================ @@ -0,0 +1,600 @@ +======================== +Lifetime Safety Analysis +======================== + +.. contents:: + :local: + +Introduction +============ + +Clang Lifetime Safety Analysis is a C++ language extension which warns about +potential dangling pointer defects in code. The analysis aims to detect +when a pointer, reference or view type (such as ``std::string_view``) refers to an object +that is no longer alive, a condition that leads to use-after-free bugs and +security vulnerabilities. Common examples include pointers to stack variables +that have gone out of scope, fields holding views to stack-allocated objects +(dangling-field), returning pointers/references to stack variables +(return stack address) or iterators into container elements invalidated by +container operations (e.g., ``std::vector::push_back``) + +The analysis design is inspired by `Polonius, the Rust borrow checker <https://github.com/rust-lang/polonius>`_, +but adapted to C++ idioms and constraints, such as the lack of exclusivity enforcement (alias-xor-mutability). +Further details on the analysis method can be found in the `RFC on Discourse <https://discourse.llvm.org/t/rfc-intra-procedural-lifetime-analysis-in-clang/86291/>`_. + +This is compile-time analysis; there is no run-time overhead. +It tracks pointer validity through intra-procedural data-flow analysis. While it does +not require lifetime annotations to get started, in their absence, the analysis +treats function calls optimistically, assuming no lifetime effects, thereby potentially missing dangling pointer issues. As more functions are annotated +with attributes like `clang::lifetimebound <https://clang.llvm.org/docs/AttributeReference.html#lifetimebound>`_, `gsl::Owner <https://clang.llvm.org/docs/AttributeReference.html#gsl-owner>`_, and +`gsl::Pointer <https://clang.llvm.org/docs/AttributeReference.html#gsl-pointer>`_, the analysis can see through these lifetime contracts and enforce +lifetime safety at call sites with higher accuracy. This approach supports +gradual adoption in existing codebases. + +.. note:: + This analysis is designed for bug finding, not verification. It may miss some + lifetime issues and can produce false positives. It does not guarantee the ---------------- Xazax-hun wrote:
Nit: the last sentence is not finished. https://github.com/llvm/llvm-project/pull/183058 _______________________________________________ cfe-commits mailing list [email protected] https://lists.llvm.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/cfe-commits
