VNX-395 – Use of NullPointerException Catch to Detect NULL Pointer Dereference

Overview

VNX-395 maps to CWE-395: Use of NullPointerException Catch to Detect NULL Pointer Dereference. Detects source patterns associated with CWE-395 (Use of NullPointerException Catch to Detect NULL Pointer Dereference). Each finding should be manually reviewed for exploitability in context.

Severity: Medium | CWE: CWE-395 | Languages: java

Why This Matters

This weakness class (Use of NullPointerException Catch to Detect NULL Pointer Dereference) creates a concrete exploit surface: the rule searches for the concrete source-level patterns most commonly associated with CWE-395 and surfaces them for review. Each finding should be evaluated in context — the rule catches the pattern, not the context.

What Gets Flagged

// FLAGGED: contains 'catch(NullPointerException' pattern
catch(NullPointerException

Remediation

  1. Review each flagged line and determine whether the pattern represents a real instance of CWE-395 or a false positive.
  2. Replace the flagged construct with a documented safe alternative appropriate to your language and framework.
  3. For confirmed false positives, add a # vulnetix-ignore: VNX-395 comment on the line.
  4. Ensure equivalent test coverage exists to prevent regression.

References