CWE-773: Missing Reference to Active File Descriptor or Handle
Learn about CWE-773 (Missing Reference to Active File Descriptor or Handle), its security impact, exploitation methods, and prevention guidelines.
What is Missing Reference to Active File Descriptor or Handle?
• Overview: Missing Reference to Active File Descriptor or Handle (CWE-773) occurs when a software application fails to maintain references to file descriptors or handles, leading to resource leaks that prevent these resources from being reclaimed.
• Exploitation Methods:
- Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by causing the application to exhaust its available file descriptors or handles.
- Common attack patterns include repeatedly triggering operations that open files or connections without closing them properly.
• Security Impact:
- Direct consequences include denial of service due to resource exhaustion.
- Potential cascading effects involve system instability and degraded performance for other applications.
- Business impact could involve downtime, reduced service availability, and potential financial losses.
• Prevention Guidelines:
- Specific code-level fixes include ensuring that all file descriptors and handles are properly closed after use.
- Security best practices involve implementing robust error handling and resource management strategies.
- Recommended tools and frameworks include using static analysis tools to detect unreleased resources and employing resource management libraries that automatically handle resource cleanup.
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Technical Details
Likelihood of Exploit: Not specified
Affected Languages: Not specified
Affected Technologies: Not specified