Unused Variable
Weakness ID: 563 (Weakness Variant)Status: Draft
+ Description

Description Summary

The variable's value is assigned but never used, making it a dead store.

Extended Description

It is likely that the variable is simply vestigial, but it is also possible that the unused variable points out a bug.

+ Time of Introduction
  • Implementation
+ Demonstrative Examples

Example 1

The following code excerpt assigns to the variable r and then overwrites the value without using it.

(Bad Code)
Example Language: C 
r = getName();
r = getNewBuffer(buf);
+ Potential Mitigations

Remove unused variables from the code.

+ Other Notes

This variable's value is not used. After the assignment, the variable is either assigned another value or goes out of scope.

+ Relationships
NatureTypeIDNameView(s) this relationship pertains toView(s)
ChildOfWeakness ClassWeakness Class398Indicator of Poor Code Quality
Development Concepts (primary)699
Research Concepts (primary)1000
ChildOfCategoryCategory747CERT C Secure Coding Section 49 - Miscellaneous (MSC)
Weaknesses Addressed by the CERT C Secure Coding Standard (primary)734
+ Taxonomy Mappings
Mapped Taxonomy NameNode IDFitMapped Node Name
Anonymous Tool Vendor (under NDA)
CERT C Secure CodingMSC00-CCompile cleanly at high warning levels
+ Content History
Submissions
Submission DateSubmitterOrganizationSource
Anonymous Tool Vendor (under NDA)Externally Mined
Modifications
Modification DateModifierOrganizationSource
2008-07-01Eric DalciCigitalExternal
updated Potential Mitigations, Time of Introduction
2008-09-08CWE Content TeamMITREInternal
updated Description, Relationships, Other Notes, Taxonomy Mappings
2008-11-24CWE Content TeamMITREInternal
updated Relationships, Taxonomy Mappings
2009-05-27CWE Content TeamMITREInternal
updated Demonstrative Examples
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