View Source: RaceCondition - Waikato Linux Users Group

Edit PageHistory Diff Info LikePages

A RaceCondition is a [Synchronisation] bug in which the results of some computation or action depend in an unsafe way upon the the actions of other threads or processes. RaceCondition~s are a particularly challenging when writing any code in the LinuxKernel as it is fully re-entrant or SignalHandler~s in applications.

Many security-related RaceCondition~s have been found where programs would check file properties (such as existence, permissions, and/or ownership) before operating on a file. The obvious implementation of this is a RaceCondition, because these file properties can be changed between the check and operation. File operations should if at all possible be [Atomic].

A DeadLock is perfered to a RaceCondition, because with a DeadLock, something is obviously wrong, whereas a RaceCondition can give no indication of a problem until someone notices corrupt data or a security breach.

----
CategoryProgrammingBugs

4 pages link to RaceCondition:

Last edited on Friday, May 5, 2006 5:28:57 pm by LawrenceDoliveiro

Edit PageHistory Diff Info LikePages