Null Pointer Dereference Detection

Detection Workflow

1. Identify pointer dereferences: Find all pointer dereferences (*ptr, ptr->field), array accesses (ptr[index]), function calls with pointer parameters, pointer operations
2. Trace pointer sources: Use xrefs_to to trace pointers, find where pointers originate, identify pointer assignments, track pointer values
3. Check null validation: Verify null checks before dereference, assess check completeness, identify missing validation paths, check validation logic correctness
4. Assess impact: Can attacker control pointer value? Is dereference reachable? What's the crash potential? Can it lead to security issues?

Key Patterns

• Missing null checks: pointer dereference without null check, function calls with unchecked pointers, array access through null pointers, member access through null pointers
• Conditional dereference: dereference after partial null check, dereference in only some code paths, dereference after pointer assignment, dereference in loop conditions
• Function parameter issues: unchecked function parameters, assumptions about non-null parameters, missing validation in public APIs, null pointers from external sources
• Return value issues: dereferencing potentially null return values, assuming malloc/new never returns null, missing checks on function returns, dereferencing failed allocations

Output Format

Report with: id, type, subtype, severity, confidence, location, dereferenced_pointer, dereference_type, dereference_operation, pointer_source, null_check, vulnerability, exploitable, attack_scenario, impact, mitigation.

Severity Guidelines

• HIGH: Null dereference in critical code paths
• MEDIUM: Null dereference causing crashes
• LOW: Null dereference 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