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Comparing a function pointer to a value that is not a null function pointer of the same type shall will be diagnosed because this it typically indicates programmer error and can result in unexpected behavior. Implicit comparisons shall will be diagnosed, as well.

Noncompliant Code Example

In this noncompliant code example, the addresses of the POSIX ^® functions getuid and geteuid are compared for equality to 0. Since the address of Because no function is address shall be null, the first subexpression will always evaluate to false (zero0) while , and the second subexpression always to true (non-zerononzero). ThusConsequently, the entire expression will always evaluate to true, leading to a potential security vulnerability.

/* First the options that are allowed only allowed for root */
if (getuid == 0 || geteuid != 0) {
  /* ... */
}

...

In this noncompliant code example, the function pointers getuid and geteuid are compared to 0. This noncompliant code example is from an actual vulnerability (VU#837857) discovered in some versions of the X Window System server. The vulnerability exists because the programmer neglected to provide the open and close parentheses following the geteuid() function identifier. As a result, the geteuid token returns the address of the function, which is never equal to zero0. As a resultConsequently, the or condition of this if statement is always true, and access is provided to the protected block for all users. Many compilers issue a warning noting such pointless expressions. Therefore, this coding error is normally detected by adherence to guideline MSC00-C. Compile cleanly at high warning levels.

/* First the options that are allowed only allowed for root */
if (getuid() == 0 || geteuid != 0) {
  /* ... */
}

...

The solution is to provide the open and close parentheses following the geteuid token so that the function is properly invoked.:

/* First the options that are allowed only allowed for root */
if (getuid() == 0 || geteuid() != 0) {
  /* ... */
}

...

A function pointer can be compared to a null function pointer of the same type.:

/* First the options that are allowed only allowed for root */ 
if (getuid == (uid_t(*)(void))0 || geteuid != (uid_t(*)(void))0) { 
  /* ... */ 
} 

...

In this noncompliant code example, the function pointer do_xyz is implicitly compared unequal to 0. :

int do_xyz(void); 
 
int f(void) {
/* ... */
  if (do_xyz) { 
    return -1; /* Indicate failure * handle error/ 
  }
/* ... */
  return 0;
} 

Compliant Solution

In this compliant solution, the function do_xyz() is invoked and the return value is compared to 0. :

int do_xyz(void); 
 
int f(void) {
/* ... */ 
  if (do_xyz()) { 
    return -1; /* handle error Indicate failure */
  }
/* ... */
  return 0;  
} 

Risk Assessment

Errors of omission can result in unintended program flow.

Automated Detection

Related Vulnerabilities

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

Related Guidelines

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Bibliography

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Bibliography

\[[Hatton 1995|AA. Bibliography#Hatton 95]\] Section 2.7.2, "Errors of omission and addition"
\[[ISO/IEC PDTR 24772|AA. Bibliography#ISO/IEC PDTR 24772]\] "KOA Likely Incorrect Expressions"
\[[MITRE 2007|AA. Bibliography#MITRE 07]\] [CWE ID 482|http://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/482.html], "Comparing instead of Assigning," [CWE ID 480|http://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/480.html], "Use of Incorrect Operator"

Image Removed      03. Expressions (EXP)      EXP17-C. Do not perform bitwise operations in conditional expressions