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Python: Modernise Superclass attribute shadows subclass method query #20142

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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ ql/python/ql/src/Classes/InitCallsSubclass/InitCallsSubclassMethod.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/MissingCallToDel.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/MissingCallToInit.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/MutatingDescriptor.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/SubclassShadowing.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/SubclassShadowing/SubclassShadowing.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/SuperclassDelCalledMultipleTimes.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/SuperclassInitCalledMultipleTimes.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/WrongNameForArgumentInClassInstantiation.ql
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ ql/python/ql/src/Classes/InitCallsSubclass/InitCallsSubclassMethod.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/MissingCallToDel.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/MissingCallToInit.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/MutatingDescriptor.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/SubclassShadowing.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/SubclassShadowing/SubclassShadowing.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/SuperclassDelCalledMultipleTimes.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/SuperclassInitCalledMultipleTimes.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/WrongNameForArgumentInClassInstantiation.ql
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ ql/python/ql/src/Classes/MutatingDescriptor.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/OverwritingAttributeInSuperClass.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/PropertyInOldStyleClass.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/SlotsInOldStyleClass.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/SubclassShadowing.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/SubclassShadowing/SubclassShadowing.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/SuperInOldStyleClass.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/SuperclassDelCalledMultipleTimes.ql
ql/python/ql/src/Classes/SuperclassInitCalledMultipleTimes.ql
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17 changes: 0 additions & 17 deletions python/ql/src/Classes/SubclassShadowing.py

This file was deleted.

27 changes: 0 additions & 27 deletions python/ql/src/Classes/SubclassShadowing.qhelp

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47 changes: 0 additions & 47 deletions python/ql/src/Classes/SubclassShadowing.ql

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39 changes: 39 additions & 0 deletions python/ql/src/Classes/SubclassShadowing/SubclassShadowing.qhelp
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
<!DOCTYPE qhelp PUBLIC
"-//Semmle//qhelp//EN"
"qhelp.dtd">
<qhelp>
<overview>
<p>
When an object has an attribute that shares the same name a method on the object's class (or another class attribute), the instance attribute is
prioritized during attribute lookup, shadowing the method.

If a method on a subclass is shadowed by an attribute on a superclass in this way, this may lead to unexpected results or errors, as this
shadowing behavior is nonlocal and may be unintended.
</p>

</overview>
<recommendation>

<p>
Ensure method names on subclasses don't conflict with attribute names on superclasses, and rename one.
If the shadowing behavior is intended, ensure this is explicit in the superclass.
</p>

</recommendation>
<example>
<p>
In the following example, the <code>_foo</code> attribute of class <code>A</code> shadows the method <code>_foo</code> of class <code>B</code>.
Calls to <code>B()._foo()</code> will result in a <code>TypeError</code>, as <code>3</code> will be called instead.
</p>

<sample src="examples/SubclassShadowingBad.py" />

<p>
In the following example, the behavior of the <code>default</code> attribute being shadowed to allow for customization during initialization is
intended in within the superclass <code>A</code>. Overriding <code>default</code> in the subclass <code>B</code> is then OK.
</p>

<sample src="examples/SubclassShadowingGood.py" />

</example>
</qhelp>
71 changes: 71 additions & 0 deletions python/ql/src/Classes/SubclassShadowing/SubclassShadowing.ql
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
/**
* @name Superclass attribute shadows subclass method
* @description Defining an attribute in a superclass method with a name that matches a subclass
* method, hides the method in the subclass.
* @kind problem
* @problem.severity error
* @tags quality
* reliability
* correctness
* @sub-severity low
* @precision high
* @id py/attribute-shadows-method
*/

import python
import semmle.python.ApiGraphs
import semmle.python.dataflow.new.internal.DataFlowDispatch

predicate isSettableProperty(Function prop) {
isProperty(prop) and
exists(Function setter |
setter.getScope() = prop.getScope() and
setter.getName() = prop.getName() and
isSetter(setter)
)
}

predicate isSetter(Function f) {
exists(DataFlow::AttrRead attr |
f.getADecorator() = attr.asExpr() and
attr.getAttributeName() = "setter"
)
}

predicate isProperty(Function prop) {
prop.getADecorator() = API::builtin("property").asSource().asExpr()
}

predicate shadowedBySuperclass(
Class cls, Class superclass, DataFlow::AttrWrite write, Function shadowed
) {
getADirectSuperclass+(cls) = superclass and
shadowed = cls.getAMethod() and
exists(Function init |
init = superclass.getInitMethod() and
DataFlow::parameterNode(init.getArg(0)).(DataFlow::LocalSourceNode).flowsTo(write.getObject()) and
write.getAttributeName() = shadowed.getName()
) and
// Allow cases in which the super class defines the method as well.
// We assume that the original method must have been defined for a reason.
not exists(Function superShadowed |
superShadowed = superclass.getAMethod() and
superShadowed.getName() = shadowed.getName()
) and
// Allow properties if they have setters, as the write in the superclass will call the setter.
not isSettableProperty(shadowed) and
not isSetter(shadowed)
}

from Class cls, Class superclass, DataFlow::AttrWrite write, Function shadowed, string extra
where
shadowedBySuperclass(cls, superclass, write, shadowed) and
(
if isProperty(shadowed)
then
// it's not a setter, so it's a read-only property
extra = " (read-only property may cause an error if written to in the superclass)"
else extra = ""
)
select shadowed, "This method is shadowed by $@ in superclass $@." + extra, write,
"attribute " + write.getAttributeName(), superclass, superclass.getName()
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
class A:
def __init__(self):
self._foo = 3

class B(A):
# BAD: _foo is shadowed by attribute A._foo
def _foo(self):
return 2

Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
class A:
def __init__(self, default_func=None):
if default_func is not None:
self.default = default_func

# GOOD: The shadowing behavior is explicitly intended in the superclass.
def default(self):
return []

class B(A):

# Subclasses may override the method `default`, which will still be shadowed by the attribute `default` if it is set.
# As this is part of the expected behavior of the superclass, this is fine.
def default(self):
return {}
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
| subclass_shadowing.py:10:5:10:21 | FunctionExpr | Method shadow is shadowed by an $@ in super class 'Base'. | subclass_shadowing.py:6:9:6:23 | AssignStmt | attribute |
| subclass_shadowing.py:11:5:11:21 | Function shadow | This method is shadowed by $@ in superclass $@. | subclass_shadowing.py:7:9:7:19 | ControlFlowNode for Attribute | attribute shadow | subclass_shadowing.py:4:1:4:11 | Class Base | Base |
| subclass_shadowing.py:41:5:41:18 | Function foo | This method is shadowed by $@ in superclass $@. (read-only property may cause an error if written to in the superclass.) | subclass_shadowing.py:35:9:35:16 | ControlFlowNode for Attribute | attribute foo | subclass_shadowing.py:33:1:33:12 | Class Base3 | Base3 |
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
Classes/SubclassShadowing.ql
query: Classes/SubclassShadowing/SubclassShadowing.ql
postprocess: utils/test/InlineExpectationsTestQuery.ql
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -1,30 +1,51 @@
#Subclass shadowing

class Base(object):
# BAD: `shadow` method shadows attribute
class Base:

def __init__(self):
self.shadow = 4

class Derived(Base):

def shadow(self):
def shadow(self): # $ Alert
pass


#OK if the super class defines the method as well.
#Since the original method must exist for some reason.
#See JSONEncoder.default for real example
# OK: Allow if superclass also shadows its own method, as this is likely intended.
# Example: stdlib JSONEncoder.default uses this pattern.
class Base2:

class Base2(object):
def __init__(self, default=None):
if default:
self.default = default

def __init__(self, shadowy=None):
if shadowy:
self.shadow = shadowy

def shadow(self):
def default(self):
pass

class Derived2(Base2):

def shadow(self):
def default(self): # No alert
return 0

# Properties

class Base3:
def __init__(self):
self.foo = 1
self.bar = 2

class Derived3(Base3):
# BAD: Write to foo in superclass init raises an error.
@property
def foo(self): # $ Alert
return 2

# OK: This property has a setter, so the write is OK.
@property
def bar(self): # No alert
return self._bar

@bar.setter
def bar(self, val):
self._bar = val