Buffer Overflow
A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions.
How It Works
A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions. This overwrites whatever data or code exists there, corrupting program state and potentially giving attackers control over execution flow.
Stack-based overflows are the most common variant. When a function allocates a fixed-size buffer on the stack and then copies user-controlled input without proper bounds checking, attackers can overflow past the buffer to overwrite the function's return address. When the function completes, instead of returning to legitimate code, execution jumps to attacker-specified memory containing malicious shellcode. Heap-based overflows work differently—they corrupt heap metadata like chunk size fields or free list pointers, leading to arbitrary memory writes when the allocator processes the corrupted structures.
Modern exploitation bypasses defensive mechanisms through techniques like Return-Oriented Programming (ROP), which chains together existing code snippets to avoid non-executable memory protections. Attackers may also use heap spraying to reliably position shellcode at predictable addresses, defeating address randomization.
Impact
- Remote code execution — attacker gains ability to run arbitrary commands with the privileges of the vulnerable process
- Privilege escalation — exploiting kernel or setuid program overflows to gain root/SYSTEM access
- Denial of service — crashes and memory corruption that render systems unusable
- Information disclosure — reading sensitive data from adjacent memory regions that should be inaccessible
- Authentication bypass — overwriting security-critical variables like permission flags or user IDs
Real-World Examples
Fortinet FortiOS suffered a critical buffer overflow (CVE-2025-32756) that allowed unauthenticated remote attackers to execute code as root on firewalls and VPN gateways. Attackers actively exploited this to compromise enterprise network perimeters before patches were available.
The Slammer worm from 2003 exploited a stack overflow in Microsoft SQL Server, spreading to 75,000 hosts in ten minutes by sending a single malformed UDP packet that overwrote the return address with shellcode. No authentication was required.
OpenSSH historically contained a heap overflow in challenge-response authentication that allowed pre-authentication remote root compromise on Unix systems, demonstrating how memory corruption in privileged network services creates maximum impact scenarios.
Mitigation
- Memory-safe languages — Rust, Go, and modern managed languages prevent buffer overflows by design through automatic bounds checking
- Stack canaries — random values placed before return addresses that detect corruption before control transfer
- Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) — randomizes memory locations making exploitation less reliable
- Data Execution Prevention (DEP/NX) — marks memory regions as non-executable, preventing direct shellcode execution
- Bounds checking — validate input sizes before copying, use safe functions like
strncpyinstead ofstrcpy - Fuzzing and static analysis — automated testing to discover overflows before deployment
Recent CVEs (36583)
3D Builder Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity.
3D Builder Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity.
3D Builder Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Microsoft Excel Information Disclosure Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability could allow attackers to read data from memory outside the intended buffer boundaries.
3D Viewer Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity.
3D Viewer Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Windows Cloud Files Mini Filter Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Heap buffer overflow in libwebp in Google Chrome prior to 116.0.5845.187 and libwebp 1.3.2 allowed a remote attacker to perform an out of bounds memory write via a crafted HTML page. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
An issue was discovered in the NPU kernel driver in Samsung Exynos Mobile Processor 9820, 980, 2100, 2200, 1280, and 1380. Rated low severity (CVSS 3.3), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in Tecnomatix Plant Simulation V2201 (All versions < V2201.0008), Tecnomatix Plant Simulation V2302 (All versions < V2302.0002). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in Parasolid V35.0 (All versions < V35.0.260), Parasolid V35.1 (All versions < V35.1.246), Parasolid V36.0 (All versions < V36.0.156), Simcenter Femap V2301 (All. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in Parasolid V34.1 (All versions < V34.1.258), Parasolid V35.0 (All versions < V35.0.253), Parasolid V35.1 (All versions < V35.1.184), Parasolid V36.0 (All. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in JT2Go (All versions < V14.3.0.1), Teamcenter Visualization V13.3 (All versions < V13.3.0.12), Teamcenter Visualization V14.0 (All versions), Teamcenter. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in JT2Go (All versions < V14.3.0.1), Teamcenter Visualization V13.3 (All versions < V13.3.0.12), Teamcenter Visualization V14.0 (All versions), Teamcenter. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in JT2Go (All versions < V14.3.0.1), Teamcenter Visualization V13.3 (All versions < V13.3.0.12), Teamcenter Visualization V14.0 (All versions), Teamcenter. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in JT2Go (All versions < V14.3.0.1), Teamcenter Visualization V13.3 (All versions < V13.3.0.12), Teamcenter Visualization V14.0 (All versions), Teamcenter. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
SAP CommonCryptoLib allows an unauthenticated attacker to craft a request, which when submitted to an open port causes a memory corruption error in a library which in turn causes the target component. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In MtpPropertyValue of MtpProperty.h, there is a possible memory corruption due to a use after free. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
In avdt_msg_asmbl of avdt_msg.cc, there is a possible out of bounds write due to an integer overflow. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Out-of-bounds Write vulnerability could allow attackers to write data beyond allocated buffer boundaries leading to code execution or crashes.
In eatt_l2cap_reconfig_completed of eatt_impl.h, there is a possible out of bounds write due to an integer overflow. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In MtpPropertyValue of MtpProperty.h, there is a possible out of bounds read due to uninitialized data. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In build_read_multi_rsp of gatt_sr.cc, there is a possible out of bounds write due to an integer overflow. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In convertSubgraphFromHAL of ShimConverter.cpp, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing bounds check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. This Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability could allow attackers to read data from memory outside the intended buffer boundaries.
Buffer Overflow vulnerability in NBD80S09S-KLC v.YK_HZXM_NBD80S09S-KLC_V4.03.R11.7601.Nat.OnvifC.20230414.bin and NBD80N32RA-KL-V3 v.YK_HZXM_NBD80N32RA-KL_V4.03.R11.7601.Nat.OnvifC.20220120.bin. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Buffer Overflow vulnerability in RaidenFTPD 2.4.4005 allows a local attacker to execute arbitrary code via the Server name field of the Step by step setup wizard. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Memory safety bugs present in Firefox 116, Firefox ESR 115.1, and Thunderbird 115.1. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory safety bugs present in Firefox 116, Firefox ESR 102.14, Firefox ESR 115.1, Thunderbird 102.14, and Thunderbird 115.1. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Due to large allocation checks in Angle for glsl shaders being too lenient a buffer overflow could have occurred when allocating too much private shader memory on mac OS. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
On Windows, an integer overflow could occur in `RecordedSourceSurfaceCreation` which resulted in a heap buffer overflow potentially leaking sensitive data that could have led to a sandbox escape. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.6), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
hutool v5.8.21 was discovered to contain a buffer overflow via the component JSONUtil.parse(). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
hutool v5.8.21 was discovered to contain a buffer overflow via the component jsonObject.putByPath. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
hutool v5.8.21 was discovered to contain a buffer overflow via the component jsonArray. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
An issue was discovered in Exynos Mobile Processor 980 and 2100. Rated low severity (CVSS 3.3), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An issue was discovered in Samsung Exynos Mobile Processor and Wearable Processor (Exynos 980, Exynos 850, Exynos 2100, and Exynos W920). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
CMysten Labs Sui blockchain v1.2.0 was discovered to contain a stack overflow via the component /spec/openrpc.json. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Out-of-bounds Write vulnerability could allow attackers to write data beyond allocated buffer boundaries leading to code execution or crashes.
Delta Electronics' CNCSoft-B version 1.0.0.4 and DOPSoft versions 4.0.0.82 and prior are vulnerable to stack-based buffer overflow, which could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
The web server used by MikroTik RouterOS version 6 is affected by a heap memory corruption issue. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Tenda AC9 V3.0BR_V15.03.06.42_multi_TD01 was discovered stack overflow via parameter 'firewall_value' at url /goform/SetFirewallCfg. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Vulnerabilities exist in the BIOS implementation of Aruba 9200 and 9000 Series Controllers and Gateways that could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code early in the boot sequence. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.4). No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W Routers could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on an. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Buffer overflow vulnerability in Panasonic KW Watcher versions 1.00 through 2.82 may allow attackers to execute arbitrary code. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved input validation. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Out of bounds memory access in FedCM in Google Chrome prior to 116.0.5845.179 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to perform an out of bounds memory read via a crafted. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Heap-based Buffer Overflow in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 9.0.1873. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
Out-of-bounds Read in GitHub repository gpac/gpac prior to 2.3-DEV. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
An issue was discovered in lldpd before 1.0.17. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability could allow attackers to read data from memory outside the intended buffer boundaries.
Memory corruption in Graphics while processing user packets for command submission. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. This Use After Free vulnerability could allow attackers to access freed memory to execute arbitrary code or crash the application.
Transient DOS in WLAN firmware while parsing MLO (multi-link operation). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Transient DOS in WLAN Firmware while interpreting MBSSID IE of a received beacon frame. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption in WLAN Firmware while parsing receieved GTK Keys in GTK KDE. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption in WLAN HAL while parsing WMI command parameters. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption in WLAN HAL while handling command through WMI interfaces. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption in WLAN HAL while handling command streams through WMI interfaces. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption in WLAN HAL while passing command parameters through WMI interfaces. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption while handling payloads from remote ESL. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption in WLAN HAL while processing devIndex from untrusted WMI payload. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption in WLAN FW while processing command parameters from untrusted WMI payload. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption in WLAN handler while processing PhyID in Tx status handler. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption in WLAN HAL while processing command parameters from untrusted WMI payload. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption in WLAN HAL while parsing Rx buffer in processing TLV payload. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption in WLAN HAL while processing Tx/Rx commands from QDART. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Memory corruption in WLAN while sending transmit command from HLOS to UTF handlers. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A malformed DLC can trigger Memory Corruption in SNPE library due to out of bounds read, such as by loading an untrusted model (e.g. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption in WIN Product while invoking WinAcpi update driver in the UEFI region. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Transient DOS in Bluetooth HOST while passing descriptor to validate the blacklisted BT keyboard. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Memory Corruption in Core Platform while printing the response buffer in log. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory Corruption while accessing metadata in Display. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. This Buffer Overflow vulnerability could allow attackers to corrupt memory to execute arbitrary code or crash the application.
Memory corruption in Core Platform while printing the response buffer in log. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption in Audio while validating and mapping metadata. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. This Integer Overflow vulnerability could allow attackers to cause unexpected behavior through arithmetic overflow.
Memory corruption in Audio during playback session with audio effects enabled. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. This Buffer Overflow vulnerability could allow attackers to corrupt memory to execute arbitrary code or crash the application.
Memory corruption in RIL due to Integer Overflow while triggering qcril_uim_request_apdu request. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory Corruption due to improper validation of array index in Linux while updating adn record. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Buffer Over-read in GitHub repository gpac/gpac prior to 2.3-DEV. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
Stack-based Buffer Overflow in GitHub repository gpac/gpac prior to 2.3-DEV. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
Out-of-bounds Write in GitHub repository gpac/gpac prior to 2.3-DEV. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
In gnss service, there is a possible out of bounds read due to improper input validation. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.4), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In gnss service, there is a possible out of bounds read due to improper input validation. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.4), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In gnss service, there is a possible out of bounds read due to improper input validation. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.4), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In gnss service, there is a possible out of bounds read due to improper input validation. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.4), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In gnss service, there is a possible out of bounds write due to improper input validation. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.4), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.