If either of the C Standard fgets() or fgetws() functions fail, the contents of the array being written is indeterminate. (See undefined behavior 175.)  It is necessary to reset the string to a known value to avoid errors on subsequent string manipulation functions.

Noncompliant Code Example

In this noncompliant code example, an error flag is set if fgets() fails. However, buf is not reset and has indeterminate contents:

#include <stdio.h>
 
enum { BUFFER_SIZE = 1024 };
void func(FILE *file) {
  char buf[BUFFER_SIZE];

  if (fgets(buf, sizeof(buf), file) == NULL) {
    /* Set error flag and continue */
  }
}

Compliant Solution

In this compliant solution, buf is set to an empty string if fgets() fails. The equivalent solution for fgetws() would set buf to an empty wide string.

#include <stdio.h>
 
enum { BUFFER_SIZE = 1024 };

void func(FILE *file) {
  char buf[BUFFER_SIZE];

  if (fgets(buf, sizeof(buf), file) == NULL) {
    /* Set error flag and continue */
    *buf = '\0';
  }
}

Exceptions

FIO40-C-EX1: If the string goes out of scope immediately following the call to fgets() or fgetws() or is not referenced in the case of a failure, it need not be reset.

Risk Assessment

Making invalid assumptions about the contents of an array modified by fgets() or fgetws() can result in undefined behavior and abnormal program termination.

Rule

Severity

Likelihood

Remediation Cost

Priority

Level

FIO40-C

Low

Probable

Medium

P4

L3

Automated Detection

Tool

Version

Checker

Description

CodeSonar
8.1p0

LANG.MEM.UVAR

Uninitialized Variable
Helix QAC

2024.3

DF4861, DF4862, DF4863


LDRA tool suite
9.7.1
44 SEnhanced enforcement
Parasoft C/C++test

2023.1

CERT_C-FIO40-a

Reset strings on fgets() or fgetws() failure

Polyspace Bug Finder

R2024a

CERT C: Rule FIO40-CChecks for use of indeterminate string (rule partially covered)
PVS-Studio

7.33

V1024

Related Vulnerabilities

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


6 Comments

  1. We need some sort of exception on this rule, such as if fgets() is the last statement in a function, do we still need to zero out its buffer? Likewise, if the buffer never actually gets touched in the case of an error (suppose the if statement's then-clause logs an error message and then {{return}}s, or calls abort()), is clearing the buffer still worthwhile?

    Also, the NCCE needs to clarify that the problem is that buf may be treated as if it has legit data. (eg after the then-clause is executed, the subsequent code may treat buf as legit data.)

  2. I don't think this is rose-possible after all... we'd need to do flow analysis to figure out which branches are taken in the case of failure

  3. Is this truly different from ERR33-C. Detect and handle standard library errors?  At the end of the day, any time the library returns an error, you should detect and handle it without assuming the state of the buffers (unless they're specified to be in a particular state), so it seems like this rule is a specific case of a more general problem.

    1. Well, ERR33-C mentions fgets() but doesn't mention that it scrambles the input string. I suppose you could fold this rule into ERR33-C but you then have to add this rule's contents to that one.

      1. I was thinking something more general than that.  A new ERR rule that lists all of the APIs which leave their arguments in an indeterminate state on error (fgets, fread, and so on).  This way we don't have to call out each API specifically in their own guidelines (so it would supersede FIO40-C, and possibly others).

        1. That would be a good idea. Not sure how many methods leave args in an 'indeterminate' state..coming up with that list will take a few hours of perusing the standard. But it would still be useful.