SEI CERT C Coding Standard

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changes.mady.by.user Jill Britton

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Comment: Updated references from C11->C23

When two pointers are subtracted, both must point to elements of the same array object or just one past the last element of the array object (C Standard, 6.5.6 7 [ISO/IEC 9899:20112024]); the result is the difference of the subscripts of the two array elements. Otherwise, the operation is undefined behavior. (See undefined behavior 48.)

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C2668 C2669 C2761 C2762 C2763 C2766 C2767 C2768 C2771 C2772, C2773PRQA QA-C

Tool

Version

Checker

Description

Astrée
Include Page
Astrée_V
Astrée_V
pointer-subtractionPartially checked
Axivion Bauhaus Suite

Include Page
Axivion Bauhaus Suite_V
Axivion Bauhaus Suite_V

CertC-ARR36Can detect operations on pointers that are unrelated
CodeSonar
Include Page
CodeSonar_V
CodeSonar_V

LANG.STRUCT.CUP

LANG.STRUCT.SUP

Comparison of Unrelated Pointers

Subtraction of Unrelated Pointers

Coverity
Include Page
Coverity_V
Coverity_V

MISRA C 2004 17.2

MISRA C 2004 17.3

MISRA C 2012 18.2

MISRA C 2012 18.3

Implemented
Cppcheck

Include Page
Cppcheck_V
Cppcheck_V

comparePointersFully implemented
Cppcheck Premium

Include Page
Cppcheck Premium_V
Cppcheck Premium_V

comparePointersFully implemented
Helix QAC

Include Page
Helix QAC_V
Helix QAC_V

C0487, C0513

DF2668,

DF2669,

DF2761,

DF2762,

DF2763,

DF2766,

DF2767,

DF2768,

DF2771,

DF2772,

DF2773


Klocwork
Include Page
Klocwork_V
Klocwork_V

MISRA.PTR.ARITH


LDRA tool suite
Include Page
LDRA_V
LDRA_V

437 S, 438 S

Fully implemented

Parasoft C/C++test
Include Page
Parasoft_V
Parasoft_V
CERT_C-ARR36-a
CERT_C-ARR36-b

Do not subtract two pointers that do not address elements of the same array
Do not compare two unrelated pointers

Polyspace Bug Finder

Include Page
Polyspace Bug Finder_V
Polyspace Bug Finder_V

CERT C: Rule ARR36-C

Checks for subtraction or comparison between pointers to different arrays (rule partially covered)

Include Page
PRQA QA-C_vPRQA QA-C_v

0487, 0513, 2668, 2669, 2761,

2762, 2763, 2766, 2767, 2768,

2771, 2772, 2773

Fully implementedPVS-Studio

Include Page
PVS-Studio_V
PVS-Studio_V

V736, V782
RuleChecker
Include Page
RuleChecker_V
RuleChecker_V
pointer-subtraction
Partially checked
TrustInSoft Analyzer

Include Page
TrustInSoft Analyzer_V
TrustInSoft Analyzer_V

differing_blocks

Exhaustively verified (see the compliant and the non-compliant example).

Related Vulnerabilities

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

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[Banahan 2003]Section 5.3, "Pointers"
Section 5.7, "Expressions Involving Pointers"
[ISO/IEC 9899:20112024]

6.5.67, "Additive Operators"


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