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 Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory "belongs" to the code that operates on the new pointer.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-R2J8-V967-J6H6
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-03-28 00:00 – Updated: 2022-04-01 00:00use after free in mrb_vm_exec in GitHub repository mruby/mruby prior to 3.2.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-1106"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-03-27T14:15:00Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "use after free in mrb_vm_exec in GitHub repository mruby/mruby prior to 3.2.",
"id": "GHSA-r2j8-v967-j6h6",
"modified": "2022-04-01T00:00:49Z",
"published": "2022-03-28T00:00:20Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-1106"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/mruby/mruby/commit/7f5a490d09f4d56801ac3a3e4e39e03e1471b44c"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://huntr.dev/bounties/16b9d0ea-71ed-41bc-8a88-2deb4c20be8f"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-R2JG-MCXG-628G
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-06-24 18:32 – Updated: 2026-07-24 00:32In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
s390/ap: use generic driver_override infrastructure
When the AP masks are updated via apmask_store() or aqmask_store(), ap_bus_revise_bindings() is called after ap_attr_mutex has been released.
This calls __ap_revise_reserved(), which accesses the driver_override field without holding any lock, racing against a concurrent driver_override_store() that may free the old string, resulting in a potential UAF.
Fix this by using the driver-core driver_override infrastructure, which protects all accesses with an internal spinlock.
Note that unlike most other buses, the AP bus does not check driver_override in its match() callback; the override is checked in ap_device_probe() and __ap_revise_reserved() instead.
Also note that we do not enable the driver_override feature of struct bus_type, as AP - in contrast to most other buses - passes "" to sysfs_emit() when the driver_override pointer is NULL. Thus, printing "\n" instead of "(null)\n".
Additionally, AP has a custom counter that is modified in the corresponding custom driver_override_store().
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-53116"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-06-24T17:17:25Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\ns390/ap: use generic driver_override infrastructure\n\nWhen the AP masks are updated via apmask_store() or aqmask_store(),\nap_bus_revise_bindings() is called after ap_attr_mutex has been\nreleased.\n\nThis calls __ap_revise_reserved(), which accesses the driver_override\nfield without holding any lock, racing against a concurrent\ndriver_override_store() that may free the old string, resulting in a\npotential UAF.\n\nFix this by using the driver-core driver_override infrastructure, which\nprotects all accesses with an internal spinlock.\n\nNote that unlike most other buses, the AP bus does not check\ndriver_override in its match() callback; the override is checked in\nap_device_probe() and __ap_revise_reserved() instead.\n\nAlso note that we do not enable the driver_override feature of struct\nbus_type, as AP - in contrast to most other buses - passes \"\" to\nsysfs_emit() when the driver_override pointer is NULL. Thus, printing\n\"\\n\" instead of \"(null)\\n\".\n\nAdditionally, AP has a custom counter that is modified in the\ncorresponding custom driver_override_store().",
"id": "GHSA-r2jg-mcxg-628g",
"modified": "2026-07-24T00:32:31Z",
"published": "2026-06-24T18:32:47Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53116"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/81d6f7c3a70b10ff757ee8b5f8114a190871cf1e"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8f2eca0570438b94602da1297353eb7b10dcb6cb"
}
],
"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-R2JR-M2RH-F5HG
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-06-24 21:30 – Updated: 2026-06-24 21:30Use after free in Bluetooth in Google Chrome on Mac prior to 149.0.7827.197 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code via a malicious peripheral. (Chromium security severity: High)
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-13035"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-06-24T19:17:09Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Use after free in Bluetooth in Google Chrome on Mac prior to 149.0.7827.197 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code via a malicious peripheral. (Chromium security severity: High)",
"id": "GHSA-r2jr-m2rh-f5hg",
"modified": "2026-06-24T21:30:44Z",
"published": "2026-06-24T21:30:44Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-13035"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2026/06/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_0482630350.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://issues.chromium.org/issues/523704570"
}
],
"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-R2M3-P2XV-HWR4
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 00:14 – Updated: 2022-05-17 00:14An issue was discovered in Adobe Acrobat and Reader: 2017.012.20098 and earlier versions, 2017.011.30066 and earlier versions, 2015.006.30355 and earlier versions, and 11.0.22 and earlier versions. This vulnerability is an instance of a use after free vulnerability in the JavaScript engine. The mismatch between an old and a new object can provide an attacker with unintended memory access -- potentially leading to code corruption, control-flow hijack, or an information leak attack. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-16393"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-12-09T06:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An issue was discovered in Adobe Acrobat and Reader: 2017.012.20098 and earlier versions, 2017.011.30066 and earlier versions, 2015.006.30355 and earlier versions, and 11.0.22 and earlier versions. This vulnerability is an instance of a use after free vulnerability in the JavaScript engine. The mismatch between an old and a new object can provide an attacker with unintended memory access -- potentially leading to code corruption, control-flow hijack, or an information leak attack. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.",
"id": "GHSA-r2m3-p2xv-hwr4",
"modified": "2022-05-17T00:14:40Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T00:14:40Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-16393"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb17-36.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101818"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039791"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-R2Q9-5F64-27VX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-11-19 03:31 – Updated: 2025-11-04 00:32In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
USB: serial: io_edgeport: fix use after free in debug printk
The "dev_dbg(&urb->dev->dev, ..." which happens after usb_free_urb(urb) is a use after free of the "urb" pointer. Store the "dev" pointer at the start of the function to avoid this issue.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-50267"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-11-19T02:16:28Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nUSB: serial: io_edgeport: fix use after free in debug printk\n\nThe \"dev_dbg(\u0026urb-\u003edev-\u003edev, ...\" which happens after usb_free_urb(urb)\nis a use after free of the \"urb\" pointer. Store the \"dev\" pointer at the\nstart of the function to avoid this issue.",
"id": "GHSA-r2q9-5f64-27vx",
"modified": "2025-11-04T00:32:03Z",
"published": "2024-11-19T03:31:07Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-50267"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/13d6ff3ca76056d06a9d88300be2a293442ff595"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/275258c30bbda29467216e96fb655b16bcc9992b"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/314bdf446053e123f37543aa535197ee75f8aa97"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/37bb5628379295c1254c113a407cab03a0f4d0b4"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/39709ce93f5c3f9eb535efe2afea088805d1128f"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/44fff2c16c5aafbdb70c7183dae0a415ae74705e"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e567fc8f7a4460e486e52c9261b1e8b9f5dc42aa"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e6ceb04eeb6115d872d4c4078d12f1170ed755ce"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/01/msg00001.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/03/msg00002.html"
}
],
"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-R2QX-QM2Q-J2RJ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-04-06 00:01 – Updated: 2022-04-09 00:00Use after free in Payments in Google Chrome prior to 98.0.4758.80 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-0468"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-04-05T01:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Use after free in Payments in Google Chrome prior to 98.0.4758.80 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.",
"id": "GHSA-r2qx-qm2q-j2rj",
"modified": "2022-04-09T00:00:31Z",
"published": "2022-04-06T00:01:36Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-0468"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2022/02/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://crbug.com/1252716"
}
],
"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-R2RF-PCXG-X7VJ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 02:32 – Updated: 2022-05-17 02:32Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 11.0.19 and earlier, 15.006.30280 and earlier, 15.023.20070 and earlier have an exploitable use after free vulnerability in XML Forms Architecture (XFA) related to reset form functionality. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-3014"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-04-12T14:59:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Adobe Acrobat Reader versions 11.0.19 and earlier, 15.006.30280 and earlier, 15.023.20070 and earlier have an exploitable use after free vulnerability in XML Forms Architecture (XFA) related to reset form functionality. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.",
"id": "GHSA-r2rf-pcxg-x7vj",
"modified": "2022-05-17T02:32:47Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T02:32:47Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-3014"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb17-11.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/97550"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038228"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-R2VM-42VV-HRCM
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-06-05 00:31 – Updated: 2026-06-05 03:31Use after free in Password Manager in Google Chrome prior to 149.0.7827.53 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-11049"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-06-04T23:17:09Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Use after free in Password Manager in Google Chrome prior to 149.0.7827.53 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)",
"id": "GHSA-r2vm-42vv-hrcm",
"modified": "2026-06-05T03:31:33Z",
"published": "2026-06-05T00:31:45Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-11049"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2026/06/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://issues.chromium.org/issues/498815068"
}
],
"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-R2VR-QQVF-2GGP
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 16:54 – Updated: 2022-05-24 16:54Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions, 2019.012.20035 and earlier, 2019.012.20035 and earlier, 2017.011.30142 and earlier, 2017.011.30143 and earlier, 2017.011.30142 and earlier, 2015.006.30497 and earlier, and 2015.006.30498 and earlier have an use after free vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-8038"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2019-08-20T20:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions, 2019.012.20035 and earlier, 2019.012.20035 and earlier, 2017.011.30142 and earlier, 2017.011.30143 and earlier, 2017.011.30142 and earlier, 2015.006.30497 and earlier, and 2015.006.30498 and earlier have an use after free vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.",
"id": "GHSA-r2vr-qqvf-2ggp",
"modified": "2022-05-24T16:54:14Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T16:54:14Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-8038"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb19-41.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-R32J-74X2-FG32
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:04 – Updated: 2023-06-12 09:30Use after free in WebAuthentication in Google Chrome on Android prior to 91.0.4472.77 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process of a user who had saved a credit card in their Google account to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-30528"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-416"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-06-07T20:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Use after free in WebAuthentication in Google Chrome on Android prior to 91.0.4472.77 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process of a user who had saved a credit card in their Google account to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.",
"id": "GHSA-r32j-74x2-fg32",
"modified": "2023-06-12T09:30:19Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:04:11Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-30528"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2021/05/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_25.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://crbug.com/1206329"
},
{
"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"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/172844/Chrome-Sandbox-Escape.html"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
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.