# Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information (CWE-319)

The product transmits sensitive or security-critical data in cleartext in a communication channel that can be sniffed by unauthorized actors.

**Stack:** Go

- Prevalence: High Frequently exploited
- Impact: High 5 high-severity rules
- Prevention: Documented 6 fix examples

**OWASP:** Cryptographic Failures (A02:2021-Cryptographic Failures) - #2

## Description

Many communication channels can be sniffed by attackers during data transmission. When sensitive data is transmitted without encryption, an attacker can intercept and read this information. Secure channels like TLS should be used to protect sensitive data in transit.

## Prevention

### Go

Use StartTLS instead of Start to enable HTTPS encryption

Use ListenTLS instead of Listen to enable HTTPS encryption

Use RunTLS instead of Run to enable HTTPS encryption

## Consequences

- Read Application Data
- Bypass Protection Mechanism

## Mitigations

- Encrypt all sensitive data before transmission
- Use TLS/SSL for all connections that transmit sensitive data
- Implement certificate pinning for mobile applications

## Detection

- Total rules: 6
- Languages: go, kubernetes, yaml, python

## Rules by Language

### Go (3 rules)

- **Echo Running Without TLS** [HIGH]: Echo server running over HTTP instead of HTTPS.
  - Remediation: Use StartTLS with certificate files for HTTPS.

```go
e := echo.New()
e.StartTLS(":443", "cert.pem", "key.pem")
```

Learn more: https://shoulder.dev/learn/go/cwe-319/tls-config
- **Fiber Running Without TLS** [HIGH]: Fiber server running over HTTP instead of HTTPS.
  - Remediation: Use ListenTLS with certificate files for HTTPS.

```go
app := fiber.New()
app.ListenTLS(":443", "cert.pem", "key.pem")
```

Learn more: https://shoulder.dev/learn/go/cwe-319/tls-config
- **Gin Running Without TLS** [LOW]: Gin server running over HTTP instead of HTTPS.
  - Remediation: Use RunTLS with certificate files for HTTPS.

```go
r := gin.Default()
r.RunTLS(":443", "cert.pem", "key.pem")
```

Learn more: https://shoulder.dev/learn/go/cwe-319/tls-config