The product utilizes a shared resource in a concurrent manner but does not attempt to synchronize access to the resource.
View on MITREIf access to a shared resource is not synchronized, then the resource may not be in a state that is expected by the product. This might lead to unexpected or insecure behaviors, especially if an attacker can influence the shared resource.
No mitigation information available for this CWE.
No detection method information available for this CWE.
The following code intends to fork a process, then have both the parent and child processes print a single line.
One might expect the code to print out something like:
No relationship information available for this CWE.
CWE-820: Missing Synchronization is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. The product utilizes a shared resource in a concurrent manner but does not attempt to synchronize access to the resource. If access to a shared resource is not synchronized, then the resource may not be in a state that is expected by the product. This might lead to unexpected or insecure behaviors, especially if an attacker can influence the shared resource.
If exploited, CWE-820 (Missing Synchronization) it can compromise Integrity, Confidentiality and Other, leading to outcomes such as Modify Application Data, Read Application Data and Alter Execution Logic.
A CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) like CWE-820 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.