ERR30-CPP. Only call std::terminate(), std::abort(), or std::_Exit() directly

The std::abort() and std::_Exit() functions are used to terminate the program in an immediate fashion. They do so without calling exit handlers registered with std::atexit(), and without executing destructors for objects with automatic, thread, or static storage duration. It is implementation-defined as to whether open streams with unwritten buffered data are flushed, open streams are closed, or temporary files are removed [ISO/IEC 9899:1999]. Because these functions can leave external resources in an indeterminate state, they should only be called in direct response to a critical error in the application.

The std::terminate() function calls the current terminate_handler function, which defaults to calling std::abort().

The C++ Standard defines several ways in which std::terminate() may be called implicitly by an implementation [ISO/IEC 14882-2014]:

• When the exception handling mechanism, after completing the initialization of the exception object but before activation of a handler for the exception, calls a function that exits via an exception. ([except.throw], paragraph 7)
  
• When a throw-expression with no operand attempts to rethrow an exception and no exception is being handled. ([except.throw], paragraph 9)
• When the exception handling mechanism cannot find a handler for a thrown exception. ([except.handle], paragraph 9)
• When the search for a handler encounters the outermost block of a function with a noexcept-specification that does not allow the exception. ([except.spec], paragraph 9)
  • See ERR37-CPP. Honor exception specifications for more information
• When the destruction of an object during stack unwinding terminates by throwing an exception. ([except.ctor], paragraph 3)
• When initialization of a non-local variable with static or thread storage duration exits via an exception. ([basic.start.init], paragraph 6)
  
  • See ERR41-CPP. Constructors of objects with static or thread storage duration must not throw exceptions for more information.
• When destruction of an object with static or thread storage duration exits via an exception. ([basic.start.term], paragraph 1)
• When execution of a function registered with std::atexit() or std::at_quick_exit() exits via an exception. ([support.start.term], paragraphs 8 and 12)
• When the implementation’s default unexpected exception handler is called. ([except.unexpected], paragraph 2) Note that std::unexpected() is currently deprecated.
• When std::unexpected() throws an exception which is not allowed by the previously violated dynamic-exception-specification, and std::bad_exception() is not included in that dynamic-exception-specification. ([except.unexpected], paragraph 3)
  
• When the function std::nested_exception::rethrow_nested() is called for an object that has captured no exception. ([except.nested], paragraph 4)
  
• When execution of the initial function of a thread exits via an exception. ([thread.thread.constr], paragraph 5)
• When the destructor is invoked on an object of type std::thread that refers to a joinable thread. ([thread.thread.destr], paragraph 1)
• When the copy assignment operator is invoked on an object of type std::thread that refers to a joinable thread. ([thread.thread.assign], paragraph 1)
  
• When calling condition_variable::wait(), condition_variable::wait_until(), or condition_variable::wait_for() results in a failure to meet the post-condition: lock.owns_lock() == true or lock.mutex() is not locked by the calling thread. ([thread.condition.condvar], paragraphs 11, 16, 21, 28, 33, and 40)
• When calling condition_variable_any::wait(), condition_variable_any::wait_until(), or condition_variable_any::wait_for() results in a failure to meet the post-condition: lock is not locked by the calling thread. ([thread.condition.condvarany], paragraphs 11, 16, and 22)

In many circumstances, the call stack will not be unwound in response to the implicit call to std::terminate(), and in a few cases, it is implementation-defined as to whether stack unwinding will occur or not. The C++ Standard, [except.terminate], paragraph 2 [ISO/IEC 14882-2014], states, in part:

In the situation where no matching handler is found, it is implementation-defined whether or not the stack is unwound before std::terminate() is called. In the situation where the search for a handler encounters the outermost block of a function with a noexcept-specification that does not allow the exception, it is implementation-defined whether the stack is unwound, unwound partially, or not unwound at all before std::terminate() is called. In all other situations, the stack shall not be unwound before std::terminate() is called.

Do not allow an implicit call to std::abort() or std::_Exit(). When the default terminate_handler is installed, or the current terminate_handler responds by calling std::abort() or std::_Exit(), do not allow an implicit call to std::terminate(). Abnormal process termination is the typical vector for denial of service attacks.

It is acceptable to call std::abort(), std::_Exit(), or std::terminate() in response to a critical program error for which no recovery is possible, after indicating the nature of the problem to the operator.

Noncompliant Code Example

In this noncompliant code example, the call to C::f() may result in an exception being thrown. Since C::f() is called from a destructor, this can result in a call to std::terminate() if a non-local object of type C has static or thread storage duration, or if an object of type C is destroyed during stack unwinding (as in this example).

class C {
  void f() noexcept(false);
 
public:
  ~C() { f(); }
};
 
void throwing_func() noexcept(false);
 
void f() noexcept(false) {
  C c;
  throwing_func();
}
 
void g() noexcept(true) {
  try {
    f();
  } catch (...) {
    // Handle error
  }
}

If throwing_func() throws an exception, f() does not attempt to catch it and it will be handled by g(). However, during stack unwinding to reach the exception handler in g(), the automatic local variable c will be destroyed, resulting in a call to C::~C(). When the destructor attempts to throw an exception, std::terminate() will be called instead of throwing.

Note, the declaration for C::~C() does not comply with DCL40-CPP. Destructors and deallocation functions must be declared noexcept because destructors are implicitly declared noexcept(true), and this destructor allows exceptions by virtue of calling a function marked noexcept(false).

Compliant Solution

In this compliant solution, the destructor for C handles all exceptions and does not rethrow. When the automatic local variable c is destroyed, no exception is triggered from the C::~C() call, and the exception thrown by throwing_func() will be caught by the handler in g().

class C {
  void f() noexcept(false);
 
public:
  ~C() {
    try {
      f();
    } catch (...) {
      // Handle error
    }
  }
};
 
void throwing_func() noexcept(false);
 
void f() noexcept(false) {
  C c;
  throwing_func();
}
 
void g() noexcept(true) {
  try {
    f();
  } catch (...) {
    // Handle error
  }
}

Noncompliant Code Example

In this noncompliant code example, the call to f(), which was registered as an exit handler with std::at_exit(), may result in a call to std::terminate() because throwing_func() may throw an exception:

#include <cstdlib>
 
void throwing_func() noexcept(false);
 
void f() {
  throwing_func();
}
 
int main() {
  if (0 != std::at_exit(f)) {
    // Handle error
  }
  // ...
}

Compliant Solution

In this compliant solution, f() handles all exceptions thrown by throwing_func(), and does not rethrow:

#include <cstdlib>

void throwing_func() noexcept(false);

void f() {
  try {
    throwing_func();
  } catch (...) {
    // Handle error
  }
}

int main() {
  if (0 != std::at_exit(f)) {
    // Handle error
  }
  // ...
}

Risk Assessment

Allowing the application to abnormally terminate in an implicit manner can lead to resources not being freed, closed, etc. It is frequently a vector for denial-of-service attacks.

Automated Detection

Related Vulnerabilities

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

Related Guidelines

Bibliography