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Copying data to a buffer that is not large enough to hold that data results in a buffer overflow. Buffer overflows occur frequently when manipulating strings [Seacord 2013]. To prevent such errors, either limit copies through truncation or, preferably, ensure that the destination is of sufficient size to hold the data to be copied. C-style strings require a null character to indicate the end of the string, while the C++ std::basic_string template requires no such character.

Noncompliant Code Example

Because the input is unbounded, the following code could lead to a buffer overflow:

#include <iostream>
 
void f() {
  char buf[12];
  std::cin >> buf;
}

Noncompliant Code Example

To solve this problem, it may be tempting to use the std::ios_base::width() method, but there still is a trap, as shown in this noncompliant code example:

#include <iostream>
 
void f() {
  char bufOne[12];
  char bufTwo[12];
  std::cin.width(12);
  std::cin >> bufOne;
  std::cin >> bufTwo;
}

In this example, the first read will not overflow, but could fill bufOne with a truncated string. Furthermore, the second read still could overflow bufTwo. The C++ Standard, [istream.extractors], paragraphs 7–9, describes the behavior of operator>>(basic_istream &, charT *), and states in part [ISO/IEC 14882-2014]:

operator>> then stores a null byte (charT()) in the next position, which may be the first position if no characters were extracted. operator>> then calls width(0).

Consequently, it is necessary to call width() prior to each operator>> call passing a bounded array. However, this does not account for the input being truncated, which may lead to information loss or a possible vulnerability.

Compliant Solution

The best solution for ensuring that data is not truncated and for guarding against buffer overflows is to use std::string instead of a bounded array, as in this compliant solution:

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
 
void f() {
  std::string input;
  std::string stringOne, stringTwo;
  std::cin >> stringOne >> stringTwo;
}

Noncompliant Code Example

In this noncompliant example, the unformatted input function std::basic_istream<T>::read() is used to read an unformatted character array of 32 characters from the given file. However, the read() function does not guarantee that the string will be null terminated, so the subsequent call of the std::string constructor results in undefined behavior if the character array does not contain a null terminator.

#include <fstream>
#include <string>
 
void f(std::istream &in) {
  char buffer[32];
  try {
    in.read(buffer, sizeof(buffer));
  } catch (std::ios_base::failure &e) {
    // Handle error
  }
 
  std::string str(buffer);
  // ...
}

Compliant Solution

This compliant solution assumes that the input from the file is at most 32 characters. Instead of inserting a null terminator, it constructs the std::string object based on the number of characters read from the input stream. If the size of the input is uncertain, it is better to use std::basic_istream<T>::readsome() or a formatted input function, depending on need.

#include <fstream>
#include <string>

void f(std::istream &in) {
  char buffer[32];
  try {
    in.read(buffer, sizeof(buffer));
  } catch (std::ios_base::failure &e) {
    // Handle error
  }
  std::string str(buffer, in.gcount());
  // ...
}

Risk Assessment

Copying string data to a buffer that is too small to hold that data results in a buffer overflow. Attackers can exploit this condition to execute arbitrary code with the permissions of the vulnerable process.

Automated Detection

Related Vulnerabilities

Search for vulnerabilities resulting from the violation of this rule on the CERT website.

Related Guidelines

Bibliography