flawfinder
a program that examines source code looking for security weaknesses
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you maintain or audit C/C++ code. Flawfinder is production-stable, has no install friction, carries no known vulnerabilities, and fills a specific niche in static security analysis. The GPL-2.0+ copyleft license is a consideration for proprietary projects but poses no barrier to open-source use.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Low install friction with no runtime dependencies.
- Active maintenance status and production-stable classifier indicate ongoing support.
License · maintenance · safety
GPL-2.0+ (copyleft) — Released under GPL-2.0+, a copyleft license. Use is free for open-source projects; proprietary or closed-source use requires careful license compliance review.
last release 2026-05-17 (89 days)
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 130,588 downloads/mo, #11,637 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install flawfinder
flawfinder /path/to/source/code- Whether the tool integrates with common CI/CD platforms or build systems beyond command-line use
- Performance characteristics on large codebases or typical scan times
- Specifics of which C/C++ standards or dialects are supported
What it is and what it does
Flawfinder is a command-line static analysis tool that examines C and C++ source code to detect potential security weaknesses. It works by scanning code without executing it, identifying patterns and constructs known to be security risks, then ranking findings by severity to help developers prioritize fixes.
The tool runs as a standalone Python application with no external runtime dependencies, making it straightforward to integrate into development workflows or security scanning pipelines. It supports Python 2.7 and Python 3, and is classified as production-stable with active maintenance.
Use it for
- Scan legacy C/C++ codebases before security audits to identify and prioritize known vulnerability patterns
- Integrate into CI/CD pipelines to flag potential security issues in pull requests before code review
- Perform initial security triage on unfamiliar C/C++ projects to understand baseline risk areas
- Verify that security fixes have addressed flagged issues in previously scanned code
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you maintain or audit C/C++ code.
Flawfinder is production-stable, has no install friction, carries no known vulnerabilities, and fills a specific niche in static security analysis. The GPL-2.0+ copyleft license is a consideration for proprietary projects but poses no barrier to open-source use.
Install
flawfinder on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. Active maintenance status and production-stable classifier indicate ongoing support.
License in practice
Released under GPL-2.0+, a copyleft license. Use is free for open-source projects; proprietary or closed-source use requires careful license compliance review.
Quickstart
pip install flawfinder
flawfinder /path/to/source/codeVerify before relying
- Whether the tool integrates with common CI/CD platforms or build systems beyond command-line use
- Performance characteristics on large codebases or typical scan times
- Specifics of which C/C++ standards or dialects are supported
Package facts
| License | GPL-2.0+ copyleft |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=2.7 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 89 days since the last release |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 130,588 / month, #11,637 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableEnvironment :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: GNU General Public License v2 or later (GPLv2+)Natural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Topic :: SecurityTopic :: Software Development :: Build ToolsTopic :: Software Development :: Quality AssuranceTopic :: Software Development :: Testing |
Evidence: flawfinder-2.0.20-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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