Overview

Causing a change in flow, due to an exception, can often leave the code in a bad state.

Consequences

• Implementation: The code could be left in a bad state.

Exposure period

• Implementation: Many logic errors can lead to this condition.

Platform

• Languages: Java, C, C# or any language which can throw an exception.

• Operating platforms: Any

Required resources

Any

Severity

Medium

Likelihood of exploit

Medium

Avoidance and mitigation

• Implementation: If one breaks from a loop or function by throwing an exception, make sure that cleanup happens or that you should exit the program. Use throwing exceptions sparsely.

Discussion

Often, when functions or loops become complicated, some level of cleanup in the beginning to the end is needed. Often, since exceptions can disturb the flow of the code, one can leave a code block in a bad state.

Examples

In C++/Java:

public class foo {
  public static final void main( String args[] ) {
        boolean returnValue;
        returnValue=doStuff();
  }
  public static final boolean doStuff( ) {
        boolean threadLock;
        boolean truthvalue=true;

        try {
                while(//check some condition){
                        threadLock=true;
                        //do some stuff to truthvalue
                        threadLock=false;
                }
        } catch (Exception e){
                System.err.println("You did something bad");
                        if (something) return truthvalue;
        }
        return  truthvalue;
  }
}

In this case, you may leave a thread locked accidentally.