Question 1

How do I integrate flawfinder into a CMake project?

Accepted Answer

Flawfinder is a command-line tool; you can add a custom target in CMakeLists.txt to run it post-build. Use add_custom_command to execute flawfinder on source directories, and consider outputting results in SARIF for CI integration.

Question 2

Flawfinder vs. Clang Static Analyzer: which is better for C++?

Accepted Answer

Flawfinder is faster and simpler but less accurate due to lexical scanning. Clang Static Analyzer offers deeper semantic analysis with fewer false positives but requires compilation. Choose Flawfinder for quick scans on uncompilable code, and Clang for thorough audits.

Question 3

How to reduce false positives in flawfinder reports?

Accepted Answer

Use the --minlevel option to filter by risk score and manually review hits. Since false positives are common, combine flawfinder with other tools or manual code review for more accurate assessments, as noted in the README.

Question 4

Does flawfinder work with C++11/14/17 features?

Accepted Answer

Flawfinder scans source code lexically, so it can handle any C++ syntax, but its vulnerability patterns might not be updated for newer library functions. Check the project website for updates on CWE mappings.

Question 5

What are common vulnerabilities flawfinder misses?

Accepted Answer

It misses issues requiring control flow analysis, such as buffer overflows dependent on loop conditions or integer overflows. The README states it fails to report many vulnerabilities due to its lexical approach.

Question 6

Can I use flawfinder in a Docker container for CI?

Accepted Answer

Yes, install flawfinder via pip or package manager in your Docker image, then run it in a CI script. The GitHub Action integration simplifies this for GitHub workflows, but for other CI systems, use shell commands.

FlawFinder

What is FlawFinder?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

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Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions