:
    • Authentication
    • Authorization
    • Code Libraries
    • Counters
    • Cryptography
    • Error Handling
    • File Processing
    • Functional-Area-Independent
    • Interprocess Communication
    • Logging
    • Memory Management
    • Networking
    • Number Processing
    • Program Invocation
    • Protection Mechanism
    • Session Management
    • Signals
    • String Processing
  • Reference: FunctionalAreaEnumeration

Property id ∷ String

Globally unique URI identifying this object.

• This entry is required

  • IDs are URIs, for example https://www.domain.com/ctia/judgement/judgement-de305d54-75b4-431b-adb2-eb6b9e546014 for a Judgement. This ID type compares to the STIX id field. The optional STIX idref field is not used.

Property language ∷ ShortString String

The human language this object is specified in.

• This entry is optional

  • String with at most 1024 characters

Property languages ∷ Language Object List

Applicable Languages

• This entry is optional
• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

• Language Object Value
  • Details: Language Object

Property likelihood ∷ HighMedLow String

Likelihood of exploit

• This entry is optional

  • Allowed Values:
    • High
    • Info
    • Low
    • Medium
    • None
    • Unknown
  • Reference: HighMedLowVocab

Property modes_of_introduction ∷ ModeOfIntroduction Object List

information about how and when a given weakness may be introduced

• This entry is optional
• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

• ModeOfIntroduction Object Value
  • Details: ModeOfIntroduction Object

Property notes ∷ Note Object List

provide any additional comments about the weakness

• This entry is optional
• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

• Note Object Value
  • Details: Note Object

Property operating_systems ∷ OperatingSystem Object List

Applicable operating systems

• This entry is optional
• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

• OperatingSystem Object Value
  • Details: OperatingSystem Object

Property paradigms ∷ Paradigm Object List

Applicable paradigms

• This entry is optional
• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

• Paradigm Object Value
  • Details: Paradigm Object

Property potential_mitigations ∷ Mitigation Object List

describe potential mitigations associated with a weakness

• This entry is optional
• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

• Mitigation Object Value
  • Details: Mitigation Object

Property revision ∷ Integer

A monotonically increasing revision, incremented each time the object is changed.

• This entry is optional

  • Zero, or a positive integer

Property schema_version ∷ String

CTIM schema version for this entity

• This entry is required

  • A semantic version matching the CTIM version against which this object should be valid.

Property short_description ∷ MedString String

A single line, short summary of the object.

• This entry is optional

  • String with at most 2048 characters

Property source ∷ MedString String

• This entry is optional

  • String with at most 2048 characters

Property source_uri ∷ String

• This entry is optional

  • A URI

Property structure ∷ WeaknessStructure String

defines the structural nature of the weakness

• This entry is optional

  • structural natures of a weakness. A Simple structure represents a single weakness whose exploitation is not dependent on the presence of another weakness. A Composite is a set of weaknesses that must all be present simultaneously in order to produce an exploitable vulnerability, while a Chain is a set of weaknesses that must be reachable consecutively in order to produce an exploitable vulnerability.
  • Allowed Values:
    • Chain
    • Composite
    • Simple
  • Reference: StructureEnumeration)

Property technologies ∷ Technology Object List

Applicable technologies

• This entry is optional
• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

• Technology Object Value
  • Details: Technology Object

Property timestamp ∷ Inst (Date)

The time this object was created at, or last modified.

• This entry is optional

  • Schema definition for all date or timestamp values. Serialized as a string, the field should follow the rules of the ISO8601 standard.

Property title ∷ ShortString String

A short title for this object, used as primary display and reference value

• This entry is optional

  • String with at most 1024 characters

Property tlp ∷ TLP String

Specification for how, and to whom, this object can be shared.

• This entry is optional

  • TLP stands for Traffic Light Protocol, which indicates precisely how this resource is intended to be shared, replicated, copied, etc.
  • Default: green
  • Allowed Values:
    • amber
    • green
    • red
    • white

Property type ∷ WeaknessTypeIdentifier String

The fixed value weakness

• This entry is required

  • The fixed value "weakness"
  • Must equal: "weakness"

ExternalReference Object

External references are used to describe pointers to information represented outside of CTIM. For example, a Malware object could use an external reference to indicate an ID for that malware in an external database or a report could use references to represent source material.

Property	Type	Description	Required?
source_name	MedString String	The source within which the external-reference is defined (system, registry, organization, etc.)	✓
description	Markdown String
external_id	String	An identifier for the external reference content.
hashes	String List	Specifies a dictionary of hashes for the contents of the url.
url	String	A URL reference to an external resource

• Reference: External Reference

Property description ∷ Markdown String

• This entry is optional

  • Markdown string with at most 5000 characters

Property external_id ∷ String

An identifier for the external reference content.

• This entry is optional

Property hashes ∷ String List

Specifies a dictionary of hashes for the contents of the url.

• This entry is optional
• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

Property source_name ∷ MedString String

The source within which the external-reference is defined (system, registry, organization, etc.)

• This entry is required

  • String with at most 2048 characters

Property url ∷ String

A URL reference to an external resource

• This entry is optional

  • A URI

Language Object

Property	Type	Description	Required?
prevalence	Prevalence String	defines the different regularities that guide the applicability of platforms	✓
class	LanguageClass String	class of language
name	ShortString String	Language name (Clojure, Java, ...)

Property class ∷ LanguageClass String

class of language

• This entry is optional

  • class of source code language
  • Allowed Values:
    • Assembly
    • Compiled
    • Interpreted
  • Reference: LanguageClassEnumeration

Property name ∷ ShortString String

Language name (Clojure, Java, ...)

• This entry is optional

  • String with at most 1024 characters

Property prevalence ∷ Prevalence String

defines the different regularities that guide the applicability of platforms

• This entry is required

  • defines the different regularities that guide the applicability of platforms
  • Allowed Values:
    • Often
    • Rarely
    • Sometimes
    • Undetermined
  • Reference: PrevalenceEnumeration

OperatingSystem Object

Property	Type	Description	Required?
prevalence	Prevalence String	defines the different regularities that guide the applicability of platforms	✓
class	OperatingSystemClass String
cpe_id	ShortString String
name	ShortString String
version	ShortString String

Property class ∷ OperatingSystemClass String

• This entry is optional

  • class of operating systems
  • Allowed Values:
    • Android
    • Apple iOS
    • Cisco IOS
    • Linux
    • Unix
    • Windows
    • macOs
  • Reference: OperatingSystemClassEnumeration

Property cpe_id ∷ ShortString String

• This entry is optional

  • String with at most 1024 characters

Property name ∷ ShortString String

• This entry is optional

  • String with at most 1024 characters

Property prevalence ∷ Prevalence String

defines the different regularities that guide the applicability of platforms

• This entry is required

  • defines the different regularities that guide the applicability of platforms
  • Allowed Values:
    • Often
    • Rarely
    • Sometimes
    • Undetermined
  • Reference: PrevalenceEnumeration

Property version ∷ ShortString String

• This entry is optional

  • String with at most 1024 characters

Architecture Object

Property	Type	Description	Required?
prevalence	Prevalence String	defines the different regularities that guide the applicability of platforms	✓
class	ArchitectureClass String	class of architecture
name	ShortString String	architecture name (ARM, x86, ...)

Property class ∷ ArchitectureClass String

class of architecture

• This entry is optional

  • Allowed Values:
    • Embedded
    • Microcomputer
    • Workstation
  • Reference: ArchitectureClassEnumeration

Property name ∷ ShortString String

architecture name (ARM, x86, ...)

• This entry is optional

  • String with at most 1024 characters

Property prevalence ∷ Prevalence String

defines the different regularities that guide the applicability of platforms

• This entry is required

  • defines the different regularities that guide the applicability of platforms
  • Allowed Values:
    • Often
    • Rarely
    • Sometimes
    • Undetermined
  • Reference: PrevalenceEnumeration

Paradigm Object

Property	Type	Description	Required?
prevalence	Prevalence String	defines the different regularities that guide the applicability of platforms	✓
name	ShortString String	paradigm name (Client Server, Mainframe)

Property name ∷ ShortString String

paradigm name (Client Server, Mainframe)

• This entry is optional

  • String with at most 1024 characters

Property prevalence ∷ Prevalence String

defines the different regularities that guide the applicability of platforms

• This entry is required

  • defines the different regularities that guide the applicability of platforms
  • Allowed Values:
    • Often
    • Rarely
    • Sometimes
    • Undetermined
  • Reference: PrevalenceEnumeration

Technology Object

Property	Type	Description	Required?
prevalence	Prevalence String	defines the different regularities that guide the applicability of platforms	✓
name	ShortString String	technology name (Web Server, Web Client)

Property name ∷ ShortString String

technology name (Web Server, Web Client)

• This entry is optional

  • String with at most 1024 characters

Property prevalence ∷ Prevalence String

defines the different regularities that guide the applicability of platforms

• This entry is required

  • defines the different regularities that guide the applicability of platforms
  • Allowed Values:
    • Often
    • Rarely
    • Sometimes
    • Undetermined
  • Reference: PrevalenceEnumeration

AlternateTerm Object

Property	Type	Description	Required?
term	ShortString String	the actual alternate term	✓
description	Markdown String	provides context for the alternate term by which this weakness may be known.

Property description ∷ Markdown String

provides context for the alternate term by which this weakness may be known.

• This entry is optional

  • Markdown string with at most 5000 characters

Property term ∷ ShortString String

the actual alternate term

• This entry is required

  • String with at most 1024 characters

ModeOfIntroduction Object

Property	Type	Description	Required?
phase	SoftwarePhase String	identifies the point in the software life cycle at which the weakness may be introduced	✓
note	Markdown String	provides a typical scenario related to introduction during the given phase

• Reference: ModesOfIntroductionType

Property note ∷ Markdown String

provides a typical scenario related to introduction during the given phase

• This entry is optional

  • Markdown string with at most 5000 characters

Property phase ∷ SoftwarePhase String

identifies the point in the software life cycle at which the weakness may be introduced

• This entry is required

  • defines the different regularities that guide the applicability of platforms
  • Allowed Values:
    • Architecture and Design
    • Build and Compilation
    • Bundling
    • Distribution
    • Documentation
    • Implementation
    • Installation
    • Operation
    • Patching and Maintenance
    • Policy
    • Porting
    • Requirements
    • System Configuration
    • Testing
  • Reference: PhaseEnumeration

Consequence Object

Property	Type	Description	Required?
scopes	ConsequenceScope String List	identifies the security property that is violated	✓
impacts	TechnicalImpact String List	describes the technical impact that arises if an adversary succeeds in exploiting this weakness
likelihood	HighMedLow String	how likely the specific consequence is expected to be seen relative to the other consequences
note	Markdown String	additional commentary about a consequence

• Reference: CommonConsequencesType

Property impacts ∷ TechnicalImpact String List

describes the technical impact that arises if an adversary succeeds in exploiting this weakness

• This entry is optional

• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

  • Allowed Values:
    • Alter Execution Logic
    • Bypass Protection Mechanism
    • DoS: Amplification
    • DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
    • DoS: Instability
    • DoS: Resource Consumption (CPU)
    • DoS: Resource Consumption (Memory)
    • DoS: Resource Consumption (Other)
    • Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
    • Gain Privileges or Assume Identity
    • Hide Activities
    • Modify Application Data
    • Modify Files or Directories
    • Modify Memory
    • Quality Degradation
    • Read Application Data
    • Read Files or Directories
    • Read Memory
    • Unexpected State
    • Varies by Context
  • Reference: TechnicalImpactEnumeration

Property likelihood ∷ HighMedLow String

how likely the specific consequence is expected to be seen relative to the other consequences

• This entry is optional

  • Allowed Values:
    • High
    • Info
    • Low
    • Medium
    • None
    • Unknown
  • Reference: HighMedLowVocab

Property note ∷ Markdown String

additional commentary about a consequence

• This entry is optional

  • Markdown string with at most 5000 characters

Property scopes ∷ ConsequenceScope String List

identifies the security property that is violated

• This entry is required

• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

  • defines the different areas of software security that can be affected by exploiting a weakness.
  • Allowed Values:
    • Access Control
    • Accountability
    • Authentication
    • Authorization
    • Availability
    • Confidentiality
    • Integrity
    • Non-Repudiation
  • Reference: ScopeEnumeration

DetectionMethod Object

Property	Type	Description	Required?
description	Markdown String	provide some context of how this method can be applied to a specific weakness	✓
method	DetectionMethod String	identifies the particular detection method being described	✓
effectiveness	DetectionEffectiveness String	how effective the detection method may be in detecting the associated weakness
effectiveness_notes	Markdown String	provides additional discussion of the strengths and shortcomings of this detection method

• Reference: DetectionMethodsType

Property description ∷ Markdown String

provide some context of how this method can be applied to a specific weakness

• This entry is required

  • Markdown string with at most 5000 characters

Property effectiveness ∷ DetectionEffectiveness String

how effective the detection method may be in detecting the associated weakness

• This entry is optional

  • level of effectiveness that a detection method may have in detecting an associated weakness
  • Allowed Values:
    • High
    • Limited
    • Moderate
    • None
    • Opportunistic
    • SOAR Partial
  • Reference: DetectionEffectivenessEnumeration

Property effectiveness_notes ∷ Markdown String

provides additional discussion of the strengths and shortcomings of this detection method

• This entry is optional

  • Markdown string with at most 5000 characters

Property method ∷ DetectionMethod String

identifies the particular detection method being described

• This entry is required

  • method used to detect a weakness
  • Allowed Values:
    • Architecture or Design Review
    • Automated Analysis
    • Automated Dynamic Analysis
    • Automated Static Analysis
    • Automated Static Analysis - Binary or Bytecode
    • Automated Static Analysis - Source Code
    • Black Box
    • Dynamic Analysis with Automated Results Interpretation
    • Dynamic Analysis with Manual Results Interpretation
    • Fuzzing
    • Manual Analysis
    • Manual Dynamic Analysis
    • Manual Static Analysis
    • Manual Static Analysis - Binary or Bytecode
    • Manual Static Analysis - Source Code
    • Other
    • White Box
  • Reference: DetectionMethodEnumeration

Mitigation Object

Property	Type	Description	Required?
description	Markdown String	a description of this individual mitigation including any strengths and shortcomings of this mitigation for the weakness	✓
effectiveness	Effectiveness String	summarizes how effective the mitigation may be in preventing the weakness
effectiveness_notes	Markdown String
phases	SoftwarePhase String List	indicates the development life cycle phase during which this particular mitigation may be applied
strategy	MitigationStrategy String	a general strategy for protecting a system to which this mitigation contributes

• Reference: PotentialMitigationsType

Property description ∷ Markdown String

a description of this individual mitigation including any strengths and shortcomings of this mitigation for the weakness

• This entry is required

  • Markdown string with at most 5000 characters

Property effectiveness ∷ Effectiveness String

summarizes how effective the mitigation may be in preventing the weakness

• This entry is optional

  • related to how effective a mitigation may be in preventing the weakness
  • Allowed Values:
    • Defense in Depth
    • High
    • Incidental
    • Limited
    • Moderate
    • None
  • Reference: EffectivenessEnumeration

Property effectiveness_notes ∷ Markdown String

• This entry is optional

  • Markdown string with at most 5000 characters

Property phases ∷ SoftwarePhase String List

indicates the development life cycle phase during which this particular mitigation may be applied

• This entry is optional

• This entry's type is sequential (allows zero or more values)

  • defines the different regularities that guide the applicability of platforms
  • Allowed Values:
    • Architecture and Design
    • Build and Compilation
    • Bundling
    • Distribution
    • Documentation
    • Implementation
    • Installation
    • Operation
    • Patching and Maintenance
    • Policy
    • Porting
    • Requirements
    • System Configuration
    • Testing
  • Reference: PhaseEnumeration

Property strategy ∷ MitigationStrategy String

a general strategy for protecting a system to which this mitigation contributes

• This entry is optional

  • strategy for protecting a system to which a mitigation contributes
  • Allowed Values:
    • Attack Surface Reduction
    • Compilation or Build Hardening
    • Enforcement by Conversion
    • Environment Hardening
    • Firewall
    • Input Validation
    • Language Selection
    • Libraries or Frameworks
    • Output Encoding
    • Parameterization
    • Refactoring
    • Resource Limitation
    • Sandbox or Jail
    • Separation of Privilege
  • Reference: MitigationStrategyEnumeration

Note Object

Property	Type	Description	Required?
note	Markdown String		✓
type	NoteType String		✓

Property note ∷ Markdown String

• This entry is required

  • Markdown string with at most 5000 characters

Property type ∷ NoteType String

• This entry is required

  • defines the different types of notes that can be associated with a weakness
  • Allowed Values:
    • Applicable Platform
    • Maintenance
    • Relationship
    • Research Gap
    • Terminology
    • Theoretical
  • Reference: [NoteTypeEnumeration] (https://cwe.mitre.org/documents/schema/#NoteTypeEnumeration)