Using the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC): Object Size Checking

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### 6.55 Object Size Checking Built-in Functions

GCC implements a limited buffer overflow protection mechanism that can prevent some buffer overflow attacks.

Built-in Function: size_t __builtin_object_size (void * ptr, int type)

  is a built-in construct that returns a constant number of bytes from ptr to the end of the object ptr pointer points to (if known at compile time). `__builtin_object_size` never evaluates its arguments for side-effects. If there are any side-effects in them, it returns `(size_t) -1` for type 0 or 1 and `(size_t) 0` for type 2 or 3. If there are multiple objects ptr can point to and all of them are known at compile time, the returned number is the maximum of remaining byte counts in those objects if type & 2 is 0 and minimum if nonzero. If it is not possible to determine which objects ptr points to at compile time, `__builtin_object_size` should return `(size_t) -1` for type 0 or 1 and `(size_t) 0` for type 2 or 3.

  type is an integer constant from 0 to 3. If the least significant bit is clear, objects are whole variables, if it is set, a closest surrounding subobject is considered the object a pointer points to. The second bit determines if maximum or minimum of remaining bytes is computed.

      struct V { char buf1[10]; int b; char buf2[10]; } var;
      char *p = &var.buf1[1], *q = &var.b;

      /* Here the object p points to is var.  */
      assert (__builtin_object_size (p, 0) == sizeof (var) - 1);
      /* The subobject p points to is var.buf1.  */
      assert (__builtin_object_size (p, 1) == sizeof (var.buf1) - 1);
      /* The object q points to is var.  */
      assert (__builtin_object_size (q, 0)
              == (char *) (&var + 1) - (char *) &var.b);
      /* The subobject q points to is var.b.  */
      assert (__builtin_object_size (q, 1) == sizeof (var.b));

There are built-in functions added for many common string operation functions, e.g., for `memcpy` `__builtin___memcpy_chk` built-in is provided. This built-in has an additional last argument, which is the number of bytes remaining in object the dest argument points to or `(size_t) -1` if the size is not known.

The built-in functions are optimized into the normal string functions like `memcpy` if the last argument is `(size_t) -1` or if it is known at compile time that the destination object will not be overflown. If the compiler can determine at compile time the object will be always overflown, it issues a warning.

The intended use can be e.g.

    #undef memcpy
    #define bos0(dest) __builtin_object_size (dest, 0)
    #define memcpy(dest, src, n) \
      __builtin___memcpy_chk (dest, src, n, bos0 (dest))

    char *volatile p;
    char buf[10];
    /* It is unknown what object p points to, so this is optimized
       into plain memcpy - no checking is possible.  */
    memcpy (p, "abcde", n);
    /* Destination is known and length too.  It is known at compile
       time there will be no overflow.  */
    memcpy (&buf[5], "abcde", 5);
    /* Destination is known, but the length is not known at compile time.
       This will result in __memcpy_chk call that can check for overflow
       at run time.  */
    memcpy (&buf[5], "abcde", n);
    /* Destination is known and it is known at compile time there will
       be overflow.  There will be a warning and __memcpy_chk call that
       will abort the program at run time.  */
    memcpy (&buf[6], "abcde", 5);

Such built-in functions are provided for `memcpy`, `mempcpy`, `memmove`, `memset`, `strcpy`, `stpcpy`, `strncpy`, `strcat` and `strncat`.

There are also checking built-in functions for formatted output functions.

    int __builtin___sprintf_chk (char *s, int flag, size_t os, const char *fmt, ...);
    int __builtin___snprintf_chk (char *s, size_t maxlen, int flag, size_t os,
                                  const char *fmt, ...);
    int __builtin___vsprintf_chk (char *s, int flag, size_t os, const char *fmt,
                                  va_list ap);
    int __builtin___vsnprintf_chk (char *s, size_t maxlen, int flag, size_t os,
                                   const char *fmt, va_list ap);

The added flag argument is passed unchanged to `__sprintf_chk` etc. functions and can contain implementation specific flags on what additional security measures the checking function might take, such as handling `%n` differently.

The os argument is the object size s points to, like in the other built-in functions. There is a small difference in the behavior though, if os is `(size_t) -1`, the built-in functions are optimized into the non-checking functions only if flag is 0, otherwise the checking function is called with os argument set to `(size_t) -1`.

In addition to this, there are checking built-in functions `__builtin___printf_chk`, `__builtin___vprintf_chk`, `__builtin___fprintf_chk` and `__builtin___vfprintf_chk`. These have just one additional argument, flag, right before format string fmt. If the compiler is able to optimize them to `fputc` etc. functions, it does, otherwise the checking function is called and the flag argument passed to it.

Next: Pointer Bounds Checker builtins, Previous: x86 specific memory model extensions for transactional memory, Up: C Extensions [Contents][Index]