CWE-787
Weakness Allowed-with-ReviewOut-of-bounds Write
Abstraction: Base · Status: Draft
The product writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.
Dimensions
- Behavior-Type: Write
- Resource-Type: Memory Buffer
- Resource-Property: Out-of-bounds
Mapping guidance
This CWE entry is at the Base level of abstraction, which is a preferred level of abstraction for mapping to the root causes of vulnerabilities. However, closer examination is required.
While this CWE is allowed for mapping, it has more specific children that might be a better fit. Carefully read both the name and description to ensure that this mapping is appropriate. Consider the root cause errors that have led to the out-of-bounds write by examining "CanFollow" relationships for this entry.
Relationships and members
Modes of introduction
Detection methods
Automated Static Analysis
This weakness can often be detected using automated static analysis tools. Many modern tools use data flow analysis or constraint-based techniques to minimize the number of false positives.
Automated static analysis generally does not account for environmental considerations when reporting out-of-bounds memory operations. This can make it difficult for users to determine which warnings should be investigated first. For example, an analysis tool might report buffer overflows that originate from command line arguments in a program that is not expected to run with setuid or other special privileges.
Effectiveness: High
Detection techniques for buffer-related errors are more mature than for most other weakness types.
Automated Dynamic Analysis
This weakness can be detected using dynamic tools and techniques that interact with the software using large test suites with many diverse inputs, such as fuzz testing (fuzzing), robustness testing, and fault injection. The software's operation may slow down, but it should not become unstable, crash, or generate incorrect results.
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 mappings to ISA/IEC 62443.
Provided diagram to improve CWE usability
updated Demonstrative_Examples
updated Relationships
updated Common_Consequences
updated Demonstrative_Examples
updated Relationships
updated Description
updated Applicable_Platforms, Demonstrative_Examples, Detection_Factors, Likelihood_of_Exploit, Observed_Examples, Potential_Mitigations, References, Relationships, Time_of_Introduction
updated Observed_Examples, Relationships
updated Observed_Examples
updated Alternate_Terms, Demonstrative_Examples, Observed_Examples, Relationships
updated Relationships
updated Demonstrative_Examples
updated Demonstrative_Examples, Potential_Mitigations, Relationships
updated Observed_Examples, Relationships
updated Applicable_Platforms
updated Alternate_Terms, Demonstrative_Examples, Description
updated Potential_Mitigations, References, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
updated Mapping_Notes, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
updated Demonstrative_Examples
updated Alternate_Terms, Common_Consequences, Description, Diagram, Weakness_Ordinalities
updated Observed_Examples, Relationships
updated Observed_Examples, Relationships
updated Affected_Resources, Functional_Areas, References
updated Applicable_Platforms, Detection_Factors, References, Relationships
updated Mapping_Notes
updated Dimensions, Observed_Examples, References, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
16871 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-J3VW-4G3G-WVJC
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-03-05 00:00 – Updated: 2025-11-03 21:30A heap-based buffer overflow was found in openjpeg in color.c:379:42 in sycc420_to_rgb when decompressing a crafted .j2k file. An attacker could use this to execute arbitrary code with the permissions of the application compiled against openjpeg.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-3575"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-03-04T18:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A heap-based buffer overflow was found in openjpeg in color.c:379:42 in sycc420_to_rgb when decompressing a crafted .j2k file. An attacker could use this to execute arbitrary code with the permissions of the application compiled against openjpeg.",
"id": "GHSA-j3vw-4g3g-wvjc",
"modified": "2025-11-03T21:30:38Z",
"published": "2022-03-05T00:00:43Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-3575"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/uclouvain/openjpeg/issues/1347"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2021:4251"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-3575"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1957616"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/04/msg00002.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/EZ54FGM2IGAP4AWSJ22JKHOPHCR3FGYU"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/QB6AI7CWXWMEDZIQY4LQ6DMIEXMDOHUP"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/EZ54FGM2IGAP4AWSJ22JKHOPHCR3FGYU"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/QB6AI7CWXWMEDZIQY4LQ6DMIEXMDOHUP"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2021-3575"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-J3W8-VH53-8RRP
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-02-12 00:00 – Updated: 2022-02-18 00:00Foxit PDF Reader before 11.2.1 and Foxit PDF Editor before 11.2.1 have a Stack-Based Buffer Overflow related to XFA, for the 'subform colSpan="-2"' and 'draw colSpan="1"' substrings.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-24954"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-02-11T02:15:00Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "Foxit PDF Reader before 11.2.1 and Foxit PDF Editor before 11.2.1 have a Stack-Based Buffer Overflow related to XFA, for the \u0027subform colSpan=\"-2\"\u0027 and \u0027draw colSpan=\"1\"\u0027 substrings.",
"id": "GHSA-j3w8-vh53-8rrp",
"modified": "2022-02-18T00:00:50Z",
"published": "2022-02-12T00:00:50Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-24954"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://twitter.com/l33d0hyun/status/1487047927415459851"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.foxit.com/support/security-bulletins.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-J3WM-PJRC-XPXV
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-09-02 21:30 – Updated: 2025-09-02 21:30There is an out of bounds write vulnerability due to improper bounds checking resulting in invalid data when parsing a DSB file with Digilent DASYLab. This vulnerability may result in arbitrary code execution. Successful exploitation requires an attacker to get a user to open a specially crafted DSB file. The vulnerability affects all versions of DASYLab.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-57774"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-1285",
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-09-02T19:15:31Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "There is an out of bounds write vulnerability due to improper bounds checking resulting in invalid data when parsing a DSB file with Digilent DASYLab. This vulnerability may result in arbitrary code execution. Successful exploitation requires an attacker to get a user to open a specially crafted DSB file. The vulnerability affects all versions of DASYLab.",
"id": "GHSA-j3wm-pjrc-xpxv",
"modified": "2025-09-02T21:30:58Z",
"published": "2025-09-02T21:30:58Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-57774"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.ni.com/en/support/security/available-critical-and-security-updates-for-ni-software/memory-corruption-vulnerabilities-in-digilent-dasylab.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
]
}
GHSA-J3WW-P97M-GH9X
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:04 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:04In Apache HTTP Server versions 2.4.0 to 2.4.46 a specially crafted SessionHeader sent by an origin server could cause a heap overflow
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-26691"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-06-10T07:15:00Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "In Apache HTTP Server versions 2.4.0 to 2.4.46 a specially crafted SessionHeader sent by an origin server could cause a heap overflow",
"id": "GHSA-j3ww-p97m-gh9x",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:04:55Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:04:55Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-26691"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r50cae1b71f1e7421069036b213c26da7d8f47dd59874e3bd956959fe@%3Cannounce.httpd.apache.org%3E"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r7f2b70b621651548f4b6f027552f1dd91705d7111bb5d15cda0a68dd@%3Cdev.httpd.apache.org%3E"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/re026d3da9d7824bd93b9f871c0fdda978d960c7e62d8c43cba8d0bf3%40%3Ccvs.httpd.apache.org%3E"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/07/msg00006.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/SPBR6WUYBJNACHKE65SPL7TJOHX7RHWD"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ZNCYSR3BXT36FFF4XTCPL3HDQK4VP45R"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202107-38"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210702-0001"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4937"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://httpd.apache.org/security/vulnerabilities_24.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/06/10/7"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
GHSA-J3X9-VVCX-3WC5
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:35 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:35A heap overflow vulnerability exists in the Pixar OpenUSD 20.05 parsing of compressed string tokens in binary USD files. A specially crafted malformed file can trigger a heap overflow which can result in out of bounds memory access which could lead to information disclosure. This vulnerability could be used to bypass mitigations and aid further exploitation. To trigger this vulnerability, victim needs to access an attacker-provided malformed file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-13494"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-120",
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2020-12-02T18:15:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "A heap overflow vulnerability exists in the Pixar OpenUSD 20.05 parsing of compressed string tokens in binary USD files. A specially crafted malformed file can trigger a heap overflow which can result in out of bounds memory access which could lead to information disclosure. This vulnerability could be used to bypass mitigations and aid further exploitation. To trigger this vulnerability, victim needs to access an attacker-provided malformed file.",
"id": "GHSA-j3x9-vvcx-3wc5",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:35:06Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:35:06Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-13494"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2020-1103"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-J3XH-C39X-QGHW
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:14 – Updated: 2025-10-22 00:32Delta Electronic DOPSoft 2 (Version 2.00.07 and prior) lacks proper validation of user-supplied data when parsing specific project files. This could result in multiple out-of-bounds write instances. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-38406"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-09-17T19:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Delta Electronic DOPSoft 2 (Version 2.00.07 and prior) lacks proper validation of user-supplied data when parsing specific project files. This could result in multiple out-of-bounds write instances. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process.",
"id": "GHSA-j3xh-c39x-qghw",
"modified": "2025-10-22T00:32:21Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:14:55Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-38406"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-21-252-02"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-38406"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-J422-F42W-5W69
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-27 00:00 – Updated: 2022-06-09 00:00A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.4, watchOS 8.6, tvOS 15.5, macOS Big Sur 11.6.6. An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-26768"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-05-26T20:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.4, watchOS 8.6, tvOS 15.5, macOS Big Sur 11.6.6. An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-j422-f42w-5w69",
"modified": "2022-06-09T00:00:26Z",
"published": "2022-05-27T00:00:31Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-26768"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213253"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213254"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213256"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213257"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213346"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Jul/12"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-J428-8H66-82P9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-02-06 03:33 – Updated: 2024-02-06 03:33Out out bounds Write vulnerabilities in svc1td_vld_elh of libsthmbc.so prior to SMR Feb-2024 Release 1 allows local attackers to trigger buffer overflow.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-20818"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-02-06T03:15:09Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Out out bounds Write vulnerabilities in svc1td_vld_elh of libsthmbc.so prior to SMR Feb-2024 Release 1 allows local attackers to trigger buffer overflow.",
"id": "GHSA-j428-8h66-82p9",
"modified": "2024-02-06T03:33:00Z",
"published": "2024-02-06T03:33:00Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-20818"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.samsungmobile.com/securityUpdate.smsb?year=2024\u0026month=02"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-J437-FHRR-26HX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-08-21 00:31 – Updated: 2026-08-21 00:31IBM AIX 7.2, and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1 could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code due to a buffer overflow.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-17152"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-08-20T22:17:13Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "IBM AIX 7.2, and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1 could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code due to a buffer overflow.",
"id": "GHSA-j437-fhrr-26hx",
"modified": "2026-08-21T00:31:20Z",
"published": "2026-08-21T00:31:20Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-17152"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283858"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
GHSA-J44M-W6X3-678V
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:01 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:01An exploitable integer overflow vulnerability exists in the flattenIncrementally function in the xcf2png and xcf2pnm binaries of xcftools, version 1.0.7. An integer overflow can occur while walking through tiles that could be exploited to corrupt memory and execute arbitrary code. In order to trigger this vulnerability, a victim would need to open a specially crafted XCF file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-5086"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-190",
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2019-11-21T16:15:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "An exploitable integer overflow vulnerability exists in the flattenIncrementally function in the xcf2png and xcf2pnm binaries of xcftools, version 1.0.7. An integer overflow can occur while walking through tiles that could be exploited to corrupt memory and execute arbitrary code. In order to trigger this vulnerability, a victim would need to open a specially crafted XCF file.",
"id": "GHSA-j44m-w6x3-678v",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:01:45Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:01:45Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-5086"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/02/msg00014.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/03/msg00008.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2019-0878"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2019-0878"
}
],
"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 MIT-3
Strategy: Language Selection
- Use a language that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.
- For example, many languages that perform their own memory management, such as Java and Perl, are not subject to buffer overflows. Other languages, such as Ada and C#, typically provide overflow protection, but the protection can be disabled by the programmer.
- Be wary that a language's interface to native code may still be subject to overflows, even if the language itself is theoretically safe.
Mitigation MIT-4.1
Strategy: Libraries or Frameworks
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.
- Examples include the Safe C String Library (SafeStr) by Messier and Viega [REF-57], and the Strsafe.h library from Microsoft [REF-56]. These libraries provide safer versions of overflow-prone string-handling functions.
Mitigation MIT-10
Strategy: Environment Hardening
- Use automatic buffer overflow detection mechanisms that are offered by certain compilers or compiler extensions. Examples include: the Microsoft Visual Studio /GS flag, Fedora/Red Hat FORTIFY_SOURCE GCC flag, StackGuard, and ProPolice, which provide various mechanisms including canary-based detection and range/index checking.
- D3-SFCV (Stack Frame Canary Validation) from D3FEND [REF-1334] discusses canary-based detection in detail.
Mitigation MIT-9
- Consider adhering to the following rules when allocating and managing an application's memory:
- Double check that the buffer is as large as specified.
- When using functions that accept a number of bytes to copy, such as strncpy(), be aware that if the destination buffer size is equal to the source buffer size, it may not NULL-terminate the string.
- Check buffer boundaries if accessing the buffer in a loop and make sure there is no danger of writing past the allocated space.
- If necessary, truncate all input strings to a reasonable length before passing them to the copy and concatenation functions.
Mitigation MIT-11
Strategy: Environment Hardening
- Run or compile the software using features or extensions that randomly arrange the positions of a program's executable and libraries in memory. Because this makes the addresses unpredictable, it can prevent an attacker from reliably jumping to exploitable code.
- Examples include Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) [REF-58] [REF-60] and Position-Independent Executables (PIE) [REF-64]. Imported modules may be similarly realigned if their default memory addresses conflict with other modules, in a process known as "rebasing" (for Windows) and "prelinking" (for Linux) [REF-1332] using randomly generated addresses. ASLR for libraries cannot be used in conjunction with prelink since it would require relocating the libraries at run-time, defeating the whole purpose of prelinking.
- For more information on these techniques see D3-SAOR (Segment Address Offset Randomization) from D3FEND [REF-1335].
Mitigation MIT-12
Strategy: Environment Hardening
- Use a CPU and operating system that offers Data Execution Protection (using hardware NX or XD bits) or the equivalent techniques that simulate this feature in software, such as PaX [REF-60] [REF-61]. These techniques ensure that any instruction executed is exclusively at a memory address that is part of the code segment.
- For more information on these techniques see D3-PSEP (Process Segment Execution Prevention) from D3FEND [REF-1336].
Mitigation MIT-13
Replace unbounded copy functions with analogous functions that support length arguments, such as strcpy with strncpy. Create these if they are not available.
No CAPEC attack patterns related to this CWE.