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
17018 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-Q4C9-GG27-F3PQ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:04 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:04The io_uring subsystem in the Linux kernel allowed the MAX_RW_COUNT limit to be bypassed in the PROVIDE_BUFFERS operation, which led to negative values being usedin mem_rw when reading /proc//mem. This could be used to create a heap overflow leading to arbitrary code execution in the kernel. It was addressed via commit d1f82808877b ("io_uring: truncate lengths larger than MAX_RW_COUNT on provide buffers") (v5.13-rc1) and backported to the stable kernels in v5.12.4, v5.11.21, and v5.10.37. It was introduced in ddf0322db79c ("io_uring: add IORING_OP_PROVIDE_BUFFERS") (v5.7-rc1).
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-3491"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-06-04T02:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "The io_uring subsystem in the Linux kernel allowed the MAX_RW_COUNT limit to be bypassed in the PROVIDE_BUFFERS operation, which led to negative values being usedin mem_rw when reading /proc/\u003cPID\u003e/mem. This could be used to create a heap overflow leading to arbitrary code execution in the kernel. It was addressed via commit d1f82808877b (\"io_uring: truncate lengths larger than MAX_RW_COUNT on provide buffers\") (v5.13-rc1) and backported to the stable kernels in v5.12.4, v5.11.21, and v5.10.37. It was introduced in ddf0322db79c (\"io_uring: add IORING_OP_PROVIDE_BUFFERS\") (v5.7-rc1).",
"id": "GHSA-q4c9-gg27-f3pq",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:04:07Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:04:07Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-3491"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=d1f82808877bb10d3deee7cf3374a4eb3fb582db"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210716-0004"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-4949-1"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-4950-1"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/05/11/13"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-589"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-Q4CR-Q8PJ-WGF3
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-07-28 15:32 – Updated: 2026-07-28 18:33A guest started with Populated on Demand enabled (PoD) can attempt to reclaim pages which aren't regular guest RAM. This can cause corruption of memory management state in Xen.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-62434"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-07-28T13:19:02Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "A guest started with Populated on Demand enabled (PoD) can attempt to\nreclaim pages which aren\u0027t regular guest RAM. This can cause corruption\nof memory management state in Xen.",
"id": "GHSA-q4cr-q8pj-wgf3",
"modified": "2026-07-28T18:33:02Z",
"published": "2026-07-28T15:32:17Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-62434"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://xenbits.xenproject.org/xsa/advisory-507.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/07/28/23"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://xenbits.xen.org/xsa/advisory-507.html"
}
],
"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:L",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-Q4F4-MQCX-4PRX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-04-15 21:30 – Updated: 2026-04-15 21:30Out of bounds write in GPU in Google Chrome prior to 147.0.7727.101 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the GPU process to potentially perform a sandbox escape via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-6314"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-04-15T20:16:41Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Out of bounds write in GPU in Google Chrome prior to 147.0.7727.101 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the GPU process to potentially perform a sandbox escape via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)",
"id": "GHSA-q4f4-mqcx-4prx",
"modified": "2026-04-15T21:30:19Z",
"published": "2026-04-15T21:30:19Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-6314"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2026/04/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_15.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://issues.chromium.org/issues/498782145"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-Q4F6-24PH-R6RM
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-02 03:50 – Updated: 2025-10-22 03:30The U3D implementation in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.3, 8.x before 8.2 on Windows and Mac OS X, and 7.x before 7.1.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via malformed U3D data in a PDF document, related to a CLODProgressiveMeshDeclaration "array boundary issue," a different vulnerability than CVE-2009-2994.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2009-3953"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-119",
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2010-01-13T19:30:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "The U3D implementation in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x before 9.3, 8.x before 8.2 on Windows and Mac OS X, and 7.x before 7.1.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via malformed U3D data in a PDF document, related to a CLODProgressiveMeshDeclaration \"array boundary issue,\" a different vulnerability than CVE-2009-2994.",
"id": "GHSA-q4f6-24ph-r6rm",
"modified": "2025-10-22T03:30:27Z",
"published": "2022-05-02T03:50:11Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-3953"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=554293"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/55551"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A8242"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2009-3953"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2010-01/msg00009.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://osvdb.org/61690"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/38138"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/38215"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-02.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.metasploit.com/modules/exploit/windows/fileformat/adobe_u3d_meshdecl"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0060.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/37758"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1023446"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA10-013A.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/0103"
}
],
"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-Q4H6-G8V7-RXFV
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-02-10 00:00 – Updated: 2026-08-11 15:30SMM memory corruption vulnerability allowing a possible attacker to write fixed or predictable data to SMRAM. Exploiting this issue could lead to escalating privileges to SMM.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-24030"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-02-03T02:15:00Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "SMM memory corruption vulnerability allowing a possible attacker to write fixed or predictable data to SMRAM. Exploiting this issue could lead to escalating privileges to SMM.",
"id": "GHSA-q4h6-g8v7-rxfv",
"modified": "2026-08-11T15:30:35Z",
"published": "2022-02-10T00:00:57Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-24030"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-306654.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-306654.pdf"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220216-0011"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.insyde.com/security-pledge"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.insyde.com/security-pledge/SA-2022011"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/796611"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-Q4JC-M3MV-QHJX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 16:54 – Updated: 2022-06-28 00:00An exploitable Stack Based Buffer Overflow vulnerability exists in the EnumMetaInfo function of Aspose Aspose.Words library, version 18.11.0.0. A specially crafted doc file can cause a stack-based buffer overflow, resulting in remote code execution. An attacker needs to provide a malformed file to the victim to trigger this vulnerability.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-5041"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2019-08-21T18:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An exploitable Stack Based Buffer Overflow vulnerability exists in the EnumMetaInfo function of Aspose Aspose.Words library, version 18.11.0.0. A specially crafted doc file can cause a stack-based buffer overflow, resulting in remote code execution. An attacker needs to provide a malformed file to the victim to trigger this vulnerability.",
"id": "GHSA-q4jc-m3mv-qhjx",
"modified": "2022-06-28T00:00:52Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T16:54:27Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-5041"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2019-0805"
}
],
"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-Q4JV-QF8J-35F6
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-08-15 03:30 – Updated: 2025-08-15 03:30A vulnerability was determined in LemonOS up to nightly-2024-07-12 on LemonOS. Affected by this issue is the function HTTPGet of the file /Applications/Steal/main.cpp of the component HTTP Client. The manipulation of the argument chunkSize leads to stack-based buffer overflow. The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-9001"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-119",
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-08-15T03:15:37Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "A vulnerability was determined in LemonOS up to nightly-2024-07-12 on LemonOS. Affected by this issue is the function HTTPGet of the file /Applications/Steal/main.cpp of the component HTTP Client. The manipulation of the argument chunkSize leads to stack-based buffer overflow. The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.",
"id": "GHSA-q4jv-qf8j-35f6",
"modified": "2025-08-15T03:30:31Z",
"published": "2025-08-15T03:30:31Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-9001"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/LemonOSProject/LemonOS/issues/60"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://hkohi.ca/vulnerability/16"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.320030"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?id.320030"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?submit.624974"
}
],
"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:L",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P/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-Q4M2-MJ96-FJX2
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:08 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:08In flv extractor, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a heap buffer overflow. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android SoCAndroid ID: A-187161771
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-0577"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-07-14T14:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "In flv extractor, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a heap buffer overflow. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android SoCAndroid ID: A-187161771",
"id": "GHSA-q4m2-mj96-fjx2",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:08:01Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:08:01Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-0577"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2021-07-01"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-Q4MR-GM7X-H58F
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-04-03 18:30 – Updated: 2026-08-19 18:31In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
hwmon: (nct6775) Fix access to temperature configuration registers
The number of temperature configuration registers does not always match the total number of temperature registers. This can result in access errors reported if KASAN is enabled.
BUG: KASAN: global-out-of-bounds in nct6775_probe+0x5654/0x6fe9 nct6775_core
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-26730"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-04-03T17:15:50Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nhwmon: (nct6775) Fix access to temperature configuration registers\n\nThe number of temperature configuration registers does\nnot always match the total number of temperature registers.\nThis can result in access errors reported if KASAN is enabled.\n\nBUG: KASAN: global-out-of-bounds in nct6775_probe+0x5654/0x6fe9 nct6775_core",
"id": "GHSA-q4mr-gm7x-h58f",
"modified": "2026-08-19T18:31:57Z",
"published": "2024-04-03T18:30:41Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-26730"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/745aa03c513f1ba12cb98495467676f7acf3fffd"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c196387820c9214c5ceaff56d77303c82514b8b1"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d56e460e19ea8382f813eb489730248ec8d7eb73"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f006c45a3ea424f8f6c8e4b9283bc245ce2a4d0f"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-Q4PQ-W3XM-6VP6
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-11-23 03:31 – Updated: 2024-11-23 03:31IrfanView PSP File Parsing Out-Of-Bounds Write Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of IrfanView. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.
The specific flaw exists within the parsing of PSP files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a write past the end of an allocated buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-23219.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-6819"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-11-22T22:15:14Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "IrfanView PSP File Parsing Out-Of-Bounds Write Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of IrfanView. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.\n\nThe specific flaw exists within the parsing of PSP files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a write past the end of an allocated buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-23219.",
"id": "GHSA-q4pq-w3xm-6vp6",
"modified": "2024-11-23T03:31:58Z",
"published": "2024-11-23T03:31:58Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-6819"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-24-971"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
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.