CWE-1164: Irrelevant Code
Learn about CWE-1164 (Irrelevant Code), its security impact, exploitation methods, and prevention guidelines.
What is Irrelevant Code?
• Overview: Irrelevant Code (CWE-1164) refers to code within a software product that does not contribute to its execution. This code makes no changes to the state, has no side effects, and its removal would not affect the functionality or correctness of the software. Examples include dead code, unused initializations, empty blocks, and code that could be removed via optimization.
• Exploitation Methods:
- Attackers could exploit irrelevant code by using it as a vector to inject malicious code or by manipulating it to create unexpected behavior.
- Common attack patterns include using irrelevant code as a distraction to hide malicious changes or inserting vulnerabilities into seemingly harmless sections of the codebase.
• Security Impact:
- Direct consequences of successful exploitation include potential insertion and execution of unauthorized code, leading to security breaches.
- Potential cascading effects might involve increased attack surface, making it easier for attackers to find and leverage other vulnerabilities.
- Business impact includes potential data breaches, loss of customer trust, and additional costs due to security remediations and legal liabilities.
• Prevention Guidelines:
- Specific code-level fixes involve regularly reviewing and refactoring code to remove irrelevant parts, ensuring that only necessary and active code remains.
- Security best practices include implementing static code analysis and code reviews to identify and eliminate non-essential code.
- Recommended tools and frameworks for identifying irrelevant code include static analysis tools like SonarQube, Coverity, and other code quality tools that can highlight dead or unused code segments.
Technical Details
Likelihood of Exploit: Not specified
Affected Languages: Not specified
Affected Technologies: Not specified