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Weakness (CWE)

CWE-457: Use of Uninitialized Variable

Variant Draft

The code uses a variable that has not been initialized, leading to unpredictable or unintended results.

How to prevent it (5 mitigations)
  1. Implementation

    Ensure that critical variables are initialized before first use [REF-1485].

  2. Build and Compilation

    Most compilers will complain about the use of uninitialized variables if warnings are turned on.

  3. Implementation, Operation

    When using a language that does not require explicit declaration of variables, run or compile the software in a mode that reports undeclared or unknown variables. This may indicate the presence of a typographic error in the variable's name.

  4. Requirements

    Choose a language that is not susceptible to these issues.

  5. Architecture and Design

    Mitigating technologies such as safe string libraries and container abstractions could be introduced.

Source: MITRE CWE-457

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