JD.CAST.DOWNCAST
Possible ClassCastException for subtypes
JD.CAST.DOWNCAST is triggered when an object of type B is cast to type C, where B and C are sub types of Object A.
Vulnerability and risk
This can cause a ClassCastException because a base class can have multiple child classes.
Vulnerable code example 1
class TestVar {}
class TestVar1 extends TestVar {
TestVar display() {
return new TestVar1();
}
}
class TestVar2 extends TestVar {
TestVar display() {
return new TestVar2();
}
}
public class DownCast {
public void cast() {
TestVar var = new TestVar1();
TestVar2 var2 = (TestVar2)var.display();
}
}Klocwork reports a JD.CAST.DOWNCAST defect at line 24, indicating, "TestVar2 var2 = (TestVar2)var.display(): Suspicious cast of 'TestVar1' to 'TestVar2', where 'TestVar2' is a subtype of 'TestVar'. This Object can hold other subtypes as well which can cause a ClassCastException."
Fixed code example 1
class TestVar {}
class TestVar1 extends TestVar {
TestVar display() {
return new TestVar1();
}
}
class TestVar2 extends TestVar {
TestVar display() {
return new TestVar2();
}
}
public class DownCast {
public void cast() {
TestVar var = new TestVar1();
TestVar var2 = var.display();
if (var2 instanceOf TestVar2){
TestVar2 testVar2 = (TestVar2)var2;
}
}
}In this example, Klocwork no longer reports a defect because we check the Object with InstanceOf on line 25: if (var2 instanceOf TestVar2), and after that we type cast the object on line 26: TestVar2 testVar2 = (TestVar2)v2;.
Vulnerable code example 2
class TestVar {
TestVar display() {
return new TestVar();
}
}
class TestVar1 extends TestVar {
TestVar display() {
return new TestVar1();
}
}
public class DownCast {
public void cast() {
TestVar var = new TestVar();
TestVar1 var1 = (TestVar1) var.display();
}
}Klocwork reports a JD.CAST.DOWNCAST defect at line 23, indicating, "TestVar1 var1 = (TestVar1)var.display(): Suspicious cast of 'TestVar' to 'TestVar1', where 'TestVar1' is subtype of 'TestVar'. This Object can hold other subtypes as well which can cause ClassCastException."
Fixed code example 2
class TestVar {
TestVar display() {
return new TestVar();
}
}
class TestVar1 extends TestVar {
TestVar display() {
return new TestVar1();
}
}
public class DownCast {
public void cast() {
TestVar var = new TestVar();
TestVar var1 = var.display();
if (var1 instanceOf TestVar1){
TestVar1 testVar1 = (TestVar1)var1;
}
}
}In this example, Klocwork no longer reports a defect because we check the Object with InstanceOf on line 24: if (var1 instanceOf TestVar1), and after that we type cast the object on line 25: TestVar1 testVar1 = (TestVar1)var1;.