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Division and modulo remainder operations performed on integers are susceptible to divide-by-zero errors. Consequently, the divisor in a division or remainder operation on integer types must be checked for zero prior to the operation. Division and remainder operations performed on floating-point numbers are not subject to this rule.

Noncompliant Code Example (Division)

The result of the / operator is the quotient from the division of the first arithmetic operand by the second arithmetic operand. Division operations are susceptible to divide-by-zero errors. Overflow can also occur during two's-complement signed integer division when the dividend is equal to the minimum (negative) value for the signed integer type and the divisor is equal to —1. (See guideline "−1 (see NUM00-J. Detect or prevent integer overflow".)

Noncompliant Code Example

This code for more information). This noncompliant code example can result in a divide-by-zero error during the division of the signed operands sl1 num1 and sl2. num2:

signed long sl1num1, sl2num2, result;

/* Initialize sl1num1 and sl2num2 */

result = sl1num1 / sl2num2;

Compliant Solution (Division)

This compliant solution tests the suspect division operation divisor to guarantee there is no possibility of divide-by-zero errors.:

signed long sl1num1, sl2num2, result;

/* Initialize sl1num1 and sl2num2 */

if ( (sl2num2 == 0) ) {
  /*/ handleHandle error condition */
}
 else {
  result = sl1num1 / sl2num2;
}

...

Noncompliant Code Example (Remainder)

The % operator provides the remainder when two operands of integer type are divided.

Noncompliant Code Example

This noncompliant code example can result in a divide-by-zero error during the remainder operation on the signed operands sl1 num1 and sl2. num2:

signed long sl1num1, sl2num2, result;

/* Initialize sl1num1 and sl2num2 */

result = sl1num1 % sl2num2;

Compliant Solution (Remainder)

This compliant solution tests the suspect remainder operation divisor to guarantee there is no possibility of a divide-by-zero error.:

signed long sl1num1, sl2num2, result;

/* Initialize sl1num1 and sl2num2 */

if (num2 (sl2 == 0 ) ) {
  /*/ handleHandle error condition */
}
 else {
  result = sl1num1 % sl2num2;
}

Risk Assessment

A divide-division or remainder by - zero can result in abnormal program termination and denial-of-service (DoS).

Automated Detection

...

Automated detection exists for C and C++, but not for Java yet.

Related Vulnerabilities

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

Other Languages

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Tool	Version	Checker	Description
Coverity	7.5	DIVIDE_BY_ZERO	Implemented
Parasoft Jtest	Include Page Parasoft_V Parasoft_V	CERT.NUM02.ZERO	Avoid division by zero
PVS-Studio	Include Page PVS-Studio_V PVS-Studio_V	V6020
SonarQube	Include Page SonarQube_V SonarQube_V	S3518	Zero should not be a possible denominator

Related Guidelines

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Bibliography

Bibliography

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[

[ISO/IEC 9899:

1999AA. Bibliography#ISO/IEC 9899-

1999]

] Section

Subclause 6.5.5, "Multiplicative

operators"

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[[MITRE 07

AA. Bibliography#MITRE 07]]

[CWE ID 369

http://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/369.html], "Divide By Zero"

]]></ac:plain-text-body></ac:structured-macro>

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[[Seacord 05

AA. Bibliography#Seacord 05]]

Operators"
[Seacord 05]	Chapter 5, "Integers"

]]></ac:plain-text-body></ac:structured-macro>

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[[Warren 02

AA. Bibliography#Warren 02]

[Seacord 2015]	Image Added NUM02-J. Ensure that division and modulo operations do not result in divide-by-zero errors LiveLesson
[Warren 02]	Chapter 2, "Basics"

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NUM17-J. Beware of precision loss when converting primitive integers to floating-point      03. Numeric Types and Operations (NUM)      04. Object Orientation (OBJ)Image Added Image Added Image Added