[previous] 4140 [next] Address of automatic object exported in function return value.
Pointers REFERENCE - ISO:C90-6.1.2.4 Storage Durations of Objects

The address of an automatic object is being used as the return expression of a function. This is dangerous. On return from this function, the object will go out of scope and the value obtained by dereferencing the pointer will be undefined. Perhaps the object needs to be declared static ?

For example: 


/*PRQA S 2017,3408,3447 ++*/

int *func ( void )
{
    int a = 0;

    return &a;                   /* Message 4140 */
}

MISRA C:2012 Rules applicable to message 4140:

Rule-18.6  (Required) The address of an object with automatic storage shall not be copied to another object that persists after the first object has ceased to exist

See also:

QA·C Source Code Analyser 8.1
MISRA C:2012 Compliance Module 1.0
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