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 (5382)
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows GDI+ allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Excel allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Excel allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Buffer over-read in Microsoft Office Word allows an unauthorized attacker to disclose information locally. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Numeric truncation error in Windows Hyper-V allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.0), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Hyper-V allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Kernel Streaming WOW Thunk Service Driver allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Media allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Access of resource using incompatible type ('type confusion') in Graphics Kernel allows an authorized attacker to execute code locally. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Access of resource using incompatible type ('type confusion') in Windows Win32K - ICOMP allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.0), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.0), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Win32K - GRFX allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.3), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.0), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Access of resource using incompatible type ('type confusion') in Windows Push Notifications allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Illustrator versions 28.7.8, 29.6.1 and earlier are affected by a Stack-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Illustrator versions 28.7.8, 29.6.1 and earlier are affected by an out-of-bounds write vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Out-of-bounds write in the memory subsystem for some Intel(R) Xeon(R) 6 processors when using Intel(R) SGX or Intel(R) TDX may allow a privileged user to potentially enable escalation of privilege. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.5). No vendor patch available.
Out-of-bounds read in firmware for some Intel(R) AMT and Intel(R) Standard Manageability may allow a privileged user to potentially enable information disclosure via network access. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable. No vendor patch available.
Improper buffer restrictions in the firmware for some Intel(R) TDX may allow a privileged user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access. Rated low severity (CVSS 2.0). No vendor patch available.
Improper buffer restrictions for some Intel(R) Xeon(R) Processor firmware with SGX enabled may allow a privileged user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.0). No vendor patch available.
Out-of-bounds read in some Intel(R) TDX module software before version TDX_1.5.07.00.774 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable information disclosure via local access. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.7). No vendor patch available.
A heap-based buffer overflow in Ivanti Connect Secure before 22.7R2.8 or 22.8R2, Ivanti Policy Secure before 22.7R1.5, Ivanti ZTA Gateway before 22.8R2.3-723 and Ivanti Neurons for Secure Access. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A buffer over-read vulnerability in Ivanti Connect Secure before 22.7R2.8 or 22.8R2, Ivanti Policy Secure before 22.7R1.5, Ivanti ZTA Gateway before 2.8R2.3-723 and Ivanti Neurons for Secure Access. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in Simcenter Femap V2406 (All versions < V2406.0003), Simcenter Femap V2412 (All versions < V2412.0002). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.3), this vulnerability is no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in Simcenter Femap V2406 (All versions < V2406.0003), Simcenter Femap V2412 (All versions < V2412.0002). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.3), this vulnerability is no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
SAP NetWeaver Application Server ABAP (BIC Document) allows an authenticated attacker to craft a request that, when submitted to a BIC Document application, could cause a memory corruption error. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
slab is a pre-allocated storage for a uniform data type. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.1), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vim is an open source, command line text editor. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Use After Free vulnerability could allow attackers to access freed memory to execute arbitrary code or crash the application.
CryptoLib provides a software-only solution using the CCSDS Space Data Link Security Protocol - Extended Procedures (SDLS-EP) to secure communications between a spacecraft running the core Flight. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.6), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
A denial-of-service (DoS) attack is possible if access to the local network is provided to unauthorized users. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
libcsp 2.0 is vulnerable to Buffer Overflow in the csp_usart_open() function at drivers/usart/zephyr.c. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. This Buffer Copy without Size Check vulnerability could allow attackers to overflow a buffer to corrupt adjacent memory.
libcsp 2.0 is vulnerable to Buffer Overflow in the csp_eth_init() function due to improper handling of the ifname parameter. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. This Buffer Copy without Size Check vulnerability could allow attackers to overflow a buffer to corrupt adjacent memory.
A vulnerability was determined in LibTIFF up to 4.5.1. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. This Buffer Overflow vulnerability could allow attackers to corrupt memory to execute arbitrary code or crash the application.
A vulnerability has been found in NASM Netwide Assember 2.17rc0. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was identified in NASM Netwide Assember 2.17rc0.c. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was found in NASM Netwide Assember 2.17rc0. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been found in NASM Netwide Assember 2.17rc0. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was identified in JasPer up to 4.2.5. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
A vulnerability was identified in Linksys RE6250, RE6300, RE6350, RE6500, RE7000 and RE9000 up to 20250801. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was determined in Linksys RE6250, RE6300, RE6350, RE6500, RE7000 and RE9000 up to 20250801. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Stack-based buffer overflow in LoadOFF in bulletphysics bullet3 before 3.26 on all platforms allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted OFF file with an overlong initial token. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.4), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was found in Linksys RE6250, RE6300, RE6350, RE6500, RE7000 and RE9000 up to 20250801. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been found in Linksys RE6250, RE6300, RE6350, RE6500, RE7000 and RE9000 up to 20250801. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was determined in Linksys RE6250, RE6300, RE6350, RE6500, RE7000 and RE9000 up to 20250801. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been found in Linksys RE6250, RE6300, RE6350, RE6500, RE7000 and RE9000 up to 20250801. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was determined in Linksys RE6250, RE6300, RE6350, RE6500, RE7000 and RE9000 up to 20250801. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was found in Linksys RE6250, RE6300, RE6350, RE6500, RE7000 and RE9000 up to 20250801. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was identified in Linksys RE6250, RE6300, RE6350, RE6500, RE7000 and RE9000 up to 20250801. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was determined in Linksys RE6250, RE6300, RE6350, RE6500, RE7000 and RE9000 up to 20250801. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Tenda AC20 16.03.08.05. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in GNU libopts up to 27.6. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in GNU cflow up to 1.8. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A group of related buffer overflow vulnerabilities in the loading of ExecuTorch models can cause the runtime to crash and potentially result in code execution or other undesirable effects. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An out-of-bounds access vulnerability in the loading of ExecuTorch models can cause the runtime to crash and potentially result in code execution or other undesirable effects. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A heap buffer overflow vulnerability in the loading of ExecuTorch models can potentially result in code execution or other undesirable effects. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A maliciously crafted TGA file, when linked or imported into Autodesk 3ds Max, can force a Memory Corruption vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A maliciously crafted RBG file, when parsed through Autodesk 3ds Max, can force an Out-of-Bounds Write vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A maliciously crafted PSD file, when linked or imported into Autodesk 3ds Max, can force an Out-of-Bounds Read vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.3.0.7 through 6.3.0.7 Service Pack 20 is vulnerable to a heap-based buffer overflow, caused by improper bounds checking. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.3.0.7 through 6.3.0.7 Service Pack 20 is vulnerable to a heap-based buffer overflow, caused by improper bounds checking. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
NVIDIA Triton Inference Server for Windows and Linux contains a vulnerability in the Python backend, where an attacker could cause an out-of-bounds read by sending a request. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
NVIDIA Triton Inference Server for Windows and Linux contains a vulnerability in the Python backend, where an attacker could cause an out-of-bounds read by manipulating shared memory data. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
NVIDIA Triton Inference Server for Windows and Linux contains a vulnerability in the Python backend, where an attacker could cause an out-of-bounds write by sending a request. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
NVIDIA Triton Inference Server for Windows and Linux contains a vulnerability in the Python backend, where an attacker could cause an out-of-bounds write. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
NVIDIA Triton Inference Server contains a vulnerability in the HTTP server, where an attacker could start a reverse shell by sending a specially crafted HTTP request. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
NVIDIA Triton Inference Server contains a vulnerability where an attacker could cause a stack overflow through specially crafted HTTP requests. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
NVIDIA Triton Inference Server for Windows and Linux contains a vulnerability where an attacker could cause stack buffer overflow by specially crafted inputs. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption while processing simultaneous requests via escape path. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption while processing IOCTL command with larger buffer in Bluetooth Host. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Information disclosure while processing a packet at EAVB BE side with invalid header length. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption while processing specific files in Powerline Communication Firmware. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption while processing DDI command calls. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption while processing an IOCTL command with an arbitrary address. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption while processing DDI call with invalid buffer. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Transient DOS while processing a frame with malformed shared-key descriptor. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption while handling client exceptions, allowing unauthorized channel access. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption while processing commands from A2dp sink command queue. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption when using Virtual cdm (Camera Data Mover) to write registers. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Information disclosure while processing the hash segment in an MBN file. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Information disclosure while reading data from an image using specified offset and size parameters. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption when programming registers through virtual CDM. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption when IOCTL interface is called to map and unmap buffers simultaneously. 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.
Information disclosure while opening a fastrpc session when domain is not sanitized. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Memory corruption while processing IOCTL command when multiple threads are called to map/unmap buffer concurrently. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Memory corruption while submitting blob data to kernel space though IOCTL. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.