CertC++-CON41

Wrap functions that can fail spuriously in a loop

Required inputs: IR

Functions that can fail spuriously should be wrapped in a loop.  The atomic_compare_exchange_weak() and atomic_compare_exchange_weak_explicit() functions both attempt to set an atomic variable to a new value but only if it currently possesses a known old value. Unlike the related functions atomic_compare_exchange_strong() and atomic_compare_exchange_strong_explicit(), these functions are permitted to fail spuriously. This makes these functions faster on some platforms-for example, on architectures that implement compare-and-exchange using load-linked/store-conditional instructions, such as Alpha, ARM, MIPS, and PowerPC. The C Standard, 7.17.7.4, paragraph 4 [ ISO/IEC 9899:2011], describes this behavior:

A weak compare-and-exchange operation may fail spuriously. That is, even when the contents of memory referred to by expected and object are equal, it may return zero and store back to expected the same memory contents that were originally there.

Noncompliant Code Example

In this noncompliant code example, reorganize_data_structure() is to be used as an argument to thrd_create().  After reorganizing, the function attempts to replace the head pointer so that it points to the new version.  If no other thread has changed the head pointer since it was originally loaded, reorganize_data_structure() is intended to exit the thread with a result of true, indicating success.  Otherwise, the new reorganization attempt is discarded and the thread is exited with a result of false.  However, atomic_compare_exchange_weak() may fail even when the head pointer has not changed. Therefore, reorganize_data_structure() may perform the work and then discard it unnecessarily. 

#include <stdatomic.h>
#include <stdbool.h>

struct data {
  struct data *next;
  /* ... */
};

extern void cleanup_data_structure(struct data *head);

int reorganize_data_structure(void *thread_arg) {
  struct data *_Atomic *ptr_to_head = thread_arg;
  struct data *old_head = atomic_load(ptr_to_head);
  struct data *new_head;
  bool success;

  /* ... Reorganize the data structure ... */

  success = atomic_compare_exchange_weak(ptr_to_head,
                                         &old_head, new_head);
  if (!success) {
    cleanup_data_structure(new_head);
  }
  return success; /* Exit the thread */
}
Compliant Solution ( atomic_compare_exchange_weak())

To recover from spurious failures, a loop must be used.  However, atomic_compare_exchange_weak() might fail because the head pointer changed, or the failure may be spurious. In either case, the thread must perform the work repeatedly until the compare-and-exchange succeeds, as shown in this compliant solution: 

#include <stdatomic.h>
#include <stdbool.h>
#include <stddef.h>

struct data {
  struct data *next;
  /* ... */
};

extern void cleanup_data_structure(struct data *head);

int reorganize_data_structure(void *thread_arg) {
  struct data *_Atomic *ptr_to_head = thread_arg;
  struct data *old_head = atomic_load(ptr_to_head);
  struct data *new_head = NULL;
  struct data *saved_old_head;
  bool success;

  do {
    if (new_head != NULL) {
      cleanup_data_structure(new_head);
    }
    saved_old_head = old_head;

  /* ... Reorganize the data structure ... */

  } while (!(success = atomic_compare_exchange_weak(
               ptr_to_head, &old_head, new_head
             )) && old_head == saved_old_head);
  return success; /* Exit the thread */
}

This loop could also be part of a larger control flow; for example, the thread from the noncompliant code example could be retried if it returns false.

Compliant Solution ( atomic_compare_exchange_strong())

When a weak compare-and-exchange would require a loop and a strong one would not, the strong one is preferable, as in this compliant solution:

#include <stdatomic.h>
#include <stdbool.h>

struct data {
  struct data *next;
  /* ... */
};

extern void cleanup_data_structure(struct data *head);

int reorganize_data_structure(void *thread_arg) {
  struct data *_Atomic *ptr_to_head = thread_arg;
  struct data *old_head = atomic_load(ptr_to_head);
  struct data *new_head;
  bool success;

  /* ... Reorganize the data structure ... */

  success = atomic_compare_exchange_strong(
    ptr_to_head, &old_head, new_head
  );
  if (!success) {
    cleanup_data_structure(new_head);
  }
  return success; /* Exit the thread */
}

Risk Assessment

Failing to wrap the atomic_compare_exchange_weak() and atomic_compare_exchange_weak_explicit() functions in a loop can result in incorrect values and control flow.

Rule Severity Likelihood Remediation Cost Priority Level
CON41-C Low Unlikely Medium P2 L3
Related Guidelines
Taxonomy Taxonomy item Relationship
CERT Oracle Secure Coding Standard for Java THI03-J. Always invoke wait() and await() methods inside a loop Prior to 2018-01-12: CERT: Unspecified Relationship
Bibliography
[ ISO/IEC 9899:2011] 7.17.7.4, "The atomic_compare_exchange Generic Functions"
[ Lea 2000] 1.3.2, "Liveness"
3.2.2, "Monitor Mechanics"
Excerpt from SEI CERT C++ Coding Standard [https://cmu-sei.github.io/secure-coding-standards/sei-cert-c-coding-standard/rules/concurrency-con/con41-c], Copyright (C) 1995-2026 Carnegie Mellon University. See section 9.4. "3rd-Party Licenses" in the documentation for full details.

Possible Messages

Key

Text

Severity

Disabled

call_outside_loop

Wrap functions that can fail spuriously in a loop.

None

False

Options

spuriously_failing_routines

spuriously_failing_routines : set[bauhaus.analysis.config.QualifiedName] = {'atomic_compare_exchange_weak', 'atomic_compare_exchange_weak_explicit'}

Names of routines that can spuriously fail.