Class with Excessive Number of Child Classes

Incomplete Base
Structure: Simple
Description

A class contains an unnecessarily large number of children.

Extended Description

This issue makes it more difficult to understand and maintain the software, which indirectly affects security by making it more difficult or time-consuming to find and/or fix vulnerabilities. It also might make it easier to introduce vulnerabilities. While the interpretation of "large number of children" may vary for each product or developer, CISQ recommends a default maximum of 10 child classes.

Common Consequences 1
Scope: Other

Impact: Reduce Maintainability

References 1
Automated Source Code Maintainability Measure (ASCMM)
Object Management Group (OMG)
01-2016
ID: REF-960
Taxonomy Mapping
  • OMG ASCMM