kill thread forcefully C++ win32 - c++

I have created a thread with this line
threadHandle = CreateThread(NULL, FALSE, Threadhandle1, NULL, 0, NULL);
I want to kill thread forcefully without waiting for a thread to finish
Thread Code:-
DWORD WINAPI Threadhandle1(void* data){
Sleep(5000);
MessageBox(NULL, TEXT("First"), L"Simple Message", NULL);
Sleep(5000);
MessageBox(NULL, TEXT("Second"), L"Simple Message", NULL);
return 0;
}
Code to Stop Thread:-
TerminateThread(threadHandle, 0);
CloseHandle(threadHandle);

You can terminate thread by using TerminateThread() using the thread handle you got from CreateThread.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms686717(VS.85).aspx
PS:It is mentioned in website:
"TerminateThread is a dangerous function that should only be used in the most extreme cases. You should call TerminateThread only if you know exactly what the target thread is doing, and you control all of the code that the target thread could possibly be running at the time of the termination."

Related

Thread Execution Differences Between CreateThread and CreateRemoteThread

I am trying to learn how to do process injections. First, I learn shellcode types in C/C++. However, I met a problem. One code is written by using CreateThread. That is okay but after CreateThread, I have to use WaitForSingleObject function to prevent thread from finishing immediately. Thus, the thread lasts until I exit.
First shellcode written by using CreateThread:
#include <Windows.h>
void main()
{
const char shellcode[] = "\xfc\xe8\x82 (...) ";
PVOID shellcode_exec = VirtualAlloc(0, sizeof shellcode, MEM_COMMIT|MEM_RESERVE, PAGE_EXECUTE_READWRITE);
RtlCopyMemory(shellcode_exec, shellcode, sizeof shellcode);
DWORD threadID;
HANDLE hThread = CreateThread(NULL, 0, (PTHREAD_START_ROUTINE)shellcode_exec, NULL, 0, &threadID);
WaitForSingleObject(hThread, INFINITE);
}
However, the real problem begins here. If I inject shellcode to another process, I use CreateRemoteThread but after this function I do not need to use WaitForSingleObject because it automatically lasts until I exit. I do not understand why I have to use WaitForSingleObject for CreateThread while I can write CreateRemoteThread without it seamlessly.
Second shellcode written by using CreateRemoteThread:
#include "stdafx.h"
#include "Windows.h"
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
unsigned char shellcode[] = "\x48\x31\xc9\x48 (...) ";
HANDLE processHandle;
HANDLE remoteThread;
PVOID remoteBuffer;
printf("Injecting to PID: %i", atoi(argv[1]));
processHandle = OpenProcess(PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS, FALSE, DWORD(atoi(argv[1])));
remoteBuffer = VirtualAllocEx(processHandle, NULL, sizeof shellcode, (MEM_RESERVE | MEM_COMMIT), PAGE_EXECUTE_READWRITE);
WriteProcessMemory(processHandle, remoteBuffer, shellcode, sizeof shellcode, NULL);
remoteThread = CreateRemoteThread(processHandle, NULL, 0, (LPTHREAD_START_ROUTINE)remoteBuffer, NULL, 0, NULL);
CloseHandle(processHandle);
return 0;
}
I have tried to delete WaitForSingleObject but the shellcode written by using CreateThread did not work.
You've misunderstood what WaitForSingleObject on a thread is doing. It isn't keeping alive the thread that you pass to it. It is blocking the thread that makes the call.
When the main() thread returns, the runtime library calls ExitProcess which kills all other threads in the same process. So you have to prevent reaching the end of main(), and a wait function inside does that. But there are plenty of other ways that main() might keep running, for example creating a window and entering a GetMessage/TranslateMessage/DispatchMessage loop.
When you inject into a remote process, it normally has its own lifetime and your new thread is not at risk of being terminated. Even though your injector returns from main(), only threads in the same process are killed off.

RegisterWaitForSingleObject crash sometime if handle is closed immediately

I'm getting a crash sometimes in RegisterWaitForSingleObject (1 out of 10). It seems that although RegisterWaitForSingleObject returns, the internal thread pool is not yet ready.
HANDLE processHandle = OpenProcess (PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS, FALSE, processID);
// CRASH IN INTERNAL SOMETIMES
RegisterWaitForSingleObject (&hWaitForChild_,processHandle,OnChildProcessExit, 0,INFINITE,WT_EXECUTEONLYONCE);
// If I sleep here, then it seems ok.
//std::this_thread::sleep_for (std::chrono::milliseconds (10));
CloseHandle (processHandle);
I can replicate this with a simple sample here. 1 in 10 times, it will crash. How should I be synchronizing it properly without resorting to sleep hack.
https://filedn.com/l3TGy7Y83c247u0RDYa9fkp/temp/stackoverflow/testregister.cpp
based on your code spinet:
// THIS CRASHS HERE SOMETIMES
if (! RegisterWaitForSingleObject (
&hWaitForChild_
,processHandle
, OnChildProcessExit
, 0 //this
, INFINITE
, WT_EXECUTEONLYONCE))
{
LogDebug ("RegisterWaitForSingleObject failed");
}
// If this is enabled, then it won't crash
//std::this_thread::sleep_for (std::chrono::milliseconds (10));
if (! CloseHandle (processHandle)) // !!!
LogDebug ("RegisterWaitForSingleObject Closehandle failed");
so you close processHandle just after you call RegisterWaitForSingleObject for this handle. however if read about RegisterWaitForSingleObject:
If this handle is closed while the wait is still pending, the
function's behavior is undefined.
if look more deep - try understand - how is RegisterWaitForSingleObject worked internally ? it pass processHandle to some worker thread. and this thread begin wait for this handle. but this is (pass handle to another thread) is asynchronous operation - say for example internally can be started new thread with this handle as argument, or it can be passed to already existing working thread via some signal. but anyway - worked thread got this handle and begin wait some later. from another side - you just close processHandle after RegisterWaitForSingleObject return control. so here race - what will be first - or worked thread begin wait on handle (in this case all will be work) or you close this handle. in case you close this handle first - worked thread will be try wait on already invalid handle and raise exception - STATUS_THREADPOOL_HANDLE_EXCEPTION.
// If this is enabled, then it won't crash
//std::this_thread::sleep_for (std::chrono::milliseconds (10));
of course - by sleep you give time for worked thread to begin wait on handle. in this case he begin wait before you close handle.
solution - you must not close handle, until WAITORTIMERCALLBACK Callback will be not called. you need allocate some context, where place processHandle and pass this context to RegisterWaitForSingleObject. and when you callback will be called - you got pointer to your context back and here and close handle.
also note, that you not need open separate, second, handle for child process, but can use process handle returned by CreateProcess
Ok, I managed to solve it by keeping the handle around until I call Unregisterwait. It seems to be stable. Thanks to the answers.
I met the same problem like you that an exception occurred while debugging in Visual Studio. I tried many time and finally found the reason. If you close the handle of the process newly created, the program would crash. I tried to close the handles in the callback function, it works perfectly, like this:
typedef struct {
LPTSTR pszCmdLine;
HANDLE hEvent;
} THREAD_PARAM;
typedef struct {
TCHAR szCmdLine[1024];
HANDLE hWaitObject;
DWORD dwProcessId;
HANDLE hProcess;
DWORD dwThreadId;
HANDLE hThread;
} OBJECT_PARAM;
static void CALLBACK WaitObjectCallback(LPVOID lpParam, BOOLEAN TimerOrWaitFired)
{
OBJECT_PARAM *pobp = static_cast<OBJECT_PARAM *>(lpParam);
TCHAR szInfo[1024] = { 0 };
DWORD dwExitCode = 0;
GetExitCodeProcess(pobp->hProcess, &dwExitCode);
wnsprintf(szInfo, ARRAYSIZE(szInfo), _T("process %u [%s] exit: %u\n"), pobp->dwProcessId, pobp->szCmdLine, dwExitCode);
OutputDebugString(szInfo);
//
// unregister the wait object handle and close the process handle finally
//
UnregisterWait(pobp->hWaitObject);
CloseHandle(pobp->hProcess);
CloseHandle(pobp->hThread);
GlobalFree(lpParam);
}
static DWORD CALLBACK ThreadFunction(LPVOID lpParam)
{
THREAD_PARAM *pthp = static_cast<THREAD_PARAM *>(lpParam);
STARTUPINFO si = { sizeof(si) };
PROCESS_INFORMATION pi = { 0 };
BOOL bResult;
bResult = CreateProcess(nullptr, pthp->pszCmdLine, nullptr, nullptr, FALSE, 0, nullptr, nullptr, &si, &pi);
if (bResult)
{
OBJECT_PARAM *pobp = static_cast<OBJECT_PARAM *>(GlobalAlloc(GPTR, sizeof(OBJECT_PARAM)));
// make copy of the command line and other informations of the newly created process
lstrcpyn(pobp->szCmdLine, pthp->pszCmdLine, ARRAYSIZE(pobp->szCmdLine));
pobp->dwProcessId = pi.dwProcessId;
pobp->hProcess = pi.hProcess;
pobp->dwThreadId = pi.dwThreadId;
pobp->hThread = pi.hThread;
bResult = RegisterWaitForSingleObject(&pobp->hWaitObject, pi.hProcess, WaitObjectCallback, pobp, INFINITE, WT_EXECUTEONLYONCE);
// once it failed...
if (!bResult)
{
CloseHandle(pi.hProcess);
CloseHandle(pi.hThread);
}
}
// Notify the thread creator that the process is created successfully
SetEvent(pthp->hEvent);
return 0;
}

Simple thread with wait function

I cannot understand why next code doesn't work. It compile correct, but doesn't output anything. Can you help me?
HANDLE hEvent;
unsigned int WINAPI MyThread(void *p)
{
WaitForSingleObject(hEvent, INFINITE);
_tprintf(TEXT("%s\n"),p);
return 0;
}
int _tmain(int argc, TCHAR *argv[])
{
hEvent = CreateEvent(NULL, TRUE, FALSE, NULL);
unsigned int ThreadID;
HANDLE hThread1 = (HANDLE)_beginthreadex(NULL, 0, MyThread, L"hello world", 0, &ThreadID);
SetEvent(hEvent);
return 0;
}
My guess is that the application is exiting before the print statement even fires. You set the event and then instantly exit. Try waiting for the thread to complete before exiting. You should be able to use the handle that is returned from _beginthreadex.
HANDLE hThread1 = (HANDLE)_beginthreadex(NULL, 0, MyThread, L"hello world", 0, &ThreadID);
SetEvent(hEvent);
WaitForSingleObject( hThread1, INFINITE );
Note: I just used INFINITE as the timeout for an example, in general you probably don't want INFINITE which could lead to deadlocks, etc. Each case needs to be examined to determine the correct behavior. Here, since you are just writing to the console, if this hasn't returned in a few seconds there is probably something wrong. You could modify the code to check the return value of WaitForSingleObject to see if it exited due to timeout and then make a decision based on that (like log an error, or something that would help to diagnose what went wrong)
You programs stops before the thread even started.
Put this in front of your return 0; and you should get some results
DWORD retVal;
GetExitCodeThread(hThread1, &retVal);
while(retVal == STILL_ACTIVE) {
Sleep(1000);
GetExitCodeThread(hThread1, &retVal);
}
retVal will also help you to see how your thread ended (given that you have different exit codes e.g. _endthreadex(6);)

Exit code of thread in Windows C++

Suppose I have created multiple threads.
Now I am waiting for multiple object as well using :
WaitOnMultipleObject(...);
Now if I want to know the status of all the thread's return code. How to do that ?
Do I need to loop for all the thread's handle in the loop.
GetExitCodeThread(
__in HANDLE hThread,
__out LPDWORD lpExitCode
);
And now check lpExitCode for success / failure code ?
Cheers,
Siddhartha
If you want to wait for a thread to exit, just wait on the thread's handle. Once the wait completes you can get the exit code for that thread.
DWORD result = WaitForSingleObject( hThread, INFINITE);
if (result == WAIT_OBJECT_0) {
// the thread handle is signaled - the thread has terminated
DWORD exitcode;
BOOL rc = GetExitCodeThread( hThread, &exitcode);
if (!rc) {
// handle error from GetExitCodeThread()...
}
}
else {
// the thread handle is not signaled - the thread is still alive
}
This example can be extended to waiting for completion of several thread by passing an array of thread handles to WaitForMultipleObjects(). Figure out which thread completed using the appropriate offset from WAIT_OBJECT_0 on the return from WaitForMultipleObjects(), and remove that thread handle from the handle array passed to WaitForMultipleObjects() when calling it to wait for the next thread completion.
Do I need to loop for all the thread's
handle in the loop.
GetExitCodeThread(
__in HANDLE hThread,
__out LPDWORD lpExitCode
);
Yes.

Suspend and resume the main thread in C++ for Windows

I need to be able to suspend and resume the main thread in a Windows C++ app. I have used
handle = GetCurrentThread();
SuspendThread(handle);
and then where is should be resumed
ResumeThread(handle);
while suspending it works, resuming it does not. I have other threads that are suspended and resumed with no problems, is there something that is different with the main thread.
I have done a lot of threading working in C# and Java but this is the first time I have done any in C++ and I'm finding it to be quite a bit different.
Are you using the "handle" value you got from GetCurrentThread() in the other thread? If so that is a psuedo value. To get a real thread handle either use DuplicateHandle or try
HANDLE hThread = OpenThread(THREAD_ALL_ACCESS, FALSE, GetCurrentThreadId());
GetCurrentThread returns a "pseudo handle" that can only be used from the calling thread. Use DuplicateHandle to create a real handle that another thread can use to resume the main thread.
See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms683182%28VS.85%29.aspx
The easiest way to get the same result is to CreateEvent and have main thread WaitForSingleObject on it, then wake it up with SetEvent from another thread.
And, here's an example that shows what some of the folks have suggested before.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <tchar.h>
#include <windows.h>
#include <process.h>
HANDLE g_hMainThread;
void TheThread(void *);
int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
g_hMainThread = OpenThread(THREAD_ALL_ACCESS,
FALSE,
GetCurrentThreadId());
printf( "Suspending main thread.\n" );
_beginthread(TheThread, 0, NULL);
SuspendThread(g_hMainThread);
printf( "Main thread back in action.\n" );
return 0;
}
void TheThread(void *)
{
DWORD dwStatus = ResumeThread(g_hMainThread);
DWORD dwErr = GetLastError();
printf("Resumed main thread - Status = 0x%X, GLE = 0x%X.\n",
dwStatus,
dwErr );
}