Skip to main content

Inappropriate coding practices - Cyclomatic complexity

Description

The application has source code with high McCabe cyclomatic complexity, making the code difficult to understand and maintain, promoting the appearance of new security vulnerabilities and hindering their detection and solution.

Impact

Promote the creation of security vulnerabilities

Recommendation

Refactor the complex code by simplifying methods, subroutines or conditionals

Threat

Authenticated attacker from the Internet with write access to the code.

Expected Remediation Time

⌚ 30 minutes.

Score

Default score using CVSS 3.1. It may change depending on the context of the vulnerability.

Base

  • Attack vector: N
  • Attack complexity: H
  • Privileges required: H
  • User interaction: N
  • Scope: U
  • Confidentiality: N
  • Integrity: L
  • Availability: N

Temporal

  • Exploit code madurity: P
  • Remediation level: X
  • Report confidence: X

Result

  • Vector string: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N/E:P/RL:X/RC:X
  • Score:
    • Base: 2.2
    • Temporal: 2.1
  • Severity:
    • Base: Low
    • Temporal: Low

Code Examples

Compliant code

The application correctly implements coding principles to avoid high cyclomatic complexity within each function or class

public static void main(String[] args) {
try {
if(username.equals(username) && password.equals(password)){
//Code to handle login
}
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
//Code to catch exception when log in is not successful
}
}

Non compliant code

There are functionalities in the code high a cyclomatic complexity higher than recommended values

def thisFunction(**args):
inputs...
try...
if...
if...
for i in...
if...
while...
if...
else if...
else if...
for...
if...
else...
while...
if...
somefunction();
else if...
newfunction();
else if...
catch
if...

Requirements

free trial

Search for vulnerabilities in your apps for free with our automated security testing! Start your 21-day free trial and discover the benefits of our Continuous Hacking Machine Plan. If you prefer a full service that includes the expertise of our ethical hackers, don't hesitate to contact us for our Continuous Hacking Squad Plan.