ABSTRACT

An <exception> tag that does not contain a type attribute will not be used.

EXPLANATION

The <exception> tag requires that an exception type be defined. A missing or empty type attribute is indicative of either a superfluous exception handler or an accidental omission. If a developer intended to handle an exception, but forgot to define the exception type, then the application might leak sensitive information about the system.
Example 1: The following configuration omits the type from the <exception> tag.


<global-exceptions>
<exception
key="error.key"
handler="com.mybank.ExceptionHandler"/>
</global-exceptions>

REFERENCES

[1] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2007 - (OWASP 2007) A6 Information Leakage and Improper Error Handling

[2] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2004 - (OWASP 2004) A7 Improper Error Handling

[3] Apache Struts 1.3 Specification

[4] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3 - (STIG 3) APP3120 CAT II

[5] Building Controller Components

[6] Standards Mapping - Common Weakness Enumeration - (CWE) CWE ID 248

[7] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 1.2 - (PCI 1.2) Requirement 6.3.1.2, Requirement 6.5.6

[8] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 2.0 - (PCI 2.0) Requirement 6.5.5

[9] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 1.1 - (PCI 1.1) Requirement 6.5.7

[10] struts-config_1_3.dtd