CWE-190
AllowedInteger Overflow or Wraparound
Abstraction: Base · Status: Stable
The product performs a calculation that can produce an integer overflow or wraparound when the logic assumes that the resulting value will always be larger than the original value. This occurs when an integer value is incremented to a value that is too large to store in the associated representation. When this occurs, the value may become a very small or negative number.
3867 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-XR7X-CGG3-Q7VW
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-10-14 12:31 – Updated: 2025-10-14 15:31In gnss driver, there is a possible out of bounds read due to an integer overflow. This could lead to local information disclosure if a malicious actor has already obtained the System privilege. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS09920036; Issue ID: MSV-3798.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-20722"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-190"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-10-14T10:15:37Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "In gnss driver, there is a possible out of bounds read due to an integer overflow. This could lead to local information disclosure if a malicious actor has already obtained the System privilege. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS09920036; Issue ID: MSV-3798.",
"id": "GHSA-xr7x-cgg3-q7vw",
"modified": "2025-10-14T15:31:25Z",
"published": "2025-10-14T12:31:31Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-20722"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://corp.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/October-2025"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-XR9J-2JXX-P2H8
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-01-27 12:31 – Updated: 2026-01-27 12:31Integer Overflow or Wraparound vulnerability in Ralim IronOS.This issue affects IronOS: before v2.23-rc2.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-24830"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-190"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-01-27T10:15:50Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "Integer Overflow or Wraparound vulnerability in Ralim IronOS.This issue affects IronOS: before v2.23-rc2.",
"id": "GHSA-xr9j-2jxx-p2h8",
"modified": "2026-01-27T12:31:18Z",
"published": "2026-01-27T12:31:18Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-24830"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/Ralim/IronOS/pull/2083"
}
],
"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-XRF9-3Q75-637F
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:33 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:33In exif_entry_get_value of exif-entry.c, there is a possible out of bounds write due to an integer overflow. This could lead to remote code execution if a third party app used this library to process remote image data with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-8.1 Android-9 Android-10 Android-11 Android-8.0Android ID: A-159625731
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-0452"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-190",
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2020-11-10T13:15:00Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "In exif_entry_get_value of exif-entry.c, there is a possible out of bounds write due to an integer overflow. This could lead to remote code execution if a third party app used this library to process remote image data with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-8.1 Android-9 Android-10 Android-11 Android-8.0Android ID: A-159625731",
"id": "GHSA-xrf9-3q75-637f",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:33:27Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:33:27Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-0452"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ELDZR6USD5PR34MRK2ZISLCYJ465FNKN"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/SVBD5JRUQPN4LQHTAAJHA3MR5M7YTAC7"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202011-19"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2020-11-01"
}
],
"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-XRXX-94C8-W7RW
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-04-19 21:30 – Updated: 2024-04-04 03:35In PVRSRVBridgeRGXTDMSubmitTransfer of the PowerVR kernel driver, a missing size check means there is a possible integer overflow that could allow out-of-bounds heap access. 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-270397970
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-0879"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-190"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-04-19T20:15:10Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "In PVRSRVBridgeRGXTDMSubmitTransfer of the PowerVR kernel driver, a missing size check means there is a possible integer overflow that could allow out-of-bounds heap access. 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-270397970",
"id": "GHSA-xrxx-94c8-w7rw",
"modified": "2024-04-04T03:35:34Z",
"published": "2023-04-19T21:30:26Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-0879"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2023-04-01"
}
],
"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-XV4G-HQVG-VP5W
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-14 03:06 – Updated: 2022-05-14 03:06The mintToken function of a smart contract implementation for ALEX, an Ethereum token, has an integer overflow that allows the owner of the contract to set the balance of an arbitrary user to any value.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2018-13162"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-190"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2018-07-05T02:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "The mintToken function of a smart contract implementation for ALEX, an Ethereum token, has an integer overflow that allows the owner of the contract to set the balance of an arbitrary user to any value.",
"id": "GHSA-xv4g-hqvg-vp5w",
"modified": "2022-05-14T03:06:38Z",
"published": "2022-05-14T03:06:38Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-13162"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/BlockChainsSecurity/EtherTokens/blob/master/GEMCHAIN/mint%20integer%20overflow.md"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/BlockChainsSecurity/EtherTokens/tree/master/ALEX%20(ALEX)"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-XV4P-823R-9VR8
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-04-07 06:30 – Updated: 2026-04-07 15:30In sec boot, there is a possible out of bounds write due to an integer overflow. This could lead to local denial of service, if an attacker has physical access to the device, with User execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS09963054; Issue ID: MSV-3899.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-20446"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-190",
"CWE-787"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-04-07T04:17:13Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "In sec boot, there is a possible out of bounds write due to an integer overflow. This could lead to local denial of service, if an attacker has physical access to the device, with User execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS09963054; Issue ID: MSV-3899.",
"id": "GHSA-xv4p-823r-9vr8",
"modified": "2026-04-07T15:30:48Z",
"published": "2026-04-07T06:30:27Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20446"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://corp.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/April-2026"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-XV89-XQH8-9GPJ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-14 03:03 – Updated: 2022-05-14 03:03The mintToken function of a smart contract implementation for ERC20_ICO, an Ethereum token, has an integer overflow that allows the owner of the contract to set the balance of an arbitrary user to any value.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2018-13536"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-190"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2018-07-09T06:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "The mintToken function of a smart contract implementation for ERC20_ICO, an Ethereum token, has an integer overflow that allows the owner of the contract to set the balance of an arbitrary user to any value.",
"id": "GHSA-xv89-xqh8-9gpj",
"modified": "2022-05-14T03:03:41Z",
"published": "2022-05-14T03:03:41Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-13536"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/BlockChainsSecurity/EtherTokens/blob/master/GEMCHAIN/mint%20integer%20overflow.md"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/BlockChainsSecurity/EtherTokens/tree/master/ERC20_ICO"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-XV8Q-8FHP-7R88
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 16:49 – Updated: 2022-06-28 00:00An exploitable integer overflow vulnerability exists when loading a PCX file in SDL2_image 2.0.4. A specially crafted file can cause an integer overflow, resulting in too little memory being allocated, which can lead to a buffer overflow and potential code execution. An attacker can provide a specially crafted image file to trigger this vulnerability.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-5052"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-190"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2019-07-03T19:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An exploitable integer overflow vulnerability exists when loading a PCX file in SDL2_image 2.0.4. A specially crafted file can cause an integer overflow, resulting in too little memory being allocated, which can lead to a buffer overflow and potential code execution. An attacker can provide a specially crafted image file to trigger this vulnerability.",
"id": "GHSA-xv8q-8fhp-7r88",
"modified": "2022-06-28T00:00:51Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T16:49:23Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-5052"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/07/msg00021.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/07/msg00026.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2019-0821"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://usn.ubuntu.com/4238-1"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00012.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00014.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00029.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00030.html"
}
],
"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-XVC9-XWGJ-4CQ9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-06-16 23:08 – Updated: 2024-02-21 19:50Duplicate Advisory
This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-x7vr-c387-8w57. This link is maintained to preserve external references.
Original Description
HeaderMap::reserve() used usize::next_power_of_two() to calculate the increased capacity. However, next_power_of_two() silently overflows to 0 if given a sufficiently large number in release mode.
If the map was not empty when the overflow happens, the library will invoke self.grow(0) and start infinite probing. This allows an attacker who controls the argument to reserve() to cause a potential denial of service (DoS).
The flaw was corrected in 0.1.20 release of http crate.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "crates.io",
"name": "http"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "0.1.20"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-25008"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-190"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2022-06-16T23:08:02Z",
"nvd_published_at": null,
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "### Duplicate Advisory\nThis advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-x7vr-c387-8w57. This link is maintained to preserve external references.\n\n### Original Description\n\nHeaderMap::reserve() used usize::next_power_of_two() to calculate the increased capacity. However, next_power_of_two() silently overflows to 0 if given a sufficiently large number in release mode.\n\nIf the map was not empty when the overflow happens, the library will invoke self.grow(0) and start infinite probing. This allows an attacker who controls the argument to reserve() to cause a potential denial of service (DoS).\n\nThe flaw was corrected in 0.1.20 release of http crate.",
"id": "GHSA-xvc9-xwgj-4cq9",
"modified": "2024-02-21T19:50:55Z",
"published": "2022-06-16T23:08:02Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-25008"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/hyperium/http/issues/352"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/hyperium/http"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2019-0033.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:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "Duplicate Advisory: Integer Overflow in HeaderMap::reserve() can cause Denial of Service",
"withdrawn": "2024-02-21T19:50:55Z"
}
GHSA-XVF7-379R-CPG2
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:23 – Updated: 2025-04-11 03:42Multiple integer overflows in the (1) pppol2tp_sendmsg function in net/l2tp/l2tp_ppp.c, and the (2) l2tp_ip_sendmsg function in net/l2tp/l2tp_ip.c, in the PPPoL2TP and IPoL2TP implementations in the Linux kernel before 2.6.36.2 allow local users to cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption and panic) or possibly gain privileges via a crafted sendto call.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2010-4160"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-190"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2011-01-07T12:00:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Multiple integer overflows in the (1) pppol2tp_sendmsg function in net/l2tp/l2tp_ppp.c, and the (2) l2tp_ip_sendmsg function in net/l2tp/l2tp_ip.c, in the PPPoL2TP and IPoL2TP implementations in the Linux kernel before 2.6.36.2 allow local users to cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption and panic) or possibly gain privileges via a crafted sendto call.",
"id": "GHSA-xvf7-379r-cpg2",
"modified": "2025-04-11T03:42:39Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:23:32Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-4160"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=651892"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=253eacc070b114c2ec1f81b067d2fed7305467b0"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=8acfe468b0384e834a303f08ebc4953d72fb690a"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commit;h=253eacc070b114c2ec1f81b067d2fed7305467b0"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commit;h=8acfe468b0384e834a303f08ebc4953d72fb690a"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-01/msg00001.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-01/msg00004.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-01/msg00007.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-02/msg00002.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/11/10/16"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/11/10/5"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/11/24/12"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/11/24/4"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/11/24/5"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/11/24/6"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/42801"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/42890"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/42932"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/43056"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/43291"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.36.2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2011-0007.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/44762"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.spinics.net/lists/netdev/msg145248.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.spinics.net/lists/netdev/msg145673.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0012"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0124"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0213"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0375"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://xorl.wordpress.com/2010/11/11/cve-2010-4160-linux-kernel-l2tp-integer-overflows"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
Mitigation
Ensure that all protocols are strictly defined, such that all out-of-bounds behavior can be identified simply, and require strict conformance to the protocol.
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.
- If possible, choose a language or compiler that performs automatic bounds checking.
Mitigation MIT-4
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 [REF-1482].
- Use libraries or frameworks that make it easier to handle numbers without unexpected consequences.
- Examples include safe integer handling packages such as SafeInt (C++) or IntegerLib (C or C++). [REF-106]
Mitigation MIT-8
Strategy: Input Validation
- Perform input validation on any numeric input by ensuring that it is within the expected range. Enforce that the input meets both the minimum and maximum requirements for the expected range.
- Use unsigned integers where possible. This makes it easier to perform validation for integer overflows. When signed integers are required, ensure that the range check includes minimum values as well as maximum values.
Mitigation MIT-36
- Understand the programming language's underlying representation and how it interacts with numeric calculation (CWE-681). Pay close attention to byte size discrepancies, precision, signed/unsigned distinctions, truncation, conversion and casting between types, "not-a-number" calculations, and how the language handles numbers that are too large or too small for its underlying representation. [REF-7]
- Also be careful to account for 32-bit, 64-bit, and other potential differences that may affect the numeric representation.
Mitigation MIT-15
For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
Mitigation MIT-26
Strategy: Compilation or Build Hardening
Examine compiler warnings closely and eliminate problems with potential security implications, such as signed / unsigned mismatch in memory operations, or use of uninitialized variables. Even if the weakness is rarely exploitable, a single failure may lead to the compromise of the entire system.
CAPEC-92: Forced Integer Overflow
This attack forces an integer variable to go out of range. The integer variable is often used as an offset such as size of memory allocation or similarly. The attacker would typically control the value of such variable and try to get it out of range. For instance the integer in question is incremented past the maximum possible value, it may wrap to become a very small, or negative number, therefore providing a very incorrect value which can lead to unexpected behavior. At worst the attacker can execute arbitrary code.