diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/Security/CWE/CWE-732/FilePermissions.qll b/cpp/ql/src/Security/CWE/CWE-732/FilePermissions.qll
index ec3f5ffd4d3..3c892428246 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/Security/CWE/CWE-732/FilePermissions.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/Security/CWE/CWE-732/FilePermissions.qll
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 import cpp
 import semmle.code.cpp.commons.unix.Constants as UnixConstants
 
+/**
+ * Gets the number corresponding to the contents of `input` in base-16.
+ * Note: the first two characters of `input` must be `0x`. For example:
+ * `parseHex("0x123abc") = 1194684`.
+ */
 bindingset[input]
 int parseHex(string input) {
   exists(string lowerCaseInput | lowerCaseInput = input.toLowerCase() |