CWE-911 Detail

CWE-911

Improper Update of Reference Count
Medium
Incomplete
2013-02-21
00h00 +00:00
2023-06-29
00h00 +00:00
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Name: Improper Update of Reference Count

The product uses a reference count to manage a resource, but it does not update or incorrectly updates the reference count.

CWE 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.

General Informations

Modes Of Introduction

Implementation

Applicable Platforms

Language

Name: C (Sometimes)
Name: C++ (Sometimes)
Class: Not Language-Specific (Undetermined)

Observed Examples

References Description

CVE-2002-0574

chain: reference count is not decremented, leading to memory leak in OS by sending ICMP packets.

CVE-2004-0114

Reference count for shared memory not decremented when a function fails, potentially allowing unprivileged users to read kernel memory.

CVE-2006-3741

chain: improper reference count tracking leads to file descriptor consumption

CVE-2007-1383

chain: integer overflow in reference counter causes the same variable to be destroyed twice.

CVE-2007-1700

Incorrect reference count calculation leads to improper object destruction and code execution.

CVE-2008-2136

chain: incorrect update of reference count leads to memory leak.

CVE-2008-2785

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.

CVE-2008-5410

Improper reference counting leads to failure of cryptographic operations.

CVE-2009-1709

chain: improper reference counting in a garbage collection routine leads to use-after-free

CVE-2009-3553

chain: reference count not correctly maintained when client disconnects during a large operation, leading to a use-after-free.

CVE-2009-3624

Reference count not always incremented, leading to crash or code execution.

CVE-2010-0176

improper reference counting leads to expired pointer dereference.

CVE-2010-0623

OS kernel increments reference count twice but only decrements once, leading to resource consumption and crash.

CVE-2010-2549

OS kernel driver allows code execution

CVE-2010-4593

improper reference counting leads to exhaustion of IP addresses

CVE-2011-0695

Race condition causes reference counter to be decremented prematurely, leading to the destruction of still-active object and an invalid pointer dereference.

CVE-2012-4787

improper reference counting leads to use-after-free

Vulnerability Mapping Notes

Justification : This CWE entry is at the Base level of abstraction, which is a preferred level of abstraction for mapping to the root causes of vulnerabilities.
Comment : Carefully read both the name and description to ensure that this mapping is an appropriate fit. Do not try to 'force' a mapping to a lower-level Base/Variant simply to comply with this preferred level of abstraction.

References

REF-884

Windows Kernel Reference Count Vulnerabilities - Case Study
Mateusz "j00ru" Jurczyk.
https://j00ru.vexillium.org/slides/2012/zeronights.pdf

Submission

Name Organization Date Date release Version
CWE Content Team MITRE 2012-12-21 +00:00 2013-02-21 +00:00 2.4

Modifications

Name Organization Date Comment
CWE Content Team MITRE 2019-06-20 +00:00 updated Type
CWE Content Team MITRE 2020-02-24 +00:00 updated Relationships, Type
CWE Content Team MITRE 2023-01-31 +00:00 updated Description
CWE Content Team MITRE 2023-04-27 +00:00 updated References, Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2023-06-29 +00:00 updated Mapping_Notes