Specifications for Managed Strings
• SEI Report
Publisher
Software Engineering Institute
CMU/SEI Report Number
CMU/SEI-2006-TR-006Topic or Tag
Abstract
This report describes a managed string library for the C programming language. Many software vulnerabilities in C programs result from the misuse of standard C string manipulation functions. Programming errors common to string manipulation logic include buffer overflow, truncation errors, string termination errors, and improper data sanitation. The managed string library provides mechanisms to eliminate or mitigate these problems and improve system security. A proof-of-concept implementation of the managed string library is available from the Secure Coding area of the CERT Web site.
This report has been superseded by Specifications for Managed Strings, Second Edition (CMU/SEI-2010-TR-018).
Cite This SEI Report
Burch, H., Long, F., & Seacord, R. (2006, May 1). Specifications for Managed Strings. (SEI Report CMU/SEI-2006-TR-006). Retrieved February 4, 2026, from https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/specifications-for-managed-strings/.
@techreport{burch_2006,
author={Burch, Hal and Long, Fred and Seacord, Robert},
title={Specifications for Managed Strings},
month={{May},
year={{2006},
number={{CMU/SEI-2006-TR-006},
howpublished={Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute's Digital Library},
url={https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/specifications-for-managed-strings/},
note={Accessed: 2026-Feb-4}
}
Burch, Hal, Fred Long, and Robert Seacord. "Specifications for Managed Strings." (CMU/SEI-2006-TR-006). Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute's Digital Library. Software Engineering Institute, May 1, 2006. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/specifications-for-managed-strings/.
H. Burch, F. Long, and R. Seacord, "Specifications for Managed Strings," Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute's Digital Library. Software Engineering Institute, SEI Report CMU/SEI-2006-TR-006, 1-May-2006 [Online]. Available: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/specifications-for-managed-strings/. [Accessed: 4-Feb-2026].
Burch, Hal, Fred Long, and Robert Seacord. "Specifications for Managed Strings." (SEI Report CMU/SEI-2006-TR-006). Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute's Digital Library, Software Engineering Institute, 1 May. 2006. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/specifications-for-managed-strings/. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Burch, Hal; Long, Fred; & Seacord, Robert. Specifications for Managed Strings. CMU/SEI-2006-TR-006. Software Engineering Institute. 2006. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/specifications-for-managed-strings/