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

17039 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.

GHSA-RFMQ-PJP4-VVXM

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2021-12-21 00:00 – Updated: 2021-12-21 00:00
VLAI
Details

Adobe Dimension versions 3.4.3 (and earlier) are affected by an out-of-bounds write vulnerability that could result in 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 GIF file.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2021-44180"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2021-12-20T21:15:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "Adobe Dimension versions 3.4.3 (and earlier) are affected by an out-of-bounds write vulnerability that could result in 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 GIF file.",
  "id": "GHSA-rfmq-pjp4-vvxm",
  "modified": "2021-12-21T00:00:24Z",
  "published": "2021-12-21T00:00:24Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-44180"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/dimension/apsb21-116.html"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-1571"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": []
}

GHSA-RFP6-W338-JP8M

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-14 00:53 – Updated: 2025-10-22 00:31
VLAI
Details

Execution of user supplied Javascript during array deserialization leading to an out of bounds write in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 71.0.3578.80 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox via a crafted HTML page.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2018-17480"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2018-12-11T16:29:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "Execution of user supplied Javascript during array deserialization leading to an out of bounds write in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 71.0.3578.80 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox via a crafted HTML page.",
  "id": "GHSA-rfp6-w338-jp8m",
  "modified": "2025-10-22T00:31:36Z",
  "published": "2022-05-14T00:53:55Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-17480"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3803"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2018/12/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://crbug.com/905940"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201908-18"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-17480"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4352"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106084"
    }
  ],
  "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-RFPR-2MWV-6GC8

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-04-14 21:30 – Updated: 2024-04-04 03:28
VLAI
Details

An issue was discovered in Exynos Mobile Processor, Automotive Processor and Modem for Exynos Modem 5123, Exynos Modem 5300, Exynos 980, Exynos 1080, Exynos 9110, and Exynos Auto T5123. Memory corruption can occur due to insufficient parameter validation while decoding an SIP status line.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2023-29085"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2023-04-14T21:15:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "An issue was discovered in Exynos Mobile Processor, Automotive Processor and Modem for Exynos Modem 5123, Exynos Modem 5300, Exynos 980, Exynos 1080, Exynos 9110, and Exynos Auto T5123. Memory corruption can occur due to insufficient parameter validation while decoding an SIP status line.",
  "id": "GHSA-rfpr-2mwv-6gc8",
  "modified": "2024-04-04T03:28:44Z",
  "published": "2023-04-14T21:30:23Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-29085"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://semiconductor.samsung.com/support/quality-support/product-security-updates"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/172288/Shannon-Baseband-SIP-Status-Line-Stack-Buffer-Overflow.html"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-RFPX-G558-HXVR

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-05-03 03:30 – Updated: 2024-05-03 03:30
VLAI
Details

PDF-XChange Editor PDF File Parsing Out-Of-Bounds Write Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of PDF-XChange Editor. 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 PDF files. Crafted data in a PDF file can trigger 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-17767.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2023-32160"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2024-05-03T02:15:21Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "PDF-XChange Editor PDF File Parsing Out-Of-Bounds Write Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of PDF-XChange Editor. 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 PDF files. Crafted data in a PDF file can trigger 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-17767.",
  "id": "GHSA-rfpx-g558-hxvr",
  "modified": "2024-05-03T03:30:50Z",
  "published": "2024-05-03T03:30:50Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-32160"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.tracker-software.com/product/pdf-xchange-editor/history"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-23-642"
    }
  ],
  "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-RFQ8-X5M9-6822

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

On Samsung SmartThings Hub STH-ETH-250 devices with firmware version 0.20.17, the video-core process incorrectly extracts fields from a user-controlled JSON payload, leading to a buffer overflow on the stack. An attacker can send an HTTP request to trigger this vulnerability. The memcpy call overflows the destination buffer, which has a size of 512 bytes. An attacker can send an arbitrarily long "url" value in order to overwrite the saved-PC with 0x42424242.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2018-3903"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-119",
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2018-08-23T15:29:00Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "On Samsung SmartThings Hub STH-ETH-250 devices with firmware version 0.20.17, the video-core process incorrectly extracts fields from a user-controlled JSON payload, leading to a buffer overflow on the stack. An attacker can send an HTTP request to trigger this vulnerability. The memcpy call overflows the destination buffer, which has a size of 512 bytes. An attacker can send an arbitrarily long \"url\" value in order to overwrite the saved-PC with 0x42424242.",
  "id": "GHSA-rfq8-x5m9-6822",
  "modified": "2022-05-13T01:01:59Z",
  "published": "2022-05-13T01:01:59Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-3903"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2018-0574"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-RFR6-QJFP-MP79

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:20 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:20
VLAI
Details

In loadSoundModel and related functions of SoundTriggerHwService.cpp, there is possible out of bounds write due to a race condition. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-136005905

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2020-0218"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2020-06-11T15:15:00Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "In loadSoundModel and related functions of SoundTriggerHwService.cpp, there is possible out of bounds write due to a race condition. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-136005905",
  "id": "GHSA-rfr6-qjfp-mp79",
  "modified": "2022-05-24T17:20:19Z",
  "published": "2022-05-24T17:20:19Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-0218"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/pixel/2020-06-01"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": []
}

GHSA-RFRW-M2JX-M42J

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-10-25 18:32 – Updated: 2024-04-04 08:56
VLAI
Details

TP-LINK TL-WR886N V7.0_3.0.14_Build_221115_Rel.56908n.bin was discovered to contain a stack overflow via the function chkRegVeriRegister.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2023-46536"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2023-10-25T18:17:38Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "TP-LINK TL-WR886N V7.0_3.0.14_Build_221115_Rel.56908n.bin was discovered to contain a stack overflow via the function chkRegVeriRegister.",
  "id": "GHSA-rfrw-m2jx-m42j",
  "modified": "2024-04-04T08:56:16Z",
  "published": "2023-10-25T18:32:25Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-46536"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/XYIYM/Digging/blob/main/TP-LINK/TL-WR886N/5/1.md"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://resource.tp-link.com.cn/pc/docCenter/showDoc?id=1676623713687165"
    }
  ],
  "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-RFV9-46VF-R58M

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:20 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:20
VLAI
Details

In addListener of RegionSamplingThread.cpp, there is a possible out of bounds write due to improper input validation. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-150904694

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2020-0118"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2020-06-10T18:15:00Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "In addListener of RegionSamplingThread.cpp, there is a possible out of bounds write due to improper input validation. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-150904694",
  "id": "GHSA-rfv9-46vf-r58m",
  "modified": "2022-05-24T17:20:03Z",
  "published": "2022-05-24T17:20:03Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-0118"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2020-06-01"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": []
}

GHSA-RFVF-M3HF-2866

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-06-06 15:30 – Updated: 2024-04-04 04:35
VLAI
Details

In wlan, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS07796883; Issue ID: ALPS07796883.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2023-20716"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2023-06-06T13:15:11Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "In wlan, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS07796883; Issue ID: ALPS07796883.",
  "id": "GHSA-rfvf-m3hf-2866",
  "modified": "2024-04-04T04:35:12Z",
  "published": "2023-06-06T15:30:20Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20716"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://corp.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/June-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-RFVX-FR64-VW46

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-01-10 15:30 – Updated: 2024-01-13 03:30
VLAI
Details

Tenda AX1803 v1.0.0.1 contains a stack overflow via the adv.iptv.stballvlans parameter in the function setIptvInfo.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2023-51966"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2024-01-10T14:15:44Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "Tenda AX1803 v1.0.0.1 contains a stack overflow via the adv.iptv.stballvlans parameter in the function setIptvInfo.",
  "id": "GHSA-rfvx-fr64-vw46",
  "modified": "2024-01-13T03:30:16Z",
  "published": "2024-01-10T15:30:20Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-51966"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://grove-laser-8ad.notion.site/Tenda-AX1803-Buffer-Overflow-in-setIptvInfo-944beaf189db4bf49f99a7a7418c7bdd"
    }
  ],
  "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"
    }
  ]
}

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.