Time-of-Check Time-of-Use (TOCTTOU) Attack
Time-of-Check Time-of-Use (TOCTTOU) Attack is a type of cyberattack in which an attacker takes advantage of a time gap between when a resource is checked and when it is used. This type of attack is often used against systems that rely on temporary files or resources.
Here’s an example of how it works: Let’s say there’s a computer program that checks to see if a file exists before creating or modifying it. An attacker can exploit this time gap by creating a malicious file after the program has performed its check, but before it uses the file. The program would then use the malicious file, which could result in data theft, system compromise, or other malicious activities.
To protect against TOCTTOU attacks, developers need to ensure that resources are securely checked and used at the same time, and not rely on any temporary gaps in time. Additionally, it’s important for users to keep their systems updated with the latest security patches and to be wary of suspicious files or links.