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Processes behave similar to threads, and so share the same concerns.  Do not use the TerminateThread() or TerminateProcess() APIs.  Instead, you should prefer to exit threads and processes by returning from the entrypoint, by calling ExitThread(), or by calling ExitProcess().

Noncompliant Code Example

In the following example, TerminateThread() is used to forcibly terminate another thread, which can leak resources and leave the application in an indeterminate state.

#include <Windows.h>
 
DWORD ThreadID;  /* Filled in by call to CreateThread */
 
/* Thread 1 */
DWORD WINAPI ThreadProc(LPVOID param) {
  /* Performing work */
}
 
/* Thread 2 */
HANDLE hThread = OpenThread(THREAD_TERMINATE, FALSE, ThreadID);
if (hThread) {
  TerminateThread(hThread, 0xFF);
  CloseHandle(hThread);
}

 Compliant Solution

The compliant solution avoids calling TerminateThread() by requesting the thread terminate itself by exiting its entrypoint.  It does so in a lock-free, thread-safe manner by using the InterlockedCompareExchange() and InterlockedExchange() Win32 APIs.

#include <Windows.h>
 
DWORD ThreadID;  /* Filled in by call to CreateThread */
LONG ShouldThreadExit = 0;

/* Thread 1 */
DWORD WINAPI ThreadProc(LPVOID param) {
  while (1) {
    /* Performing work */
    if (1 == InterlockedCompareExchange(&ShouldThreadExit, 0, 1))
      return 0xFF;
  }
}
 
/* Thread 2 */
InterlockedExchange(&ShouldThreadExit, 1);

Risk Assessment

Incorrectly using threads that asynchronously cancel may result in silent corruption, resource leaks, and, in the worst case, unpredictable interactions.

Automated Detection

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Tool	Version	Checker	Description
Astrée	Include Page Astrée_V Astrée_V	bad-function	Partially checked
CodeSonar	Include Page CodeSonar_V CodeSonar_V	(customization)	Users can add a custom check for all uses of  TerminateThread() and TerminateProcess().
PC-lint Plus	Include Page PC-lint Plus_V PC-lint Plus_V	586	Fully supported
RuleChecker	Include Page RuleChecker_V RuleChecker_V	bad-function	Partially checked

Related Vulnerabilities

Search for vulnerabilities resulting from the violation of this rule on the CERT website.

Related Guidelines

TODO (notably, should be one about using ExitThread() from C++ code.

Bibliography

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