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codeql/docs/language/learn-ql/cpp/guards.rst
2019-10-21 10:34:28 +01:00

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Using the guards library in C and C++
=====================================
Overview
--------
The guards library (defined in ``semmle.code.cpp.controlflow.Guards``) provides a class `GuardCondition <https://help.semmle.com/qldoc/cpp/semmle/code/cpp/controlflow/Guards.qll/type.Guards$GuardCondition.html>`__ representing Boolean values that are used to make control flow decisions.
A ``GuardCondition`` is considered to guard a basic block if the block can only be reached if the ``GuardCondition`` is evaluated a certain way. For instance, in the following code, ``x < 10`` is a ``GuardCondition``, and it guards all the code before the return statement.
.. code-block:: cpp
if(x < 10) {
f(x);
} else if (x < 20) {
g(x);
} else {
h(x);
}
return 0;
The ``controls`` predicate
------------------------------------------------
The ``controls`` predicate helps determine which blocks are only run when the ``GuardCondition`` evaluates a certain way. ``guard.controls(block, testIsTrue)`` holds if ``block`` is only entered if the value of this condition is ``testIsTrue``.
In the following code sample, the call to ``isValid`` controls the calls to ``performAction`` and ``logFailure`` but not the return statement.
.. code-block:: cpp
if(isValid(accessToken)) {
performAction();
succeeded = 1;
} else {
logFailure();
succeeded = 0;
}
return succeeded;
In the following code sample, the call to ``isValid`` controls the body of the
``if`` statement, and also the code after the ``if``.
.. code-block:: cpp
if(!isValid(accessToken)) {
logFailure();
return 0;
}
performAction();
return succeeded;
The ``ensuresEq`` and ``ensuresLt`` predicates
----------------------------------------------
The ``ensuresEq`` and ``ensuresLt`` predicates are the main way of determining what, if any, guarantees the ``GuardCondition`` provides for a given basic block.
The ``ensuresEq`` predicate
***************************
When ``ensuresEq(left, right, k, block, true)`` holds, then ``block`` is only executed if ``left`` was equal to ``right + k`` at their last evaluation. When ``ensuresEq(left, right, k, block, false)`` holds, then ``block`` is only executed if ``left`` was not equal to ``right + k`` at their last evaluation.
The ``ensuresLt`` predicate
***************************
When ``ensuresLt(left, right, k, block, true)`` holds, then ``block`` is only executed if ``left`` was strictly less than ``right + k`` at their last evaluation. When ``ensuresLt(left, right, k, block, false)`` holds, then ``block`` is only executed if ``left`` was greater than or equal to ``right + k`` at their last evaluation.
In the following code sample, the comparison on the first line ensures that ``index`` is less than ``size`` in the "then" block, and that ``index`` is greater than or equal to ``size`` in the "else" block.
.. code-block:: cpp
if(index < size) {
ret = array[index];
} else {
ret = nullptr
}
return ret;
The ``comparesEq`` and ``comparesLt`` predicates
------------------------------------------------
The ``comparesEq`` and ``comparesLt`` predicates help determine if the ``GuardCondition`` evaluates to true.
The ``comparesEq`` predicate
****************************
``comparesEq(left, right, k, true, testIsTrue)`` holds if ``left`` equals ``right + k`` when the expression evaluates to ``testIsTrue``.
The ``comparesLt`` predicate
****************************
``comparesLt(left, right, k, isLessThan, testIsTrue)`` holds if ``left < right + k`` evaluates to ``isLessThan`` when the expression evaluates to ``testIsTrue``.