CWE-368 Base Borrador

Context Switching Race Condition

This vulnerability occurs when an application switches between different security contexts (like privilege levels or domains) using a series of steps that can be interrupted. An attacker can exploit…

Definición

What is CWE-368?

This vulnerability occurs when an application switches between different security contexts (like privilege levels or domains) using a series of steps that can be interrupted. An attacker can exploit the timing gap during this switch to trick the application into performing actions with the wrong permissions or resources.
This flaw is a classic race condition that targets the brief window when an application is changing states, such as moving from a trusted admin area to a public user space. Because the switch isn't performed as a single, uninterruptible operation, an attacker can inject malicious actions that get executed with the privileges of the previous, more trusted context. In practice, this is frequently seen in web browsers. For example, if a user navigates from a secure banking site to an untrusted forum, there's a moment during the page transition where scripts might still run with the origin or permissions of the banking site. An attacker could exploit this to access sensitive data or perform unauthorized actions that should have been blocked after the context change.
Impacto en el mundo real

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-368

  • CVE-2009-1837

    Chain: race condition (CWE-362) from improper handling of a page transition in web client while an applet is loading (CWE-368) leads to use after free (CWE-416)

  • CVE-2004-2260

    Browser updates address bar as soon as user clicks on a link instead of when the page has loaded, allowing spoofing by redirecting to another page using onUnload method. ** this is one example of the role of "hooks" and context switches, and should be captured somehow - also a race condition of sorts **

  • CVE-2004-0191

    XSS when web browser executes Javascript events in the context of a new page while it's being loaded, allowing interaction with previous page in different domain.

  • CVE-2004-2491

    Web browser fills in address bar of clicked-on link before page has been loaded, and doesn't update afterward.

Cómo lo explotan los atacantes

Ruta del atacante paso a paso

  1. 1

    Identifica una ruta de código que maneje entrada no confiable sin validación.

  2. 2

    Crea un payload que ejercite el comportamiento inseguro — inyección, traversal, overflow o abuso de lógica.

  3. 3

    Envía el payload a través de una solicitud normal y observa la reacción de la aplicación.

  4. 4

    Itera hasta que la respuesta filtre datos, ejecute código del atacante o escale privilegios.

Ejemplo de código vulnerable

Vulnerable pseudo

MITRE no ha publicado un ejemplo de código para esta CWE. El patrón siguiente es ilustrativo — consulta Recursos para referencias canónicas.

Vulnerable pseudo 
// Example pattern — see MITRE for the canonical references.
function handleRequest(input) {
  // Untrusted input flows directly into the sensitive sink.
  return executeUnsafe(input);
}
Ejemplo de código seguro

Secure pseudo

Seguro pseudo 
// Validate, sanitize, or use a safe API before reaching the sink.
function handleRequest(input) {
  const safe = validateAndEscape(input);
  return executeWithGuards(safe);
}
What changed: the unsafe sink is replaced (or the input is validated/escaped) so the same payload no longer triggers the weakness.
Lista de prevención

How to prevent CWE-368

  • Architecture Use safe-by-default frameworks and APIs that prevent the unsafe pattern from being expressible.
  • Implementation Validate input at trust boundaries; use allowlists, not denylists.
  • Implementation Apply the principle of least privilege to credentials, file paths, and runtime permissions.
  • Testing Cover this weakness in CI: SAST rules + targeted unit tests for the data flow.
  • Operation Monitor logs for the runtime signals listed in the next section.
Señales de detección

How to detect CWE-368

SAST High

Ejecuta análisis estático (SAST) sobre el código buscando el patrón inseguro en el flujo de datos.

DAST Moderate

Ejecuta pruebas dinámicas de seguridad de aplicaciones (DAST) contra el endpoint en vivo.

Runtime Moderate

Vigila los logs en tiempo de ejecución para detectar trazas de excepción inusuales, entradas malformadas o intentos de bypass de autorización.

Code review Moderate

Revisión de código: marca cualquier código nuevo que maneje entrada desde esta superficie sin usar los helpers validados del framework.

Auto-corrección de Plexicus

Plexicus detecta automáticamente CWE-368 y abre un PR de corrección en menos de 60 segundos.

Codex Remedium escanea cada commit, identifica esta debilidad concreta y entrega un pull request listo para revisión con el parche. Sin tickets. Sin traspasos.

Solicitar demo Probar Plexicus gratis
Preguntas frecuentes

Frequently asked questions

¿Qué es CWE-368?

This vulnerability occurs when an application switches between different security contexts (like privilege levels or domains) using a series of steps that can be interrupted. An attacker can exploit the timing gap during this switch to trick the application into performing actions with the wrong permissions or resources.

¿Qué gravedad tiene CWE-368?

MITRE no ha publicado una calificación de probabilidad de explotación para esta debilidad. Trátala como de impacto medio hasta que tu modelo de amenazas demuestre lo contrario.

¿Qué lenguajes o plataformas se ven afectados por CWE-368?

MITRE no ha especificado plataformas afectadas para esta CWE — puede aplicar a la mayoría de los stacks de aplicaciones.

¿Cómo puedo prevenir CWE-368?

Use safe-by-default frameworks, validate untrusted input at trust boundaries, and apply the principle of least privilege. Cover the data-flow signature in CI with SAST.

¿Cómo detecta y corrige Plexicus CWE-368?

El motor SAST de Plexicus detecta la firma de flujo de datos para CWE-368 en cada commit. Cuando hay coincidencia, nuestro agente Codex Remedium abre un PR de corrección con el código corregido, las pruebas y un resumen de una línea para el revisor.

¿Dónde puedo aprender más sobre CWE-368?

MITRE publica la definición canónica en https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/368.html. También puedes consultar la documentación de OWASP y NIST para guías relacionadas.

Debilidades relacionadas

Weaknesses related to CWE-368

CWE-362 Padre

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Race Condition for Write-Once Attributes

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Hardware Logic Contains Race Conditions

A hardware race condition occurs when security-critical logic circuits receive signals at slightly different times, creating temporary…

CWE-364 Hermano

Signal Handler Race Condition

A signal handler race condition occurs when a program's signal handling routine is vulnerable to timing issues, allowing its state to be…

CWE-366 Hermano

Race Condition within a Thread

This vulnerability occurs when two or more threads within the same application access and manipulate a shared resource (like a variable,…

CWE-367 Hermano

Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition

This vulnerability occurs when a program verifies a resource's state (like a file's permissions or existence) but then uses it after that…

CWE-421 Hermano

Race Condition During Access to Alternate Channel

A race condition occurs when an application opens a secondary communication channel intended for an authorized user, but fails to secure…

CWE-689 Hermano

Permission Race Condition During Resource Copy

This vulnerability occurs when a system copies a file or resource but delays setting its final permissions until the entire copy operation…

Recursos

Further reading

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