Explicit Call to Finalize()
Weakness ID: 586 (Weakness Variant)Status: Draft
+ Description

Description Summary

The software makes an explicit call to the finalize() method from outside the finalizer.

Extended Description

While the Java Language Specification allows an object's finalize() method to be called from outside the finalizer, doing so is usually a bad idea. For example, calling finalize() explicitly means that finalize() will be called more than once: the first time will be the explicit call and the last time will be the call that is made after the object is garbage collected.

+ Time of Introduction
  • Implementation
+ Applicable Platforms

Languages

Java

+ Demonstrative Examples

Example 1

The following code fragment calls finalize() explicitly:

(Bad Code)
Example Language: Java 
// time to clean up
widget.finalize();
+ Potential Mitigations

Do not make explicit calls to finalize(). Use static analysis tools to spot such instances.

+ Relationships
NatureTypeIDNameView(s) this relationship pertains toView(s)
ChildOfWeakness ClassWeakness Class227Failure to Fulfill API Contract ('API Abuse')
Research Concepts (primary)1000
ChildOfWeakness ClassWeakness Class398Indicator of Poor Code Quality
Development Concepts (primary)699
PeerOfWeakness ClassWeakness Class675Duplicate Operations on Resource
Research Concepts1000
+ Content History
Modifications
Modification DateModifierOrganizationSource
2008-07-01Eric DalciCigitalExternal
updated Name, Potential Mitigations, Time of Introduction
2008-09-08CWE Content TeamMITREInternal
updated Relationships, Other Notes
2009-05-27CWE Content TeamMITREInternal
updated Demonstrative Examples
2009-10-29CWE Content TeamMITREInternal
updated Description, Other Notes
Previous Entry Names
Change DatePrevious Entry Name
2008-09-09Explicit Call to Finalize
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