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The majority of the standard library functions, including I/O functions and memory allocation functions, return either a valid value or a value of the correct return type that indicates an error (for example, −1 or a null pointer). Assuming that all calls to such functions will succeed and failing to check the return value for an indication of an error is a dangerous practice that may lead to unexpected or undefined behavior when an error occurs. It is essential that programs detect and appropriately handle all errors in accordance with an error-handling policy, as discussed in ERR00-C. Adopt and implement a consistent and comprehensive error-handling policy.

The successful completion or failure of each of the standard library functions listed in the following table shall be determined either by comparing the function’s return value with the value listed in the column labeled “Error Return” or by calling one of the library functions mentioned in the footnotes.

Standard Library Functions

Function	Successful Return	Error Return
`aligned_alloc()`	Pointer to space	`NULL`
`asctime_s()`	`0`	Nonzero
`at_quick_exit()`	`0`	Nonzero
`atexit()`	`0`	Nonzero
`bsearch()`	Pointer to matching element	`NULL`
`bsearch_s()`	Pointer to matching element	`NULL`
`btowc()`	Converted wide character	`WEOF`
`c16rtomb()`	Number of bytes	`(size_t)(-1)`
`c32rtomb()`	Number of bytes	`(size_t)(-1)`
`calloc()`	Pointer to space	`NULL`
`clock()`	Processor time	`(clock_t)(-1)`
`cnd_broadcast()`	`thrd_success`	`thrd_error`
`cnd_init()`	`thrd_success`	`thrd_nomem` or `thrd_error`
`cnd_signal()`	`thrd_success`	`thrd_error`
`cnd_timedwait()`	`thrd_success`	`thrd_timedout` or `thrd_error`
`cnd_wait()`	`thrd_success`	`thrd_error`
`ctime_s()`	`0`	Nonzero
`fclose()`	`0`	`EOF` (negative)
`fflush()`	`0`	`EOF` (negative)
`fgetc()`	Character read	`EOF`¹
`fgetpos()`	`0`	Nonzero, `errno > 0`
`fgets()`	Pointer to string	`NULL`
`fgetwc()`	Wide character read	`WEOF`¹
`fopen()`	Pointer to stream	`NULL`
`fopen_s()`	`0`	Nonzero
`fprintf()`	Number of characters (nonnegative)	Negative
`fprintf_s()`	Number of characters (nonnegative)	Negative
`fputc()`	Character written	`EOF`²
`fputs()`	Nonnegative	`EOF` (negative)
`fputwc()`	Wide character written	`WEOF`
`fputws()`	Nonnegative	`EOF` (negative)
`fread()`	Elements read	Elements read
`freopen()`	Pointer to stream	`NULL`
`freopen_s()`	`0`	Nonzero
`fscanf()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`fscanf_s()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`fseek()`	`0`	Nonzero
`fsetpos()`	`0`	Nonzero, `errno > 0`
`ftell()`	File position	`−1L`, `errno > 0`
`fwprintf()`	Number of wide characters (nonnegative)	Negative
`fwprintf_s()`	Number of wide characters (nonnegative)	Negative
`fwrite()`	Elements written	Elements written
`fwscanf()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`fwscanf_s()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`getc()`	Character read	`EOF`¹
`getchar()`	Character read	`EOF`¹
`getenv()`	Pointer to string	`NULL`
`getenv_s()`	Pointer to string	`NULL`
`gets_s()`	Pointer to string	`NULL`
`getwc()`	Wide character read	`WEOF`
`getwchar()`	Wide character read	`WEOF`
`gmtime()`	Pointer to broken-down time	`NULL`
`gmtime_s()`	Pointer to broken-down time	`NULL`
`localtime()`	Pointer to broken-down time	`NULL`
`localtime_s()`	Pointer to broken-down time	`NULL`
`malloc()`	Pointer to space	`NULL`
`mblen(), s != NULL`	Number of bytes	`−1`
`mbrlen(), s != NULL`	Number of bytes or status	`(size_t)(-1)`
`mbrtoc16()`	Number of bytes or status	`(size_t)(-1)`, `errno == EILSEQ`
`mbrtoc32()`	Number of bytes or status	`(size_t)(-1)`, `errno == EILSEQ`
`mbrtowc(), s != NULL`	Number of bytes or status	`(size_t)(-1)`, `errno == EILSEQ`
`mbsrtowcs()`	Number of non-null elements	`(size_t)(-1)`, `errno == EILSEQ`
`mbsrtowcs_s()`	`0`	Nonzero
`mbstowcs()`	Number of non-null elements	`(size_t)(-1)`
`mbstowcs_s()`	`0`	Nonzero
`mbtowc(), s != NULL`	Number of bytes	`−1`
`memchr()`	Pointer to located character	`NULL`
`mktime()`	Calendar time	`(time_t)(-1)`
`mtx_init()`	`thrd_success`	`thrd_error`
`mtx_lock()`	`thrd_success`	`thrd_error`
`mtx_timedlock()`	`thrd_success`	`thrd_timedout` or `thrd_error`
`mtx_trylock()`	`thrd_success`	`thrd_busy` or `thrd_error`
`mtx_unlock()`	`thrd_success`	`thrd_error`
`printf_s()`	Number of characters (nonnegative)	Negative
`putc()`	Character written	`EOF`²
`putwc()`	Wide character written	`WEOF`
`raise()`	`0`	Nonzero
`realloc()`	Pointer to space	`NULL`
`remove()`	`0`	Nonzero
`rename()`	`0`	Nonzero
`setlocale()`	Pointer to string	`NULL`
`setvbuf()`	`0`	Nonzero
`scanf()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`scanf_s()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`signal()`	Pointer to previous function	`SIG_ERR`, `errno > 0`
`snprintf()`	Number of characters that would be written (nonnegative)	Negative
`snprintf_s()`	Number of characters that would be written (nonnegative)	Negative
`sprintf()`	Number of non-null characters written	Negative
`sprintf_s()`	Number of non-null characters written	Negative
`sscanf()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`sscanf_s()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`strchr()`	Pointer to located character	`NULL`
`strerror_s()`	`0`	Nonzero
`strftime()`	Number of non-null characters	`0`
`strpbrk()`	Pointer to located character	`NULL`
`strrchr()`	Pointer to located character	`NULL`
`strstr()`	Pointer to located string	`NULL`
`strtod()`	Converted value	`0`, `errno == ERANGE`
`strtof()`	Converted value	`0`, `errno == ERANGE`
`strtoimax()`	Converted value	`INTMAX_MAX` or `INTMAX_MIN`, `errno == ERANGE`
`strtok()`	Pointer to first character of a token	`NULL`
`strtok_s()`	Pointer to first character of a token	`NULL`
`strtol()`	Converted value	`LONG_MAX` or `LONG_MIN`, `errno == ERANGE`
`strtold()`	Converted value	`0, errno == ERANGE`
`strtoll()`	Converted value	`LLONG_MAX` or `LLONG_MIN`, `errno == ERANGE`
`strtoumax()`	Converted value	`UINTMAX_MAX`, `errno == ERANGE`
`strtoul()`	Converted value	`ULONG_MAX`, `errno == ERANGE`
`strtoull()`	Converted value	`ULLONG_MAX`, `errno == ERANGE`
`strxfrm()`	Length of transformed string	`>= n`
`swprintf()`	Number of non-null wide characters	Negative
`swprintf_s()`	Number of non-null wide characters	Negative
`swscanf()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`swscanf_s()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`thrd_create()`	`thrd_success`	`thrd_nomem` or `thrd_error`
`thrd_detach()`	`thrd_success`	`thrd_error`
`thrd_join()`	`thrd_success`	`thrd_error`
`thrd_sleep()`	`0`	Negative
`time()`	Calendar time	`(time_t)(-1)`
`timespec_get()`	Base	`0`
`tmpfile()`	Pointer to stream	`NULL`
`tmpfile_s()`	`0`	Nonzero
`tmpnam()`	Non-null pointer	`NULL`
`tmpnam_s()`	`0`	Nonzero
`tss_create()`	`thrd_success`	`thrd_error`
`tss_get()`	Value of thread-specific storage	`0`
`tss_set()`	`thrd_success`	`thrd_error`
`ungetc()`	Character pushed back	`EOF` (see below)
`ungetwc()`	Character pushed back	`WEOF`
`vfprintf()`	Number of characters (nonnegative)	Negative
`vfprintf_s()`	Number of characters (nonnegative)	Negative
`vfscanf()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`vfscanf_s()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`vfwprintf()`	Number of wide characters (nonnegative)	Negative
`vfwprintf_s()`	Number of wide characters (nonnegative)	Negative
`vfwscanf()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`vfwscanf_s()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`vprintf_s()`	Number of characters (nonnegative)	Negative
`vscanf()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`vscanf_s()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`vsnprintf()`	Number of characters that would be written (nonnegative)	Negative
`vsnprintf_s()`	Number of characters that would be written (nonnegative)	Negative
`vsprintf()`	Number of non-null characters (nonnegative)	Negative
`vsprintf_s()`	Number of non-null characters (nonnegative)	Negative
`vsscanf()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`vsscanf_s()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`vswprintf()`	Number of non-null wide characters	Negative
`vswprintf_s()`	Number of non-null wide characters	Negative
`vswscanf()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`vswscanf_s()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`vwprintf_s()`	Number of wide characters (nonnegative)	Negative
`vwscanf()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`vwscanf_s()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`wcrtomb()`	Number of bytes stored	`(size_t)(-1)`
`wcschr()`	Pointer to located wide character	`NULL`
`wcsftime()`	Number of non-null wide characters	`0`
`wcspbrk()`	Pointer to located wide character	`NULL`
`wcsrchr()`	Pointer to located wide character	`NULL`
`wcsrtombs()`	Number of non-null bytes	`(size_t)(-1)`, `errno == EILSEQ`
`wcsrtombs_s()`	`0`	Nonzero
`wcsstr()`	Pointer to located wide string	`NULL`
`wcstod()`	Converted value	`0`, `errno == ERANGE`
`wcstof()`	Converted value	`0`, `errno == ERANGE`
`wcstoimax()`	Converted value	`INTMAX_MAX` or `INTMAX_MIN`, `errno == ERANGE`
`wcstok()`	Pointer to first wide character of a token	`NULL`
`wcstok_s()`	Pointer to first wide character of a token	`NULL`
`wcstol()`	Converted value	`LONG_MAX` or `LONG_MIN`, `errno == ERANGE`
`wcstold()`	Converted value	`0`, `errno == ERANGE`
`wcstoll()`	Converted value	`LLONG_MAX` or `LLONG_MIN`, `errno == ERANGE`
`wcstombs()`	Number of non-null bytes	`(size_t)(-1)`
`wcstombs_s()`	`0`	Nonzero
`wcstoumax()`	Converted value	`UINTMAX_MAX`, `errno == ERANGE`
`wcstoul()`	Converted value	`ULONG_MAX`, `errno == ERANGE`
`wcstoull()`	Converted value	`ULLONG_MAX`, `errno == ERANGE`
`wcsxfrm()`	Length of transformed wide string	`>= n`
`wctob()`	Converted character	`EOF`
`wctomb(), s != NULL`	Number of bytes stored	`−1`
`wctomb_s(), s != NULL`	Number of bytes stored	`−1`
`wctrans()`	Valid argument to `towctrans`	`0`
`wctype()`	Valid argument to `iswctype`	`0`
`wmemchr()`	Pointer to located wide character	`NULL`
`wprintf_s()`	Number of wide characters (nonnegative)	Negative
`wscanf()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)
`wscanf_s()`	Number of conversions (nonnegative)	`EOF` (negative)

Note: According to FIO35-C . Use feof() and ferror() to detect end-of-file and file errors when sizeof(int) == sizeof(char), callers should verify end-of-file and file errors for the functions in this table as follows:

...

The ungetc() function does not set the error indicator even when it fails, so it is not possible to check for errors reliably unless it is known that the argument is not equal to EOF.

The C Standard 7.31.3.10 paragraph 3 [ISO/IEC 9899:20112024] states that "one

)ne wide character of pushback is guaranteed...

," so this should not be an issue if, at most, one character is ever pushed back before reading again. (See FIO13-C . Never push back anything other than one read character.)

...

Code Block

bgColor	#FFCCCC
lang	c

#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
 
enum { SIG_DESC_SIZE = 32 };

typedef struct {
  char sig_desc[SIG_DESC_SIZE];
} signal_info;
 
void func(size_t num_of_records, size_t temp_num,
          const char *tmp2, size_t tmp2_size_bytes) {
  signal_info *start = (signal_info *)calloc(num_of_records,
                                          sizeof(signal_info));

  if (tmp2 == NULL) {
    /* Handle error */
  } else if (temp_num > num_of_records || temp_num == 0) {
    /* Handle error */
  } else if (tmp2_size_bytes < SIG_DESC_SIZE) {
    /* Handle error */
  }

  signal_info *point = start + temp_num - 1;
  memcpy(point->sig_desc, tmp2, SIG_DESC_SIZE);
  point->sig_desc[SIG_DESC_SIZE - 1] = '\0';
  /* ... */
  free(start);
}

...

Code Block

bgColor	#ccccff
lang	c

#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>

enum { SIG_DESC_SIZE = 32 };

typedef struct {
  char sig_desc[SIG_DESC_SIZE];
} signal_info;
 
void func(size_t num_of_records, size_t temp_num,
          const char *tmp2, size_t tmp2_size_bytes) {
  signal_info *start = (signal_info *)calloc(num_of_records,
                                           sizeof(signal_info));
  if (start == NULL) {
    /* Handle allocation error */
  } else if (tmp2 == NULL) {
    /* Handle error */
  } else if (temp_num > num_of_records || temp_num == 0) {
    /* Handle error */
  } else if (tmp2_size_bytes < SIG_DESC_SIZE) {
    /* Handle error */
  }

  signal_info *point = start + temp_num - 1; 
  memcpy(point->sig_desc, tmp2, SIG_DESC_SIZE);
  point->sig_desc[SIG_DESC_SIZE - 1] = '\0';
  /* ... */
  free(start);
}

...

ERR33-C-EX1: It is acceptable to ignore the return value of a function if:

that function cannot fail

...

.
its return value is inconsequential; that is, it does not indicate an error.
it is one of a handful of functions whose return values are not traditionally checked.

These functions are listed in the following table:, or when an error condition need not be diagnosed. The function's results should be explicitly cast to void to signify programmer intent. Return values from the functions in the following table do not need to be checked because their historical use has overwhelmingly omitted error checking and the consequences are not relevant to security.

Functions for which Return Values Need Not Be Checked

Function	Successful Return	Error Return
`putchar()`	Character written	`EOF`
`putwchar()`	Wide character written	`WEOF`
`puts()`	Nonnegative	`EOF` (negative)
`putws()`	Nonnegative	`WEOF`
`printf()`, `vprintf()`	Number of characters (nonnegative)	Negative
`wprintf()`, `vwprintf()`	Number of wide characters (nonnegative)	Negative
`kill_dependency()`	The input parameter	NA
`memcpy()`, `wmemcpy()`	The destination input parameter	NA
`memmove()`, `wmemmove()`	The destination input parameter	NA
`strcpy()`, `wcscpy()`	The destination input parameter	NA
`strncpy()`, `wcsncpy()`	The destination input parameter	NA
`strcat()`, `wcscat()`	The destination input parameter	NA
`strncat()`, `wcsncat()`	The destination input parameter	NA
`memset()`, `wmemset()`	The destination input parameter	NA

Risk Assessment

Failing to detect error conditions can lead to unpredictable results, including abnormal program termination and denial-of-service attacks or, in some situations, could even allow an attacker to run arbitrary code.

Rule	Severity	Likelihood	Remediation Cost	Priority	Level
ERR33-C	High	Likely	Medium	P18	L1

Automated Detection

...

Tool

...

Version

...

Checker

...

Description

...

LANG.FUNCS.IRV

...

Can detect violations of this recommendation when checking for violations of EXP12-C. Do not ignore values returned by functions and EXP34-C . Do not dereference null pointers

...

Coverity

...

CHECKED_RETURN

...

Finds inconsistencies in how function call return values are handled. Coverity Prevent cannot discover all violations of this recommendation, so further verification is necessary

The return value of a call to fprintf() or one of its variants (vfprintf(), wfprintf(), vwfprintf()) or one of the file output functions fputc(), fputwc(), fputs(), fputws() may be ignored if the output is being directed to stdout or stderr . Otherwise, the return value must be checked.

If a function's return value is to be ignored, it is recommended that the function's return value should be explicitly cast to void to signify the programmer's intent:

Code Block

bgColor	#ccccff
lang	c

int main() {
  (void) fprintf(stdout, "Hello, world\n"); // fprintf() return value safely ignored
}

Risk Assessment

Failing to detect error conditions can lead to unpredictable results, including abnormal program termination and denial-of-service attacks or, in some situations, could even allow an attacker to run arbitrary code.

Rule	Severity	Likelihood	Remediation Cost	Priority	Level
ERR33-C	High	Likely	Medium	P18	L1

Automated Detection

Tool

Version

Checker

Description

Astrée

Include Page

	Astrée_V
	Astrée_V

error-information-unused
error-information-unused-computed

Partially checked

Axivion Bauhaus Suite

Include Page

	Axivion Bauhaus Suite_V
	Axivion Bauhaus Suite_V

CertC-ERR33

CodeSonar

Include Page

	CodeSonar_V
	CodeSonar_V

LANG.FUNCS.IRV
LANG.ERRCODE.NOTEST
LANG.ERRCODE.NZ

Ignored return value
Missing Test of Error Code
Non-zero Error Code

Compass/ROSE

Can detect violations of this recommendation when checking for violations of EXP12-C. Do not ignore values returned by functions and EXP34-C . Do not dereference null pointers

Coverity

Include Page

	Coverity_V
	Coverity_V

MISRA C 2012 Rule 22.8

MISRA C 2012 Rule 22.9

MISRA C 2012 Rule 22.10

Implemented

Helix QAC

Include Page

	Helix QAC_V
	Helix QAC_V

C3200

C++3802, C++3803, C++3804

DF2820, DF2821, DF2822, DF2823, DF2824, DF2930, DF2931, DF2932, DF2933, DF2934

Klocwork

Include Page

	Klocwork_V
	Klocwork_V

NPD.CHECK.MUST
NPD.FUNC.MUST
SV.RVT.RETVAL_NOTTESTED

LDRA tool suite

Include Page

	LDRA_V
	LDRA_V

80 D

Partially implemented

Parasoft C/C++test

Include Page

	Parasoft_V
	Parasoft_V

CERT_C-ERR33-a
CERT_C-ERR33-b
CERT_C-ERR33-d

The value returned by a standard library function that may return an error should be used
The standard library functions for which return values need not be checked should be cast to 'void'
Always check the returned value of non-void function

Parasoft Insure++

Runtime analysis

PC-lint Plus

Include Page

	PC-lint Plus_V
	PC-lint Plus_V

534

Partially supported

Polyspace Bug Finder

Include Page

	Polyspace Bug Finder_V
	Polyspace Bug Finder_V

CERT C: Rule ERR33-C

Checks for:

Errno not checked
Return value of a sensitive function not checked
Unprotected dynamic memory allocation

Rule partially covered.

RuleChecker

Include Page

	RuleChecker_V
	RuleChecker_V

error-information-unused

Partially checked

TrustInSoft Analyzer

Include Page

	TrustInSoft Analyzer_V
	TrustInSoft Analyzer_V

pointer arithmetic

Exhaustively verified.

Related Vulnerabilities

The vulnerability in Adobe Flash [VU#159523] arises because Flash neglects to check the return value from calloc(). Even when calloc() returns a null pointer, Flash writes to an offset from the return value. Dereferencing a null pointer usually results in a program crash, but dereferencing an offset from a null pointer allows an exploit to succeed without crashing the program.

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

Related Guidelines

Key here (explains table format and definitions)

Taxonomy	Taxonomy item	Relationship
CERT C Secure Coding Standard	ERR00-C. Adopt and implement a consistent and comprehensive error-handling policy	Prior to 2018-01-12: CERT: Unspecified Relationship
CERT C Secure Coding Standard	EXP34-C . Do not dereference null pointers	Prior to 2018-01-12: CERT: Unspecified Relationship
CERT C Secure Coding Standard	FIO13-C . Never push back anything other than one read character	Prior to 2018-01-12: CERT: Unspecified Relationship
CERT C Secure Coding Standard	MEM04-C . Do not perform zero-length allocations	Prior to 2018-01-12: CERT: Unspecified Relationship
CERT C Secure Coding Standard	MEM12-C . Consider using a goto chain when leaving a function on error when using and releasing resources	Prior to 2018-01-12: CERT: Unspecified Relationship
CERT C	ERR10-CPP. Check for error conditions	Prior to 2018-01-12: CERT: Unspecified Relationship
CERT C	FIO04-CPP. Detect and handle input and output errors	Prior to 2018-01-12: CERT: Unspecified Relationship
ISO/IEC TS 17961:2013	Failing to detect and handle standard library errors [liberr]	Prior to 2018-01-12: CERT: Unspecified Relationship
CWE 2.11	CWE-252, Unchecked Return Value	2017-07-06: CERT: Partial overlap
CWE 2.11	CWE-253, Incorrect Check of Function Return Value	2017-07-06: CERT: Partial overlap
CWE 2.11	CWE-391, Unchecked Error Condition	2017-07-06: CERT: Rule subset of CWE

CERT-CWE Mapping Notes

Key here for mapping notes

CWE-252/CWE-253/CWE-391 and ERR33-C/POS34-C

Independent( ERR33-C, POS54-C, FLP32-C, ERR34-C) Intersection( CWE-252, CWE-253) = Ø CWE-391 = Union( CWE-252, CWE-253) CWE-391 = Union( ERR33-C, POS34-C, list) where list =

Ignoring return values of functions outside the C or POSIX standard libraries

...

5.0

...

80 D

...

3200

...

Related Vulnerabilities

The vulnerability in Adobe Flash [VU#159523] arises because Flash neglects to check the return value from calloc(). Even when calloc() returns a null pointer, Flash writes to an offset from the return value. Dereferencing a null pointer usually results in a program crash, but dereferencing an offset from a null pointer allows an exploit to succeed without crashing the program.

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

Related Guidelines

...

ERR00-C. Adopt and implement a consistent and comprehensive error-handling policy
EXP34-C . Do not dereference null pointers
FIO13-C . Never push back anything other than one read character
MEM04-C . Do not perform zero-length allocations
MEM12-C . Consider using a goto chain when leaving a function on error when using and releasing resources

...

Bibliography

[DHS 2006]	Handle All Errors Safely
[Henricson 1997]	Recommendation 12.1, "Check for All Errors Reported from Functions"
[ISO/IEC 9899:

2011

2024]

Subclause 7.

21

31.

7

3.10, "The ungetc Function"

[VU#159523]

...

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Related Vulnerabilities

Related Guidelines

CERT-CWE Mapping Notes

CWE-252/CWE-253/CWE-391 and ERR33-C/POS34-C

Related Vulnerabilities

Related Guidelines

Bibliography