Memory access error combined with "internal error SIGSEV"

Question

In a code that I work on, I get a memory access error, when i allocate memory to a pointer via new.
It says " Attempting to write 4 bytes at address <address>
which is <x> bytes past the end of heap block of size <size of class allocated throug new> at <address>
After this there is one function call into which i try to step in and i get
"internal error : signal SIGSEV (no mapping at the fault address)" and core is dumped after raising abort signal.
But i dont get any problem with regard to function mapping, when i try stepping over the function and function performs its usual action. Also the binary works fine with no runtime exceptions. It gives this mapping problem while debugging.
Addtional info :
{font:Courier New}{size:2}{color:black}{font:'Courier New'}{size:10pt}{color:black}dbx
-V{color}{size}{font}{color}{size}{font}
g++ -v
{font:Courier New}{size:2}{color:black}{font:'Courier New'}{size:10pt}{color:black}{color}{size}{font}{color}{size}{font}
{font:Courier New}{size:2}{color:black}{font:'Courier New'}{size:10pt}{color:black}Sun Dbx
Debugger 7.5 2005/10/13{color}{size}{font}{color}{size}{font}
Reading specs from /usr/sfw/lib/gcc/sparc-sun-solaris2.10/3.4.3/specs
Configured with: /gates/sfw10/builds/sfw10-gate/usr/src/cmd/gcc/gcc-3.4.3/configure --prefix=/usr/sfw --with-as=/usr/sfw/bin/gas --with-gnu-as --with-ld=/usr/ccs/bin/ld --without-gnu-ld --enable-languages=c,c++ --enable-shared
Thread model: posix
gcc version 3.4.3 (csl-sol210-3_4-branch+sol_rpath)
Could some one suggest the possible reasons for this error with the give information? Thank you.
--Saravana

Answer 1

Indeed, it is dbx error. Seeing that gdb is involved, I suspect DWARF-related problem. You are using dbx that is almost 4 years old; at the very least, please install all patches; better solution is to upgrade to latest version, it works much better with gcc compilers.
The latest version of Sun Studio can be downloaded from here: http://developers.sun.com/sunstudio/downloads/
Besides, it has much better IDE and more standard- (and gcc-) conforming C++ compiler, so you might as well try switching to Sun Studio C++ compiler for you project.