aliasing bug
aliasing bug: n. A class of subtle programming errors that can
arise in code that does dynamic allocation, esp. via `malloc(3)' or
equivalent. If several pointers address (`aliases for') a given
hunk of storage, it may happen that the storage is freed or
reallocated (and thus moved) through one alias and then referenced
through another, which may lead to subtle (and possibly
intermittent) lossage depending on the state and the allocation
history of the malloc arena. Avoidable by use of allocation
strategies that never alias allocated core, or by use of
higher-level languages, such as LISP, which employ a garbage
collector (see GC). Also called a stale pointer bug. See also
precedence lossage, smash the stack, fandango on core, memory
leak, memory smash, overrun screw, spam.
Historical note: Though this term is nowadays associated with C
programming, it was already in use in a very similar sense in the
Algol-60 and FORTRAN communities in the 1960s.
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