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The following sections examine specific operations that are susceptible to integer overflow. When operating on integer types with less precision than int, integer promotions are applied. The usual arithmetic conversions may also be applied to (implicitly) convert operands to equivalent types before arithmetic operations are performed. Programmers should understand integer conversion rules before trying to implement secure arithmetic operations (see INT02-C. Understand integer conversion rules).
Implementation Details
GNU GCC invoked with the -fwrapv command-line option defines the same modulo arithmetic for both unsigned and signed integers.
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GNU GCC invoked without either the -fwrapv or the -ftrapv option may simply assume that signed integers never overflow and may generate object code accordingly.
Atomic Integers
The C Standard defines the behavior of arithmetic on atomic signed integer types to use two's complement representation with silent wraparound on overflow; there are no undefined results. Although defined, these results may be unexpected and therefore carry similar risks to unsigned integer wrapping (see INT30-C. Ensure that unsigned integer operations do not wrap). Consequently, signed integer overflow of atomic integer types should also be prevented or detected.
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The C Standard, 6.5.7, paragraph 4 [ISO/IEC 9899:2011], states:
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In almost every case, an attempt to shift by a negative number of bits or by more bits than exist in the operand indicates a logic error. These issues are covered by INT34-C. Do not shift an expression by a negative number of bits or by greater than or equal to the number of bits that exist in the operand.
Noncompliant Code Example
This noncompliant code example performs a left shift, after verifying that the number being shifted is not negative, and the number of bits to shift is valid. The PRECISION() macro and popcount() function provide the correct precision for any integer type (see INT35-C. Use correct integer precisions). However, because this code does no overflow check, it can result in an unrepresentable value.
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Compliant Solution
This compliant solution eliminates the possibility of overflow resulting from a left-shift operation:
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