Python: deprecate AstNode.getAFlowNode() and rewrite internal callers

Preparatory refactor for the shared-CFG dataflow migration.

Deprecates the AstNode.getAFlowNode() cached predicate on the public
Python QL API and rewrites all ~140 internal callers across lib/, src/,
test/, and tools/ from `expr.getAFlowNode() = cfgNode` to
`cfgNode.getNode() = expr`, using ControlFlowNode.getNode() which
already exists in Flow.qll.

The predicate itself is preserved (with a deprecation note pointing at
the new pattern) so external users do not experience churn — they can
migrate at their own pace and the AST/CFG hierarchies still get the
intended untangling once the deprecation eventually elapses.

Semantic noop verified by:
- All 361 lib/ + src/ queries compile clean.
- All 122 ControlFlow + PointsTo library-tests pass.
- All 64 dataflow library-tests pass.
- All 113 Variables/Exceptions/Expressions/Statements/Functions/Imports/
  Security/CWE-798/ModificationOfParameterWithDefault query-tests pass.

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

Author: Copilot

python/ql/lib/LegacyPointsTo.qll

@@ -213,9 +213,11 @@ class ExprWithPointsTo extends Expr {
    * Gets what this expression might "refer-to" in the given `context`.
    */
   predicate refersTo(Context context, Object obj, ClassObject cls, AstNode origin) {
-    this.getAFlowNode()
-        .(ControlFlowNodeWithPointsTo)
-        .refersTo(context, obj, cls, origin.getAFlowNode())
+    exists(ControlFlowNode this_, ControlFlowNode origin_ |
+      this_.getNode() = this and origin_.getNode() = origin
+    |
+      this_.(ControlFlowNodeWithPointsTo).refersTo(context, obj, cls, origin_)
+    )
   }
 
   /**
@@ -226,7 +228,11 @@ class ExprWithPointsTo extends Expr {
    */
   pragma[nomagic]
   predicate refersTo(Object obj, AstNode origin) {
-    this.getAFlowNode().(ControlFlowNodeWithPointsTo).refersTo(obj, origin.getAFlowNode())
+    exists(ControlFlowNode this_, ControlFlowNode origin_ |
+      this_.getNode() = this and origin_.getNode() = origin
+    |
+      this_.(ControlFlowNodeWithPointsTo).refersTo(obj, origin_)
+    )
   }
 
   /**
@@ -240,16 +246,22 @@ class ExprWithPointsTo extends Expr {
    * in the given `context`.
    */
   predicate pointsTo(Context context, Value value, AstNode origin) {
-    this.getAFlowNode()
-        .(ControlFlowNodeWithPointsTo)
-        .pointsTo(context, value, origin.getAFlowNode())
+    exists(ControlFlowNode this_, ControlFlowNode origin_ |
+      this_.getNode() = this and origin_.getNode() = origin
+    |
+      this_.(ControlFlowNodeWithPointsTo).pointsTo(context, value, origin_)
+    )
   }
 
   /**
    * Holds if this expression might "point-to" to `value` which is from `origin`.
    */
   predicate pointsTo(Value value, AstNode origin) {
-    this.getAFlowNode().(ControlFlowNodeWithPointsTo).pointsTo(value, origin.getAFlowNode())
+    exists(ControlFlowNode this_, ControlFlowNode origin_ |
+      this_.getNode() = this and origin_.getNode() = origin
+    |
+      this_.(ControlFlowNodeWithPointsTo).pointsTo(value, origin_)
+    )
   }
 
   /**
@@ -475,7 +487,10 @@ class FunctionMetricsWithPointsTo extends FunctionMetrics {
     not non_coupling_method(result) and
     exists(Call call | call.getScope() = this |
       exists(FunctionObject callee | callee.getFunction() = result |
-        call.getAFlowNode().getFunction().(ControlFlowNodeWithPointsTo).refersTo(callee)
+        exists(CallNode call_ |
+          call_.getNode() = call and
+          call_.getFunction().(ControlFlowNodeWithPointsTo).refersTo(callee)
+        )
       )
       or
       exists(Attribute a | call.getFunc() = a |

python/ql/lib/analysis/DefinitionTracking.qll

@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ private predicate jump_to_defn(ControlFlowNode use, Definition defn) {
 private predicate preferred_jump_to_defn(Expr use, Definition def) {
   not use instanceof ClassExpr and
   not use instanceof FunctionExpr and
-  jump_to_defn(use.getAFlowNode(), def)
+  exists(ControlFlowNode useNode | useNode.getNode() = use | jump_to_defn(useNode, def))
 }
 
 private predicate unique_jump_to_defn(Expr use, Definition def) {
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ private predicate self_parameter_jump_to_defn_attribute(
  * This exists primarily for testing use `getPreferredDefinition()` instead.
  */
 Definition getADefinition(Expr use) {
-  jump_to_defn(use.getAFlowNode(), result) and
+  exists(ControlFlowNode useNode | useNode.getNode() = use | jump_to_defn(useNode, result)) and
   not use instanceof Call and
   not use.isArtificial() and
   // Not the use itself

python/ql/lib/change-notes/2026-05-19-deprecate-getAFlowNode.md

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+category: deprecated
+---
+* The `AstNode.getAFlowNode()` predicate has been deprecated. Use `ControlFlowNode.getNode()` from the other direction instead: replace `e.getAFlowNode() = n` with `n.getNode() = e`. This is a preparatory step towards migrating the dataflow library off the legacy CFG; it has no semantic effect.
+

python/ql/lib/semmle/python/AstExtended.qll

@@ -16,21 +16,26 @@ abstract class AstNode extends AstNode_ {
   /** Gets the scope that this node occurs in */
   abstract Scope getScope();
 
+  /** Gets the location for this AST node */
+  cached
+  Location getLocation() { none() }
+
   /**
+   * DEPRECATED: use `ControlFlowNode.getNode()` from the other direction instead;
+   * that is, replace `e.getAFlowNode() = n` with `n.getNode() = e`. This API is
+   * being removed to untangle the AST and CFG hierarchies in preparation for
+   * migrating the dataflow library off the legacy CFG.
+   *
    * Gets a flow node corresponding directly to this node.
    * NOTE: For some statements and other purely syntactic elements,
-   * there may not be a `ControlFlowNode`
+   * there may not be a `ControlFlowNode`.
    */
   cached
-  ControlFlowNode getAFlowNode() {
+  deprecated ControlFlowNode getAFlowNode() {
     Stages::AST::ref() and
     py_flow_bb_node(result, this, _, _)
   }
 
-  /** Gets the location for this AST node */
-  cached
-  Location getLocation() { none() }
-
   /**
    * Whether this syntactic element is artificial, that is it is generated
    * by the compiler and is not present in the source

python/ql/lib/semmle/python/Exprs.qll

@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ class Expr extends Expr_, AstNode {
   /** Whether this expression may have a side effect (as determined purely from its syntax) */
   predicate hasSideEffects() {
     /* If an exception raised by this expression handled, count that as a side effect */
-    this.getAFlowNode().getASuccessor().getNode() instanceof ExceptStmt
+    exists(ControlFlowNode n | n.getNode() = this |
+      n.getASuccessor().getNode() instanceof ExceptStmt
+    )
     or
     this.getASubExpression().hasSideEffects()
   }
@@ -68,8 +70,6 @@ class Attribute extends Attribute_ {
   /* syntax: Expr.name */
   override Expr getASubExpression() { result = this.getObject() }
 
-  override AttrNode getAFlowNode() { result = super.getAFlowNode() }
-
   /** Gets the name of this attribute. That is the `name` in `obj.name` */
   string getName() { result = Attribute_.super.getAttr() }
 
@@ -96,8 +96,6 @@ class Subscript extends Subscript_ {
   }
 
   Expr getObject() { result = Subscript_.super.getValue() }
-
-  override SubscriptNode getAFlowNode() { result = super.getAFlowNode() }
 }
 
 /** A call expression, such as `func(...)` */
@@ -113,8 +111,6 @@ class Call extends Call_ {
 
   override string toString() { result = this.getFunc().toString() + "()" }
 
-  override CallNode getAFlowNode() { result = super.getAFlowNode() }
-
   /** Gets a tuple (*) argument of this call. */
   Expr getStarargs() { result = this.getAPositionalArg().(Starred).getValue() }
 
@@ -200,8 +196,6 @@ class IfExp extends IfExp_ {
   override Expr getASubExpression() {
     result = this.getTest() or result = this.getBody() or result = this.getOrelse()
   }
-
-  override IfExprNode getAFlowNode() { result = super.getAFlowNode() }
 }
 
 /** A starred expression, such as the `*rest` in the assignment `first, *rest = seq` */
@@ -410,8 +404,6 @@ class PlaceHolder extends PlaceHolder_ {
   override Expr getASubExpression() { none() }
 
   override string toString() { result = "$" + this.getId() }
-
-  override NameNode getAFlowNode() { result = super.getAFlowNode() }
 }
 
 /** A tuple expression such as `( 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 )` */
@@ -478,8 +470,6 @@ class Name extends Name_ {
 
   override string toString() { result = this.getId() }
 
-  override NameNode getAFlowNode() { result = super.getAFlowNode() }
-
   override predicate isArtificial() {
     /* Artificial variable names in comprehensions all start with "." */
     this.getId().charAt(0) = "."
@@ -585,8 +575,6 @@ abstract class NameConstant extends Name, ImmutableLiteral {
 
   override predicate isConstant() { any() }
 
-  override NameConstantNode getAFlowNode() { result = Name.super.getAFlowNode() }
-
   override predicate isArtificial() { none() }
 }
 

python/ql/lib/semmle/python/Flow.qll

@@ -555,27 +555,27 @@ class DefinitionNode extends ControlFlowNode {
   cached
   DefinitionNode() {
     Stages::AST::ref() and
-    exists(Assign a | a.getATarget().getAFlowNode() = this)
+    exists(Assign a | this.getNode() = a.getATarget())
     or
-    exists(AssignExpr a | a.getTarget().getAFlowNode() = this)
+    exists(AssignExpr a | this.getNode() = a.getTarget())
     or
-    exists(AnnAssign a | a.getTarget().getAFlowNode() = this and exists(a.getValue()))
+    exists(AnnAssign a | this.getNode() = a.getTarget() and exists(a.getValue()))
     or
-    exists(Alias a | a.getAsname().getAFlowNode() = this)
+    exists(Alias a | this.getNode() = a.getAsname())
     or
     augstore(_, this)
     or
     // `x, y = 1, 2` where LHS is a combination of list or tuples
-    exists(Assign a | list_or_tuple_nested_element(a.getATarget()).getAFlowNode() = this)
+    exists(Assign a | this.getNode() = list_or_tuple_nested_element(a.getATarget()))
     or
-    exists(For for | for.getTarget().getAFlowNode() = this)
+    exists(For for | this.getNode() = for.getTarget())
     or
-    exists(Parameter param | this = param.asName().getAFlowNode() and exists(param.getDefault()))
+    exists(Parameter param | this.getNode() = param.asName() and exists(param.getDefault()))
   }
 
   /** flow node corresponding to the value assigned for the definition corresponding to this flow node */
   ControlFlowNode getValue() {
-    result = assigned_value(this.getNode()).getAFlowNode() and
+    result.getNode() = assigned_value(this.getNode()) and
     (
       result.getBasicBlock().dominates(this.getBasicBlock())
       or
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ class DefinitionNode extends ControlFlowNode {
       // since the default value for a parameter is evaluated in the same basic block as
       // the function definition, but the parameter belongs to the basic block of the function,
       // there is no dominance relationship between the two.
-      exists(Parameter param | this = param.asName().getAFlowNode())
+      exists(Parameter param | this.getNode() = param.asName())
     )
   }
 }
@@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ class ExceptFlowNode extends ControlFlowNode {
     exists(ExceptStmt ex |
       this.getBasicBlock().dominates(result.getBasicBlock()) and
       ex = this.getNode() and
-      result = ex.getType().getAFlowNode()
+      result.getNode() = ex.getType()
     )
   }
 
@@ -913,7 +913,7 @@ class ExceptFlowNode extends ControlFlowNode {
     exists(ExceptStmt ex |
       this.getBasicBlock().dominates(result.getBasicBlock()) and
       ex = this.getNode() and
-      result = ex.getName().getAFlowNode()
+      result.getNode() = ex.getName()
     )
   }
 }
@@ -928,7 +928,7 @@ class ExceptGroupFlowNode extends ControlFlowNode {
    */
   ControlFlowNode getType() {
     this.getBasicBlock().dominates(result.getBasicBlock()) and
-    result = this.getNode().(ExceptGroupStmt).getType().getAFlowNode()
+    result.getNode() = this.getNode().(ExceptGroupStmt).getType()
   }
 
   /**
@@ -937,7 +937,7 @@ class ExceptGroupFlowNode extends ControlFlowNode {
    */
   ControlFlowNode getName() {
     this.getBasicBlock().dominates(result.getBasicBlock()) and
-    result = this.getNode().(ExceptGroupStmt).getName().getAFlowNode()
+    result.getNode() = this.getNode().(ExceptGroupStmt).getName()
   }
 }
 

python/ql/lib/semmle/python/Import.qll

@@ -162,8 +162,6 @@ class ImportMember extends ImportMember_ {
   string getImportedModuleName() {
     result = this.getModule().(ImportExpr).getImportedModuleName() + "." + this.getName()
   }
-
-  override ImportMemberNode getAFlowNode() { result = super.getAFlowNode() }
 }
 
 /** An import statement */

python/ql/lib/semmle/python/SelfAttribute.qll

@@ -46,20 +46,23 @@ class SelfAttributeRead extends SelfAttribute {
   }
 
   predicate guardedByHasattr() {
-    exists(Variable var, ControlFlowNode n |
-      var.getAUse() = this.getObject().getAFlowNode() and
+    exists(Variable var, ControlFlowNode n, ControlFlowNode this_, ControlFlowNode obj_ |
+      this_.getNode() = this and obj_.getNode() = this.getObject()
+    |
+      var.getAUse() = obj_ and
       hasattr(n, var.getAUse(), this.getName()) and
-      n.strictlyDominates(this.getAFlowNode())
+      n.strictlyDominates(this_)
     )
   }
 
   pragma[noinline]
   predicate locallyDefined() {
-    exists(SelfAttributeStore store |
-      this.getName() = store.getName() and
-      this.getScope() = store.getScope()
+    exists(SelfAttributeStore store, ControlFlowNode store_, ControlFlowNode this_ |
+      store_.getNode() = store and this_.getNode() = this
     |
-      store.getAFlowNode().strictlyDominates(this.getAFlowNode())
+      this.getName() = store.getName() and
+      this.getScope() = store.getScope() and
+      store_.strictlyDominates(this_)
     )
   }
 }

python/ql/lib/semmle/python/dataflow/new/BarrierGuards.qll

@@ -5,24 +5,30 @@ private import semmle.python.dataflow.new.DataFlow
 
 private predicate constCompare(DataFlow::GuardNode g, ControlFlowNode node, boolean branch) {
   exists(CompareNode cn | cn = g |
-    exists(ImmutableLiteral const, Cmpop op |
-      op = any(Eq eq) and branch = true
-      or
-      op = any(NotEq ne) and branch = false
+    exists(ImmutableLiteral const, Cmpop op, ControlFlowNode c |
+      c.getNode() = const and
+      (
+        op = any(Eq eq) and branch = true
+        or
+        op = any(NotEq ne) and branch = false
+      )
     |
-      cn.operands(const.getAFlowNode(), op, node)
+      cn.operands(c, op, node)
       or
-      cn.operands(node, op, const.getAFlowNode())
+      cn.operands(node, op, c)
     )
     or
-    exists(NameConstant const, Cmpop op |
-      op = any(Is is_) and branch = true
-      or
-      op = any(IsNot isn) and branch = false
+    exists(NameConstant const, Cmpop op, ControlFlowNode c |
+      c.getNode() = const and
+      (
+        op = any(Is is_) and branch = true
+        or
+        op = any(IsNot isn) and branch = false
+      )
     |
-      cn.operands(const.getAFlowNode(), op, node)
+      cn.operands(c, op, node)
       or
-      cn.operands(node, op, const.getAFlowNode())
+      cn.operands(node, op, c)
     )
     or
     exists(IterableNode const_iterable, Cmpop op |

python/ql/lib/semmle/python/dataflow/new/internal/Attributes.qll

@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ private class ClassDefinitionAsAttrWrite extends AttrWrite, CfgNode {
 
   override Node getValue() { result.asCfgNode() = node.getValue() }
 
-  override Node getObject() { result.asCfgNode() = cls.getAFlowNode() }
+  override Node getObject() { result.asCfgNode().getNode() = cls }
 
   override ExprNode getAttributeNameExpr() { none() }