Common Weakness Enumeration

CWE-119

Discouraged

Improper 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.

17505 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.

GHSA-5H6M-GMR5-Q25W

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:09 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:09
VLAI
Details

A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in watchOS 6.1.2. An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2020-3834"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-119"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2020-02-27T21:15:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in watchOS 6.1.2. An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.",
  "id": "GHSA-5h6m-gmr5-q25w",
  "modified": "2022-05-24T17:09:46Z",
  "published": "2022-05-24T17:09:46Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-3834"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://support.apple.com/HT210921"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": []
}

GHSA-5H6Q-VFMH-G5JP

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 03:24 – Updated: 2025-04-12 12:55
VLAI
Details

The dissect_diameter_base_framed_ipv6_prefix function in epan/dissectors/packet-diameter.c in the DIAMETER dissector in Wireshark 1.12.x before 1.12.9 and 2.0.x before 2.0.1 does not validate the IPv6 prefix length, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (stack-based buffer overflow and application crash) via a crafted packet.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2015-8725"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-119",
      "CWE-20"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2016-01-04T05:59:00Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "The dissect_diameter_base_framed_ipv6_prefix function in epan/dissectors/packet-diameter.c in the DIAMETER dissector in Wireshark 1.12.x before 1.12.9 and 2.0.x before 2.0.1 does not validate the IPv6 prefix length, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (stack-based buffer overflow and application crash) via a crafted packet.",
  "id": "GHSA-5h6q-vfmh-g5jp",
  "modified": "2025-04-12T12:55:29Z",
  "published": "2022-05-17T03:24:43Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-8725"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://bugs.wireshark.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=11792"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://code.wireshark.org/review/gitweb?p=wireshark.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=aaa28a9d39158ca1033bbd3372cf423abbf4f202"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://code.wireshark.org/review/gitweb?p=wireshark.git;a=commit;h=aaa28a9d39158ca1033bbd3372cf423abbf4f202"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201604-05"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3505"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/79382"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1034551"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.wireshark.org/security/wnpa-sec-2015-43.html"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-5H6W-9GGG-X966

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 02:51 – Updated: 2022-05-17 02:51
VLAI
Details

Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.16, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 15.006.30172, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Continuous before 15.016.20039 on Windows and OS X allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-1037, CVE-2016-1063, CVE-2016-1064, CVE-2016-1071, CVE-2016-1072, CVE-2016-1073, CVE-2016-1074, CVE-2016-1076, CVE-2016-1077, CVE-2016-1078, CVE-2016-1080, CVE-2016-1081, CVE-2016-1082, CVE-2016-1083, CVE-2016-1084, CVE-2016-1085, CVE-2016-1086, CVE-2016-1088, CVE-2016-1093, CVE-2016-1095, CVE-2016-1116, CVE-2016-1118, CVE-2016-1119, CVE-2016-1120, CVE-2016-1123, CVE-2016-1124, CVE-2016-1125, CVE-2016-1126, CVE-2016-1127, CVE-2016-1128, CVE-2016-1129, CVE-2016-1130, CVE-2016-4088, CVE-2016-4089, CVE-2016-4090, CVE-2016-4093, CVE-2016-4094, CVE-2016-4096, CVE-2016-4097, CVE-2016-4098, CVE-2016-4099, CVE-2016-4100, CVE-2016-4101, CVE-2016-4103, CVE-2016-4104, and CVE-2016-4105.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2016-4119"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-119"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2016-08-26T19:59:00Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "Adobe Reader and Acrobat before 11.0.16, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 15.006.30172, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Continuous before 15.016.20039 on Windows and OS X allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-1037, CVE-2016-1063, CVE-2016-1064, CVE-2016-1071, CVE-2016-1072, CVE-2016-1073, CVE-2016-1074, CVE-2016-1076, CVE-2016-1077, CVE-2016-1078, CVE-2016-1080, CVE-2016-1081, CVE-2016-1082, CVE-2016-1083, CVE-2016-1084, CVE-2016-1085, CVE-2016-1086, CVE-2016-1088, CVE-2016-1093, CVE-2016-1095, CVE-2016-1116, CVE-2016-1118, CVE-2016-1119, CVE-2016-1120, CVE-2016-1123, CVE-2016-1124, CVE-2016-1125, CVE-2016-1126, CVE-2016-1127, CVE-2016-1128, CVE-2016-1129, CVE-2016-1130, CVE-2016-4088, CVE-2016-4089, CVE-2016-4090, CVE-2016-4093, CVE-2016-4094, CVE-2016-4096, CVE-2016-4097, CVE-2016-4098, CVE-2016-4099, CVE-2016-4100, CVE-2016-4101, CVE-2016-4103, CVE-2016-4104, and CVE-2016-4105.",
  "id": "GHSA-5h6w-9ggg-x966",
  "modified": "2022-05-17T02:51:52Z",
  "published": "2022-05-17T02:51:52Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-4119"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://blog.fortinet.com/2016/06/06/analysis-of-use-after-free-vulnerability-cve-2016-4119-in-adobe-acrobat-and-reader"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb16-14.html"
    }
  ],
  "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-5H8Q-VXQH-PM9W

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 04:11 – Updated: 2022-05-17 04:11
VLAI
Details

Stack-based buffer overflow in Trimble SketchUp Viewer 13.0.4124 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted .SKP file.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2013-6038"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-119"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2013-12-17T15:21:00Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "Stack-based buffer overflow in Trimble SketchUp Viewer 13.0.4124 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted .SKP file.",
  "id": "GHSA-5h8q-vxqh-pm9w",
  "modified": "2022-05-17T04:11:06Z",
  "published": "2022-05-17T04:11:06Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-6038"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://osvdb.org/100988"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/586958"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": []
}

GHSA-5HC5-89MC-X5XF

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-14 02:30 – Updated: 2022-05-14 02:30
VLAI
Details

Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site, aka "Internet Explorer Memory Corruption Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-4084.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2014-4093"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-119"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2014-09-10T01:55:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site, aka \"Internet Explorer Memory Corruption Vulnerability,\" a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-4084.",
  "id": "GHSA-5hc5-89mc-x5xf",
  "modified": "2022-05-14T02:30:51Z",
  "published": "2022-05-14T02:30:51Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-4093"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2014/ms14-052"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/95523"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/69600"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1030818"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": []
}

GHSA-5HFP-PRMH-CR3M

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:34 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:34
VLAI
Details

A CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer vulnerability exists in IGSS Definition (Def.exe) version 14.0.0.20247 that could cause Remote Code Execution when malicious CGF (Configuration Group File) file is imported to IGSS Definition.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2020-7551"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-119",
      "CWE-787"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2020-11-19T22:15:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "A CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer vulnerability exists in IGSS Definition (Def.exe) version 14.0.0.20247 that could cause Remote Code Execution when malicious CGF (Configuration Group File) file is imported to IGSS Definition.",
  "id": "GHSA-5hfp-prmh-cr3m",
  "modified": "2022-05-24T17:34:42Z",
  "published": "2022-05-24T17:34:42Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-7551"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.se.com/ww/en/download/document/SEVD-2020-315-03"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-126"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": []
}

GHSA-5HFX-QQXC-XF62

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-01 18:01 – Updated: 2022-05-01 18:01
VLAI
Details

Object linking and embedding (OLE) Automation, as used in Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2, Server 2003 SP1 and SP2, Office 2004 for Mac, and Visual Basic 6.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via the substringData method on a TextNode object, which causes an integer overflow that leads to a buffer overflow.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2007-2224"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-119"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2007-08-14T21:17:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "Object linking and embedding (OLE) Automation, as used in Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2, Server 2003 SP1 and SP2, Office 2004 for Mac, and Visual Basic 6.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via the substringData method on a TextNode object, which causes an integer overflow that leads to a buffer overflow.",
  "id": "GHSA-5hfx-qqxc-xf62",
  "modified": "2022-05-01T18:01:28Z",
  "published": "2022-05-01T18:01:28Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2007-2224"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2007/ms07-043"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A1248"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/26449"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/476527/100/0/threaded"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/25282"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1018560"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA07-226A.html"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2007/2867"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": []
}

GHSA-5HGP-4QJX-WGHQ

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:25 – Updated: 2024-01-04 03:30
VLAI
Details

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows CDP User Components improperly handle memory.To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to gain execution on the victim system, aka 'Windows CDP User Components Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-1549.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2020-1550"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-119"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2020-08-17T19:15:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows CDP User Components improperly handle memory.To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to gain execution on the victim system, aka \u0027Windows CDP User Components Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability\u0027. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-1549.",
  "id": "GHSA-5hgp-4qjx-wghq",
  "modified": "2024-01-04T03:30:35Z",
  "published": "2022-05-24T17:25:56Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-1550"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-1550"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-5HGR-Q896-W55R

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 01:01 – Updated: 2022-05-17 01:01
VLAI
Details

Heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 8.x before 8.3, 9.x before 9.4.5, and 10.x before 10.1 on Windows and Mac OS X allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2011-2096"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-119"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2011-06-16T23:55:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "Heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 8.x before 8.3, 9.x before 9.4.5, and 10.x before 10.1 on Windows and Mac OS X allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.",
  "id": "GHSA-5hgr-q896-w55r",
  "modified": "2022-05-17T01:01:48Z",
  "published": "2022-05-17T01:01:48Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-2096"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/68010"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A13858"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://osvdb.org/73057"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb11-16.html"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/48243"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1025658"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA11-166A.html"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": []
}

GHSA-5HHR-8QW3-63P2

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-14 01:14 – Updated: 2022-05-14 01:14
VLAI
Details

** DISPUTED ** In PCRE 8.41, after compiling, a pcretest load test PoC produces a crash overflow in the function match() in pcre_exec.c because of a self-recursive call. NOTE: third parties dispute the relevance of this report, noting that there are options that can be used to limit the amount of stack that is used.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2017-16231"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-119"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2019-03-21T15:59:00Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "** DISPUTED ** In PCRE 8.41, after compiling, a pcretest load test PoC produces a crash overflow in the function match() in pcre_exec.c because of a self-recursive call. NOTE: third parties dispute the relevance of this report, noting that there are options that can be used to limit the amount of stack that is used.",
  "id": "GHSA-5hhr-8qw3-63p2",
  "modified": "2022-05-14T01:14:05Z",
  "published": "2022-05-14T01:14:05Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-16231"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://bugs.exim.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2047"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/150897/PCRE-8.41-Buffer-Overflow.html"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2018/Dec/33"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/11/01/11"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/11/01/3"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/11/01/7"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/11/01/8"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101688"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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.

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.