CWE

Common Weakness Enumeration

A Community-Developed List of Software & Hardware Weakness Types
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ID

CWE-911: Improper Update of Reference Count

Weakness ID: 911
Abstraction: Base
Structure: Simple
Status: Incomplete
Presentation Filter:
+ Description
The software uses a reference count to manage a resource, but it does not update or incorrectly updates the reference count.
+ Extended Description
Reference counts can be used when tracking how many objects contain a reference to a particular resource, such as in memory management or garbage collection. When the reference count reaches zero, the resource can be de-allocated or reused because there are no more objects that use it. If the reference count accidentally reaches zero, then the resource might be released too soon, even though it is still in use. If all objects no longer use the resource, but the reference count is not zero, then the resource might not ever be released.
+ Relationships

The table(s) below shows the weaknesses and high level categories that are related to this weakness. These relationships are defined as ChildOf, ParentOf, MemberOf and give insight to similar items that may exist at higher and lower levels of abstraction. In addition, relationships such as PeerOf and CanAlsoBe are defined to show similar weaknesses that the user may want to explore.

+ Relevant to the view "Research Concepts" (CWE-1000)
NatureTypeIDName
ChildOfPillarPillar - a weakness that is the most abstract type of weakness and represents a theme for all class/base/variant weaknesses related to it. A Pillar is different from a Category as a Pillar is still technically a type of weakness that describes a mistake, while a Category represents a common characteristic used to group related things.664Improper Control of a Resource Through its Lifetime
CanPrecedeClassClass - a weakness that is described in a very abstract fashion, typically independent of any specific language or technology. More specific than a Pillar Weakness, but more general than a Base Weakness. Class level weaknesses typically describe issues in terms of 1 or 2 of the following dimensions: behavior, property, and resource.672Operation on a Resource after Expiration or Release
CanPrecedeBaseBase - a weakness that is still mostly independent of a resource or technology, but with sufficient details to provide specific methods for detection and prevention. Base level weaknesses typically describe issues in terms of 2 or 3 of the following dimensions: behavior, property, technology, language, and resource.772Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime
+ Relevant to the view "Software Development" (CWE-699)
NatureTypeIDName
MemberOfCategoryCategory - a CWE entry that contains a set of other entries that share a common characteristic.399Resource Management Errors
+ Modes Of Introduction

The different Modes of Introduction provide information about how and when this weakness may be introduced. The Phase identifies a point in the life cycle at which introduction may occur, while the Note provides a typical scenario related to introduction during the given phase.

PhaseNote
Implementation
+ Applicable Platforms
The listings below show possible areas for which the given weakness could appear. These may be for specific named Languages, Operating Systems, Architectures, Paradigms, Technologies, or a class of such platforms. The platform is listed along with how frequently the given weakness appears for that instance.

Languages

C (Sometimes Prevalent)

C++ (Sometimes Prevalent)

Class: Language-Independent (Undetermined Prevalence)

+ Likelihood Of Exploit
Medium
+ Observed Examples
ReferenceDescription
chain: reference count is not decremented, leading to memory leak in OS by sending ICMP packets.
Reference count for shared memory not decremented when a function fails, potentially allowing unprivileged users to read kernel memory.
chain: improper reference count tracking leads to file descriptor consumption
chain: integer overflow in reference counter causes the same variable to be destroyed twice.
Incorrect reference count calculation leads to improper object destruction and code execution.
chain: incorrect update of reference count leads to memory leak.
chain/composite: use of incorrect data type for a reference counter allows an overflow of the counter, leading to a free of memory that is still in use.
Improper reference counting leads to failure of cryptographic operations.
chain: improper reference counting in a garbage collection routine leads to use-after-free
chain: reference count not correctly maintained when client disconnects during a large operation, leading to a use-after-free.
Reference count not always incremented, leading to crash or code execution.
improper reference counting leads to expired pointer dereference.
OS kernel increments reference count twice but only decrements once, leading to resource consumption and crash.
OS kernel driver allows code execution
improper reference counting leads to exhaustion of IP addresses
Race condition causes reference counter to be decremented prematurely, leading to the destruction of still-active object and an invalid pointer dereference.
improper reference counting leads to use-after-free
+ Weakness Ordinalities
OrdinalityDescription
Primary
(where the weakness exists independent of other weaknesses)
+ References
[REF-884] Mateusz "j00ru" Jurczyk. "Windows Kernel Reference Count Vulnerabilities - Case Study". 2012-11. <http://j00ru.vexillium.org/dump/zn_slides.pdf>.
+ Content History
+ Submissions
Submission DateSubmitterOrganization
2012-12-21CWE Content TeamMITRE
+ Modifications
Modification DateModifierOrganization
2019-06-20CWE Content TeamMITRE
updated Type
2020-02-24CWE Content TeamMITRE
updated Relationships, Type
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Page Last Updated: March 15, 2021
 

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