github / github/codeql

False Negative: ContainsTypeMismatch.ql misses mismatched collection lookups once the receiver is routed through a raw alias.

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Description

# False Negative: ContainsTypeMismatch.ql misses mismatched collection lookups once the receiver is routed through a raw alias.

Version
codeql 2.24.3

## Checker
- Checker id: `Likely Bugs/Collections/ContainsTypeMismatch.ql`
- Checker description: This checker detects calls to Java collection methods where the argument type is incompatible with the collection's element type, such as calling `contains` with an argument that can never match any element in the collection.

## Description of the false negative
The collection still holds `Byte` values and the lookup still uses a `Float`. The only change is that the call goes through a raw alias before reaching `lastIndexOf(...)`.

That should not be enough to hide the type mismatch from `Likely Bugs/Collections/ContainsTypeMismatch.ql`.

## Affected test cases
### `PosCase5_Var5.java`
`rawVec.lastIndexOf(arg)` is still searching a `Vector` with a `Float`. The raw alias obscures generics, but it does not make the lookup compatible.

```java
// Call lastIndexOf on a Vector with an argument of type Float (first argument) should be flagged as incompatible type.
package scensct.var.pos;

import java.util.Vector;

public class PosCase5_Var5 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Vector vec = new Vector();
// Wildcard capture: still Vector compatible
Float arg = 3.14f;
// Raw type manipulation to obscure but preserve generic info
Vector rawVec = vec;
// Checker must still detect Byte vs Float incompatibility
rawVec.lastIndexOf(arg);
}
}
```

## Cause analysis
This looks like a generic-type recovery gap. Once the receiver is widened to a raw type, the query appears to stop using the element type information from the original collection.

That is too weak for this rule. Raw aliases are common in older Java code, and they do not change the fact that a `Float` can never match an element from a `Vector`.

## References
None known.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start with the Likely Bugs/Collections/ContainsTypeMismatch.ql checker and the PosCase5_Var5.java case described in the issue. Trace how the Vector receiver is recovered after assignment to rawVec, then add or update a regression test so rawVec.lastIndexOf(arg) is reported as a Byte-versus-Float mismatch.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
java
Domain
devtools
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
58/100

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