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Programmers
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often attempt to terminate threads abruptly when they believe the task is complete, the request has been canceled, or the program or Java Virtual Machine (JVM) must shut down expeditiously.
Certain thread APIs were introduced to facilitate thread suspension, resumption, and termination but were later deprecated because of inherent design weaknesses. For example, the Thread.stop()
method causes the thread to immediately throw a ThreadDeath
exception, which usually stops the thread. More information about deprecated methods is available in MET02-J. Do not use deprecated or obsolete classes or methods.
Invoking Thread.stop()
results in the release of all locks a thread has acquired, potentially exposing the objects protected by those locks when those objects are in an inconsistent state. The thread might catch the ThreadDeath
exception and use a finally
block in an attempt to repair the inconsistent object or objects. However, doing so requires careful inspection of all synchronized methods and blocks because a ThreadDeath
exception can be thrown at any point during the thread's execution. Furthermore, code must be protected from ThreadDeath
exceptions that might occur while executing catch
or finally
blocks [Sun 1999]. Consequently, programs must not invoke Thread.stop()
.
Removing the java.lang.RuntimePermission stopThread
permission from the security policy file prevents threads from being stopped using the Thread.stop()
method. Although this approach guarantees that the program cannot use the Thread.stop()
method, it is nevertheless strongly discouraged. Existing trusted, custom-developed code that uses the Thread.stop()
method presumably depends on the ability of the system to perform this action. Furthermore, the system might fail to correctly handle the resulting security exception. Additionally, third-party libraries may also depend on use of the Thread.stop()
method.
Refer to ERR09-J. Do not allow untrusted code to terminate the JVM for information on preventing data corruption when the JVM is abruptly shut down.
Noncompliant Code Example (Deprecated Thread.stop()
)
This noncompliant code example shows a thread that fills a vector with pseudorandom numbers. The thread is forcefully stopped after a given amount of time.
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public final class Container implements Runnable { private final Vector<Integer> vector = new Vector<Integer>(1000); public Vector<Integer> getVector() { return vector; } @Override public synchronized try to forcefully terminate threads when they believe that the task is accomplished, the request has been canceled or the program needs to quickly shutdown. A few thread APIs were introduced to facilitate thread suspension, resumption and termination but were later deprecated due to inherent design weaknesses. The {{Thread.stop()}} method is one example. It throws a {{ThreadDeath}} exception to stop the thread. Two cases arise: * If {{ThreadDeath}} is left uncaught, it allows the execution of a {{finally}} block which performs the usual cleanup operations. Use of the {{Thread.stop()}} method is highly inadvisable because of two reasons. First, no particular thread can be forcefully stopped because an arbitrary thread can catch the thrown {{ThreadDeath}} exception and simply choose to ignore it. Second, stopping threads abruptly results in the release of all the associated monitors, violating the guarantees provided by the critical sections. Moreover, the objects end up in an inconsistent state, nondeterministic behavior being a typical outcome. * As a remediation measure, catching the {{ThreadDeath}} exception on the other hand can itself ensnarl multithreaded code. For one, the exception can be thrown anywhere, making it difficult to trace and effectively recover from the exceptional condition. Also, there is nothing stopping a thread from throwing another {{ThreadDeath}} exception while recovery is in progress. h2. Noncompliant Code Example (Deprecated {{Thread.stop()}}) This noncompliant code example shows a thread that forcefully comes to a halt when the {{Thread.stop()}} method is invoked. Neither the {{catch}} nor the {{finally}} block executes. Any monitors that are held are immediately released, leaving the object in a delicate state. {mc} Try to retain the debug statements in the NCE to illustrate the problem {mc} {code:bgColor=#FFcccc} class BadStop implements Runnable { public void run() { tryRandom { number = Thread.currentThread().sleep(1000)new Random(123L); }int catch(InterruptedException ie) { // Not executed System.out.println("Performing cleanup"); i = vector.capacity(); }while finally(i {> // Not executed0) { System.out.println("Closing resources"); vector.add(number.nextInt(100)); } i--; } } } class Controller { public static void main(String[] args) throws InterruptedException { Thread tthread = new Thread(new BadStopContainer()); tthread.start(); tThread.interruptsleep(5000); // Artificially induce an InterruptedException tthread.stop(); // Force thread cancellation } } {code} The {{Thread.interrupt()}} method is frequently used to awaken a blocked thread before it can be stopped. It awakens threads that are blocked on {{wait()}} methods of class {{Object}}, and {{join}} and {{sleep}} methods of class {{Thread}}. In these cases, the thread's interrupt status is cleared and it receives an {{InterruptedException}}. If the thread is blocked on I/O operations upon an interruptible channel, the channel is closed, the thread's interrupt status is set and it receives a {{ClosedByInterruptException}}. Similarly, a thread waiting on a selector also returns from the operation with its interrupted status set. \[[API 06|AA. Java References#API 06]\] The {{java.lang.ThreadGroup.interrupt()}} is not deprecated and is often seen as an option to interrupt all the threads belonging to a thread group. "This is no guarantee that a program will terminate, however, because libraries that you have used may have created user threads that do not respond to interrupt requests. The AWT graphics library is one well-known example." \[[JPL 06|AA. Java References#JPL 06]\]. Moreover, using the {{ThreadGroup}} API is discouraged (see [CON17-J. Avoid using ThreadGroup APIs]). h2. Compliant Solution (1) ({{volatile}} flag) This compliant example uses a {{boolean}} flag called {{done}} to indicate whether the thread should be stopped after any necessary cleanup code has finished executing. An accessor method {{shutdown()}} is used to set the flag to {{true}}, after which the thread can start the cancellation process. The {{done}} flag is also set immediately after the execution of the {{finally}} block's resource clean-up statements so that the system does not continue relinquishing resources that it has already released, in the event of the {{done}} flag staying {{false}}. {code:bgColor=#ccccff} class ControlledStop implements Runnable{ protected volatile boolean done = false; public void run() { while(!done) { try { Thread.currentThread().sleep(1000); } catch(InterruptedException ie) { // Handle the exception } finally { done = true; } } done = false; // Reset for later use System.out.println("Done!") |
Because the Vector
class is thread-safe, operations performed by multiple threads on its shared instance are expected to leave it in a consistent state. For instance, the Vector.size()
method always returns the correct number of elements in the vector, even after concurrent changes to the vector, because the vector instance uses its own intrinsic lock to prevent other threads from accessing it while its state is temporarily inconsistent.
However, the Thread.stop()
method causes the thread to stop what it is doing and throw a ThreadDeath
exception. All acquired locks are subsequently released [API 2014]. If the thread were in the process of adding a new integer to the vector when it was stopped, the vector would become accessible while it is in an inconsistent state. For example, this could result in Vector.size()
returning an incorrect element count because the element count is incremented after adding the element.
Compliant Solution (volatile flag)
This compliant solution uses a volatile flag to request thread termination. The shutdown()
accessor method is used to set the flag to true. The thread's run()
method polls the done
flag and terminates when it is set.
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public final class Container implements Runnable { private final Vector<Integer> vector = new Vector<Integer>(1000); private volatile boolean done = false; public Vector<Integer> getVector() { return vector; } protectedpublic void shutdown() { done = true; } } class Controller { @Override public staticsynchronized void mainrun(String[] args) throws InterruptedException { ControlledStopRandom cnumber = new ControlledStopRandom(123L); Threadint ti = new Thread(c); t.startvector.capacity(); t.interrupt(); // Artificially induce an InterruptedException Thread.sleep(1000); // Wait for some time to allow the exception // to be caught (demonstration only) c.shutdown(); } } {code} h2. Compliant Solution (2) ({{RuntimePermission stopThread}}) Remove the default permission {{java.lang.RuntimePermission}} {{stopThread}} from the security policy file to deny the {{Thread.stop()}} invoking code, the required privileges. h2. Noncompliant Code Example (blocking IO) This noncompliant code example uses the advice suggested in the previous compliant solution. However, this does not help in terminating the thread because it is blocked on some network IO as a consequence of using the {{readLine()}} method. {code:bgColor=#FFcccc} class StopSocket extends Thread { private Socket s; private volatile boolean done = false; public void run() { while(!done) { try { s = new Socket("somehost", 25); BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(s.getInputStream())); String s = null; while((s = br.readLine()) != null) { // Blocks until end of stream (null) } } catch (IOException ie) { // Forward to handler } finally { done = true; } } } public void shutdown() throws IOException { done = true; } } class Controller { public while (!done && i > 0) { vector.add(number.nextInt(100)); i--; } } public static void main(String[] args) throws InterruptedException, IOException { Container StopSocket sscontainer = new StopSocketContainer(); Thread tthread = new Thread(sscontainer); tthread.start(); Thread.sleep(10005000); sscontainer.shutdown(); } } {code} A {{Socket}} connection is not affected by the {{InterruptedException}} that results with the use of the {{ |
Compliant Solution (Interruptible)
In this compliant solution, the Thread.interrupt()
method is called from main()
to terminate the thread. Invoking Thread.interrupt()
sets an internal interrupt status flag. The thread polls that flag using the Thread.interrupted()
method, which both returns true if the current thread has been interrupted and clears the interrupt status flag.
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public final class Container implements Runnable { private final Vector<Integer> vector = new Vector<Integer>(1000); public Vector<Integer> getVector() { return vector; } @Override public synchronized void run() { Random number = new Random(123L); int i = vector.capacity}} method. The {{boolean}} flag solution does not work in such cases. h2. Compliant Solution (close socket connection) This compliant solution closes the socket connection, both using the {{shutdown()}} method as well as the {{finally}} block. As a result, the thread is bound to stop due to a {{SocketException}}. Note that there is no way to keep the connection alive if the thread is to be cleanly halted immediately. {code:bgColor=#ccccff} class StopSocket extends Thread { private Socket s; public void run() { try { s = new Socket("somehost", 25); BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(s.getInputStream())); String s = null; while((s = br.readLine()) != null) { // Blocks until end of stream (null) } } catch (IOException ie) { // Handle the exception } finally { try { if(s != null) s.close(); while (!Thread.interrupted() && i } catch (IOException e> 0) { /* Forward to handler */ } } } public void shutdown() throws IOException { vector.add(number.nextInt(100)); if(s != null) i--; s.close();} } } class Controller { public static void main(String[] args) throws InterruptedException, IOException { StopSocketContainer ssc = new StopSocketContainer(); Thread tthread = new Thread(ssc); tthread.start(); Thread.sleep(10005000); ssthread.shutdowninterrupt(); } } {code} A {{boolean}} flag can be used (as described earlier) if additional clean-up operations need to be performed. h2. Compliant Solution (2) (interruptible channel) This compliant solution uses an interruptible channel, {{SocketChannel}} instead of a {{Socket}} connection. If the thread performing the network IO is interrupted using the {{Thread.interrupt()}} method, for instance, while reading the data, the thread receives a {{ClosedByInterruptException}} and the channel is closed immediately. The thread's interrupt status is also set. {code:bgColor=#ccccff} class StopSocket extends Thread { private volatile boolean done = false; public void run() { while(!done) { try { InetSocketAddress addr = new InetSocketAddress("somehost", 25); SocketChannel sc = SocketChannel.open(addr); ByteBuffer buf = ByteBuffer.allocate(1024); sc.read(buf); // ... } catch (IOException ie) { // Handle the exception } finally { done = true; } } } public void shutdown() throws IOException { done = true; } } {code} h2. Risk Assessment Trying to force thread shutdown can result in inconsistent object state and corrupt the object. Critical resources may also leak if cleanup operations are not carried out as required. || Rule || Severity || Likelihood || Remediation Cost || Priority || Level || | CON13- J | low | probable | medium | {color:green}{*}P4{*}{color} | {color:green}{*}L3{*}{color} | h3. Automated Detection TODO h3. Related Vulnerabilities Search for vulnerabilities resulting from the violation of this rule on the [CERT website|https://www.kb.cert.org/vulnotes/bymetric?searchview&query=FIELD+KEYWORDS+contains+CON35-J]. h2. References \[[API 06|AA. Java References#API 06]\] Class Thread, method {{stop}} \[[Darwin 04|AA. Java References#Darwin 04]\] 24.3 Stopping a Thread \[[JDK7 08|AA. Java References#JDK7 08]\] Concurrency Utilities, More information: Java Thread Primitive Deprecation \[[JPL 06|AA. Java References#JPL 06]\] 14.12.1. Don't stop and 23.3.3. Shutdown Strategies \[[JavaThreads 04|AA. Java References#JavaThreads 04]\] 2.4 Two Approaches to Stopping a Thread ---- [!The CERT Sun Microsystems Secure Coding Standard for Java^button_arrow_left.png!|CON12-J. Avoid deadlock by requesting and releasing locks in the same order] [!The CERT Sun Microsystems Secure Coding Standard for Java^button_arrow_up.png!|11. Concurrency (CON)] [!The CERT Sun Microsystems Secure Coding Standard for Java^button_arrow_right.png!|VOID CON14-J. Ensure atomicity of 64-bit operations] |
A thread may use interruption for performing tasks other than cancellation and shutdown. Consequently, a thread should be interrupted only when its interruption policy is known in advance. Failure to do so can result in failed interruption requests.
Risk Assessment
Forcing a thread to stop can result in inconsistent object state. Critical resources could also leak if cleanup operations are not carried out as required.
Rule | Severity | Likelihood | Remediation Cost | Priority | Level |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
THI05-J | Low | Probable | Medium | P4 | L3 |
Automated Detection
Tool | Version | Checker | Description | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Parasoft Jtest |
| CERT.THI05.THRD | Avoid calling unsafe deprecated methods of 'Thread' and 'Runtime' |
Related Guidelines
POS47-C. Do not use threads that can be canceled asynchronously | |
CWE-705, Incorrect Control Flow Scoping |
Android Implementation Details
On Android, Thread.stop()
was deprecated in API level 1.
Bibliography
[API 2006] | Class |
Section 24.3, "Stopping a Thread" | |
Chapter 7, "Cancellation and Shutdown" | |
Section 2.4, "Two Approaches to Stopping a Thread" | |
Concurrency Utilities, More information: Java Thread Primitive Deprecation | |
[JPL 2006] | Section 14.12.1, "Don't Stop" |
[Sun 1999] |
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