PI95028: At OPT(0) invalid reference modifications of string compare operands can lead to an abend0C4 or other invalid results

Obtain the fix for this APAR.

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• At OPT(0), the compiler generates compare code based on known
  compile time comparand lengths, using proxy comparand items to
  account for the blank padding of the shorter comparand. With an
  invalid reference modification whose length exceeds the defined
  length of the longer comparand, copying the actual comparand
  into the proxy item will possibly overlay memory following the
  proxy. This can lead to incorrect results or an abend0c4
  elsewhere in the compile unit.
  

Local fix

• Do not use coding practices that rely on invalid reference
  modifications.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED: Users of Enterprise COBOL V6.2 compiling     *
  *                 programs at OPT(0) that compare PIC X(1)     *
  *                 LINKAGE SECTION data items using a           *
  *                 reference modification with length greater   *
  *                 than one to figurative constants like        *
  *                 SPACES.                                      *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: The compiler generates code that may    *
  *                      compare only the first byte of the      *
  *                      data item.                              *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION: Apply the provided PTF.                      *
  ****************************************************************
  The compiler was generating code under the assumption that
  since the data item was PIC X(1), only one byte needed to be
  compared.
  

Problem conclusion

• The compiler was fixed to always compare the number of bytes
  specified in the reference modification.
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

  PI93738

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

  PI96221

Modules/Macros

• IGY8RWTU IGYCASMB IGYCCBE  IGYCCCRT IGYCCICS IGYCCSRV IGYCDGEN
  IGYCDIAG IGYCDMAP IGYCEN$0 IGYCEN$1 IGYCEN$2 IGYCEN$3 IGYCEN$4
  IGYCEN$5 IGYCEN$8 IGYCEN$D IGYCEN$R IGYCFGEN IGYCFREE IGYCINIT
  IGYCJA$0 IGYCJA$1 IGYCJA$2 IGYCJA$3 IGYCJA$4 IGYCJA$5 IGYCJA$8
  IGYCJA$D IGYCJA$R IGYCLIBH IGYCLIBO IGYCLIBR IGYCLSTR IGYCLVL0
  IGYCLVL1 IGYCLVL2 IGYCLVL3 IGYCLVL8 IGYCMALL IGYCOPI  IGYCOSCN
  IGYCPGEN IGYCRCTL IGYCRDPR IGYCRDSC IGYCREAL IGYCRWT  IGYCSCAN
  IGYCSIMD IGYCUE$0 IGYCUE$1 IGYCUE$2 IGYCUE$3 IGYCUE$4 IGYCUE$5
  IGYCUE$8 IGYCUE$D IGYCUE$R IGYCXREF IGYDRV   IGYEQCWI IGYMSGE
  IGYMSGK  IGYMSGT  IGYQCBE  IGYWCL   IGYWCLG  IGYZQDRV IGYZQENU
  IGYZQJPN
  

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  ENT COBOL FOR Z

• Fixed component ID

  5655EC600

Applicable component levels

• R620 PSY UI54510

     UP18/03/28 P F803

• R621 PSY UI54511

     UP18/03/28 P F803

• R622 PSY UI54512

     UP18/03/28 P F803

Fix is available

• Select the PTF appropriate for your component level. You will be required to sign in. Distribution on physical media is not available in all countries.