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When two pointers are subtracted, both must point to elements of the same array object or just one past the last element of the array object (C Standard, 6.5.6 [ISO/IEC 9899:2011]); the result is the difference of the subscripts of the two array elements. Otherwise, the operation is undefined behavior. (see See undefined behavior 48.).

Comparing pointers using the equality operators == and != has well-defined semantics regardless of whether or not either of the pointers is null, points into the same object, or points one past the last element of an array object or function.

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This program incorrectly assumes that the nums array is adjacent to the end variable in memory. A compiler is permitted to insert padding bits between these two variables , or even reorder them in memory.

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ARR36-C-EX1: Comparing two pointers to distinct members of the same struct object is allowed. Pointers to structure members declared later in the structure compare greater-than pointers to members declared earlier in the structure.

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Tool

Version

Checker

Description

LDRA tool suite

Include Page
LDRA_V
LDRA_V

437 S, 438 S

Fully implemented

Parasoft C/C++test9.5MISRA2008-5_0_17Fully implemented
PRQA QA-C
Include Page
PRQA QA-C_v
PRQA QA-C_v

0487, 2771, 2772,
2773, 2761,
2762,
2763, 2766, 2767,
2768

Fully implemented

Related Vulnerabilities

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

Related Guidelines

SEI CERT C++ Coding StandardCTR54-CPP. Do not subtract iterators that do not refer to the same container
ISO/IEC TS 17961

Subtracting or comparing two pointers that do not refer to the same array [ptrobj]

MITRE CWECWE-469, Use of Pointer Subtraction to Determine Size

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