# Emacs — CWE-407 Scan Result: CLEAN

**Date:** 2026-03-30
**Target:** GNU Emacs (C + Elisp)
**Source:** https://github.com/emacs-mirror/emacs (depth=1)

## Scan Summary

Scanned `src/` (C core: eval.c, fns.c, keymap.c, buffer.c, charset.c, coding.c, font.c, fontset.c, textprop.c, intervals.c, keyboard.c, xdisp.c, window.c, undo.c, treesit.c, comp.c, process.c, minibuf.c, xfaces.c, gfilenotify.c, kqueue.c, callint.c) and `lisp/` (subr.el, simple.el, bytecomp.el).

### Areas Examined

- **Undo list (`undo.c`)**: Pure prepend + size-based truncation. No membership checks in hot path. Clean.
- **Buffer list (`buffer.c`)**: `Frassq` + `Fmemq` + `Fdelq` on `Vbuffer_alist` — each O(N) but individual calls, not inside loops. Clean.
- **Keymap lookup (`keymap.c`)**: `Fmember(sequence, found)` in `where-is-internal` is O(N²) but N = bindings per command (typically <10), and it's an interactive inspection command, not a hot path.
- **`let`/`let*` (`eval.c`)**: `Fmemq(var, Vinternal_interpreter_environment)` scans for bare symbols only (from `defvar`), not full environment. Bare symbol count is typically 0-5 per scope.
- **`require` (`fns.c`)**: `Fmemq(feature, Vfeatures)` is O(F) per call where F = loaded features (~500-1000). Called at load-time only, not in tight loops.
- **Charset priority (`charset.c`)**: `Fmemq` inside loop is O(N²) with N~200 charsets, but called only on explicit `set-charset-priority` (rare user action).
- **Text properties (`textprop.c`, `intervals.c`)**: `TMEM` macro uses `Fmemq` on property lists (front-sticky, rear-nonsticky) — always <5 elements. Clean.
- **Font features (`font.c`)**: `Fmemq(feature, table)` with features ~1-5 and table per-font. Clean.
- **`delete-dups` (`subr.el`)**: Already has hash-table optimization for lists >100 elements. Shows awareness of the pattern.
- **Byte compiler (`bytecomp.el`)**: `member` on `bytecomp--code-strings` reset per top-level form, typically 0-5 entries. Clean.
- **Window traversal (`buffer.c:2689`)**: `Fmemq(w, ws)` cycle detection is O(W²) with W = window count (<20). Clean.

### Conclusion

Emacs's C core uses `Fmemq`/`Fmember`/`Fassq` extensively but on small, bounded lists (property lists, error conditions, flag lists, media features). The few potentially larger lists (`Vfeatures` ~500-1000, `Vcharset_ordered_list` ~200) are scanned in non-hot-path code (load-time, user commands). The Elisp layer already applies hash optimization where lists can grow large (`delete-dups`). No CWE-407 defect of actionable severity found.
