# Weak Password Requirements (CWE-521)

The product does not require that users should have strong passwords, which makes it easier for attackers to compromise user accounts.

**Stack:** JavaScript

- Prevalence: High Frequently exploited
- Impact: High 1 high-severity rules
- Prevention: Documented 2 fix examples

**OWASP:** Identification and Authentication Failures (A07:2021-Identification and Authentication Failures) - #7

## Description

Without strong password requirements, users often choose weak, easily guessable passwords. This makes brute-force and dictionary attacks more likely to succeed.

## Prevention

Prevention strategies for Weak Password Requirements based on 1 Shoulder detection rules.

### JavaScript

Require minimum 12 characters with complexity checks or use a password strength library

## Warning Signs

- [HIGH] Password validation at ... lacks proper complexity requirements
- [HIGH] password validation that lacks proper complexity requirements, making accounts vulnerable to brute f

## Consequences

- Gain Privileges
- Bypass Protection Mechanism

## Mitigations

- Enforce minimum password length (12+ characters recommended)
- Check passwords against known breach databases
- Implement multi-factor authentication

## Detection

- Total rules: 2
- Languages: go, javascript, typescript

## Rules by Language

### Javascript (1 rules)

- **Weak Password Policy** [HIGH]: Detects password validation that lacks proper complexity requirements, making accounts vulnerable to brute force attacks.
  - Remediation: Implement strong password requirements:

```javascript
// ✅ SAFE - Strong password policy
function validatePassword(password) {
  if (password.length < 12) {
    throw new Error('Password must be at least 12 characters');
  }

  const hasUppercase = /[A-Z]/.test(password);
  const hasLowercase = /[a-z]/.test(password);
  const hasDigit = /\d/.test(password);
  const hasSpecial = /[!@#$%^&*(),.?":{}|<>]/.test(password);

  if (!hasUppercase || !hasLowercase || !hasDigit || !hasSpecial) {
    throw new Error(
      'Password must contain uppercase, lowercase, digit, and special character'
    );
  }

  return true;
}
```

### Typescript (1 rules)

- **Weak Password Policy** [HIGH]: Detects password validation that lacks proper complexity requirements, making accounts vulnerable to brute force attacks.
  - Remediation: Implement strong password requirements:

```javascript
// ✅ SAFE - Strong password policy
function validatePassword(password) {
  if (password.length < 12) {
    throw new Error('Password must be at least 12 characters');
  }

  const hasUppercase = /[A-Z]/.test(password);
  const hasLowercase = /[a-z]/.test(password);
  const hasDigit = /\d/.test(password);
  const hasSpecial = /[!@#$%^&*(),.?":{}|<>]/.test(password);

  if (!hasUppercase || !hasLowercase || !hasDigit || !hasSpecial) {
    throw new Error(
      'Password must contain uppercase, lowercase, digit, and special character'
    );
  }

  return true;
}
```