According to C99, Section The C Standard, 6.2.5, "Types"paragraph 11 [ISO/IEC 9899:2024], states

A computation involving unsigned operands can never produce an overflow, because a result that cannot be represented by the resulting unsigned integer type is reduced modulo the number that is one greater than the largest value that can be represented by the resulting type.arithmetic for the unsigned type is performed modulo 2^N .

This behavior is more informally called unsigned integer wrapping. This behavior is more informally referred to as unsigned integer wrapping. Unsigned integer operations can wrap if the resulting value cannot be represented by the underlying representation of the integer. The following table indicates which operators can result in wrapping:

Although unsigned left shift << can result in wrapping, modulo behavior is permitted by this standard because of common usage, because this behavior is usually expected by the programmer, and because the behavior is well-defined.

The following sections examine specific operations that are susceptible to unsigned integer wrap. When operating on integer types with less precision than intThe following sections examine specific operations that are susceptible to unsigned integer wrap. When operating on small integer types (smaller 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. Make sure you Programmers should understand integer conversion rules before trying to implement secure arithmetic operations. (See recommendation INT02-C. Understand integer conversion rules.)

Integer values must not be allowed to wrap, especially if they are used in any of the following ways:

• as an array index
• in Integer operands of any pointer arithmetic
• as a length or size of an object
• as the bound of an array (for example, a loop counter)
• , including array indexing
• The assignment expression for the declaration of a variable length array
• The postfix expression preceding square brackets [] or the expression in square brackets [] of a subscripted designation of an element of an array object
• Function arguments of type size_t or rsize_t (for example, as an argument to a memory allocation function)
• in In security-critical code

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The C Standard defines arithmetic on atomic integer types as read-modify-write operations with the same representation as regular integer types. As a result, wrapping of atomic unsigned integers is identical to regular unsigned integers and should also be prevented or detected.

Addition

Addition is between two operands of arithmetic type or between a pointer to an object type and an integer type. This rule applies only to addition between two operands of arithmetic type. (See ARR37-C.

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Addition

Addition is between two operands of arithmetic type or between a pointer to an object type and an integer type. (See rules ARR37-C. Do not add or subtract an integer to a pointer to a non-array object and ARR38-C. Do not add or subtract an integer to a pointer if the resulting value does not refer to a valid array element for information about adding a pointer to an integer.) non-array object and ARR30-C. Do not form or use out-of-bounds pointers or array subscripts.)

Incrementing is equivalent to adding one1.

Noncompliant Code Example

This noncompliant code example may can result in an unsigned integer wrap during the addition of the unsigned operands ui1 and ui2 ui_a and ui_b. If this behavior is unexpected, the resulting value may be used to allocate insufficient memory for a subsequent operation or in some other manner that can lead to an exploitable vulnerability.

void func(unsigned int ui1ui_a, ui2, usum;

/* Initialize ui1 and ui2 */

unsigned int ui_b) {
  unsigned int usum = ui1ui_a + ui2;
ui_b;
  /* ... */
}

Compliant Solution (

...

Precondition Test)

This compliant solution performs a pre-condition precondition test of the operands of the addition to guarantee there is no possibility of unsigned wrap.:

unsigned int ui1, ui2, usum;

/* Initialize ui1 and ui2 */

#include <limits.h>
 
void func(unsigned int ui_a, unsigned int ui_b) {
  unsigned int usum;
  if (UINT_MAX - ui1ui_a < ui2ui_b) {
    /* handleHandle error condition */
  }
 else {
    usum = ui1ui_a + ui2ui_b;
  }
  /* ... */
}

Compliant Solution (

...

Postcondition Test)

This compliant solution performs a post-condition postcondition test to ensure that the result of the unsigned addition operation usum is not less than the first operand.:

void func(unsigned int ui1ui_a, unsigned ui2, usum;

/* Initialize ui1 and ui2 */

int ui_b) {
  unsigned int usum = ui1ui_a + ui2ui_b;
  if (usum < ui1ui_a) {
    /* handleHandle error condition */
  }
  /* ... */
}

Subtraction

Subtraction is between two operands of arithmetic type, two pointers to qualified or unqualified versions of compatible object types, or between a pointer to an object type and an integer type. See rules This rule applies only to subtraction between two operands of arithmetic type. (See ARR36-C. Do not subtract or compare two pointers that do not refer to the same array, ARR37-C. Do not add or subtract an integer to a pointer to a non-array object, and ARR38and ARR30-C. Do not add or subtract an integer to a pointer if the resulting value does not refer to a valid array elementform or use out-of-bounds pointers or array subscripts for information about pointer subtraction.)

Decrementing is equivalent to subtracting one1.

Noncompliant Code Example

This noncompliant code example may can result in an unsigned integer wrap during the subtraction of the unsigned operands ui1 and ui2 ui_a and ui_b. If this behavior is unanticipated, it may lead to an exploitable vulnerability.

void func(unsigned int ui1ui_a, ui2, udiff;

/* Initialize ui1 and ui2 */

 unsigned int ui_b) {
  unsigned int udiff = ui1ui_a - ui2;

...

ui_b;
  /* ... */
}

Compliant Solution (Precondition Test)

This compliant solution performs a pre-condition precondition test of the unsigned operands of the subtraction operation to guarantee there is no possibility of unsigned wrap.:

void func(unsigned int ui1ui_a, ui2, udiff;

/* Initialize ui1 and ui2 */

if (ui1 < ui2unsigned int ui_b) {
  unsigned int udiff;
  if (ui_a < ui_b){
    /* handleHandle error condition */
  }
 else {
    udiff = ui1ui_a - ui2ui_b;
  }
  /* ... */
}

Compliant Solution (

...

Postcondition Test)

This compliant solution performs a post-condition postcondition test that the result of the unsigned subtraction operation udiff is not greater than the minuend.:

void func(unsigned int ui1ui_a, unsigned ui2, udiff ;

/* Initialize ui1 and ui2 */

int ui_b) {
  unsigned int udiff = ui1ui_a - ui2ui_b;
  if (udiff > ui1ui_a) {
    /* handleHandle error condition */
}
  }
  /* ... */
}

Multiplication

Multiplication is between two operands of arithmetic type.

Noncompliant Code Example

The Mozilla Foundation Security Advisory 2007-01 describes a heap buffer overflow vulnerability in the Mozilla Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) viewer contains a heap buffer overflow vulnerability resulting viewer resulting from an unsigned integer wrap during the multiplication of the signed int value pen->num_vertices and the size_t value sizeof(cairo_pen_vertex_t) [VU#551436]. The signed int operand is converted to size_t prior to the multiplication operation so that the multiplication takes place between two size_t integers, which are unsigned. (See recommendation INT02-C. Understand integer conversion rules.)

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The unsigned integer wrap can result in allocating memory of insufficient size.

Compliant Solution

This compliant solution tests the operands of the multiplication to guarantee that there is no unsigned integer wrap.:

pen->num_vertices = _cairo_pen_vertices_needed(
  gstate->tolerance, radius, &gstate->ctm
);

if (pen->num_vertices > SIZE_MAX / sizeof(cairo_pen_vertex_t)) {
  /* handleHandle error condition */
}
pen->vertices = malloc(
  pen->num_vertices * sizeof(cairo_pen_vertex_t)
);

...

Exceptions

The C Standard [ISO/IEC 9899:2011] defines arithmetic on atomic integer types as read-modify-write operations, with the same representation as non-atomic integer types. As a result, wrapping of atomic unsigned integers is identical to non-atomic unsigned integers and should also be prevented or detected.

This section only includes an example for the addition of atomic integer types. For other operations, you can use tests similar to the precondition tests for non-atomic integer types.

Noncompliant Code Example

This noncompliant code example using atomic integers can result in unsigned integer overflow wrapping.

atomic_int i;
int ui1;

/* Initialize i, ui1 */

atomic_fetch_add(&i, ui1);

Compliant Solution

This compliant solution performs a post-condition test to ensure that the result of the unsigned addition operation to i is not less than the operand ui1.

atomic_int i;
int ui1;
 
/* Initialize ui1, i */
 
atomic_fetch_add(&i, ui1);
if (atomic_load(&i) < ui1) {
  /* handle error condition */
}

Exceptions

INT30-EX1. Unsigned integers can exhibit modulo behavior (wrapping) only when this behavior is necessary for the proper execution of the program. It is recommended that the variable declaration be clearly commented as supporting modulo behavior and that each operation on that integer also be clearly commented as supporting modulo behavior.

INT32-EX2. Checks for wraparound can be omitted when it can be determined at compile-time that wraparound will not occur. As such, the following operations on unsigned integers require no validation:

• Operations on two compile-time constants
• Operations on a variable and 0 (except division by 0, of course)
• Subtracting any variable from its type's maximum. For instance, any unsigned int may safely be subtracted from UINT_MAX.
• Multiplying any variable by 1
• Division, as long as the divisor is nonzero.
• Right-shifting any type maximum by any number smaller than the type size. For instance, UINT_MAX >> x is valid as long as x < sizeof(unsigned int).
• Left-shifting 1 by any number smaller than the type size.

Risk Assessment

Integer wrap can lead to buffer overflows and the execution of arbitrary code by an attacker.

INT30-C-EX1: Unsigned integers can exhibit modulo behavior (wrapping) when necessary for the proper execution of the program. It is recommended that the variable declaration be clearly commented as supporting modulo behavior and that each operation on that integer also be clearly commented as supporting modulo behavior.

INT30-C-EX2: Checks for wraparound can be omitted when it can be determined at compile time that wraparound will not occur. As such, the following operations on unsigned integers require no validation:

• Operations on two compile-time constants
• Operations on a variable and 0 (except division or remainder by 0)
• Subtracting any variable from its type's maximum; for example, any unsigned int may safely be subtracted from UINT_MAX
• Multiplying any variable by 1
• Division or remainder, as long as the divisor is nonzero
• Right-shifting any type maximum by any number no larger than the type precision; for example, UINT_MAX >> x is valid as long as 0 <=  x < 32 (assuming that the precision of unsigned int is 32 bits)

INT30-C-EX3. The left-shift operator takes two operands of integer type. Unsigned left shift << can exhibit modulo behavior (wrapping).  This exception is provided because of common usage, because this behavior is usually expected by the programmer, and because the behavior is well defined. For examples of usage of the left-shift operator, see 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.

Risk Assessment

Integer wrap can lead to buffer overflows and the execution of arbitrary code by an attacker.

Automated Detection

Related Vulnerabilities

CVE-2009-1385 results from a violation of this rule. The value performs an unchecked subtraction on the length of a buffer, and then adds that many bytes of data to another buffer [xorl 2009]. This can cause a buffer overflow, which allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code.

A Linux kernel vmsplice exploit, described at [Wojtczuk 2008], documents a vulnerability and exploit arising from a buffer overflow (caused by unsigned integer wrapping).

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

Related Guidelines

CERT C++ Secure Coding Standard: INT30-CPP. Ensure that unsigned integer operations do not wrap

ISO/IEC 9899:1999 Section 6.2.5, "Types," Section 6.5, "Expressions," and Section 7.10, "Sizes of integer types <limits.h>"

ISO/IEC TR 24772 "XYY Wrap-around Error"

MITRE CWE: CWE-190, "Integer Overflow (Wrap or Wraparound)"

Bibliography

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Related Vulnerabilities

CVE-2009-1385 results from a violation of this rule. The value performs an unchecked subtraction on the length of a buffer and then adds those many bytes of data to another buffer [xorl 2009]. This can cause a buffer overflow, which allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code.

A Linux Kernel vmsplice exploit, described by Rafal Wojtczuk [Wojtczuk 2008], documents a vulnerability and exploit arising from a buffer overflow (caused by unsigned integer wrapping).

Don Bailey [Bailey 2014] describes an unsigned integer wrap vulnerability in the LZO compression algorithm, which can be exploited in some implementations.

CVE-2014-4377 describes a vulnerability in iOS 7.1 resulting from a multiplication operation that wraps, producing an insufficiently small value to pass to a memory allocation routine, which is subsequently overflowed.

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

Related Guidelines

Key here (explains table format and definitions)

CERT-CWE Mapping Notes

Key here for mapping notes

CWE-131 and INT30-C

• Intersection( INT30-C, MEM35-C) = Ø

• Intersection( CWE-131, INT30-C) =

• Calculating a buffer size such that the calculation wraps. This can happen, for example, when using malloc() or operator new[] to allocate an array, multiplying the array item size with the array dimension. An untrusted dimension could cause wrapping, resulting in a too-small buffer being allocated, and subsequently overflowed when the array is initialized.

• CWE-131 – INT30-C =

• Incorrect calculation of a buffer size that does not involve wrapping. This includes off-by-one errors, for example.

INT30-C – CWE-131 =

• Integer wrapping where the result is not used to allocate memory.

CWE-680 and INT30-C

Intersection( CWE-680, INT30-C) =

• Unsigned integer overflows that lead to buffer overflows

CWE-680 - INT30-C =

• Signed integer overflows that lead to buffer overflows

INT30-C – CWE-680 =

• Unsigned integer overflows that do not lead to buffer overflows

CWE-191 and INT30-C

Union( CWE-190, CWE-191) = Union( INT30-C, INT32-C) Intersection( INT30-C, INT32-C) == Ø

Intersection(CWE-191, INT30-C) =

• Underflow of unsigned integer operation

CWE-191 – INT30-C =

• Underflow of signed integer operation

INT30-C – CWE-191 =

• Overflow of unsigned integer operation

Bibliography

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