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MEM31-C-EX1: Allocated memory does not need to be freed if it is assigned to a pointer with static storage duration whose lifetime is the entire execution of a programincludes program termination. The following code example illustrates a pointer that stores the return value from malloc() in a static variable:
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Failing to free memory can result in the exhaustion of system memory resources, which can lead to a denial-of-service attack.
Rule | Severity | Likelihood | Detectable | Remediation CostRepairable | Priority | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MEM31-C | Medium | Probable | No | NoMedium | P8P4 | L2L3 |
Automated Detection
Tool | Version | Checker | Description | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astrée |
| Supported, but no explicit checker | ||||||||||||||||
| Axivion Bauhaus Suite |
| CertC-MEM31 | Can detect dynamically allocated resources that are not freed | |||||||||||||||
| CodeSonar |
| ALLOC.LEAK | Leak | |||||||||||||||
| Compass/ROSE | ||||||||||||||||||
| RESOURCE_LEAK ALLOC_FREE_MISMATCH | Finds resource leaks from variables that go out of scope while owning a resource | ||||||||||||||||
| Cppcheck |
| leakReturnValNotUsed | memleak leakReturnValNotUsed leakUnsafeArgAlloc memleakOnRealloc | |||||||||||||||
| Cppcheck Premium |
| memleak leakReturnValNotUsed leakUnsafeArgAlloc memleakOnRealloc | ||||||||||||||||
| Helix QAC |
| DF2706, DF2707, DF2708 C++3337, C++3338 Doesn't use return value of memory allocation function | ||||||||||||||||
| Klocwork |
| MLKCL.FFM. | MIGHTASSIGN | MLKCL.FFM. | MUSTCOPY | MLKCL. | RETSHALLOW. | MUSTASSIGN | MLK.RETCL.SHALLOW.COPY FMM.MIGHT FMM.MUST | |||||||||
| LDRA tool suite |
| 50 D | Partially implemented | |||||||||||||||
| Parasoft C/C++test |
| CERT_C-MEM31-a | Ensure resources are freed | |||||||||||||||
| Parasoft Insure++ | Runtime analysis | |||||||||||||||||
| PC-lint Plus |
| 429 | Fully supported | |||||||||||||||
| Polyspace Bug Finder |
| CERT C: Rule MEM31-C | Checks for memory leak (rule fully covered) | |||||||||||||||
| PRQA QAPVS-CStudio |
| 2706, 2707, 2708 |
| V773 | PRQA QA-C++ | | Include Page | | cplusplus:PRQA QA-C++_V | cplusplus:PRQA QA-C++_V | 2706, 2707, 2708, 3337, 3338|||||||||
| SonarQube C/C++ Plugin |
| S3584 | ||||||||||||||||
| Splint |
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| TrustInSoft Analyzer |
| malloc | Exhaustively verified. |
Related Vulnerabilities
Search for vulnerabilities resulting from the violation of this rule on the CERT website.
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CWE-404 = Union( FIO42-C, MEM31-C list) where list =
- Failure to free resources besides files or memory chunks, such as mutexes)
Bibliography
| [ISO/IEC 9899:20112024] | Subclause 7.2224.3, "Memory Management Functions" |
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