A signal handler should not reassert its desire to handle its own signal. This is often done on nonpersistent platforms—that is, platforms that, upon receiving a signal, reset the handler for the signal to SIG_DFL before calling the bound signal handler. Calling signal() under these conditions presents a race condition. (See SIG01-C. Understand implementation-specific details regarding signal handler persistence.)

A signal handler may call signal() only if it does not need to be asynchronous-safe (that is, if all relevant signals are masked so that the handler cannot be interrupted).

Noncompliant Code Example (POSIX)

On nonpersistent platforms, this noncompliant code example contains a race window, starting when the host environment resets the signal and ending when the handler calls signal(). During that time, a second signal sent to the program will trigger the default signal behavior, consequently defeating the persistent behavior implied by the call to signal() from within the handler to reassert the binding.

If the environment is persistent (that is, it does not reset the handler when the signal is received), the signal() call from within the handler() function is redundant.

#include <signal.h>
 
void handler(int signum) {
  if (signal(signum, handler) == SIG_ERR) {
    /* Handle error */
  }
  /* Handle signal */
}
 
void func(void) {
  if (signal(SIGUSR1, handler) == SIG_ERR) {
    /* Handle error */
  }
}

Compliant Solution (POSIX)

Calling the signal() function from within the signal handler to reassert the binding is unnecessary for persistent platforms, as in this compliant solution:

#include <signal.h>
 
void handler(int signum) {
  /* Handle signal */
}
 
void func(void) {
  if (signal(SIGUSR1, handler) == SIG_ERR) {
    /* Handle error */
  }
}

Compliant Solution (POSIX)

POSIX defines the sigaction() function, which assigns handlers to signals in a similar manner to signal() but allows the caller to explicitly set persistence. Consequently, the sigaction() function can be used to eliminate the race window on nonpersistent platforms, as in this compliant solution:

#include <signal.h>
#include <stddef.h>
 
void handler(int signum) {
  /* Handle signal */
}

void func(void) {
  struct sigaction act;
  act.sa_handler = handler;
  act.sa_flags = 0;
  if (sigemptyset(&act.sa_mask) != 0) {
    /* Handle error */
  }
  if (sigaction(SIGUSR1, &act, NULL) != 0) {
    /* Handle error */
  }
}

Although the handler in this example does not call signal(), it could do so safely because the signal is masked and the handler cannot be interrupted. If the same handler is installed for more than one signal, the signals must be masked explicitly in act.sa_mask to ensure that the handler cannot be interrupted because the system masks only the signal being delivered.

POSIX recommends that new applications should use sigaction() rather than signal(). The sigaction() function is not defined by the C Standard and is not supported on some platforms, including Windows.

Compliant Solution (Windows)

There is no safe way to implement persistent signal-handler behavior on Windows platforms, and it should not be attempted. If a design depends on this behavior, and the design cannot be altered, it may be necessary to claim a deviation from this rule after completing an appropriate risk analysis.

The reason for this is that Windows is a nonpersistent platform as discussed above.  Just before calling the current handler function, Windows resets the handler for the next occurrence of the same signal to SIG_DFL. If the handler calls signal() to reinstall itself, there is still a race window. A signal might occur between the start of the handler and the call to signal(), which would invoke the default behavior instead of the desired handler.

Exceptions

SIG34-C-EX1: For implementations with persistent signal handlers, it is safe for a handler to modify the behavior of its own signal. Behavior modifications include ignoring the signal, resetting to the default behavior, and having the signal handled by a different handler. A handler reasserting its binding is also safe but unnecessary.

The following code example resets a signal handler to the system's default behavior:

#include <signal.h>
 
void handler(int signum) {
#if !defined(_WIN32)
  if (signal(signum, SIG_DFL) == SIG_ERR) {
    /* Handle error */
  }
#endif
  /* Handle signal */
}
 
void func(void) {
  if (signal(SIGUSR1, handler) == SIG_ERR) {
    /* Handle error */
  }
}

Risk Assessment

Two signals in quick succession can trigger a race condition on nonpersistent platforms, causing the signal's default behavior despite a handler's attempt to override it.

Rule

Severity

Likelihood

Remediation Cost

Priority

Level

SIG34-C

Low

Unlikely

Low

P3

L3

Automated Detection

Tool

Version

Checker

Description

Astrée
24.04
signal-handler-signal-callPartially checked
Axivion Bauhaus Suite

7.2.0

CertC-SIG34
CodeSonar
8.1p0
BADFUNC.SIGNALUse of signal
Compass/ROSE

Can detect violations of this rule. However, false positives may occur on systems with persistent handlers
Cppcheck Premium

24.9.0

premium-cert-sig34-cFully implemented
Helix QAC

2024.2

C5021

C++5022


Klocwork
2024.2

MISRA.STDLIB.SIGNAL


LDRA tool suite
9.7.1
97 DFully implemented
Parasoft C/C++test
2023.1

CERT_C-SIG34-a

Properly define signal handlers
PC-lint Plus

1.4

2762, 2763

Fully supported

Polyspace Bug Finder

R2024a

CERT C: Rule SIG34-CChecks for signal call from within signal handler (rule partially covered)
RuleChecker
24.04
signal-handler-signal-callPartially checked

Related Vulnerabilities

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 StandardSIG01-C. Understand implementation-specific details regarding signal handler persistencePrior to 2018-01-12: CERT: Unspecified Relationship
ISO/IEC TS 17961:2013Calling signal from interruptible signal handlers [sigcall]Prior to 2018-01-12: CERT: Unspecified Relationship



8 Comments

  1. This rule still permits unsafe practices.  In particular, where it says
    "A signal handler may call signal() to reset the signal, or change the
    current way signals are handled." On non-persistent platforms the only
    safe use for signal() in a signal handler is signal(signum, SIG_DFL).
    (It's safe because it's a no-op, and therefore redundant.)  For any
    other use there is still the same race window between entry to the
    handler and the call to signal() when the default handler is in effect.

    1. Agreed...calling signal() inside a handler is safe only if the handler may not be interrupted. Adjusted rule accordingly.

      1. Now the rule is too strong.  It would forbid the second compliant solution in SIG01-A (which calls signal(signum, SIG_DFL) in a handler).

        Also, if the rule is going to do more than just forbid handler re-assertion then the title of the rule needs changing.

        1. Added the SIG01-A compliant solution to this rule as an exception.

          1. I still think the title of the rule needs changing.  Now that the rule specifies an exception for persistent systems, the title could be "Do not call signal() from within signal handlers".

            1. title changed, added 'interruptible'

  2. This rule is simply wrong, and the right part of it is redundant with another rule.

    The reason for invoking signal within the handler is to reset the handler with as small a race window as possible, on platforms where that is the best that one can do.  Not resetting the handler makes the process vulnerable to that signal.

    1. The 'redundancy' is with SIG01-A which discusses signal handler persistence. This rule is a special case of SIG01-A (which is a recommendation, not a rule). The overall gist is that the race window, no matter how small, is still a security vul, and should be avoided.