CWE-1116 Detail

CWE-1116

Inaccurate Source Code Comments
Incomplete
2019-01-03
00h00 +00:00
2025-12-11
00h00 +00:00
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Name: Inaccurate Source Code Comments

The source code contains comments that do not accurately describe or explain aspects of the portion of the code with which the comment is associated.

CWE Description

General Informations

Modes Of Introduction

Implementation

Applicable Platforms

Language

Class: Not Language-Specific (Undetermined)

Common Consequences

Scope Impact Likelihood
OtherReduce Maintainability

Note: 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.
OtherIncrease Analytical Complexity

Note: When a comment does not accurately reflect the associated code elements, this can introduce confusion to a reviewer (due to inconsistencies) or make it more difficult and less efficient to validate that the code is implementing the intended behavior correctly.

Potential Mitigations

Phases : Implementation
Verify that each comment accurately reflects what is intended to happen during execution of the code.

Vulnerability Mapping Notes

Justification : This CWE entry is at the Base level of abstraction, which is a preferred level of abstraction for mapping to the root causes of vulnerabilities.
Comment : Carefully read both the name and description to ensure that this mapping is an appropriate fit. Do not try to 'force' a mapping to a lower-level Base/Variant simply to comply with this preferred level of abstraction.

References

REF-963

Providing a Framework for Effective Software Quality Assessment
Robert A. Martin, Lawrence H. Shafer.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285403022_PROVIDING_A_FRAMEWORK_FOR_EFFECTIVE_SOFTWARE_QUALITY_MEASUREMENT_MAKING_A_SCIENCE_OF_RISK_ASSESSMENT

Submission

Name Organization Date Date release Version
CWE Content Team MITRE 2018-07-02 +00:00 2019-01-03 +00:00 3.2

Modifications

Name Organization Date Comment
CWE Content Team MITRE 2020-02-24 +00:00 updated Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2022-10-13 +00:00 updated Applicable_Platforms, Demonstrative_Examples, Potential_Mitigations
CWE Content Team MITRE 2023-01-31 +00:00 updated Description
CWE Content Team MITRE 2023-04-27 +00:00 updated Relationships
CWE Content Team MITRE 2023-06-29 +00:00 updated Mapping_Notes
CWE Content Team MITRE 2025-12-11 +00:00 updated Common_Consequences, Description, Name, Time_of_Introduction