|
|
overrun screw: n. [C programming] A variety of fandango on core
produced by scribbling past the end of an array (C implementations
typically have no checks for this error). This is relatively benign and
easy to spot if the array is static; if it is auto, the result may be to
smash the stack — often resulting in
heisenbugs of the most diabolical subtlety. The
term overrun screw is used esp. of
scribbles beyond the end of arrays allocated with
malloc(3);
this typically trashes the allocation header for the next block in the
arena, producing massive lossage within malloc and
often a core dump on the next operation to use
stdio(3)
or
malloc(3)
itself. See spam, overrun;
see also memory leak,
memory smash, aliasing bug,
precedence lossage,
fandango on core, secondary damage.
|
|
