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• A return value (especially of type errno_t)
• An argument passed by address
• A global object (e.g., such as errno)
• longjmp()
• Some combination of the above

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void g(void) {
  /* ... */
  if (something_really_bad_happens) {
    fprintf(stderr, "Something really bad happened!\n");
    abort();
  }
  /* ... */
}

void f(void) {
  g();
  /* ... doDo the rest of f ... */
}

If something_really_bad_happens in g(), the function prints an error message to stderr and then calls abort(). The problem is that this application-independent code does not know the context in which it is being called, so it is erroneous to handle the error.

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const errno_t ESOMETHINGREALLYBAD = 1;

errno_t g(void) {
  /* ... */
  if (something_really_bad_happens) {
    return ESOMETHINGREALLYBAD;
  }
  /* ... */
  return 0;
}

errno_t f(void) {
  errno_t status = g();
  if (status != 0) {
    return status;
  }

  /* ... doDo the rest of f ... */

  return 0;
}

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A return type of errno_t indicates that the function returns a status indicator . (See see DCL09-C. Declare functions that return errno with a return type of errno_t).)

This error-handling approach is secure, but it has the following drawbacks:

• Source and object code can significantly increase in size, perhaps by as much as 30 to 40 percent [Saks 2007b].
• All function return values must be checked . (See MEM32see ERR33-C. Detect and handle memory allocation standard library errors).)
• Functions should not return other values if they return error indicators . (See see ERR02-C. Avoid in-band error indicators).)
• Any function that allocates resources must ensure they are freed in cases where errors occur.

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const errno_t ESOMETHINGREALLYBAD = 1;

void g(errno_t * err) {
  if (err == NULL) {
    /* Handle null pointer */
  }
  /* ... */
  if (something_really_bad_happens) {
    *err = ESOMETHINGREALLYBAD;
  } else {
    /* ... */
    *err = 0;
  }
}

void f(errno_t * err) {
  if (err == NULL) {
    /* Handle null pointer */
  }
  g(err);
  if (*err == 0) {
    /* ... doDo the rest of f ... */
  }
  return 0;
}

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• A return status can be returned only if the caller provides a valid pointer to an object of type errno_t. If this argument is NULL, there is no way to indicate this error.
• Source code becomes even larger because of the possibilities of receiving a null pointer.
• All error indicators must be checked after calling functions.
• Any function that allocates resources must ensure they are freed in cases where errors occur.
• Unlike return values, static analysis tools generally do not diagnose a failure to check error indicators passed as argument pointers.

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errno_t my_errno; /* alsoAlso declared in a .h file */
const errno_t ESOMETHINGREALLYBAD = 1;

void g(void) {
  /* ... */
  if (something_really_bad_happens) {
    my_errno = ESOMETHINGREALLYBAD;
    return;
  }
  /* ... */
}

void f(void) {
  my_errno = 0;
  g();
  if (my_errno != 0) {
    return;
  }
  /* ... doDo the rest of f ... */
}

The call to f() provides a status indicator that is 0 upon success and a nonzero value upon failure.

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#include <setjmp.h>

const errno_t ESOMETHINGREALLYBAD = 1;

jmp_buf exception_env;

void g(void) {
  /* ... */
  if (something_really_bad_happens) {
    longjmp(exception_env, ESOMETHINGREALLYBAD);
  }
  /* ... */
}

void f(void) {
  g();
  /* ... doDo the rest of f ... */
}

/* ... */
if (setjmp(exception_env) != 0) {
  /*
   * If we get here, an error occurred; 
   * do not continue processing.
   */
}
/* ... */
f();
/* If we get here, no errors occurred */
/* ... */

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The following table summarizes the characteristics of error-reporting and error-detection mechanisms.

Risk Assessment

Lack of an error-detection mechanism prevents applications from knowing when an error has disrupted normal program behavior.

Automated Detection

Related Vulnerabilities

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

Related Guidelines

Bibliography

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