Kingdom: Errors

Errors and error handling represent a class of API. Errors related to error handling are so common that they deserve a special kingdom of their own. As with "API Abuse," there are two ways to introduce an error-related security vulnerability: the most common one is handling errors poorly (or not at all). The second is producing errors that either give out too much information (to possible attackers) or are difficult to handle.

Poor Error Handling: Empty Catch Block

Abstract
Ignoring an exception can cause the program to overlook unexpected states and conditions.
Explanation
Just about every serious attack on a software system begins with the violation of a programmer's assumptions. After the attack, the programmer's assumptions seem flimsy and poorly founded, but before an attack many programmers would defend their assumptions well past the end of their lunch break.

Two dubious assumptions that are easy to spot in code are "this method call can never fail" and "it doesn't matter if this call fails". When a programmer ignores an exception, they implicitly state that they are operating under one of these assumptions.

Example 1: The following code excerpt ignores a rarely-thrown exception from doExchange().


try {
    doExchange();
}
catch (RareException e) {
    // this can never happen
}


If a RareException were to ever be thrown, the program would continue to execute as though nothing unusual had occurred. The program records no evidence indicating the special situation, potentially frustrating any later attempt to explain the program's behavior.
References
[1] ERR00-J. Do not suppress or ignore checked exceptions CERT
[2] Standards Mapping - Common Weakness Enumeration CWE ID 1069
[3] Standards Mapping - DISA Control Correlation Identifier Version 2 CCI-001312, CCI-001314, CCI-003272
[4] Standards Mapping - FIPS200 AU
[5] Standards Mapping - General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Indirect Access to Sensitive Data
[6] Standards Mapping - NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 4 SA-15 Development Process and Standards and Tools (P2), SI-11 Error Handling (P2)
[7] Standards Mapping - NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 5 SA-15 Development Process and Standards and Tools, SI-11 Error Handling
[8] Standards Mapping - OWASP Application Security Verification Standard 4.0 7.4.1 Error Handling (L1 L2 L3)
[9] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2004 A7 Improper Error Handling
[10] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2007 A6 Information Leakage and Improper Error Handling
[11] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 1.1 Requirement 6.5.7
[12] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 1.2 Requirement 6.3.1.2, Requirement 6.5.6
[13] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 2.0 Requirement 6.5.5
[14] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.0 Requirement 6.5.5
[15] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.1 Requirement 6.5.5
[16] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.2 Requirement 6.5.5
[17] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.2.1 Requirement 6.5.5
[18] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 4.0 Requirement 6.2.4
[19] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.0 Control Objective 3.6 - Sensitive Data Retention
[20] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.1 Control Objective 3.6 - Sensitive Data Retention, Control Objective B.3.2 - Terminal Software Attack Mitigation
[21] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.2 Control Objective 3.6 - Sensitive Data Retention, Control Objective B.3.2 - Terminal Software Attack Mitigation
[22] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.1 APP3120 CAT II
[23] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.4 APP3120 CAT II
[24] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.5 APP3120 CAT II
[25] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.6 APP3120 CAT II
[26] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.7 APP3120 CAT II
[27] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.9 APP3120 CAT II
[28] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.10 APP3120 CAT II
[29] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.2 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[30] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.3 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[31] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.4 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[32] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.5 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[33] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.6 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[34] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.7 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[35] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.8 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[36] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.9 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[37] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.10 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[38] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.11 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[39] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.1 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[40] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.1 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[41] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.2 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[42] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.3 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[43] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 6.1 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
desc.structural.apex.poor_error_handling_empty_catch_block
Abstract
Ignoring an exception can cause the program to overlook unexpected states and conditions.
Explanation
Just about every serious attack on a software system begins with the violation of a programmer's assumptions. After the attack, the programmer's assumptions seem flimsy and poorly founded, but before an attack many programmers would defend their assumptions well past the end of their lunch break.

Two dubious assumptions that are easy to spot in code are "this method call can never fail" and "it doesn't matter if this call fails". When programmers ignore exceptions, they implicitly state that they are operating under one of these assumptions.

Example 1: The following code excerpt ignores a rarely-thrown exception from DoExchange().


try {
  DoExchange();
}
catch (RareException e) {
  // this can never happen
}


If a RareException were to ever be thrown, the program would continue to execute as though nothing unusual had occurred. The program records no evidence indicating the special situation, potentially frustrating any later attempt to explain the program's behavior.
References
[1] Standards Mapping - Common Weakness Enumeration CWE ID 1069
[2] Standards Mapping - DISA Control Correlation Identifier Version 2 CCI-001312, CCI-001314, CCI-003272
[3] Standards Mapping - FIPS200 AU
[4] Standards Mapping - General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Indirect Access to Sensitive Data
[5] Standards Mapping - NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 4 SA-15 Development Process and Standards and Tools (P2), SI-11 Error Handling (P2)
[6] Standards Mapping - NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 5 SA-15 Development Process and Standards and Tools, SI-11 Error Handling
[7] Standards Mapping - OWASP Application Security Verification Standard 4.0 7.4.1 Error Handling (L1 L2 L3)
[8] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2004 A7 Improper Error Handling
[9] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2007 A6 Information Leakage and Improper Error Handling
[10] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 1.1 Requirement 6.5.7
[11] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 1.2 Requirement 6.3.1.2, Requirement 6.5.6
[12] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 2.0 Requirement 6.5.5
[13] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.0 Requirement 6.5.5
[14] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.1 Requirement 6.5.5
[15] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.2 Requirement 6.5.5
[16] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.2.1 Requirement 6.5.5
[17] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 4.0 Requirement 6.2.4
[18] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.0 Control Objective 3.6 - Sensitive Data Retention
[19] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.1 Control Objective 3.6 - Sensitive Data Retention, Control Objective B.3.2 - Terminal Software Attack Mitigation
[20] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.2 Control Objective 3.6 - Sensitive Data Retention, Control Objective B.3.2 - Terminal Software Attack Mitigation
[21] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.1 APP3120 CAT II
[22] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.4 APP3120 CAT II
[23] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.5 APP3120 CAT II
[24] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.6 APP3120 CAT II
[25] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.7 APP3120 CAT II
[26] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.9 APP3120 CAT II
[27] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.10 APP3120 CAT II
[28] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.2 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[29] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.3 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[30] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.4 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[31] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.5 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[32] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.6 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[33] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.7 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[34] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.8 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[35] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.9 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[36] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.10 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[37] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.11 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[38] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.1 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[39] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.1 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[40] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.2 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[41] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.3 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[42] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 6.1 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
desc.structural.dotnet.poor_error_handling_empty_catch_block
Abstract
Ignoring an exception can cause the program to overlook unexpected states and conditions.
Explanation
Just about every serious attack on a software system begins with the violation of a programmer's assumptions. After the attack, the programmer's assumptions seem flimsy and poorly founded, but before an attack many programmers would defend their assumptions well past the end of their lunch break.

Two dubious assumptions that are easy to spot in code are "this method call can never fail" and "it doesn't matter if this call fails". When a programmer ignores an exception, they implicitly state that they are operating under one of these assumptions.

Example 1: The following code excerpt ignores a rarely-thrown exception from doExchange().


try {
  doExchange();
}
catch (RareException e) {
  // this can never happen
}


If a RareException were to ever be thrown, the program would continue to execute as though nothing unusual had occurred. The program records no evidence indicating the special situation, potentially frustrating any later attempt to explain the program's behavior.
References
[1] ERR00-J. Do not suppress or ignore checked exceptions CERT
[2] Standards Mapping - Common Weakness Enumeration CWE ID 1069
[3] Standards Mapping - DISA Control Correlation Identifier Version 2 CCI-001312, CCI-001314, CCI-003272
[4] Standards Mapping - FIPS200 AU
[5] Standards Mapping - General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Indirect Access to Sensitive Data
[6] Standards Mapping - NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 4 SA-15 Development Process and Standards and Tools (P2), SI-11 Error Handling (P2)
[7] Standards Mapping - NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 5 SA-15 Development Process and Standards and Tools, SI-11 Error Handling
[8] Standards Mapping - OWASP Application Security Verification Standard 4.0 7.4.1 Error Handling (L1 L2 L3)
[9] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2004 A7 Improper Error Handling
[10] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2007 A6 Information Leakage and Improper Error Handling
[11] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 1.1 Requirement 6.5.7
[12] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 1.2 Requirement 6.3.1.2, Requirement 6.5.6
[13] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 2.0 Requirement 6.5.5
[14] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.0 Requirement 6.5.5
[15] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.1 Requirement 6.5.5
[16] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.2 Requirement 6.5.5
[17] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.2.1 Requirement 6.5.5
[18] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 4.0 Requirement 6.2.4
[19] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.0 Control Objective 3.6 - Sensitive Data Retention
[20] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.1 Control Objective 3.6 - Sensitive Data Retention, Control Objective B.3.2 - Terminal Software Attack Mitigation
[21] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.2 Control Objective 3.6 - Sensitive Data Retention, Control Objective B.3.2 - Terminal Software Attack Mitigation
[22] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.1 APP3120 CAT II
[23] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.4 APP3120 CAT II
[24] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.5 APP3120 CAT II
[25] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.6 APP3120 CAT II
[26] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.7 APP3120 CAT II
[27] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.9 APP3120 CAT II
[28] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.10 APP3120 CAT II
[29] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.2 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[30] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.3 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[31] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.4 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[32] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.5 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[33] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.6 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[34] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.7 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[35] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.8 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[36] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.9 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[37] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.10 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[38] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.11 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[39] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.1 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[40] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.1 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[41] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.2 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[42] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.3 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[43] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 6.1 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
desc.structural.java.poor_error_handling_empty_catch_block
Abstract
Ignoring an exception can cause the program to overlook unexpected states and conditions.
Explanation
Just about every serious attack on a software system begins with the violation of a programmer's assumptions. After the attack, the programmer's assumptions seem flimsy and poorly founded, but before an attack many programmers would defend their assumptions well past the end of their lunch break.

Two dubious assumptions that are easy to spot in code are "this method call can never fail" and "it doesn't matter if this call fails". When a programmer ignores an exception, they implicitly state that they are operating under one of these assumptions.

Example 1: The following code excerpt ignores a rarely-thrown exception from doExchange().


try {
  doExchange();
}
catch (exception $e) {
  // this can never happen
}


If a RareException were to ever be thrown, the program would continue to execute as though nothing unusual had occurred. The program records no evidence indicating the special situation, potentially frustrating any later attempt to explain the program's behavior.
References
[1] Standards Mapping - Common Weakness Enumeration CWE ID 1069
[2] Standards Mapping - DISA Control Correlation Identifier Version 2 CCI-001312, CCI-001314, CCI-003272
[3] Standards Mapping - FIPS200 AU
[4] Standards Mapping - General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Indirect Access to Sensitive Data
[5] Standards Mapping - NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 4 SA-15 Development Process and Standards and Tools (P2), SI-11 Error Handling (P2)
[6] Standards Mapping - NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 5 SA-15 Development Process and Standards and Tools, SI-11 Error Handling
[7] Standards Mapping - OWASP Application Security Verification Standard 4.0 7.4.1 Error Handling (L1 L2 L3)
[8] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2004 A7 Improper Error Handling
[9] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2007 A6 Information Leakage and Improper Error Handling
[10] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 1.1 Requirement 6.5.7
[11] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 1.2 Requirement 6.3.1.2, Requirement 6.5.6
[12] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 2.0 Requirement 6.5.5
[13] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.0 Requirement 6.5.5
[14] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.1 Requirement 6.5.5
[15] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.2 Requirement 6.5.5
[16] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.2.1 Requirement 6.5.5
[17] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 4.0 Requirement 6.2.4
[18] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.0 Control Objective 3.6 - Sensitive Data Retention
[19] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.1 Control Objective 3.6 - Sensitive Data Retention, Control Objective B.3.2 - Terminal Software Attack Mitigation
[20] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.2 Control Objective 3.6 - Sensitive Data Retention, Control Objective B.3.2 - Terminal Software Attack Mitigation
[21] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.1 APP3120 CAT II
[22] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.4 APP3120 CAT II
[23] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.5 APP3120 CAT II
[24] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.6 APP3120 CAT II
[25] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.7 APP3120 CAT II
[26] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.9 APP3120 CAT II
[27] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.10 APP3120 CAT II
[28] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.2 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[29] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.3 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[30] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.4 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[31] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.5 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[32] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.6 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[33] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.7 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[34] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.8 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[35] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.9 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[36] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.10 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[37] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.11 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[38] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.1 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[39] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.1 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[40] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.2 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[41] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.3 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[42] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 6.1 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
desc.structural.php.poor_error_handling_empty_catch_block
Abstract
Ignoring an exception can cause the program to overlook unexpected states and conditions.
Explanation
Just about every serious attack on a software system begins with the violation of a programmer's assumptions. After the attack, the programmer's assumptions seem flimsy and poorly founded, but before an attack many programmers would defend their assumptions well past the end of their lunch break.

Two dubious assumptions that are easy to spot in code are "this method call can never fail" and "it doesn't matter if this call fails". When a programmer ignores an exception, they implicitly state that they are operating under one of these assumptions.

Example 1: The following code excerpt ignores a rarely-thrown exception from open().


try:
    f = open('myfile.txt')
    s = f.readline()
    i = int(s.strip())
except:
   # This will never happen
   pass


If a RareException were to ever be thrown, the program would continue to execute as though nothing unusual had occurred. The program records no evidence indicating the special situation, potentially frustrating any later attempt to explain the program's behavior.
References
[1] Standards Mapping - Common Weakness Enumeration CWE ID 1069
[2] Standards Mapping - DISA Control Correlation Identifier Version 2 CCI-001312, CCI-001314, CCI-003272
[3] Standards Mapping - FIPS200 AU
[4] Standards Mapping - General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Indirect Access to Sensitive Data
[5] Standards Mapping - NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 4 SA-15 Development Process and Standards and Tools (P2), SI-11 Error Handling (P2)
[6] Standards Mapping - NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 5 SA-15 Development Process and Standards and Tools, SI-11 Error Handling
[7] Standards Mapping - OWASP Application Security Verification Standard 4.0 7.4.1 Error Handling (L1 L2 L3)
[8] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2004 A7 Improper Error Handling
[9] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2007 A6 Information Leakage and Improper Error Handling
[10] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 1.1 Requirement 6.5.7
[11] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 1.2 Requirement 6.3.1.2, Requirement 6.5.6
[12] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 2.0 Requirement 6.5.5
[13] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.0 Requirement 6.5.5
[14] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.1 Requirement 6.5.5
[15] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.2 Requirement 6.5.5
[16] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.2.1 Requirement 6.5.5
[17] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 4.0 Requirement 6.2.4
[18] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.0 Control Objective 3.6 - Sensitive Data Retention
[19] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.1 Control Objective 3.6 - Sensitive Data Retention, Control Objective B.3.2 - Terminal Software Attack Mitigation
[20] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.2 Control Objective 3.6 - Sensitive Data Retention, Control Objective B.3.2 - Terminal Software Attack Mitigation
[21] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.1 APP3120 CAT II
[22] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.4 APP3120 CAT II
[23] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.5 APP3120 CAT II
[24] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.6 APP3120 CAT II
[25] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.7 APP3120 CAT II
[26] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.9 APP3120 CAT II
[27] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.10 APP3120 CAT II
[28] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.2 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[29] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.3 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[30] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.4 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[31] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.5 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[32] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.6 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[33] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.7 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[34] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.8 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[35] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.9 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[36] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.10 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[37] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.11 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[38] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.1 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[39] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.1 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[40] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.2 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[41] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.3 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
[42] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 6.1 APSC-DV-002570 CAT II, APSC-DV-002580 CAT II, APSC-DV-003235 CAT II
desc.structural.python.poor_error_handling_empty_catch_block