Common Weakness Enumeration

CWE-787

Weakness Allowed-with-Review

Out-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
ChildOf: CWE-119 · View CWE-1000
ChildOf: CWE-119 · View CWE-1003
ChildOf: CWE-119 · View CWE-1305
ChildOf: CWE-119 · View CWE-1340
Modes of introduction
Implementation
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
Submission: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2009-10-21 · CWE 1.6
Contribution: "Mapping CWE to 62443" Sub-Working Group · CWE-CAPEC ICS/OT SIG · 2023-04-25 · CWE 4.11

Suggested mappings to ISA/IEC 62443.

Contribution: Abhi Balakrishnan · 2024-02-29 · CWE 4.15

Provided diagram to improve CWE usability

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2010-02-16 · CWE 1.8

updated Demonstrative_Examples

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2010-09-27 · CWE 1.10

updated Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2011-06-01 · CWE 1.13

updated Common_Consequences

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2014-06-23 · CWE 2.7

updated Demonstrative_Examples

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2015-12-07 · CWE 2.9

updated Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2018-03-27 · CWE 3.1

updated Description

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2019-09-19 · CWE 3.4

updated Applicable_Platforms, Demonstrative_Examples, Detection_Factors, Likelihood_of_Exploit, Observed_Examples, Potential_Mitigations, References, Relationships, Time_of_Introduction

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2020-02-24 · CWE 4.0

updated Observed_Examples, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2020-06-25 · CWE 4.1

updated Observed_Examples

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2020-08-20 · CWE 4.2

updated Alternate_Terms, Demonstrative_Examples, Observed_Examples, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2020-12-10 · CWE 4.3

updated Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2021-03-15 · CWE 4.4

updated Demonstrative_Examples

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2021-07-20 · CWE 4.5

updated Demonstrative_Examples, Potential_Mitigations, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2022-06-28 · CWE 4.8

updated Observed_Examples, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2022-10-13 · CWE 4.9

updated Applicable_Platforms

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2023-01-31 · CWE 4.10

updated Alternate_Terms, Demonstrative_Examples, Description

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2023-04-27 · CWE 4.11

updated Potential_Mitigations, References, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2023-06-29 · CWE 4.12

updated Mapping_Notes, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2024-02-29 · CWE 4.14

updated Demonstrative_Examples

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2024-07-16 · CWE 4.15

updated Alternate_Terms, Common_Consequences, Description, Diagram, Weakness_Ordinalities

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2024-11-19 · CWE 4.16

updated Observed_Examples, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2025-04-03 · CWE 4.17

updated Observed_Examples, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2025-09-09 · CWE 4.18

updated Affected_Resources, Functional_Areas, References

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2025-12-11 · CWE 4.19

updated Applicable_Platforms, Detection_Factors, References, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2026-04-30 · CWE 4.20

updated Mapping_Notes

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2026-10-28 · CWE 5.0

updated Dimensions, Observed_Examples, References, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings

16886 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.

GHSA-M7VH-4MMQ-7H88

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-03-11 00:02 – Updated: 2022-03-17 00:01
VLAI
Details

Tenda AX12 v22.03.01.21 was discovered to contain a stack buffer overflow in the function sub_422CE4. This vulnerability allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via the strcpy parameter.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2021-46408"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2022-03-10T17:44:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "Tenda AX12 v22.03.01.21 was discovered to contain a stack buffer overflow in the function sub_422CE4. This vulnerability allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via the strcpy parameter.",
  "id": "GHSA-m7vh-4mmq-7h88",
  "modified": "2022-03-17T00:01:40Z",
  "published": "2022-03-11T00:02:25Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-46408"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/sec-bin/IoT-CVE/tree/main/Tenda/AX12/2"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-M7X4-MX42-WWRX

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:05 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:05
VLAI
Details

Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.382 and 19.x through 23.x before 23.0.0.185 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.637 on Linux allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-4273, CVE-2016-6982, CVE-2016-6983, CVE-2016-6984, CVE-2016-6985, CVE-2016-6989, and CVE-2016-6990.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2016-6986"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-119",
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2016-10-13T19:59:00Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.382 and 19.x through 23.x before 23.0.0.185 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.637 on Linux allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-4273, CVE-2016-6982, CVE-2016-6983, CVE-2016-6984, CVE-2016-6985, CVE-2016-6989, and CVE-2016-6990.",
  "id": "GHSA-m7x4-mx42-wwrx",
  "modified": "2022-05-13T01:05:53Z",
  "published": "2022-05-13T01:05:53Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-6986"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb16-32.html"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201610-10"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2057.html"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93490"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036985"
    }
  ],
  "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-M7X8-RVVC-G243

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-02-09 15:31 – Updated: 2024-02-15 06:31
VLAI
Details

An issue in the imlib_load_image_with_error_return function of imlib2 v1.9.1 allows attackers to cause a heap buffer overflow via parsing a crafted image.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2024-25447"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2024-02-09T15:15:08Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "An issue in the imlib_load_image_with_error_return function of imlib2 v1.9.1 allows attackers to cause a heap buffer overflow via parsing a crafted image.",
  "id": "GHSA-m7x8-rvvc-g243",
  "modified": "2024-02-15T06:31:35Z",
  "published": "2024-02-09T15:31:27Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-25447"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/derf/feh/issues/709"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://git.enlightenment.org/old/legacy-imlib2/issues/20"
    }
  ],
  "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-M823-2M6M-P9F2

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-10-01 15:32 – Updated: 2024-10-04 18:31
VLAI
Details

cute_png v1.05 was discovered to contain a heap buffer overflow via the cp_block() function at cute_png.h.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2024-46267"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2024-10-01T14:15:06Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "cute_png v1.05 was discovered to contain a heap buffer overflow via the cp_block() function at cute_png.h.",
  "id": "GHSA-m823-2m6m-p9f2",
  "modified": "2024-10-04T18:31:10Z",
  "published": "2024-10-01T15:32:07Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-46267"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/Helson-S/FuzzyTesting/blob/master/cute_headers/cute_png/heapof-w98-cp_block-5c0-cute_png-642c5"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/Helson-S/FuzzyTesting/blob/master/cute_headers/cute_png/heapof-w98-cp_block-5c0-cute_png-642c5/poc"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/Helson-S/FuzzyTesting/blob/master/cute_headers/cute_png/heapof-w98-cp_block-5c0-cute_png-642c5/poc/sample13.png"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/Helson-S/FuzzyTesting/blob/master/cute_headers/cute_png/heapof-w98-cp_block-5c0-cute_png-642c5/vulDescription.assets/image-20240527234842953.png"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/Helson-S/FuzzyTesting/blob/master/cute_headers/cute_png/heapof-w98-cp_block-5c0-cute_png-642c5/vulDescription.md"
    }
  ],
  "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-M824-P6MX-3CW8

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-10-15 12:01 – Updated: 2022-10-18 19:00
VLAI
Details

In sensor driver, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local denial of service in kernel.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2022-39127"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-400",
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2022-10-14T19:15:00Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "In sensor driver, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local denial of service in kernel.",
  "id": "GHSA-m824-p6mx-3cw8",
  "modified": "2022-10-18T19:00:30Z",
  "published": "2022-10-15T12:01:09Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-39127"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.unisoc.com/en_us/secy/announcementDetail/1575654905820020738"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-M82M-J65J-2WQH

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-08-30 15:30 – Updated: 2024-04-04 07:16
VLAI
Details

Tenda AC9 V3.0 V15.03.06.42_multi was discovered to contain a stack overflow via parameter firewallEn at url /goform/SetFirewallCfg.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2023-41560"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2023-08-30T13:15:14Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "Tenda AC9 V3.0 V15.03.06.42_multi was discovered to contain a stack overflow via parameter firewallEn at url /goform/SetFirewallCfg.",
  "id": "GHSA-m82m-j65j-2wqh",
  "modified": "2024-04-04T07:16:58Z",
  "published": "2023-08-30T15:30:19Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-41560"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/peris-navince/founded-0-days/blob/main/formSetFirewallCfg/1.md"
    }
  ],
  "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-M836-FC54-FWH5

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:11 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:11
VLAI
Details

Adobe Bridge version 11.0.2 (and earlier) is affected by an Out-of-bounds Write vulnerability when parsing a specially crafted file. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2021-35989"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2021-08-20T19:15:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "Adobe Bridge version 11.0.2 (and earlier) is affected by an Out-of-bounds Write vulnerability when parsing a specially crafted file. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.",
  "id": "GHSA-m836-fc54-fwh5",
  "modified": "2022-05-24T19:11:44Z",
  "published": "2022-05-24T19:11:44Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-35989"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/bridge/apsb21-53.html"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": []
}

GHSA-M83J-4238-Q6WW

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-05-09 03:30 – Updated: 2024-04-04 03:54
VLAI
Details

In cp_dump driver, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local denial of service with System execution privileges needed.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2022-48385"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2023-05-09T02:15:11Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "In cp_dump driver, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local denial of service with System execution privileges needed.",
  "id": "GHSA-m83j-4238-q6ww",
  "modified": "2024-04-04T03:54:49Z",
  "published": "2023-05-09T03:30:41Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-48385"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.unisoc.com/en_us/secy/announcementDetail/1654776866982133761"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-M83P-93V4-4J26

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-01-03 21:30 – Updated: 2023-01-10 03:30
VLAI
Details

In ccu, there is a possible out of bounds write due to improper input validation. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS07554646; Issue ID: ALPS07554646.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2022-32647"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-20",
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2023-01-03T21:15:00Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "In ccu, there is a possible out of bounds write due to improper input validation. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS07554646; Issue ID: ALPS07554646.",
  "id": "GHSA-m83p-93v4-4j26",
  "modified": "2023-01-10T03:30:27Z",
  "published": "2023-01-03T21:30:20Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-32647"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://corp.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/January-2023"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-M846-3932-WQ6M

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:28 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:28
VLAI
Details

Adobe Acrobat and Reader 2018.011.20040 and earlier, 2017.011.30080 and earlier, and 2015.006.30418 and earlier versions have an Out-of-bounds write vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2018-5069"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2018-07-20T19:29:00Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "Adobe Acrobat and Reader 2018.011.20040 and earlier, 2017.011.30080 and earlier, and 2015.006.30418 and earlier versions have an Out-of-bounds write vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.",
  "id": "GHSA-m846-3932-wq6m",
  "modified": "2022-05-13T01:28:13Z",
  "published": "2022-05-13T01:28:13Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-5069"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb18-21.html"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://research.checkpoint.com/2018/50-adobe-cves-in-50-days"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104701"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041250"
    }
  ],
  "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"
    }
  ]
}

Mitigation MIT-3
Requirements

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
Architecture and Design

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
Operation Build and Compilation

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
Implementation
  • 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
Operation Build and Compilation

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
Operation

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
Implementation

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.