The exec() method of the java.lang.Runtime class and the related ProcessBuilder.start() method can be used to invoke external programs. While running, these programs are represented by a java.lang.Process object. This process contains an input stream, output stream, and error stream. Because the Process object allows a Java program to communicate with its external program, the process's input stream is an OutputStream object, accessible by the Process.getOutputStream() method. Likewise, the process's output stream and error streams are both represented by InputStream objects, accessible by the Process.getInputStream() and Process.getErrorStream() methods.

These processes may require input to be sent to their input stream, and they may also produce output on their output stream, their error stream, or both. Incorrect handling of such external programs can cause unexpected exceptions, denial of service (DoS), and other security problems.

A process that tries to read input on an empty input stream will block until input is supplied. Consequently, input must be supplied when invoking such a process.

Output from an external process can exhaust the available buffer reserved for its output or error stream. When this occurs, the Java program can block the external process as well, preventing any forward progress for both the Java program and the external process. Note that many platforms limit the buffer size available for output streams. Consequently, when invoking an external process, if the process sends any data to its output stream, the output stream must be emptied. Similarly, if the process sends any data to its error stream, the error stream must also be emptied.

Noncompliant Code Example (exitValue())

This noncompliant code example invokes a hypothetical cross-platform notepad application using the external command notemaker. The notemaker application does not read its input stream but sends output to both its output stream and error stream.

This noncompliant code example invokes notemaker using the exec() method, which returns a Process object. The exitValue() method returns the exit value for processes that have terminated, but it throws an IllegalThreadStateException when invoked on an active process. Because this noncompliant example program fails to wait for the notemaker process to terminate, the call to exitValue() is likely to throw an IllegalThreadStateException.

public class Exec {
  public static void main(String args[]) throws IOException {
    Runtime rt = Runtime.getRuntime();
    Process proc = rt.exec("notemaker");
    int exitVal = proc.exitValue();
  }
}

Noncompliant Code Example (waitFor())

In this noncompliant code example, the waitFor() method blocks the calling thread until the notemaker process terminates. This approach prevents the IllegalThreadStateException from the previous example. However, the example program may experience an arbitrary delay before termination. Output from the notemaker process can exhaust the available buffer for the output or error stream because neither stream is read while waiting for the process to complete. If either buffer becomes full, it can block the notemaker process as well, preventing all progress for both the notemaker process and the Java program.

public class Exec {
  public static void main(String args[])
                          throws IOException, InterruptedException {
    Runtime rt = Runtime.getRuntime();
    Process proc = rt.exec("notemaker");
    int exitVal = proc.waitFor();
  }
}

Noncompliant Code Example (Process Output Stream)

This noncompliant code example properly empties the process's output stream, thereby preventing the output stream buffer from becoming full and blocking. However, it ignores the process's error stream, which can also fill and cause the process to block.

public class Exec {
  public static void main(String args[])
                     throws IOException, InterruptedException {
    Runtime rt = Runtime.getRuntime();
    Process proc = rt.exec("notemaker");
    InputStream is = proc.getInputStream();
    int c;
    while ((c = is.read()) != -1) {
      System.out.print((char) c);
    }
    int exitVal = proc.waitFor();
  }
}

Compliant Solution (redirectErrorStream())

This compliant solution redirects the process's error stream to its output stream. Consequently, the program can empty the single output stream without fear of blockage.

public class Exec {
  public static void main(String args[])
                          throws IOException, InterruptedException {
    ProcessBuilder pb = new ProcessBuilder("notemaker");
    pb = pb.redirectErrorStream(true);
    Process proc = pb.start();
    InputStream is = proc.getInputStream();
    int c;
    while ((c = is.read()) != -1) {
      System.out.print((char) c);
    }
    int exitVal = proc.waitFor();
  }
}

Compliant Solution (Process Output Stream and Error Stream)

This compliant solution spawns two threads to consume the process's output stream and error stream. Consequently, the process cannot block indefinitely on those streams.

When the output and error streams are handled separately, they must be emptied independently. Failure to do so can cause the program to block indefinitely.

class StreamGobbler implements Runnable {
  private final InputStream is;
  private final PrintStream os;

  StreamGobbler(InputStream is, PrintStream os) {
    this.is = is;
    this.os = os;
  }

  public void run() {
    try {
      int c;
      while ((c = is.read()) != -1)
          os.print((char) c);
    } catch (IOException x) {
      // Handle error
    }
  }
}

public class Exec {
  public static void main(String[] args)
    throws IOException, InterruptedException {

    Runtime rt = Runtime.getRuntime();
    Process proc = rt.exec("notemaker");

    // Any error message?
    Thread errorGobbler
      = new Thread(new StreamGobbler(proc.getErrorStream(), System.err));
 
    // Any output?
    Thread outputGobbler
      = new Thread(new StreamGobbler(proc.getInputStream(), System.out));

    errorGobbler.start();
    outputGobbler.start();

    // Any error?
    int exitVal = proc.waitFor();
    errorGobbler.join();   // Handle condition where the
    outputGobbler.join();  // process ends before the threads finish
  }
}

Exceptions

FIO07-J-EX0: Failure to supply input to a process that never reads input from its input stream is harmless and can be beneficial. Failure to empty the output or error streams of a process that never sends output to its output or error streams is similarly harmless or even beneficial. Consequently, programs are permitted to ignore the input, output, or error streams of processes that are guaranteed not to use those streams.

Risk Assessment

Failure to properly manage the I/O streams of external processes can result in runtime exceptions and in DoS vulnerabilities.

Automated Detection

Tool	Version	Checker	Description
Parasoft Jtest		CERT.FIO07.EXEC	Do not use 'Runtime.exec()'

Related Vulnerabilities

GROOVY-3275

Bibliography