CWE-1085: Invokable Control Element with Excessive Volume of Commented-out Code

BaseIncomplete

A function, method, procedure, etc. contains an excessive amount of code that has been commented out within its body.

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Extended Description

This issue makes it more difficult to maintain the product, which indirectly affects security by making it more difficult or time-consuming to find and/or fix vulnerabilities. It also might make it easier to introduce vulnerabilities. While the interpretation of "excessive volume" may vary for each product or developer, CISQ recommends a default threshold of 2% of commented code.

Technical Details

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is CWE-1085: Invokable Control Element with Excessive Volume of Commented-out Code?+

CWE-1085: Invokable Control Element with Excessive Volume of Commented-out Code is a Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) entry maintained by MITRE. A function, method, procedure, etc. contains an excessive amount of code that has been commented out within its body. This issue makes it more difficult to maintain the product, which indirectly affects security by making it more difficult or time-consuming to find and/or fix vulnerabilities. It also might make it easier to introduce vulnerabilities. While the interpretation of "excessive volume" may vary for each product or developer, CISQ recommends a default threshold of 2% of commented code.

What are the security consequences of Invokable Control Element with Excessive Volume of Commented-out Code?+

If exploited, CWE-1085 (Invokable Control Element with Excessive Volume of Commented-out Code) it can compromise Other, leading to outcomes such as Reduce Maintainability.

What is the difference between a CWE and a CVE?+

A CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) like CWE-1085 describes a category of software weakness — the underlying flaw type. A CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) identifies a specific, real-world vulnerability in a particular product. In short, a CWE is the kind of mistake, and a CVE is an instance of that mistake being found in software.

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