xref: /openbsd-src/gnu/llvm/clang/docs/UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer.rst (revision 1a8dbaac879b9f3335ad7fb25429ce63ac1d6bac)
1==========================
2UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer
3==========================
4
5.. contents::
6   :local:
7
8Introduction
9============
10
11UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer (UBSan) is a fast undefined behavior detector.
12UBSan modifies the program at compile-time to catch various kinds of undefined
13behavior during program execution, for example:
14
15* Using misaligned or null pointer
16* Signed integer overflow
17* Conversion to, from, or between floating-point types which would
18  overflow the destination
19
20See the full list of available :ref:`checks <ubsan-checks>` below.
21
22UBSan has an optional run-time library which provides better error reporting.
23The checks have small runtime cost and no impact on address space layout or ABI.
24
25How to build
26============
27
28Build LLVM/Clang with `CMake <https://llvm.org/docs/CMake.html>`_.
29
30Usage
31=====
32
33Use ``clang++`` to compile and link your program with ``-fsanitize=undefined``
34flag. Make sure to use ``clang++`` (not ``ld``) as a linker, so that your
35executable is linked with proper UBSan runtime libraries. You can use ``clang``
36instead of ``clang++`` if you're compiling/linking C code.
37
38.. code-block:: console
39
40  % cat test.cc
41  int main(int argc, char **argv) {
42    int k = 0x7fffffff;
43    k += argc;
44    return 0;
45  }
46  % clang++ -fsanitize=undefined test.cc
47  % ./a.out
48  test.cc:3:5: runtime error: signed integer overflow: 2147483647 + 1 cannot be represented in type 'int'
49
50You can enable only a subset of :ref:`checks <ubsan-checks>` offered by UBSan,
51and define the desired behavior for each kind of check:
52
53* ``-fsanitize=...``: print a verbose error report and continue execution (default);
54* ``-fno-sanitize-recover=...``: print a verbose error report and exit the program;
55* ``-fsanitize-trap=...``: execute a trap instruction (doesn't require UBSan run-time support).
56
57For example if you compile/link your program as:
58
59.. code-block:: console
60
61  % clang++ -fsanitize=signed-integer-overflow,null,alignment -fno-sanitize-recover=null -fsanitize-trap=alignment
62
63the program will continue execution after signed integer overflows, exit after
64the first invalid use of a null pointer, and trap after the first use of misaligned
65pointer.
66
67.. _ubsan-checks:
68
69Available checks
70================
71
72Available checks are:
73
74  -  ``-fsanitize=alignment``: Use of a misaligned pointer or creation
75     of a misaligned reference. Also sanitizes assume_aligned-like attributes.
76  -  ``-fsanitize=bool``: Load of a ``bool`` value which is neither
77     ``true`` nor ``false``.
78  -  ``-fsanitize=builtin``: Passing invalid values to compiler builtins.
79  -  ``-fsanitize=bounds``: Out of bounds array indexing, in cases
80     where the array bound can be statically determined.
81  -  ``-fsanitize=enum``: Load of a value of an enumerated type which
82     is not in the range of representable values for that enumerated
83     type.
84  -  ``-fsanitize=float-cast-overflow``: Conversion to, from, or
85     between floating-point types which would overflow the
86     destination. Because the range of representable values for all
87     floating-point types supported by Clang is [-inf, +inf], the only
88     cases detected are conversions from floating point to integer types.
89  -  ``-fsanitize=float-divide-by-zero``: Floating point division by
90     zero. This is undefined per the C and C++ standards, but is defined
91     by Clang (and by ISO/IEC/IEEE 60559 / IEEE 754) as producing either an
92     infinity or NaN value, so is not included in ``-fsanitize=undefined``.
93  -  ``-fsanitize=function``: Indirect call of a function through a
94     function pointer of the wrong type (Darwin/Linux, C++ and x86/x86_64
95     only).
96  -  ``-fsanitize=implicit-unsigned-integer-truncation``,
97     ``-fsanitize=implicit-signed-integer-truncation``: Implicit conversion from
98     integer of larger bit width to smaller bit width, if that results in data
99     loss. That is, if the demoted value, after casting back to the original
100     width, is not equal to the original value before the downcast.
101     The ``-fsanitize=implicit-unsigned-integer-truncation`` handles conversions
102     between two ``unsigned`` types, while
103     ``-fsanitize=implicit-signed-integer-truncation`` handles the rest of the
104     conversions - when either one, or both of the types are signed.
105     Issues caught by these sanitizers are not undefined behavior,
106     but are often unintentional.
107  -  ``-fsanitize=implicit-integer-sign-change``: Implicit conversion between
108     integer types, if that changes the sign of the value. That is, if the the
109     original value was negative and the new value is positive (or zero),
110     or the original value was positive, and the new value is negative.
111     Issues caught by this sanitizer are not undefined behavior,
112     but are often unintentional.
113  -  ``-fsanitize=integer-divide-by-zero``: Integer division by zero.
114  -  ``-fsanitize=nonnull-attribute``: Passing null pointer as a function
115     parameter which is declared to never be null.
116  -  ``-fsanitize=null``: Use of a null pointer or creation of a null
117     reference.
118  -  ``-fsanitize=nullability-arg``: Passing null as a function parameter
119     which is annotated with ``_Nonnull``.
120  -  ``-fsanitize=nullability-assign``: Assigning null to an lvalue which
121     is annotated with ``_Nonnull``.
122  -  ``-fsanitize=nullability-return``: Returning null from a function with
123     a return type annotated with ``_Nonnull``.
124  -  ``-fsanitize=object-size``: An attempt to potentially use bytes which
125     the optimizer can determine are not part of the object being accessed.
126     This will also detect some types of undefined behavior that may not
127     directly access memory, but are provably incorrect given the size of
128     the objects involved, such as invalid downcasts and calling methods on
129     invalid pointers. These checks are made in terms of
130     ``__builtin_object_size``, and consequently may be able to detect more
131     problems at higher optimization levels.
132  -  ``-fsanitize=pointer-overflow``: Performing pointer arithmetic which
133     overflows, or where either the old or new pointer value is a null pointer
134     (or in C, when they both are).
135  -  ``-fsanitize=return``: In C++, reaching the end of a
136     value-returning function without returning a value.
137  -  ``-fsanitize=returns-nonnull-attribute``: Returning null pointer
138     from a function which is declared to never return null.
139  -  ``-fsanitize=shift``: Shift operators where the amount shifted is
140     greater or equal to the promoted bit-width of the left hand side
141     or less than zero, or where the left hand side is negative. For a
142     signed left shift, also checks for signed overflow in C, and for
143     unsigned overflow in C++. You can use ``-fsanitize=shift-base`` or
144     ``-fsanitize=shift-exponent`` to check only left-hand side or
145     right-hand side of shift operation, respectively.
146  -  ``-fsanitize=signed-integer-overflow``: Signed integer overflow, where the
147     result of a signed integer computation cannot be represented in its type.
148     This includes all the checks covered by ``-ftrapv``, as well as checks for
149     signed division overflow (``INT_MIN/-1``), but not checks for
150     lossy implicit conversions performed before the computation
151     (see ``-fsanitize=implicit-conversion``). Both of these two issues are
152     handled by ``-fsanitize=implicit-conversion`` group of checks.
153  -  ``-fsanitize=unreachable``: If control flow reaches an unreachable
154     program point.
155  -  ``-fsanitize=unsigned-integer-overflow``: Unsigned integer overflow, where
156     the result of an unsigned integer computation cannot be represented in its
157     type. Unlike signed integer overflow, this is not undefined behavior, but
158     it is often unintentional. This sanitizer does not check for lossy implicit
159     conversions performed before such a computation
160     (see ``-fsanitize=implicit-conversion``).
161  -  ``-fsanitize=vla-bound``: A variable-length array whose bound
162     does not evaluate to a positive value.
163  -  ``-fsanitize=vptr``: Use of an object whose vptr indicates that it is of
164     the wrong dynamic type, or that its lifetime has not begun or has ended.
165     Incompatible with ``-fno-rtti``. Link must be performed by ``clang++``, not
166     ``clang``, to make sure C++-specific parts of the runtime library and C++
167     standard libraries are present.
168
169You can also use the following check groups:
170  -  ``-fsanitize=undefined``: All of the checks listed above other than
171     ``float-divide-by-zero``, ``unsigned-integer-overflow``,
172     ``implicit-conversion``, and the ``nullability-*`` group of checks.
173  -  ``-fsanitize=undefined-trap``: Deprecated alias of
174     ``-fsanitize=undefined``.
175  -  ``-fsanitize=implicit-integer-truncation``: Catches lossy integral
176     conversions. Enables ``implicit-signed-integer-truncation`` and
177     ``implicit-unsigned-integer-truncation``.
178  -  ``-fsanitize=implicit-integer-arithmetic-value-change``: Catches implicit
179     conversions that change the arithmetic value of the integer. Enables
180     ``implicit-signed-integer-truncation`` and ``implicit-integer-sign-change``.
181  -  ``-fsanitize=implicit-conversion``: Checks for suspicious
182     behavior of implicit conversions. Enables
183     ``implicit-unsigned-integer-truncation``,
184     ``implicit-signed-integer-truncation``, and
185     ``implicit-integer-sign-change``.
186  -  ``-fsanitize=integer``: Checks for undefined or suspicious integer
187     behavior (e.g. unsigned integer overflow).
188     Enables ``signed-integer-overflow``, ``unsigned-integer-overflow``,
189     ``shift``, ``integer-divide-by-zero``,
190     ``implicit-unsigned-integer-truncation``,
191     ``implicit-signed-integer-truncation``, and
192     ``implicit-integer-sign-change``.
193  -  ``-fsanitize=nullability``: Enables ``nullability-arg``,
194     ``nullability-assign``, and ``nullability-return``. While violating
195     nullability does not have undefined behavior, it is often unintentional,
196     so UBSan offers to catch it.
197
198Volatile
199--------
200
201The ``null``, ``alignment``, ``object-size``, and ``vptr`` checks do not apply
202to pointers to types with the ``volatile`` qualifier.
203
204Minimal Runtime
205===============
206
207There is a minimal UBSan runtime available suitable for use in production
208environments. This runtime has a small attack surface. It only provides very
209basic issue logging and deduplication, and does not support
210``-fsanitize=function`` and ``-fsanitize=vptr`` checking.
211
212To use the minimal runtime, add ``-fsanitize-minimal-runtime`` to the clang
213command line options. For example, if you're used to compiling with
214``-fsanitize=undefined``, you could enable the minimal runtime with
215``-fsanitize=undefined -fsanitize-minimal-runtime``.
216
217Stack traces and report symbolization
218=====================================
219If you want UBSan to print symbolized stack trace for each error report, you
220will need to:
221
222#. Compile with ``-g`` and ``-fno-omit-frame-pointer`` to get proper debug
223   information in your binary.
224#. Run your program with environment variable
225   ``UBSAN_OPTIONS=print_stacktrace=1``.
226#. Make sure ``llvm-symbolizer`` binary is in ``PATH``.
227
228Logging
229=======
230
231The default log file for diagnostics is "stderr". To log diagnostics to another
232file, you can set ``UBSAN_OPTIONS=log_path=...``.
233
234Silencing Unsigned Integer Overflow
235===================================
236To silence reports from unsigned integer overflow, you can set
237``UBSAN_OPTIONS=silence_unsigned_overflow=1``.  This feature, combined with
238``-fsanitize-recover=unsigned-integer-overflow``, is particularly useful for
239providing fuzzing signal without blowing up logs.
240
241Issue Suppression
242=================
243
244UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer is not expected to produce false positives.
245If you see one, look again; most likely it is a true positive!
246
247Disabling Instrumentation with ``__attribute__((no_sanitize("undefined")))``
248----------------------------------------------------------------------------
249
250You disable UBSan checks for particular functions with
251``__attribute__((no_sanitize("undefined")))``. You can use all values of
252``-fsanitize=`` flag in this attribute, e.g. if your function deliberately
253contains possible signed integer overflow, you can use
254``__attribute__((no_sanitize("signed-integer-overflow")))``.
255
256This attribute may not be
257supported by other compilers, so consider using it together with
258``#if defined(__clang__)``.
259
260Suppressing Errors in Recompiled Code (Blacklist)
261-------------------------------------------------
262
263UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer supports ``src`` and ``fun`` entity types in
264:doc:`SanitizerSpecialCaseList`, that can be used to suppress error reports
265in the specified source files or functions.
266
267Runtime suppressions
268--------------------
269
270Sometimes you can suppress UBSan error reports for specific files, functions,
271or libraries without recompiling the code. You need to pass a path to
272suppression file in a ``UBSAN_OPTIONS`` environment variable.
273
274.. code-block:: bash
275
276    UBSAN_OPTIONS=suppressions=MyUBSan.supp
277
278You need to specify a :ref:`check <ubsan-checks>` you are suppressing and the
279bug location. For example:
280
281.. code-block:: bash
282
283  signed-integer-overflow:file-with-known-overflow.cpp
284  alignment:function_doing_unaligned_access
285  vptr:shared_object_with_vptr_failures.so
286
287There are several limitations:
288
289* Sometimes your binary must have enough debug info and/or symbol table, so
290  that the runtime could figure out source file or function name to match
291  against the suppression.
292* It is only possible to suppress recoverable checks. For the example above,
293  you can additionally pass
294  ``-fsanitize-recover=signed-integer-overflow,alignment,vptr``, although
295  most of UBSan checks are recoverable by default.
296* Check groups (like ``undefined``) can't be used in suppressions file, only
297  fine-grained checks are supported.
298
299Supported Platforms
300===================
301
302UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer is supported on the following operating systems:
303
304* Android
305* Linux
306* NetBSD
307* FreeBSD
308* OpenBSD
309* macOS
310* Windows
311
312The runtime library is relatively portable and platform independent. If the OS
313you need is not listed above, UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer may already work for
314it, or could be made to work with a minor porting effort.
315
316Current Status
317==============
318
319UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer is available on selected platforms starting from LLVM
3203.3. The test suite is integrated into the CMake build and can be run with
321``check-ubsan`` command.
322
323Additional Configuration
324========================
325
326UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer adds static check data for each check unless it is
327in trap mode. This check data includes the full file name. The option
328``-fsanitize-undefined-strip-path-components=N`` can be used to trim this
329information. If ``N`` is positive, file information emitted by
330UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer will drop the first ``N`` components from the file
331path. If ``N`` is negative, the last ``N`` components will be kept.
332
333Example
334-------
335
336For a file called ``/code/library/file.cpp``, here is what would be emitted:
337
338* Default (No flag, or ``-fsanitize-undefined-strip-path-components=0``): ``/code/library/file.cpp``
339* ``-fsanitize-undefined-strip-path-components=1``: ``code/library/file.cpp``
340* ``-fsanitize-undefined-strip-path-components=2``: ``library/file.cpp``
341* ``-fsanitize-undefined-strip-path-components=-1``: ``file.cpp``
342* ``-fsanitize-undefined-strip-path-components=-2``: ``library/file.cpp``
343
344More Information
345================
346
347* From LLVM project blog:
348  `What Every C Programmer Should Know About Undefined Behavior
349  <http://blog.llvm.org/2011/05/what-every-c-programmer-should-know.html>`_
350* From John Regehr's *Embedded in Academia* blog:
351  `A Guide to Undefined Behavior in C and C++
352  <https://blog.regehr.org/archives/213>`_
353