CWE-666: Operation on Resource in Wrong Phase of Lifetime
| Abstraction | Structure | Status |
|---|---|---|
| None | Simple | Draft |
Description
The product performs an operation on a resource at the wrong phase of the resource’s lifecycle, which can lead to unexpected behaviors.
Extended Description
A resource’s lifecycle includes several phases: initialization, use, and release. For each phase, it is important to follow the specifications outlined for how to operate on the resource and to ensure that the resource is in the expected phase. Otherwise, if a resource is in one phase but the operation is not valid for that phase (i.e., an incorrect phase of the resource’s lifetime), then this can produce resultant weaknesses. For example, using a resource before it has been fully initialized could cause corruption or incorrect data to be used.
Related Weaknesses
| Nature | ID | View ID | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChildOf | CWE-664 | 1000 | Improper Control of a Resource Through its Lifetime |
Modes of Introduction
| Phase | Note |
|---|---|
| Implementation | - |
Applicable Platforms
Languages
Class: Not Language-Specific
Technologies
Common Consequences
| Scope | Impact | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other |
Detection Methods
Automated Static Analysis
Automated static analysis, commonly referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST), can find some instances of this weakness by analyzing source code (or binary/compiled code) without having to execute it. Typically, this is done by building a model of data flow and control flow, then searching for potentially-vulnerable patterns that connect “sources” (origins of input) with “sinks” (destinations where the data interacts with external components, a lower layer such as the OS, etc.)
Potential Mitigations
Architecture and Design
Follow the resource’s lifecycle from creation to release.
Observed Examples
- CVE-2006-5051: Chain: Signal handler contains too much functionality (CWE-828), introducing a race condition (CWE-362) that leads to a double free (CWE-415).