CWE-382: J2EE Bad Practices: Use of System.exit()

VariantDraft

A J2EE application uses System.exit(), which also shuts down its container.

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Extended Description

It is never a good idea for a web application to attempt to shut down the application container. Access to a function that can shut down the application is an avenue for Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.

Technical Details

Structure
Simple

Applicable To

Languages
Java
Platforms

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CWE-382: J2EE Bad Practices: Use of System.exit()?+

CWE-382: J2EE Bad Practices: Use of System.exit() is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. A J2EE application uses System.exit(), which also shuts down its container. It is never a good idea for a web application to attempt to shut down the application container. Access to a function that can shut down the application is an avenue for Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.

What are the security consequences of J2EE Bad Practices: Use of System.exit()?+

If exploited, CWE-382 (J2EE Bad Practices: Use of System.exit()) it can compromise Availability, leading to outcomes such as DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart.

How do you prevent or mitigate J2EE Bad Practices: Use of System.exit()?+

Recommended mitigations for CWE-382 include: The shutdown function should be a privileged function available only to a properly authorized administrative user Web applications should not call methods that cause the virtual machine to exit, such as System.exit() Web applications should also not throw any Throwables to the application server as this may adversely affect the container.

Which programming languages are affected by J2EE Bad Practices: Use of System.exit()?+

CWE-382 commonly affects Java. Note that weaknesses are often language-agnostic patterns, so secure coding practices apply broadly.

What is the difference between a CWE and a CVE?+

A CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) like CWE-382 describes a category of software weakness — the underlying flaw type. A CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) identifies a specific, real-world vulnerability in a particular product. In short, a CWE is the kind of mistake, and a CVE is an instance of that mistake being found in software.

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