[Valgrind-users] Finding references that point to deleted memory

[Oliver G. <ol...@gm...>]

Hello,

attached is a C++ example where an int reference is used which points to
freed memory. When starting that program with parameter "x", it will
access this (invalid) reference, and Valgrind will show an "Invalid read
of size 4" error. However, when starting the program without any
parameter, the reference will not be accessed - yet the actual error is
still there, waiting for some poor fool like me who starts the
program with that tiny little parameter that triggers the error :-(

I'm wondering if there's a way to find this invalid reference with
Valgrind. Even though it is not dereferenced, it still silently points
to an invalid memory location, and it might be used some day. Do you
know if there is a way to detect this?

Thanks,
Oliver Gerlich