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Incorrect Use of Free Detection

detecting-incorrect-free

Detects incorrect use of free() including freeing non-heap memory, invalid pointers, and mismatched allocators. Use when analyzing memory deallocation, heap management, or investigating free() usage errors.

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Full skill instructions

Incorrect Use of Free Detection

Detection Workflow

  1. Identify free operations: Find all free() calls, locate delete/​delete[] calls, map deallocation points, note pointers being freed
  2. Trace pointer origins: Find where pointers originate, identify allocation method, track pointer assignments, assess pointer validity
  3. Analyze memory type: Verify pointer points to heap memory, check for stack variables, identify static/​global variables, assess pointer validity
  4. Assess impact: Can incorrect free cause crash? Can it cause heap corruption? What's the security impact? Is it exploitable?

Key Patterns

  • Freeing non-heap memory: free() on stack variables, free() on static/​global variables, free() on string literals, free() on automatic storage
  • Freeing invalid pointers: free() on NULL pointer, free() on already-freed memory, free() on uninitialized pointers, free() on middle of allocations
  • Mismatched allocators: free() on new-allocated memory, delete on malloc-allocated memory, cross-allocator deallocation, mixed C/​C++ memory management
  • Double free patterns: multiple free() on same pointer, free() in multiple code paths, free() in error handling, free() in cleanup functions

Output Format

Report with: id, type, subtype, severity, confidence, location, vulnerability, freed_pointer, pointer_type, allocation_type, free_operation, exploitable, attack_scenario, impact, mitigation.

Severity Guidelines

  • HIGH: Incorrect free causing heap corruption
  • MEDIUM: Incorrect free causing crashes
  • LOW: Incorrect free with limited impact

See Also

  • patterns.md - Detailed detection patterns and exploitation scenarios
  • examples.md - Example analysis cases and code samples
  • references.md - CWE references and mitigation strategies

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