As always, problems with the pointers. I am trying to create a very simple "encryption/decryption" function for char arrays. Yes, I know I can use strings, but I want to improve my knowledge about pointers and make use of simple bytes to achieve a simple task.
So, I created a simple struct like this:
struct text {
char* value;
int size;
}
And I created this simple function:
text encrypt(text decrypted) {
char key = 'X';
for (int i=0; i<decrypted.size; i++) {
decrypted.value[i] = decrypted.value[i] ^ (key + i) % 255);
}
return decrypted;
}
At this point, an experienced C++ programmer should have spot the problem, I think. Anyway, I call this function like this:
...
text mytext;
mytext.value = new char[5];
mytext.value = "Hello";
mytext.size = 5;
mytext = encrypt(mytext);
...
I get, like always, a 'Segmentation fault(core dumped)' error. This is Linux, and, of course, g++. What have I done, again? Thanks!
mytext.value = new char[5];
mytext.value = "Hello";
on the second line, you throw away the (handle to the) allocated memory, leaking it, and let mytext.value point to a string literal. Modifying a string literal is undefined behaviour, and usually crashes, since string literals are often stored in a read-only memory segment.
If you insist on using a char*, you should strncpy the string into the allocated memory (but be aware that it won't be 0-terminated then, you should better allocate a new char[6] and copy also the 0-terminator).
Or let decrypt create a new text that it returns:
text encrypt(text decrypted) {
char key = 'X';
text encrypted;
encrypted.size = decrypted.size;
encrypted.value = new char[encrypted.size];
for (int i=0; i<decrypted.size; i++) {
encrypted.value[i] = decrypted.value[i] ^ (key + i) % 255;
}
// What about 0-terminators?
return encrypted;
}
But, as you're using C++, std::string would be a better choice here.
You're modifying string literals:
mytext.value = "Hello";
after this, you can no longer legally mutate what mytext.value points to, you can only re-assign the pointer.
The fix: use std::string
Related
I'm trying to base64 decode a string, then convert that value to a char array for later use. The decode works fine, but then I get garbage data when converting.
Here's the code I have so far:
std::string encodedData = "VGVzdFN0cmluZw=="; //"TestString"
std::vector<BYTE> decodedData = base64_decode(encodedData);
char* decodedChar;
decodedChar = new char[decodedData.size() +1]; // +1 for the final 0
decodedChar[decodedData.size() + 1] = 0; // terminate the string
for (size_t i = 0; i < decodedData.size(); ++i) {
decodedChar[i] = decodedData[i];
}
vector<BYTE> is a typedef of unsigned char BYTE, as taken from this SO answer. The base64 code is also from this answer (the most upvoted answer, not the accepted answer).
When I run this code, I get the following value in the VisualStudio Text Visualiser:
TestStringÍ
I've also tried other conversion methods, such as:
char* decodedChar = reinterpret_cast< char *>(&decodedData[0]);
Which gives the following:
TestStringÍÍÍýýýýÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ*b4d“
Why am I getting the garbage data at the end of the string? What am i doing wrong?
EDIT: clarified which answer in the linked question I'm using
char* decodedChar;
decodedChar = new char[decodedData.size() +1]; // +1 for the final 0
Why would you manually allocate a buffer and then copy to it when you have std::string available that does this for you?
Just do:
std::string encodedData = "VGVzdFN0cmluZw=="; //"TestString"
std::vector<BYTE> decodedData = base64_decode(encodedData);
std::string decodedString { decodedData.begin(), decodedData.end() };
std::cout << decodedString << '\n';
If you need a char * out of this, just use .c_str()
const char* cstr = decodedString.c_str();
If you need to pass this on to a function that takes char* as input, for example:
void someFunc(char* data);
//...
//call site
someFunc( &decodedString[0] );
We have a TON of functions and abstractions and containers in C++ that were made to improve upon the C language, and so that programmers wouldn't have to write things by hand and make same mistakes every time they code. It would be best if we use those functionalities wherever we can to avoid raw loops or to do simple modifications like this.
You are writing beyond the last element of your allocated array, which can cause literally anything to happen (according to the C++ standard). You need decodedChar[decodedData.size()] = 0;
This question already has answers here:
C++ Reverse Array
(5 answers)
Closed 7 years ago.
This is an amateur question. I searched for other posts about this topic, found lots of results, but am yet to understand the concepts behind the solution.
This is a practice problem in my C++ book. It is not assigned homework. [Instructions here][1] .
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO:
string input;
getline(cin, input); //Get the user's input.
int front = 0;
int rear;
rear = input.size();
WHAT THE PROBLEM WANTS ME TO DO
string input;
getline(cin, input); //Get the user's input.
int* front = 0;
int* rear;
rear = input.size();
Error: a value of type "size_t" cannot be assigned to an entity of type int*
This makes sense to me, as you cannot assign an 'address' of an int to the value of an int.
So my questions are:
What is the correct way to go about this? Should I just forget about initializing front* or rear* to ints? Just avoid that all together? If so, what would be the syntax of that solution?
Why would this problem want me to use pointers like this? It's clear this is a horrible usage of pointers. Without pointers I could complete this problem in like 30 seconds. It's just really frustrating.
I don't really see an advantage to EVER using pointers aside from doing something like returning an array by using pointers.
Thanks guys. I know you like to help users that help themselves so I did some research about this first. I'm just really irritated with the concept of pointers right now vs. just using the actual variable itself.
Posts about this topic that I've previously read:
[Example 1][2]
[Example 2][3]
[Example 3][4]
[1]: http://i.imgur.com/wlufckg.png "Instructions"
[2]: How does reversing a string with pointers works "Post 1"
[3]: Reverse string with pointers? "Post 2"
[4]: Reverse char string with pointers "Post 3"
string.size() does not return a pointer - it returns size_t.
To revert a string try this instead:
string original = "someText"; // The original string
string reversed = original; // This to make sure that the reversed string has same size as the original string
size_t x = original.size(); // Get the size of the original string
for (size_t i = 0; i < x; i++) // Loop to copy from end of original to start of reversed
{
reversed[i]=original[x-1-i];
}
If you really (for some strange reason) needs pointers try this:
string input;
getline(cin, input); //Get the user's input.
char* front = &input[0];
char* rear = &input[input.size()-1];
but I would not use pointers into a string. No need for it.
I guest you may not quite understand the problem here. This problem want you to COPY a C string then REVERSE it by pointer operation. There is no classes in standard C. So, the C string is quite different from string class in C++. It is actually an array of char-type elements ended with character '\0'.
After understand this, you may start to understand the problem here. If you want to copy a C string, you can not just use str_a = str_b. You need constructor here. However, in pure C style, you should REQUIRE memory space for the string at first (you can use malloc here), then copy each element. For example, you want to create a function to make a copy of input string,
#include <string.h>
char *strcopy(char* str_in) {
int len = strlen(str_in);
char *str_out = (char*)malloc(len+1);
char *in = str_in;
char *out = str_out;
while(*in != '\0') { *out++ = *in++; }
return str_out;
}
As you see, we actually use char* not int* here to operate string element. You should distinguish the pointer (such as in) and the element pointed by the pointer (such as *in) at first.
I'll show you a solution in pure C style for your problem, I hope this would help you to understand it. (You should be able to compile it without modification)
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
char* strreverse(char* in){
// length of input string
int len = strlen(in);
// allocate memory for string operation
char *out = (char*)malloc(len+1);
// initialize <front> and <end>
char *front = out, *end = out + len - 1;
char buffer;
// copy input string
for(int i = 0; i <= len; i++){ out[i] = in[i]; }
// reverse string
for(; front < end; front++, end--) {
buffer = *front;
*front = *end;
*end = buffer;
}
return out;
}
int main() {
printf("REVERSE >> %s\n", strreverse("Hello, World!"));
return 0;
}
This is not you would do by C++ in actual programming, however, I guess the problem here is trying to let you understand mechanism of pointers. In this aspect, original C style would help a lot.
I'm making a lexical analyzer and this is a function out of the whole thing. This function takes as argument a char, c, and appends this char to the end of an already defined char* array (yytext). It then increments the length of the text (yylen).
I keep getting segfaults on the shown line when it enters this function. What am I doing wrong here? Thanks.
BTW: can't use the strncpy/strcat, etc. (although if you want you can show me that implementation too)
This is my code:
extern char *yytext;
extern int *yylen;
void consume(char c){
int s = *yylen + 1; //gets yylen (length of yytext) and adds 1
//now seg faults here
char* newArray = new char[s];
for (int i = 0;i < s - 1;i++){
newArray[i] = yytext[i]; //copy all chars from existing yytext into newArray
}
newArray[s-1] = c; //append c to the end of newArray
for (int i = 0;i < s;i++){ //copy all chars + c back to yytext
yytext[i] = newArray[i];
}
yylen++;
}
You have
extern int *yylen;
but try to use it like so:
int s = (int)yylen + 1;
If the variable is an int *, use it like an int * and dereference to get the int. If it is supposed to be an int, then declare it as such.
That can t work:
int s = (int)yylen + 1; //gets yylen (length of yytext) and adds 1
char newArray[s];
use malloc or a big enought buffer
char * newarray=(char*)(malloc(s));
Every C-style string should be null-terminated. From your description it seems you need to append the character at c. So, you need 2 extra locations ( one is for appending the character and other for null-terminator ).
Next, yylen is of type int *. You need to dereference it to get the length (assuming it is pointing to valid memory location ). So, try -
int s = *yylen + 2;
I don't see the need of temporary array but there might be a reason why you are doing it. Now,
yytext[i] = newArray[i]; //seg faults here
you have to check if yytext is pointing to a valid write memory location. If yes, then is it long enough to fill the appending character plus null terminator.
But I would recommend using std::string than working with character arrays. Using it would be a one liner to solve the problem.
My goal with my constructor is to:
open a file
read into everything that exists between a particular string ("%%%%%")
put together each read row to a variable (history)
add the final variable to a double pointer of type char (_stories)
close the file.
However, the program crashes when I'm using strcat. But I can't understand why, I have tried for many hours without result. :/
Here is the constructor code:
Texthandler::Texthandler(string fileName, int number)
: _fileName(fileName), _number(number)
{
char* history = new char[50];
_stories = new char*[_number + 1]; // rows
for (int j = 0; j < _number + 1; j++)
{
_stories[j] = new char [50];
}
_readBuf = new char[10000];
ifstream file;
int controlIndex = 0, whileIndex = 0, charCounter = 0;
_storieIndex = 0;
file.open("Historier.txt"); // filename
while (file.getline(_readBuf, 10000))
{
// The "%%%%%" shouldnt be added to my variables
if (strcmp(_readBuf, "%%%%%") == 0)
{
controlIndex++;
if (controlIndex < 2)
{
continue;
}
}
if (controlIndex == 1)
{
// Concatenate every line (_readBuf) to a complete history
strcat(history, _readBuf);
whileIndex++;
}
if (controlIndex == 2)
{
strcpy(_stories[_storieIndex], history);
_storieIndex++;
controlIndex = 1;
whileIndex = 0;
// Reset history variable
history = new char[50];
}
}
file.close();
}
I have also tried with stringstream without results..
Edit: Forgot to post the error message:
"Unhandled exception at 0x6b6dd2e9 (msvcr100d.dll) in Step3_1.exe: 0xC00000005: Access violation writing location 0c20202d20."
Then a file named "strcat.asm" opens..
Best regards
Robert
You've had a buffer overflow somewhere on the stack, as evidenced by the fact one of your pointers is 0c20202d20 (a few spaces and a - sign).
It's probably because:
char* history = new char[50];
is not big enough for what you're trying to put in there (or it's otherwise not set up correctly as a C string, terminated with a \0 character).
I'm not entirely certain why you think multiple buffers of up to 10K each can be concatenated into a 50-byte string :-)
strcat operates on null terminated char arrays. In the line
strcat(history, _readBuf);
history is uninitialised so isn't guaranteed to have a null terminator. Your program may read beyond the memory allocated looking for a '\0' byte and will try to copy _readBuf at this point. Writing beyond the memory allocated for history invokes undefined behaviour and a crash is very possible.
Even if you added a null terminator, the history buffer is much shorter than _readBuf. This makes memory over-writes very likely - you need to make history at least as big as _readBuf.
Alternatively, since this is C++, why don't you use std::string instead of C-style char arrays?
I'm trying to write to a file and i get a segmentation fault when i delete the allocated memory. I don't understant what is the problem, please help:
void writeToLog(string msg) {
int len = msg.size()+1;
char *text = new char(len);
strcpy(text,msg.c_str());
char* p = text;
for(int i=0; i<len; i++){
fputc(*p, _log) ;
p++;
}
delete[] text; //THIS IS WHERE IT CRASHES
}
I also tried without the [ ] but then i get
*** glibc detected *** ./s: free(): invalid next size (fast): 0x09ef7308 ***
So what is the problem?
Thanks!
This:
char *text = new char(len);
should be:
char *text = new char[len + 1];
And this is all unnecessary anyway. why are you doing it?
Well, delete[] doesn't balance new char(N), it balances new char[N]. The former creates a pointer to a single char and gives it the value N; the latter creates a pointer to an array of char with length N, and leaves the values indefined.
Of course, to write a std::string to a FILE *, why not just do:
fwrite(msg.c_str(), sizeof(char), msg.size() + 1, _log);
Note that preserves the trailing null character; so does your original code.
char *text = new char(len);
allocates just one char. Try with:
char *text = new char[len];
Try this:
char *text = new char[len];
Then:
delete[] text;
Although the technical issue has been answer (mismatched new/delete pair), I still think you could benefit from some help here. And I thus propose to help you trim your code.
First: there would not be any issue if you simply did not perform a copy.
void writeToLog(string msg) {
typedef std::string::const_iterator iterator;
for(iterator it = msg.begin(), end = msg.end(); it != end; ++it) {
fputc(*it, _log) ;
}
}
Note how I reworked the code to use C++ iterators instead of a mix of pointers and indices.
Second: what is this fputc call ?
You should not need to use a FILE* in your code. If you do, you are likely to get it wrong too and forget to close it, or close it twice etc...
The Standard Library provides the Streams collection to handle input and output, and for a log file the ofstream class seems particularly adapted.
std::ofstream _log("myLogFile");
void writeToLog(std::string const& msg) { // by reference (no copy)
_log << msg;
}
Note how it is much simpler ? And you cannot forget to close the file either, because if you do forget, then it'll be closed when _log is destructed anyway.
Of course at this point one might decide that it is superflous to have a function. However such a function allows you to prefix the message, typically with timestamps / PID / Thread ID or other decorations, so it's still nice.