CWE-561

Dead Code

Weakness Description

The product contains dead code, which can never be executed.

Dead code is code that can never be executed in a running program. The surrounding code makes it impossible for a section of code to ever be executed.

Potential Mitigations

Implementation

Remove dead code before deploying the application.

Testing

Use a static analysis tool to spot dead code.

Common Consequences

Other
Quality Degradation

Dead code that results from code that can never be executed is an indication of problems with the source code that needs to be fixed and is an indication of poor quality.

Other
Reduce Maintainability

Detection Methods

Architecture or Design Review

According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful: ``` Highly cost effective: ``` Inspection (IEEE 1028 standard) (can apply to requirements, design, source code, etc.) Formal Methods / Correct-By-Construction ``` Cost effective for partial coverage: ``` Attack Modeling

Effectiveness: High

Automated Static Analysis - Binary or Bytecode

According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful: ``` Highly cost effective: ``` Binary / Bytecode Quality Analysis Compare binary / bytecode to application permission manifest

Effectiveness: High

Dynamic Analysis with Manual Results Interpretation

According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful: ``` Cost effective for partial coverage: ``` Automated Monitored Execution

Effectiveness: SOAR Partial

Automated Static Analysis

According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful: ``` Cost effective for partial coverage: ``` Permission Manifest Analysis

Effectiveness: SOAR Partial

Automated Static Analysis - Source Code

According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful: ``` Highly cost effective: ``` Source Code Quality Analyzer ``` Cost effective for partial coverage: ``` Warning Flags Source code Weakness Analyzer Context-configured Source Code Weakness Analyzer

Effectiveness: High

Dynamic Analysis with Automated Results Interpretation

According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful: ``` Cost effective for partial coverage: ``` Web Application Scanner Web Services Scanner Database Scanners

Effectiveness: SOAR Partial

Manual Static Analysis - Source Code

According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful: ``` Highly cost effective: ``` Manual Source Code Review (not inspections) ``` Cost effective for partial coverage: ``` Focused Manual Spotcheck - Focused manual analysis of source

Effectiveness: High

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