# Insufficiently Protected Credentials (CWE-522)

The product transmits or stores authentication credentials, but it uses an insecure method that is susceptible to unauthorized interception and/or retrieval.

- Prevalence: High No Shoulder rules
- Impact: Medium OWASP Top 10 #7
- Prevention: See MITRE External reference

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

## Description

When credentials are not properly protected during transmission or storage, attackers can capture them and use them to impersonate legitimate users.

## Prevention

## Consequences

- Gain Privileges
- Bypass Protection Mechanism

## Mitigations

- Use TLS for all credential transmission
- Store credentials using strong one-way hashing with salt
- Use secure credential storage mechanisms