# Active Debug Code (CWE-489)

The product is deployed to unauthorized actors with debugging code still enabled or active, which can create unintended entry points or information leaks.

**Stack:** Go

- Prevalence: High Frequently exploited
- Impact: Critical 1 critical-severity rules
- Prevention: Documented 6 fix examples

**OWASP:** Security Misconfiguration (A05:2021-Security Misconfiguration) - #5

## Description

Debug code is often written to allow easier testing and debugging. This code is not intended to be shipped to production but is sometimes inadvertently left in the product. Debug code often exposes information about the product's internal structure or creates additional attack surface.

## Prevention

Prevention strategies for Active Debug Code based on 3 Shoulder detection rules.

### Go

Disable Echo debug mode in production to prevent stack trace exposure

Disable Fiber debug output and route printing in production

Set Gin to release mode in production to suppress debug output

## Consequences

- Read Application Data
- Bypass Protection Mechanism
- Execute Unauthorized Code

## Mitigations

- Remove debugging code before deploying the product to production
- Use build configurations that automatically exclude debug code from production builds
- Audit code for debug endpoints and backdoors before release

## Detection

- Total rules: 6
- Critical: 1
- Languages: python, go, javascript, typescript

## Rules by Language

### Go (3 rules)

- **Echo Debug Mode in Production** [MEDIUM]: Echo debug mode exposes stack traces and verbose errors in production.
  - Remediation: Disable debug mode in production.

```go
e := echo.New()
e.Debug = false
```

Learn more: https://shoulder.dev/learn/go/cwe-489/debug-mode
- **Fiber Debug Mode in Production** [MEDIUM]: Fiber debug configuration exposes route structure and stack traces.
  - Remediation: Use production configuration to disable debug output.

```go
app := fiber.New(fiber.Config{
    DisableStartupMessage: true,
    EnablePrintRoutes:     false,
})
```

Learn more: https://shoulder.dev/learn/go/cwe-489/debug-mode
- **Gin Debug Mode in Production** [MEDIUM]: Gin debug mode exposes routing info and verbose errors in production.
  - Remediation: Set release mode before creating the router.

```go
gin.SetMode(gin.ReleaseMode)
r := gin.Default()
```

Learn more: https://shoulder.dev/learn/go/cwe-489/debug-mode