# Cwe 326 Inadequate Encryption Strength

> Use this skill when you need to remediate CWE-326 (Inadequate Encryption Strength) vulnerabilities in Java code. Triggers on SAST findings, security reviews, or when fixing inadequate encryption strength issues.

- Skill: `developerscoffee/cwe-326-inadequate-encryption-strength` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add developerscoffee/cwe-326-inadequate-encryption-strength`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/developerscoffee/cwe-326-inadequate-encryption-strength/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Security
- License: MIT
- Author: DevelopersCoffee (https://skillmd.com/u/developerscoffee)
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/developerscoffee/cwe-326-inadequate-encryption-strength

---


# CWE-326 Inadequate Encryption Strength

## Description

Inadequate Encryption Strength

Reference:
https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/326.html


**OWASP Category**: A02:2021 – Cryptographic Failures


---

## Vulnerable Pattern


### ❌ Example 1

```java
    public ResponseEntity<GenericVulnerabilityResponseBean<String>> getVulnerablePayloadLevel2(
            @RequestParam Map<String, String> queryParams) {
        String password = queryParams.get(PASSWORD_PARAM);

        if (password == null || password.isEmpty()) {
            return new ResponseEntity<>(
                    new GenericVulnerabilityResponseBean<>(
                            "CHALLENGE: A user's password is stored as SHA1 hash: "
                                    + LEVEL2_HASH
                                    + " — Crack it and enter the original password!",
                            false),
                    HttpStatus.OK);
        }

        String guessHash = DigestUtils.sha1Hex(password);
        if (guessHash.equals(LEVEL2_HASH)) {
            return new ResponseEntity<>(
                    new GenericVulnerabilityResponseBean<>(
                            "Correct! The password was '"
                                    + LEVEL2_SECRET
                                    + "'. SHA1 is deprecated — it is vulnerable to collision"
                                    + " attacks and hashes can be reversed using rainbow tables.",
                            true),
                    HttpStatus.OK);
        } else {
        // ... (truncated for brevity)
```





---

## Deterministic Fix


### ✅ Secure Implementation

```java
    public ResponseEntity<GenericVulnerabilityResponseBean<String>> getVulnerablePayloadLevel4(
            @RequestParam Map<String, String> queryParams) {
        String password = queryParams.get(PASSWORD_PARAM);

        if (password == null || password.isEmpty()) {
            return new ResponseEntity<>(
                    new GenericVulnerabilityResponseBean<>(
                            "CHALLENGE: The system 'encrypts' passwords using Base64 encoding. "
                                    + "The stored password is: "
                                    + LEVEL4_ENCODED
                                    + " — Decode it and enter the original password!",
                            false),
                    HttpStatus.OK);
        }

        if (password.equals(LEVEL4_SECRET)) {
            return new ResponseEntity<>(
                    new GenericVulnerabilityResponseBean<>(
                            "Correct! The password was '"
                                    + LEVEL4_SECRET
                                    + "'. Base64 is an encoding, NOT encryption."
                                    + " It provides zero security — anyone can decode it instantly.",
                            true),
                    HttpStatus.OK);
        } else {
        // ... (truncated for brevity)
```





---

## Detection Pattern

Look for these patterns in your codebase:


```bash
# Find key size specifications
grep -rn "KeyGenerator\|KeyPairGenerator" --include="*.java" | grep -E "[0-9]+"
```


```bash
# Find weak key sizes
grep -rn "512\|1024" --include="*.java" | grep -i key
```



---

## Remediation Steps


1. Use RSA keys of at least 2048 bits (preferably 4096)

2. Use AES-256 instead of AES-128

3. Use strong key derivation functions (PBKDF2, Argon2)

4. Ensure sufficient iterations in key derivation


---

## Key Imports

```java

import javax.crypto.KeyGenerator;

import java.security.KeyPairGenerator;

import javax.crypto.SecretKeyFactory;

```

---

## Verification

After remediation:


- Re-run SAST scan - CWE-326 should be resolved

- Verify RSA keys are >= 2048 bits

- Verify AES keys are >= 128 bits (256 preferred)


---

## Trigger Examples

```
Fix CWE-326 vulnerability
Resolve Inadequate Encryption Strength issue
Secure this Java code against inadequate encryption strength
SAST reports CWE-326
```

---

## Common Vulnerable Locations

| Layer | Files | Patterns |
|-------|-------|----------|

| Security | `*Crypto*.java` | Key generation |

| Configuration | `*Config.java` | Security config |


---

## References


- [CWE-326: Inadequate Encryption Strength](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/326.html)

- [NIST Key Management Guidelines](https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-57-part-1/rev-5/final)


---

**Source**: Generated by [Java CWE Security Skills Generator](https://github.com/DevelopersCoffee/java-cwe-security-skills)
**Last Updated**: 2026-03-07