Linux and UNIX Man Pages

Linux & Unix Commands - Search Man Pages

strcat(3) [freebsd man page]

STRCAT(3)						   BSD Library Functions Manual 						 STRCAT(3)

NAME
strcat, strncat -- concatenate strings LIBRARY
Standard C Library (libc, -lc) SYNOPSIS
#include <string.h> char * strcat(char * restrict s, const char * restrict append); char * strncat(char * restrict s, const char * restrict append, size_t count); DESCRIPTION
The strcat() and strncat() functions append a copy of the null-terminated string append to the end of the null-terminated string s, then add a terminating ''. The string s must have sufficient space to hold the result. The strncat() function appends not more than count characters from append, and then adds a terminating ''. RETURN VALUES
The strcat() and strncat() functions return the pointer s. SEE ALSO
bcopy(3), memccpy(3), memcpy(3), memmove(3), strcpy(3), strlcat(3), strlcpy(3), wcscat(3) STANDARDS
The strcat() and strncat() functions conform to ISO/IEC 9899:1990 (``ISO C90''). SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
The strcat() function is easily misused in a manner which enables malicious users to arbitrarily change a running program's functionality through a buffer overflow attack. Avoid using strcat(). Instead, use strncat() or strlcat() and ensure that no more characters are copied to the destination buffer than it can hold. Note that strncat() can also be problematic. It may be a security concern for a string to be truncated at all. Since the truncated string will not be as long as the original, it may refer to a completely different resource and usage of the truncated resource could result in very incorrect behavior. Example: void foo(const char *arbitrary_string) { char onstack[8]; #if defined(BAD) /* * This first strcat is bad behavior. Do not use strcat! */ (void)strcat(onstack, arbitrary_string); /* BAD! */ #elif defined(BETTER) /* * The following two lines demonstrate better use of * strncat(). */ (void)strncat(onstack, arbitrary_string, sizeof(onstack) - strlen(onstack) - 1); #elif defined(BEST) /* * These lines are even more robust due to testing for * truncation. */ if (strlen(arbitrary_string) + 1 > sizeof(onstack) - strlen(onstack)) err(1, "onstack would be truncated"); (void)strncat(onstack, arbitrary_string, sizeof(onstack) - strlen(onstack) - 1); #endif } BSD
December 1, 2009 BSD

Check Out this Related Man Page

STRCAT(3)						   BSD Library Functions Manual 						 STRCAT(3)

NAME
strcat, strncat -- concatenate strings LIBRARY
Standard C Library (libc, -lc) SYNOPSIS
#include <string.h> char * strcat(char *restrict s1, const char *restrict s2); char * strncat(char *restrict s1, const char *restrict s2, size_t n); DESCRIPTION
The strcat() and strncat() functions append a copy of the null-terminated string s2 to the end of the null-terminated string s1, then add a terminating ''. The string s1 must have sufficient space to hold the result. The strncat() function appends not more than n characters from s2, and then adds a terminating ''. The source and destination strings should not overlap, as the behavior is undefined. RETURN VALUES
The strcat() and strncat() functions return the pointer s1. SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
The strcat() function is easily misused in a manner which enables malicious users to arbitrarily change a running program's functionality through a buffer overflow attack. (See the FSA.) Avoid using strcat(). Instead, use strncat() or strlcat() and ensure that no more characters are copied to the destination buffer than it can hold. Note that strncat() can also be problematic. It may be a security concern for a string to be truncated at all. Since the truncated string will not be as long as the original, it may refer to a completely different resource and usage of the truncated resource could result in very incorrect behavior. Example: void foo(const char *arbitrary_string) { char onstack[8] = ""; #if defined(BAD) /* * This first strcat is bad behavior. Do not use strcat! */ (void)strcat(onstack, arbitrary_string); /* BAD! */ #elif defined(BETTER) /* * The following two lines demonstrate better use of * strncat(). */ (void)strncat(onstack, arbitrary_string, sizeof(onstack) - strlen(onstack) - 1); #elif defined(BEST) /* * These lines are even more robust due to testing for * truncation. */ if (strlen(arbitrary_string) + 1 > sizeof(onstack) - strlen(onstack)) err(1, "onstack would be truncated"); (void)strncat(onstack, arbitrary_string, sizeof(onstack) - strlen(onstack) - 1); #endif } SEE ALSO
bcopy(3), memccpy(3), memcpy(3), memmove(3), strcpy(3), strlcat(3), strlcpy(3) STANDARDS
The strcat() and strncat() functions conform to ISO/IEC 9899:1990 (``ISO C90''). BSD
June 4, 1993 BSD
Man Page