Learn about weakness categories related to data validation in software systems to prevent code injection and ensure data integrity. Addressing these weaknesses is crucial for maintaining data quality within systems.
Within this category, weaknesses pertain to the components of a software system that are responsible for validating input, output, or any other form of data validation. Validation is a commonly employed technique to ensure that data adheres to specified standards before it undergoes further processing as input or output. There exist multiple types of validation, as exemplified by CWE-20, which specifically focuses on input validation. It is important to note that validation differs from other methods that aim to modify data prior to processing. However, developers may perceive all endeavors to produce "safe" inputs or outputs as a form of validation. Regardless, validation is an influential tool frequently utilized to prevent malformed data from infiltrating the system, and indirectly preventing code injection or other potentially malicious patterns when generating output. Neglecting to address weaknesses in this category could result in a deterioration of the quality of data flow within the system.