FAQ

A CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) is a standardized classification of weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities in software, firmware, or systems. Unlike CVEs, which refer to specific and documented vulnerabilities in a given product, CWEs describe types of design or programming flaws that can compromise a system’s security.

For example, a CWE might describe poor memory management, command injection, or insufficient input validation. These weaknesses can be found in multiple software products and may be linked to individual CVEs when exploited in real scenarios.

CWEs are abstract models of weaknesses, whereas CVEs are concrete incidents. A CVE represents a specific vulnerability identified in a software or system, while a CWE describes a general weakness present in the code or architecture, which is not necessarily exploited.

For example, a CVE might refer to an SQL injection in a web application, while the corresponding CWE would be CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. In summary, CWEs are used to categorize and analyze flaws, while CVEs are used to track and fix them individually.

The CWE classification helps standardize the understanding of security weaknesses in information systems. It helps developers, testers, and analysts identify common design or coding errors so they can be more easily avoided or corrected. Thanks to this taxonomy, security tools can produce coherent and actionable reports.

It is also very useful for training technical teams, evaluating detection tools, prioritizing risks, and complying with standards like ISO/IEC 27001. By integrating CWE into development processes, security can be significantly improved from the design phase onward.

The CWE list is maintained by the MITRE Corporation, the same organization that manages the CVE program. MITRE is supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other public and private entities to develop and maintain this knowledge base.

The community also plays a key role: researchers, vendors, governments, and industry members can propose new weaknesses, suggest modifications, or share feedback on the usefulness of existing entries. The database is public, freely accessible online, and constantly updated to reflect evolving technologies and attack techniques.

CWEs are integrated into many source code analysis tools, security audits, or vulnerability management systems to automatically identify potential weaknesses in software. By understanding which CWEs are present in a system, teams can assess the attack surface, anticipate future threats, and prioritize fixes before a weakness becomes an exploitable CVE.

They also help define risk profiles for projects or products based on the nature and number of identified weaknesses. This facilitates decision-making for CISOs, IT managers, or compliance officers, especially in DevSecOps approaches or evaluations aligned with frameworks like NIST or ISO 27002.

The CWE Top 25 is an annual list of the 25 most dangerous software security weaknesses. It is compiled by MITRE based on public data from the NVD (National Vulnerability Database) and other sources, by analyzing the frequency and impact of weaknesses linked to real CVEs.

This ranking is valuable for developers and security teams, as it highlights the most common and critical errors, such as injections, buffer overflows, or authentication issues. By focusing on these priority weaknesses, organizations can quickly improve their security posture, even with limited resources.