CWE-416
Weakness AllowedUse After Free
Abstraction: Variant · Status: Stable
The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory "belongs" to the code that operates on the new pointer.
Mapping guidance
This CWE entry is at the Variant level of abstraction, which is a preferred level of abstraction for mapping to the root causes of vulnerabilities.
Carefully read both the name and description to ensure that this mapping is an appropriate fit. Do not try to 'force' a mapping to a lower-level Base/Variant simply to comply with this preferred level of abstraction.
Relationships and members
Modes of introduction
Detection methods
Fuzzing
Fuzz testing (fuzzing) is a powerful technique for generating large numbers of diverse inputs - either randomly or algorithmically - and dynamically invoking the code with those inputs. Even with random inputs, it is often capable of generating unexpected results such as crashes, memory corruption, or resource consumption. Fuzzing effectively produces repeatable test cases that clearly indicate bugs, which helps developers to diagnose the issues.
Effectiveness: High
Automated Static Analysis
Automated static analysis, commonly referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST), can find some instances of this weakness by analyzing source code (or binary/compiled code) without having to execute it. Typically, this is done by building a model of data flow and control flow, then searching for potentially-vulnerable patterns that connect "sources" (origins of input) with "sinks" (destinations where the data interacts with external components, a lower layer such as the OS, etc.)
Effectiveness: High
Automated Dynamic Analysis
Use tools that are integrated during compilation to insert runtime error-checking mechanisms related to memory safety errors, such as AddressSanitizer (ASan) for C/C++ [REF-1518].
Effectiveness: Moderate
Crafted inputs are necessary to reach the code containing the error, such as generated by fuzzers. Also, these tools may reduce performance, and they only report the error condition - not the original mistake that led to the error.
Content history
Suggested rephrase for extended description
Contributed or reviewed taxonomy mappings for ISA/IEC 62443
Provided diagram to improve CWE usability
updated Potential_Mitigations, Time_of_Introduction
added/updated white box definitions
updated Applicable_Platforms, Common_Consequences, Relationships, Observed_Example, Other_Notes, Taxonomy_Mappings
updated Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
updated Demonstrative_Examples
updated Demonstrative_Examples
updated Common_Consequences
updated Relationships
updated Potential_Mitigations
updated Observed_Examples, Relationships
updated Alternate_Terms, Common_Consequences, Description, Observed_Examples, Other_Notes, Potential_Mitigations, Relationships
updated Description
updated Common_Consequences
updated Demonstrative_Examples
updated Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
updated References, Relationships
updated Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
updated Relationships
updated Demonstrative_Examples, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings, White_Box_Definitions
updated Relationships
updated Relationships, Type
updated Relationships
updated References, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
updated Relationships
updated Relationships
updated Relationships
updated Relationships
updated Observed_Examples, Relationships
updated Description, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
updated Detection_Factors, Relationships, Time_of_Introduction
updated Mapping_Notes, Relationships
updated Observed_Examples
updated Taxonomy_Mappings
updated Alternate_Terms, Common_Consequences, Description, Diagram, Potential_Mitigations, Relationships, Weakness_Ordinalities
updated Relationships
updated Observed_Examples
updated Functional_Areas
updated Applicable_Platforms, Detection_Factors, References, Relationships
updated Common_Consequences, Observed_Examples
updated Observed_Examples, References
12544 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-QP6C-HJGR-2593
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-07-29 00:00 – Updated: 2022-08-03 00:00Use after free in PDF in Google Chrome prior to 103.0.5060.134 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-2478"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-07-28T02:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Use after free in PDF in Google Chrome prior to 103.0.5060.134 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.",
"id": "GHSA-qp6c-hjgr-2593",
"modified": "2022-08-03T00:00:53Z",
"published": "2022-07-29T00:00:47Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-2478"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2022/07/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_19.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://crbug.com/1335861"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PQKT7EGDD2P3L7S3NXEDDRCPK4NNZNWJ"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/YKLJ3B3D5BCVWE3QNP4N7HHF26OHD567"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-QP73-3238-XR3R
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-07-30 03:31 – Updated: 2026-07-30 21:31Use after free in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 151.0.7922.72 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-17658"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-07-30T01:16:27Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Use after free in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 151.0.7922.72 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)",
"id": "GHSA-qp73-3238-xr3r",
"modified": "2026-07-30T21:31:31Z",
"published": "2026-07-30T03:31:09Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-17658"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2026/07/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_0887107924.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://issues.chromium.org/issues/523030583"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-QP82-V3H4-HW29
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-02-27 21:32 – Updated: 2025-02-27 21:32In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
NFSD: Fix potential use-after-free in nfsd_file_put()
nfsd_file_put_noref() can free @nf, so don't dereference @nf immediately upon return from nfsd_file_put_noref().
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-49362"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-02-26T07:01:12Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nNFSD: Fix potential use-after-free in nfsd_file_put()\n\nnfsd_file_put_noref() can free @nf, so don\u0027t dereference @nf\nimmediately upon return from nfsd_file_put_noref().",
"id": "GHSA-qp82-v3h4-hw29",
"modified": "2025-02-27T21:32:13Z",
"published": "2025-02-27T21:32:13Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-49362"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/261eabe19cb28e4a8587a4442d257b543d7c2d57"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/333dcc94ebf53f79f3dc0e7a7c16700bc7ff7e57"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ada1757b259f353cade47037ee0a0249b4cddad3"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b6c71c66b0ad8f2b59d9bc08c7a5079b110bec01"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-QP9W-5XVP-CJVF
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 02:21 – Updated: 2022-05-17 02:21Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.18, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 15.006.30243, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Continuous before 15.020.20039 on Windows and OS X allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-1089, CVE-2016-1091, CVE-2016-6944, CVE-2016-6945, CVE-2016-6946, CVE-2016-6949, CVE-2016-6952, CVE-2016-6953, CVE-2016-6961, CVE-2016-6962, CVE-2016-6963, CVE-2016-6964, CVE-2016-6965, CVE-2016-6967, CVE-2016-6968, CVE-2016-6969, CVE-2016-6971, CVE-2016-6979, and CVE-2016-6988.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2016-6993"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2016-10-13T20:00:00Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.18, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 15.006.30243, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Continuous before 15.020.20039 on Windows and OS X allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-1089, CVE-2016-1091, CVE-2016-6944, CVE-2016-6945, CVE-2016-6946, CVE-2016-6949, CVE-2016-6952, CVE-2016-6953, CVE-2016-6961, CVE-2016-6962, CVE-2016-6963, CVE-2016-6964, CVE-2016-6965, CVE-2016-6967, CVE-2016-6968, CVE-2016-6969, CVE-2016-6971, CVE-2016-6979, and CVE-2016-6988.",
"id": "GHSA-qp9w-5xvp-cjvf",
"modified": "2022-05-17T02:21:10Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T02:21:10Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-6993"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb16-33.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93491"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036986"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-QPCJ-526H-J78R
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:05 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:05Use after free in Loader in Google Chrome prior to 91.0.4472.101 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-30548"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-06-15T22:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Use after free in Loader in Google Chrome prior to 91.0.4472.101 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.",
"id": "GHSA-qpcj-526h-j78r",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:05:33Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:05:33Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-30548"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2021/06/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://crbug.com/1210487"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ETMZL6IHCTCTREEL434BQ4THQ7EOHJ43"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PAT6EOXVQFE6JFMFQF4IKAOUQSHMHL54"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202107-06"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-QPCP-783X-FCF2
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-14 03:11 – Updated: 2022-05-14 03:11A potentially exploitable use-after-free crash during actor destruction with service workers. This issue does not affect releases earlier than Firefox 49. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 49.0.2.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2016-5287"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2018-06-11T21:29:00Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "A potentially exploitable use-after-free crash during actor destruction with service workers. This issue does not affect releases earlier than Firefox 49. This vulnerability affects Firefox \u003c 49.0.2.",
"id": "GHSA-qpcp-783x-fcf2",
"modified": "2022-05-14T03:11:44Z",
"published": "2022-05-14T03:11:44Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5287"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1309823"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2016-87"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93811"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037077"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-QPGJ-PMXF-378X
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-10-21 00:32 – Updated: 2026-10-21 00:32Use after free in API in Google Chrome prior to 156.0.8078.47 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-113275"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416",
"CWE-862"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-10-20T22:19:21Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Use after free in API in Google Chrome prior to 156.0.8078.47 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)",
"id": "GHSA-qpgj-pmxf-378x",
"modified": "2026-10-21T00:32:49Z",
"published": "2026-10-21T00:32:49Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-113275"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2026/10/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_02018666648.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://issues.chromium.org/issues/502040109"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-QPGR-7CFR-6WH6
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-11-03 21:32 – Updated: 2026-11-04 00:32Use after free in TabStrip in Google Chrome prior to 157.0.8103.38 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-121114"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-11-03T21:17:19Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "Use after free in TabStrip in Google Chrome prior to 157.0.8103.38 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)",
"id": "GHSA-qpgr-7cfr-6wh6",
"modified": "2026-11-04T00:32:09Z",
"published": "2026-11-03T21:32:23Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-121114"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2026/11/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://issues.chromium.org/issues/573387527"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-QPJR-CH72-2QQ4
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2021-08-25 20:45 – Updated: 2023-06-13 20:35Affected versions of this crate is not panic safe within callback functions stream_callback and stream_finished_callback. The call to user-provided closure might panic before a mem::forget call, which then causes a use after free that grants attacker to control the callback function pointer. This allows an attacker to construct an arbitrary code execution .
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "crates.io",
"name": "portaudio-rs"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "0.3.2"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-16881"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2021-08-19T21:21:17Z",
"nvd_published_at": null,
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "Affected versions of this crate is not panic safe within callback functions stream_callback and stream_finished_callback. The call to user-provided closure might panic before a mem::forget call, which then causes a use after free that grants attacker to control the callback function pointer. This allows an attacker to construct an arbitrary code execution .",
"id": "GHSA-qpjr-ch72-2qq4",
"modified": "2023-06-13T20:35:06Z",
"published": "2021-08-25T20:45:17Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-16881"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/mvdnes/portaudio-rs/issues/20"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/mvdnes/portaudio-rs/commit/7466df019f6739732fd91401017942c22364ef61"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/mvdnes/portaudio-rs"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2019-0022.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "Use after free in portaudio-rs"
}
GHSA-QPMF-9P9C-455W
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-06-29 09:30 – Updated: 2026-11-05 18:32A flaw was found in the libblkid library of util-linux. During nested partition probing, the BSD, Minix, Solaris x86, and UnixWare partition probers cache a raw pointer to a parent partition entry in a dynamically allocated array. When subsequent partition additions cause the array to be reallocated, this pointer becomes stale, leading to a heap use-after-free read. An attacker who can present a crafted block device image (for example, via USB insertion or a loop-mounted disk image) can trigger this flaw without user interaction, as libblkid is invoked automatically by udev/udisks as root on block-device hot-plug events. This could lead to limited information disclosure or denial of service.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-13595"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-06-29T09:16:28Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "A flaw was found in the libblkid library of util-linux. During nested partition probing, the BSD, Minix, Solaris x86, and UnixWare partition probers cache a raw pointer to a parent partition entry in a dynamically allocated array. When subsequent partition additions cause the array to be reallocated, this pointer becomes stale, leading to a heap use-after-free read. An attacker who can present a crafted block device image (for example, via USB insertion or a loop-mounted disk image) can trigger this flaw without user interaction, as libblkid is invoked automatically by udev/udisks as root on block-device hot-plug events. This could lead to limited information disclosure or denial of service.",
"id": "GHSA-qpmf-9p9c-455w",
"modified": "2026-11-05T18:32:00Z",
"published": "2026-06-29T09:30:29Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-13595"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/c0186f14fbdb02f64c8e0ba701ce727ea764ff4c"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26573"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:93461"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:95365"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-13595"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2494101"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
Mitigation
Strategy: Language Selection
Choose a language that provides automatic memory management.
Mitigation
Strategy: Attack Surface Reduction
When freeing pointers, be sure to set them to NULL once they are freed. However, the utilization of multiple or complex data structures may lower the usefulness of this strategy.
No CAPEC attack patterns related to this CWE.