CWE-119
DiscouragedImproper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
Abstraction: Class · Status: Stable
The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it reads from or writes to a memory location outside the buffer's intended boundary. This may result in read or write operations on unexpected memory locations that could be linked to other variables, data structures, or internal program data.
17496 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-4HWX-98XH-R7RC
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:07 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:07Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 and 9 does not properly handle objects in memory, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by accessing an object that (1) was not properly initialized or (2) is deleted, aka "Layout Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2011-1260"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-119"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2011-06-16T20:55:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 and 9 does not properly handle objects in memory, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by accessing an object that (1) was not properly initialized or (2) is deleted, aka \"Layout Memory Corruption Vulnerability.\"",
"id": "GHSA-4hwx-98xh-r7rc",
"modified": "2022-05-13T01:07:41Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:07:41Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-1260"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2011/ms11-050"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A12308"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8275"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-4HXM-F92J-36CQ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-14 01:14 – Updated: 2022-05-14 01:14Mozilla developers and community members reported memory safety bugs present in Firefox 64 and Firefox ESR 60.4. Some of these bugs showed evidence of memory corruption and we presume that with enough effort that some of these could be exploited to run arbitrary code. This vulnerability affects Thunderbird < 60.5, Firefox ESR < 60.5, and Firefox < 65.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2018-18501"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-119"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2019-02-05T21:29:00Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "Mozilla developers and community members reported memory safety bugs present in Firefox 64 and Firefox ESR 60.4. Some of these bugs showed evidence of memory corruption and we presume that with enough effort that some of these could be exploited to run arbitrary code. This vulnerability affects Thunderbird \u003c 60.5, Firefox ESR \u003c 60.5, and Firefox \u003c 65.",
"id": "GHSA-4hxm-f92j-36cq",
"modified": "2022-05-14T01:14:10Z",
"published": "2022-05-14T01:14:10Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-18501"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0218"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0219"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0269"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0270"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/01/msg00025.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/02/msg00024.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201903-04"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201904-07"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://usn.ubuntu.com/3874-1"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://usn.ubuntu.com/3897-1"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4376"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4392"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2019-01"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2019-02"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2019-03"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-07/msg00021.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106781"
}
],
"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-4HXP-5WXW-83F8
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-11-22 21:32 – Updated: 2024-11-22 21:32IrfanView DXF File Parsing Memory Corruption 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 DXF files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a memory corruption condition. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-24595.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-11522"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-119",
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-11-22T21:15:10Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "IrfanView DXF File Parsing Memory Corruption 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 DXF files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a memory corruption condition. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-24595.",
"id": "GHSA-4hxp-5wxw-83f8",
"modified": "2024-11-22T21:32:17Z",
"published": "2024-11-22T21:32:17Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-11522"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-24-1590"
}
],
"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-4J2Q-39JQ-5PP9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 03:17 – Updated: 2022-05-17 03:17libxpc in Apple iOS before 8.4.1 and OS X before 10.10.5 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app that sends a malformed XPC message.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2015-3795"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-119"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2015-08-17T00:00:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "libxpc in Apple iOS before 8.4.1 and OS X before 10.10.5 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app that sends a malformed XPC message.",
"id": "GHSA-4j2q-39jq-5pp9",
"modified": "2022-05-17T03:17:10Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T03:17:10Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-3795"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.apple.com/kb/HT205030"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.apple.com/kb/HT205031"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2015/Aug/msg00001.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2015/Aug/msg00002.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/76343"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1033275"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-4J37-XF23-H2PX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:39 – Updated: 2024-03-21 03:33** DISPUTED ** An issue was discovered in Artifex Ghostscript before 9.24. The .setdistillerkeys PostScript command is accepted even though it is not intended for use during document processing (e.g., after the startup phase). This leads to memory corruption, allowing remote attackers able to supply crafted PostScript to crash the interpreter or possibly have unspecified other impact. Note: A reputable source believes that the CVE is potentially a duplicate of CVE-2018-15910 as explained in Red Hat bugzilla (https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1626193).
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2018-16585"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-119"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2018-09-06T14:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "** DISPUTED ** An issue was discovered in Artifex Ghostscript before 9.24. The .setdistillerkeys PostScript command is accepted even though it is not intended for use during document processing (e.g., after the startup phase). This leads to memory corruption, allowing remote attackers able to supply crafted PostScript to crash the interpreter or possibly have unspecified other impact. Note: A reputable source believes that the CVE is potentially a duplicate of CVE-2018-15910 as explained in Red Hat bugzilla (https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1626193).",
"id": "GHSA-4j37-xf23-h2px",
"modified": "2024-03-21T03:33:32Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:39:38Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-16585"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1626193"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/09/msg00015.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://seclists.org/oss-sec/2018/q3/182"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201811-12"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://usn.ubuntu.com/3768-1"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4288"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=1497d65039885a52b598b137dd8622bd4672f9be"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=971472c83a345a16dac9f90f91258bb22dd77f22"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git;a=commitdiff;h=1497d65039885a52b598b137dd8622bd4672f9be"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git;a=commitdiff;h=971472c83a345a16dac9f90f91258bb22dd77f22"
}
],
"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-4J3M-26R9-2C7V
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-12-23 21:30 – Updated: 2025-12-23 21:30A flaw has been found in Tenda WH450 1.0.0.18. The affected element is an unknown function of the file /goform/Natlimit of the component HTTP Request Handler. This manipulation of the argument page causes stack-based buffer overflow. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been published and may be used.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-15045"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-119"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-12-23T21:15:49Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A flaw has been found in Tenda WH450 1.0.0.18. The affected element is an unknown function of the file /goform/Natlimit of the component HTTP Request Handler. This manipulation of the argument page causes stack-based buffer overflow. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been published and may be used.",
"id": "GHSA-4j3m-26r9-2c7v",
"modified": "2025-12-23T21:30:30Z",
"published": "2025-12-23T21:30:30Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-15045"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/z472421519/BinaryAudit/blob/main/PoC/BOF/Tenda_WH450/Natlimit/Natlimit.md"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/z472421519/BinaryAudit/blob/main/PoC/BOF/Tenda_WH450/Natlimit/Natlimit.md#reproduce"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.337850"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?id.337850"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?submit.720882"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.tenda.com.cn"
}
],
"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"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/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-4J4Q-2CFQ-4XV5
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-05-01 12:31 – Updated: 2025-05-01 12:31A vulnerability was found in PCMan FTP Server up to 2.0.7. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component LS Command Handler. The manipulation leads to buffer overflow. The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-4160"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-119"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-05-01T10:15:17Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "A vulnerability was found in PCMan FTP Server up to 2.0.7. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component LS Command Handler. The manipulation leads to buffer overflow. The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.",
"id": "GHSA-4j4q-2cfq-4xv5",
"modified": "2025-05-01T12:31:16Z",
"published": "2025-05-01T12:31:16Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-4160"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://fitoxs.com/exploit/exploit-098f6bcd4621d373cade4e832627b4f6.txt"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.306692"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?id.306692"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?submit.561030"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/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-4J4R-F2WR-Q63C
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 00:12 – Updated: 2022-05-17 00:12Kernel pool memory corruption in one of drivers in Kaspersky Embedded Systems Security version 1.2.0.300 leads to local privilege escalation.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-12823"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-119"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-12-08T16:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Kernel pool memory corruption in one of drivers in Kaspersky Embedded Systems Security version 1.2.0.300 leads to local privilege escalation.",
"id": "GHSA-4j4r-f2wr-q63c",
"modified": "2022-05-17T00:12:34Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T00:12:34Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-12823"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.kaspersky.com/vulnerability.aspx?el=12430#091017"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/102141"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-4J4W-68FG-X9P9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 03:19 – Updated: 2022-05-17 03:19IOKit in the kernel in Apple iOS before 9 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-5844 and CVE-2015-5845.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2015-5846"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-119"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2015-09-18T11:00:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "IOKit in the kernel in Apple iOS before 9 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-5844 and CVE-2015-5845.",
"id": "GHSA-4j4w-68fg-x9p9",
"modified": "2022-05-17T03:19:09Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T03:19:09Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-5846"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.apple.com/HT205212"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.apple.com/HT205213"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2015/Sep/msg00001.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2015/Sep/msg00005.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/76764"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1033609"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-4J4X-29C6-HVRH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-02 06:12 – Updated: 2022-05-02 06:12Stack-based buffer overflow in vpnconf.exe in TheGreenBow IPSec VPN Client 4.51.001, 4.65.003, and possibly other versions, allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long OpenScriptAfterUp parameter in a policy (.tgb) file, related to "phase 2."
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2010-0392"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-119"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2010-01-26T18:30:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Stack-based buffer overflow in vpnconf.exe in TheGreenBow IPSec VPN Client 4.51.001, 4.65.003, and possibly other versions, allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long OpenScriptAfterUp parameter in a policy (.tgb) file, related to \"phase 2.\"",
"id": "GHSA-4j4x-29c6-hvrh",
"modified": "2022-05-02T06:12:18Z",
"published": "2022-05-02T06:12:18Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-0392"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/55793"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://osvdb.org/61866"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/38262"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/509091/100/0/threaded"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/40387"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.senseofsecurity.com.au/advisories/SOS-10-001"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.thegreenbow.com/download.php?id=1000150"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
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.
CAPEC-10: Buffer Overflow via Environment Variables
This attack pattern involves causing a buffer overflow through manipulation of environment variables. Once the adversary finds that they can modify an environment variable, they may try to overflow associated buffers. This attack leverages implicit trust often placed in environment variables.
CAPEC-100: Overflow Buffers
Buffer Overflow attacks target improper or missing bounds checking on buffer operations, typically triggered by input injected by an adversary. As a consequence, an adversary is able to write past the boundaries of allocated buffer regions in memory, causing a program crash or potentially redirection of execution as per the adversaries' choice.
CAPEC-123: Buffer Manipulation
An adversary manipulates an application's interaction with a buffer in an attempt to read or modify data they shouldn't have access to. Buffer attacks are distinguished in that it is the buffer space itself that is the target of the attack rather than any code responsible for interpreting the content of the buffer. In virtually all buffer attacks the content that is placed in the buffer is immaterial. Instead, most buffer attacks involve retrieving or providing more input than can be stored in the allocated buffer, resulting in the reading or overwriting of other unintended program memory.
CAPEC-14: Client-side Injection-induced Buffer Overflow
This type of attack exploits a buffer overflow vulnerability in targeted client software through injection of malicious content from a custom-built hostile service. This hostile service is created to deliver the correct content to the client software. For example, if the client-side application is a browser, the service will host a webpage that the browser loads.
CAPEC-24: Filter Failure through Buffer Overflow
In this attack, the idea is to cause an active filter to fail by causing an oversized transaction. An attacker may try to feed overly long input strings to the program in an attempt to overwhelm the filter (by causing a buffer overflow) and hoping that the filter does not fail securely (i.e. the user input is let into the system unfiltered).
CAPEC-42: MIME Conversion
An attacker exploits a weakness in the MIME conversion routine to cause a buffer overflow and gain control over the mail server machine. The MIME system is designed to allow various different information formats to be interpreted and sent via e-mail. Attack points exist when data are converted to MIME compatible format and back.
CAPEC-44: Overflow Binary Resource File
An attack of this type exploits a buffer overflow vulnerability in the handling of binary resources. Binary resources may include music files like MP3, image files like JPEG files, and any other binary file. These attacks may pass unnoticed to the client machine through normal usage of files, such as a browser loading a seemingly innocent JPEG file. This can allow the adversary access to the execution stack and execute arbitrary code in the target process.
CAPEC-45: Buffer Overflow via Symbolic Links
This type of attack leverages the use of symbolic links to cause buffer overflows. An adversary can try to create or manipulate a symbolic link file such that its contents result in out of bounds data. When the target software processes the symbolic link file, it could potentially overflow internal buffers with insufficient bounds checking.
CAPEC-46: Overflow Variables and Tags
This type of attack leverages the use of tags or variables from a formatted configuration data to cause buffer overflow. The adversary crafts a malicious HTML page or configuration file that includes oversized strings, thus causing an overflow.
CAPEC-47: Buffer Overflow via Parameter Expansion
In this attack, the target software is given input that the adversary knows will be modified and expanded in size during processing. This attack relies on the target software failing to anticipate that the expanded data may exceed some internal limit, thereby creating a buffer overflow.
CAPEC-8: Buffer Overflow in an API Call
This attack targets libraries or shared code modules which are vulnerable to buffer overflow attacks. An adversary who has knowledge of known vulnerable libraries or shared code can easily target software that makes use of these libraries. All clients that make use of the code library thus become vulnerable by association. This has a very broad effect on security across a system, usually affecting more than one software process.
CAPEC-9: Buffer Overflow in Local Command-Line Utilities
This attack targets command-line utilities available in a number of shells. An adversary can leverage a vulnerability found in a command-line utility to escalate privilege to root.