Why Perfect C Code Is a Myth: The Pervasiveness of Undefined Behavior

The article challenges the notion that C/C++ programmers can write correct code, arguing that undefined behavior is far more pervasive than commonly acknowledged. Beyond obvious pitfalls like buffer overflows and use-after-free, subtle language behaviors—such as pointer alignment requirements—introduce hidden vulnerabilities that even experienced developers cannot reliably avoid. This raises critical questions about software reliability and security in systems powered by these decades-old languages.