---
id: flawfinder
version: "2.0.20"
license: GPL-2.0+
license_treatment: copyleft
maintenance: active
---

# flawfinder — a program that examines source code looking for security weaknesses

License: copyleft · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 130.6K/mo

## 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 above — verify before relying.

Flawfinder scans C/C++ source code to identify potential security flaws and ranks them by likely severity.

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

pip install flawfinder
uv add flawfinder
poetry add flawfinder

## Installing flawfinder

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/code

Verify 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_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 130.6K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

C/C++ security vulnerability scanner, source code security analysis, static analysis security flaws, C++ code security checker, identify security weaknesses in code, static-analysis, c-cpp

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/flawfinder) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/flawfinder/)