I have found a few source files for classes which contain custom copy assignment operators. Examples: - List.cc - MatchName.cc - PointCut.cc I wonder why checks against self-assignment were omitted. https://www.securecoding.cert.org/confluence/display/cplusplus/MEM42-CPP.+Ensure+that+copy+assignment+operators+do+not+damage+an+object+that+is+copied+to+itself http://dietmar-kuehl.de/mirror/c++-faq/assignment-operators.html#faq-12.3