CWE-1322: Use of Blocking Code in Single-threaded, Non-blocking Context
Learn about CWE-1322 (Use of Blocking Code in Single-threaded, Non-blocking Context), its security impact, exploitation methods, and prevention guidelines.
What is Use of Blocking Code in Single-threaded, Non-blocking Context?
• Overview:
- CWE-1322 refers to using blocking code in a single-threaded, non-blocking context. This vulnerability arises when a system designed to handle operations without waiting for them to complete is interrupted by operations that do require waiting, such as network calls or file access. This can cause the entire system to become unresponsive.
• Exploitation Methods:
- Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by triggering the blocking code directly, thereby causing the system to hang or freeze.
- Common attack patterns include sending requests that cause the system to perform blocking operations, such as lengthy computations or resource-intensive file operations.
• Security Impact:
- Direct consequences include denial of service, where the system becomes unresponsive to legitimate requests.
- Potential cascading effects involve system-wide slowdowns, affecting multiple services and users.
- Business impact includes loss of customer trust, potential financial losses, and damage to reputation due to service outages.
• Prevention Guidelines:
- Specific code-level fixes involve identifying and refactoring blocking operations to ensure they are non-blocking or are handled in separate threads/processes.
- Security best practices include regular code reviews to identify and mitigate blocking code patterns, and using asynchronous programming models.
- Recommended tools and frameworks include using libraries and frameworks designed for non-blocking operations, such as Node.js with proper use of asynchronous functions, or asyncio in Python for handling asynchronous operations efficiently.
Technical Details
Likelihood of Exploit: Not specified
Affected Languages: Not specified
Affected Technologies: Not specified