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A value-returning function must return a value from all code paths; otherwise, it will result in undefined behavior. This includes returning through less-common code paths, such as from a function-try-block, as explained in the C++ Standard, [except.handle], paragraph 15:

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MSC54-CPP-EX2: It is permissible for a control path to not return a value if that code path is never expected to be taken and a function marked [[noreturn]] is called as part of that code path or if an exception is thrown, as is illustrated in the following code example:.

#include <cstdlib>
#include <iostream>
[[noreturn]] void unreachable(const char *msg) {
  std::cout << "Unreachable code reached: " << msg << std::endl;
  std::exit(1);
}

enum E {
  One,
  Two,
  Three
};

int f(E e) {
  switch (e) {
  case One: return 1;
  case Two: return 2;
  case Three: return 3;
  }
  unreachable("Can never get here");
}

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Failing to return a value from a code path in a value-returning function results in undefined behavior that might be exploited to cause data integrity violations.

Automated Detection

Related Vulnerabilities

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

Bibliography

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