pi-lens/rules/tree-sitter-queries/c/memset-sensitive-data.yml

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# S5798: memset should not be used to delete sensitive data
# memset can be optimized away by compilers; use explicit_bzero or SecureZeroMemory
id: memset-sensitive-data
name: memset Should Not Be Used to Delete Sensitive Data
severity: error
category: security
defect_class: secrets
inline_tier: blocking
language: c

message: "memset should not be used to erase sensitive data — use explicit_bzero, SecureZeroMemory, or memset_s"

description: |
  Compilers may optimize away memset() calls on variables that are never
  read afterward. Use platform-specific secure zeroing functions instead.

  ✅ FIX: Use explicit_bzero (BSD), SecureZeroMemory (Windows), or memset_s (C11)

  ```c
  explicit_bzero(password, sizeof(password));  // GOOD
  SecureZeroMemory(password, sizeof(password)); // GOOD (Windows)
  ```

query: |
  (call_expression
    function: (identifier) @FN (#eq? @FN "memset")) @CALL

metavars:
  - FN
  - CALL

post_filter: c_memset_sensitive_arg

tags:
  - security
  - c
  - cert
  - secrets
  - compiler-optimization

examples:
  bad: |
    char password[32];
    memset(password, 0, sizeof(password));  // BAD - may be optimized away

  good: |
    explicit_bzero(password, sizeof(password));  // GOOD

has_fix: true
fix_action: replace_with_explicit_bzero