Missing Reference to Active Allocated Resource
Incomplete Base
Structure: Simple
Description
The product does not properly maintain a reference to a resource that has been allocated, which prevents the resource from being reclaimed.
This does not necessarily apply in languages or frameworks that automatically perform garbage collection, since the removal of all references may act as a signal that the resource is ready to be reclaimed.
Common Consequences 1
Scope: Availability
Impact: DoS: Resource Consumption (Other)
An attacker that can influence the allocation of resources that are not properly maintained could deplete the available resource pool and prevent all other processes from accessing the same type of resource.
Potential Mitigations 1
Phase: OperationArchitecture and Design
Strategy: Resource Limitation
Use resource-limiting settings provided by the operating system or environment. For example, when managing system resources in POSIX, setrlimit() can be used to set limits for certain types of resources, and getrlimit() can determine how many resources are available. However, these functions are not available on all operating systems.
When the current levels get close to the maximum that is defined for the application (see Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling), then limit the allocation of further resources to privileged users; alternately, begin releasing resources for less-privileged users. While this mitigation may protect the system from attack, it will not necessarily stop attackers from adversely impacting other users.
Ensure that the application performs the appropriate error checks and error handling in case resources become unavailable (Improper Check or Handling of Exceptional Conditions).
Likelihood of Exploit
Medium
Modes of Introduction
Implementation
Related Weaknesses
Taxonomy Mapping
- CERT C Secure Coding
- CERT C Secure Coding
- Software Fault Patterns
- ISA/IEC 62443
- ISA/IEC 62443
- ISA/IEC 62443