Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is one primary reason for using data types in C++?
What is one primary reason for using data types in C++?
- To increase the speed of data processing
- To inform the Operating System about stored data types (correct)
- To enable automatic error detection
- To allow for more flexible memory allocation
Which of the following is a potential consequence of integer overflow?
Which of the following is a potential consequence of integer overflow?
- Memory locations will be cleared after overflow
- The overflow will be detected and flagged by the system
- The application will automatically reset values
- The application might not realize a calculation error occurred (correct)
How do computer integers differ from mathematical integers?
How do computer integers differ from mathematical integers?
- Computer integers are treated as floating-point numbers
- Computer integers can represent an infinite set of numbers
- Computer integers do not allow for negative values
- Computer integers are a finite set limited by size (correct)
What is a possible mitigation against integer errors?
What is a possible mitigation against integer errors?
What is the two's complement representation of the decimal number -4 in 4 bits?
What is the two's complement representation of the decimal number -4 in 4 bits?
What is the decimal value of this signed binary number 11111111 00000110?
What is the decimal value of this signed binary number 11111111 00000110?
In the case of a 3-bit unsigned binary addition, what happens if the result exceeds the maximum value?
In the case of a 3-bit unsigned binary addition, what happens if the result exceeds the maximum value?
What is the two's complement operation used for converting a positive integer to its negative equivalent?
What is the two's complement operation used for converting a positive integer to its negative equivalent?
When adding the binary numbers 111 (7) and 010 (2) with 3-bit signed representation, what is the result considering overflow?
When adding the binary numbers 111 (7) and 010 (2) with 3-bit signed representation, what is the result considering overflow?
What does integer overflow imply when performing operations with integers of different sizes?
What does integer overflow imply when performing operations with integers of different sizes?
What type of casting occurs when performing binary operations with different operand sizes?
What type of casting occurs when performing binary operations with different operand sizes?
What happens to an overflowed integer result when it is stored in a smaller variable?
What happens to an overflowed integer result when it is stored in a smaller variable?
Which situation is most likely to cause a signedness bug?
Which situation is most likely to cause a signedness bug?
What is the first step in finding the two's complement of a binary number?
What is the first step in finding the two's complement of a binary number?
How is the two's complement of the binary number 00010100 (20 in decimal) calculated?
How is the two's complement of the binary number 00010100 (20 in decimal) calculated?
What does the two's complement system primarily achieve in computing?
What does the two's complement system primarily achieve in computing?
In the process of converting a decimal number to two's complement, what is the final operation performed?
In the process of converting a decimal number to two's complement, what is the final operation performed?
What is the main purpose of the SafeInt library?
What is the main purpose of the SafeInt library?
Which of the following compilers can utilize the SafeInt library?
Which of the following compilers can utilize the SafeInt library?
Where can the latest version of the SafeInt library be found?
Where can the latest version of the SafeInt library be found?
What benefit does using the latest version of the SafeInt library provide?
What benefit does using the latest version of the SafeInt library provide?
How does SafeInt relate to application safety?
How does SafeInt relate to application safety?
Flashcards
Why use data types in C++?
Why use data types in C++?
Using a data type informs the Operating System (OS) about the kind of data being handled, allowing the OS to allocate the correct amount of memory in bytes for that specific data type.
Integer Overflow
Integer Overflow
Integer overflow occurs when the result of a mathematical operation exceeds the maximum value that can be stored in a given data type. This can lead to unexpected values or errors.
Integer Underflow
Integer Underflow
Integer underflow occurs when the result of a mathematical operation goes below the minimum value that can be stored in a given data type. This can lead to unexpected values or errors.
Computer Integers
Computer Integers
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Two's Complement
Two's Complement
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Type Promotion
Type Promotion
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Implicit Casting
Implicit Casting
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Signedness Bugs
Signedness Bugs
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Sign Change (Two's Complement)
Sign Change (Two's Complement)
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What is a byte?
What is a byte?
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How is a byte converted to a decimal number?
How is a byte converted to a decimal number?
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What is Two's Complement?
What is Two's Complement?
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What is Integer Overflow?
What is Integer Overflow?
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What is Integer Underflow?
What is Integer Underflow?
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Converting to Two's Complement
Converting to Two's Complement
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Two's Complement Arithmetic
Two's Complement Arithmetic
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Byte
Byte
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Least Significant Bit (LSB)
Least Significant Bit (LSB)
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What is SafeInt?
What is SafeInt?
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How can SafeInt help with programming?
How can SafeInt help with programming?
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Study Notes
CSC 2045 Integral Vulnerabilities
-
Objectives:
- Understanding potential dangers of type-casting, including integral and floating-point data types.
- Identifying how numerical data types can be misinterpreted in code.
- Analyzing integer overflow and underflow problems.
-
Week 14 Agenda:
- Why data types are used in C++.
- Integral ranges (e.g.,
signed char
,unsigned char
,short
,unsigned short
). - Integer overflows and security implications.
- Computer integers (e.g., fixed-size, carry/overflow flags, exceptions, truncation, saturation, wrapping).
- Two's complement representation of numbers.
- Arithmetic overflow.
- Type conversions and promotions.
- Mitigation strategies against integer errors (e.g., SafeInt, testing, code audit).
Why Data Types are used in C++
- Data types inform the operating system about the type of data being handled.
- The system allocates memory based on the data type.
- Variables are names given to memory locations for storing data.
- Data types determine the operations that can be performed on the data.
- Space allocation for variables in a function's stack frame is done by reserving the required bytes based on the data type.
Integral Ranges
- Signed
char
: -128 to 127 - Unsigned
char
: 0 to 255 - Short: -32768 to 32767
- Unsigned
short
: 0 to 65535
Integer Overflow and Security
- Overflow causes variables to contain unexpected values.
- Overflow problems can be dangerous because the application cannot detect such issues after the calculation, potentially leading to incorrect results and unexpected program behaviors. Overflows, although difficult to exploit due to fixed-size integers, can still introduce vulnerabilities in a secure system.
- Integer overflows can be problematic even though they are not easily exploited due to the fixed-size restriction of integers, as they can lead to unexpected behavior that are difficult to predict.
Computer Integers
- Computer integers are a finite set; unlike mathematical integers, which are infinite.
- Integer calculations outside the finite set cause carry/overflow flags within the CPU to be set.
- In some cases, an exception is thrown: other results can be truncation, saturation, or wrapping. The action often depends on the programming language and hardware.
Two's Complement
- Two's complement is a way to represent negative numbers in binary.
- Adding a number to its two's complement will result in 0.
Mitigation Strategies
- SafeInt: Use libraries like SafeInt (from Microsoft) for handling integer values from untrusted sources, preventing overflow errors. However, using safe integers can introduce overhead where overflow is not a concern.
- Testing: Ensure thorough testing, including boundary conditions for integer variables. Assess type range checks for functionality at upper and lower bounds, considering minimum and maximum integer values for different integer sizes. Use tools like Allow-Box testing to understand integer variables.
- Source Code Audit: Thoroughly audit source code for proper handling of integer ranges. Validate input values, and ensure proper checks for upper/lower bounds, especially with variables from untrusted sources. Declare variables as unsigned when negative values are unnecessary. Use a safe integer library for operations on integers from untrusted sources.
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