VNX-257 – Storing Passwords in a Recoverable Format

Overview

VNX-257 maps to CWE-257: Storing Passwords in a Recoverable Format. Detects source patterns associated with CWE-257 (Storing Passwords in a Recoverable Format). Each finding should be manually reviewed for exploitability in context.

Severity: High | CWE: CWE-257 | Languages: java, node, python

Why This Matters

This weakness class (Storing Passwords in a Recoverable Format) creates a concrete exploit surface: the rule searches for the concrete source-level patterns most commonly associated with CWE-257 and surfaces them for review. Each finding should be evaluated in context — the rule catches the pattern, not the context.

What Gets Flagged

// FLAGGED: contains 'decrypt_password' pattern
decrypt_password

Remediation

  1. Review each flagged line and determine whether the pattern represents a real instance of CWE-257 or a false positive.
  2. Replace the flagged construct with a documented safe alternative appropriate to your language and framework.
  3. For confirmed false positives, add a # vulnetix-ignore: VNX-257 comment on the line.
  4. Ensure equivalent test coverage exists to prevent regression.

References