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Overridden/hidden method modifier

Overriding/hiding method modifier

public

public

protected

protected or public

default

default or protected or private

privateanything but private

Cannot be overridden

This also means that there is potential for some functionality having a restrictive modifier to be overridden by a less restrictive modifier.

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This noncompliant code example exemplifies how a malicious subclass Sub can override the doLogic method of the super class. Any user of Sub will be able to invoke the doLogic method even though since the base class BadScope defined it with the private access protected access modifier. The class Sub can allow more access than BadScope by using the public modifier.

Code Block
bgColor#FFcccc
class BadScope {
  privatepublic void doLogic() { System.out.println("Super invoked"); }
}

public class Sub extends BadScope {
  public void doLogic() { 
    System.out.println("Sub invoked");
    //do restrictive operations
  }
}

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Do not override a method unless absolutely necessary. Declare all methods and fields final to avoid malicious subclassing. This is in compliance with <xyz rule>the tenets of OBJ31-J. Misusing public static variables and OBJ00-J. Declare data members private.

Code Block
bgColor#ccccff
class BadScope {
  private final void doLogic() { System.out.println("Super invoked"); }
}

Risk Assessment

Subclassing allows access restrictions to be weakened, possibly compromising the security of a Java application.

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