CWE-567 Base Borrador

Unsynchronized Access to Shared Data in a Multithreaded Context

This vulnerability occurs when multiple threads in an application can read and modify shared data, like static variables, without proper coordination. This unsynchronized access corrupts data,…

Definición

What is CWE-567?

This vulnerability occurs when multiple threads in an application can read and modify shared data, like static variables, without proper coordination. This unsynchronized access corrupts data, causes crashes, and leads to unpredictable, often security-critical, behavior.
A common example is in Java servlet-based applications, where the framework manages multithreading. Developers might mistakenly treat static variables as safe, forgetting that all servlet threads can access them simultaneously. If an attacker can influence this shared data, one thread could inject invalid or malicious content that another thread then processes, creating a serious security flaw. This issue is not limited to servlets or J2EE. It's a fundamental concurrency flaw that can appear in any multithreaded environment when developers assume single-threaded execution for shared resources. The core problem is a mismatch: the application uses a multithreaded architecture but fails to implement the necessary safeguards, like locks or atomic operations, to protect its shared state from concurrent modification.
Impacto en el mundo real

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-567

Todavía no hay CVEs públicos enlazados a esta CWE en el catálogo de MITRE.

Cómo lo explotan los atacantes

Ruta del atacante paso a paso

  1. 1

    The following code implements a basic counter for how many times the page has been accesed.

  2. 2

    Consider when two separate threads, Thread A and Thread B, concurrently handle two different requests:

  3. 3

    - Assume this is the first occurrence of doGet, so the value of count is 0. - doGet() is called within Thread A. - The execution of doGet() in Thread A continues to the point AFTER the value of the count variable is read, then incremented, but BEFORE it is saved back to count. At this stage, the incremented value is 1, but the value of count is 0. - doGet() is called within Thread B, and due to a higher thread priority, Thread B progresses to the point where the count variable is accessed (where it is still 0), incremented, and saved. After the save, count is 1. - Thread A continues. It saves the intermediate, incremented value to the count variable - but the incremented value is 1, so count is "re-saved" to 1.

  4. 4

    At this point, both Thread A and Thread B print that one hit has been seen, even though two separate requests have been processed. The value of count should be 2, not 1.

  5. 5

    While this example does not have any real serious implications, if the shared variable in question is used for resource tracking, then resource consumption could occur. Other scenarios exist.

Ejemplo de código vulnerable

Vulnerable Java

The following code implements a basic counter for how many times the page has been accesed.

Vulnerable Java
public static class Counter extends HttpServlet {
  	static int count = 0;
  	protected void doGet(HttpServletRequest in, HttpServletResponse out)
  	throws ServletException, IOException {
  		out.setContentType("text/plain");
  		PrintWriter p = out.getWriter();
  		count++;
  		p.println(count + " hits so far!");
  	}
  }
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-567

  • Implementation Remove the use of static variables used between servlets. If this cannot be avoided, use synchronized access for these variables.
Señales de detección

How to detect CWE-567

Automated Static Analysis High

Automated static analysis, commonly referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST), can find some instances of this weakness by analyzing source code (or binary/compiled code) without having to execute it. Typically, this is done by building a model of data flow and control flow, then searching for potentially-vulnerable patterns that connect "sources" (origins of input) with "sinks" (destinations where the data interacts with external components, a lower layer such as the OS, etc.)

Auto-corrección de Plexicus

Plexicus detecta automáticamente CWE-567 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.

Preguntas frecuentes

Frequently asked questions

¿Qué es CWE-567?

This vulnerability occurs when multiple threads in an application can read and modify shared data, like static variables, without proper coordination. This unsynchronized access corrupts data, causes crashes, and leads to unpredictable, often security-critical, behavior.

¿Qué gravedad tiene CWE-567?

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-567?

MITRE lists the following affected platforms: Java.

¿Cómo puedo prevenir CWE-567?

Remove the use of static variables used between servlets. If this cannot be avoided, use synchronized access for these variables.

¿Cómo detecta y corrige Plexicus CWE-567?

El motor SAST de Plexicus detecta la firma de flujo de datos para CWE-567 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-567?

MITRE publica la definición canónica en https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/567.html. También puedes consultar la documentación de OWASP y NIST para guías relacionadas.

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