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CWE-248: Uncaught Exception

 
Uncaught Exception
Weakness ID: 248 (Weakness Base)Status: Draft
+ Description

Description Summary

An exception is thrown from a function, but it is not caught.

Extended Description

When an exception is not caught, it may cause the program to crash or expose sensitive information.

+ Time of Introduction
  • Implementation
+ Applicable Platforms

Languages

C++

Java

.NET

+ Common Consequences
ScopeEffect
Availability

Technical Impact: DoS: crash / exit / restart

+ Demonstrative Examples

Example 1

The _alloca() function allocates memory on the stack. If an allocation request is too large for the available stack space, _alloca() throws an exception. If the exception is not caught, the program will crash, potentially enabling a denial of service attack. _alloca() has been deprecated as of Microsoft Visual Studio 2005(R). It has been replaced with the more secure _alloca_s().

Example 2

EnterCriticalSection() can raise an exception, potentially causing the program to crash. Under operating systems prior to Windows 2000, the EnterCriticalSection() function can raise an exception in low memory situations. If the exception is not caught, the program will crash, potentially enabling a denial of service attack.

+ Relationships
NatureTypeIDNameView(s) this relationship pertains toView(s)
ChildOfWeakness ClassWeakness Class227Improper Fulfillment of API Contract ('API Abuse')
Development Concepts (primary)699
Seven Pernicious Kingdoms (primary)700
ChildOfCategoryCategory389Error Conditions, Return Values, Status Codes
Development Concepts699
ChildOfWeakness ClassWeakness Class703Improper Check or Handling of Exceptional Conditions
Research Concepts1000
ChildOfWeakness ClassWeakness Class705Incorrect Control Flow Scoping
Research Concepts (primary)1000
ChildOfCategoryCategory730OWASP Top Ten 2004 Category A9 - Denial of Service
Weaknesses in OWASP Top Ten (2004) (primary)711
ChildOfCategoryCategory851CERT Java Secure Coding Section 06 - Exceptional Behavior (ERR)
Weaknesses Addressed by the CERT Java Secure Coding Standard (primary)844
ParentOfWeakness BaseWeakness Base600Uncaught Exception in Servlet
Research Concepts (primary)1000
+ Taxonomy Mappings
Mapped Taxonomy NameNode IDFitMapped Node Name
7 Pernicious KingdomsOften Misused: Exception Handling
CERT Java Secure CodingERR05-JDo not let checked exceptions escape from a finally block
CERT Java Secure CodingERR06-JDo not let code throw undeclared checked exceptions
+ Content History
Submissions
Submission DateSubmitterOrganizationSource
7 Pernicious KingdomsExternally Mined
Modifications
Modification DateModifierOrganizationSource
2008-07-01Eric DalciCigitalExternal
updated Time_of_Introduction
2008-08-15VeracodeExternal
Suggested OWASP Top Ten 2004 mapping
2008-09-08CWE Content TeamMITREInternal
updated Applicable_Platforms, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
2008-09-24CWE Content TeamMITREInternal
Removed C from Applicable_Platforms
2008-10-14CWE Content TeamMITREInternal
updated Applicable_Platforms
2009-03-10CWE Content TeamMITREInternal
updated Relationships
2011-03-29CWE Content TeamMITREInternal
updated Description, Relationships
2011-06-01CWE Content TeamMITREInternal
updated Common_Consequences, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
Previous Entry Names
Change DatePrevious Entry Name
2008-01-30Often Misused: Exception Handling
Page Last Updated: September 12, 2011