Stack-based Buffer Overflow
A stack-based buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a buffer located on the stack than it was allocated to hold.
How It Works
A stack-based buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a buffer located on the stack than it was allocated to hold. The stack stores local variables, function parameters, and critical control information including the return address that tells the CPU where to resume execution after a function completes. When an attacker overflows a buffer, they can overwrite adjacent memory, including this return address.
The classic exploitation path involves carefully crafting input to overwrite the return address with a pointer to attacker-controlled code. Historically, attackers would inject shellcode directly into the overflowed buffer, then redirect execution to it. Modern defenses like Data Execution Prevention (DEP/NX) mark the stack as non-executable, forcing attackers to use Return-Oriented Programming (ROP) instead—chaining together existing code snippets ("gadgets") to perform malicious operations without injecting new code.
Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) randomizes memory addresses to make exploitation harder, but attackers can defeat it through information disclosure vulnerabilities that leak memory addresses. Stack canaries—random values placed between buffers and control data—can detect overwrites, but may be bypassed through brute-force attacks or by carefully avoiding them in partial overwrites.
Impact
- Arbitrary code execution at the privilege level of the vulnerable process
- Complete system compromise if the vulnerable process runs with elevated privileges (root/SYSTEM)
- Memory corruption leading to crashes and denial of service
- Bypass of authentication mechanisms by redirecting execution flow around security checks
- Data theft or modification through code injection that accesses sensitive memory regions
Real-World Examples
The Morris Worm (1988) exploited a stack overflow in the Unix fingerd daemon, becoming one of the first major internet worms. The Code Red worm (2001) leveraged a stack overflow in Microsoft IIS (CVE-2001-0500) to compromise hundreds of thousands of web servers, demonstrating the massive scale of automated exploitation.
More recently, EternalBlue exploited stack corruption in Windows SMB (CVE-2017-0144), enabling the WannaCry and NotPetya ransomware outbreaks that caused billions in damage. The Heartbleed bug (CVE-2014-0160), while technically a heap-based read overflow, demonstrated how buffer handling errors remain prevalent even in security-critical software like OpenSSL.
Mitigation
- Stack canaries (compile with
-fstack-protector-allor equivalent) to detect overwrites before return - Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) to randomize memory locations
- DEP/NX bit enforcement to prevent code execution from stack memory
- Memory-safe string functions (use
strncpy,snprintf,strlcpyinstead ofstrcpy,sprintf,gets) - Compiler hardening flags (
-D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2, control-flow integrity) - Input validation with strict bounds checking on all externally-supplied data
- Memory-safe languages (Rust, Go) for new development to eliminate the vulnerability class entirely
Recent CVEs (2223)
A “CWE-121: Stack-based Buffer Overflow” in the wd210std.dll dynamic library packaged with the ThermoscanIP installer allows a local attacker to possibly trigger a Denial-of-Service (DoS) condition. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been found in Dahua products. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
SDoP versions prior to 1.11 fails to handle appropriately some parameters inside the input data, resulting in a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was found in Tenda O3 1.0.0.10(2478). Rated high severity (CVSS 8.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was found in Tenda O3 1.0.0.10(2478). Rated high severity (CVSS 8.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A privilege escalation vulnerability was discovered in XCC that could allow an authenticated XCC user with elevated privileges to execute arbitrary code via a specially crafted IPMI command. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability due to a missing bounds check in the NI I/O Trace Tool may result in arbitrary code execution. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been found in Tenda O3 1.0.0.10 and classified as critical. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Tenda O3 1.0.0.10. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Tenda O3 1.0.0.10. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.7), 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 O3 1.0.0.10. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A stack overflow in Tenda AX1806 v1.0.0.1 allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via a crafted input. 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.
Linksys WRT54G v4.21.5 has a stack overflow vulnerability in get_merge_mac function. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Shenzhen Libituo Technology Co., Ltd LBT-T300-T400 v3.2 was discovered to contain a stack overflow via the apn_name_3g parameter in the config_3g_para function. 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.
Tenda AC18 V15.03.3.10_EN was discovered to contain a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability via the deviceMac parameter at ip/goform/addWifiMacFilter. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
The SMTP Listener of Secure Email Gateway from Cellopoint does not properly validate user input, leading to a Buffer Overflow vulnerability. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An issue was discovered on Supermicro BMC firmware in select X11, X12, H12, B12, X13, H13, and B13 motherboards (and CMM6 modules). Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A Stack-Based Buffer Overflow vulnerability in Juniper Networks Junos OS and Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved may allow a local, low-privileged attacker with access to the CLI the ability to load a. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.1). No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was found in Tenda AX1806 1.0.0.1. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Tenda AX12 v1.0 v22.03.01.46 contains a stack overflow in the deviceList parameter of the sub_42E410 function. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Delta Electronics CNCSoft-G2 lacks proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a fixed-length stack-based buffer. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.4), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Secure Boot Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.4), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Secure Boot Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.0), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Secure Boot Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.0), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Secure Boot Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.0), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Secure Boot Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.0), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity.
SQL Server Native Client OLE DB Provider Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Secure Boot Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity.
A vulnerability has been identified in JT Open (All versions < V11.5), JT2Go (All versions < V2406.0003), PLM XML SDK (All versions < V7.1.0.014), Teamcenter Visualization V14.2 (All versions <. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.3), this vulnerability is no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
The interactive service in OpenVPN 2.6.9 and earlier allows an attacker to send data causing a stack overflow which can be used to execute arbitrary code with more privileges. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Tenda A301 15.13.08.12. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.1), 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 A301 15.13.08.12. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A maliciously crafted DWG and SLDPRT file, when parsed in opennurbs.dll and ODXSW_DLL.dll through Autodesk applications, can be used to cause a Stack-based Overflow. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was found in Tenda A301 15.13.08.12. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the SonicOS HTTP server allows an authenticated remote attacker to cause Denial of Service (DoS) via sscanf function. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Actiontec WCB6200Q uh_get_postdata_withupload Stack-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Actiontec WCB6200Q Multipart Boundary Stack-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
C/sorting/binary_insertion_sort.c in The Algorithms - C through e5dad3f has a segmentation fault for deep recursion, which may affect common use cases such as sorting an array of 50 elements. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.2), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
TRENDnet TEW-814DAP v1_(FW1.01B01) was discovered to contain a stack overflow vulnerability via the submit-url parameter at /formSysLog . Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
TRENDnet TEW-814DAP v1_(FW1.01B01) was discovered to contain a stack overflow vulnerability via the submit-url parameter at /formPasswordAuth . Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
TRENDnet TEW-814DAP v1_(FW1.01B01) was discovered to contain a stack overflow via the submit-url parameter at /formNewSchedule. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
TOTOLINK A3700R V9.1.2u.6165_20211012 was discovered to contain a stack overflow via ssid5g in the function setWiFiEasyGuestCfg. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
TOTOLINK A3700R V9.1.2u.6165_20211012 was discovered to contain a stack overflow via eport in the function setIpPortFilterRules. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
ASUS Download Master has a buffer overflow vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Certain models of ASUS routers have buffer overflow vulnerabilities, allowing remote attackers with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary commands on the device. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Deep Sea Electronics DSE855 Multipart Value Handling Stack-Based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Deep Sea Electronics DSE855 Multipart Boundary Stack-Based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
TOTOLINK A3700R V9.1.2u.6165_20211012 was discovered to contain a stack overflow via ssid in the function setWiFiEasyCfg. 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.
TOTOLINK A3700R V9.1.2u.6165_20211012 was discovered to contain a stack overflow via ssid in the function setWiFiGuestCfg. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
TOTOLINK A3700R V9.1.2u.6165_20211012 was discovered to contain a stack overflow via the File parameter in function UploadCustomModule. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Fuji Electric Tellus Lite V-Simulator is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow, which could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
MicroDicom DICOM Viewer is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow, which may allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of DICOM Viewer. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Windows Standards-Based Storage Management Service Denial of Service Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
A stack-based buffer overflow in Fortinet FortiPAM version 1.2.0, 1.1.0 through 1.1.2, 1.0.0 through 1.0.3, FortiWeb, FortiAuthenticator, FortiSwitchManager version 7.2.0 through 7.2.3, 7.0.1 through. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
A stack-based buffer overflow in Fortinet FortiOS version 7.4.0 through 7.4.2, 7.2.0 through 7.2.6, 7.0.0 through 7.0.13, 6.4.0 through 6.4.14, 6.2.0 through 6.2.15, 6.0 all versions allows attacker. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Kofax Power PDF PDF File Parsing Stack-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Luxion KeyShot Viewer KSP File Parsing Stack-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
TRENDnet TEW-827DRU devices through 2.06B04 contain a stack-based buffer overflow in the ssi binary. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
TRENDnet TEW-827DRU devices through 2.06B04 contain a stack-based buffer overflow in the ssi binary. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Fuji Electric Monitouch V-SFT is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow, which could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A stack-buffer-overflow vulnerability exists in the read_charset_decl function of html2xhtml 1.3. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.4), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
TOTOLINK CP900L v4.1.5cu.798_B20221228 was discovered to contain a stack overflow via the desc parameter in the function setIpPortFilterRules. Rated low severity (CVSS 2.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the Programming Software Connection FileSelect functionality of AutomationDirect P3-550E 1.2.10.9. 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.
A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the Programming Software Connection FileSelect functionality of AutomationDirect P3-550E 1.2.10.9. 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.
TOTOLINK CP900L v4.1.5cu.798_B20221228 was discovered to contain a stack overflow via the password parameter in the function loginAuth. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Multiple stack-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities exist in the readOFF functionality of libigl v2.5.0. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Multiple stack-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities exist in the readOFF functionality of libigl v2.5.0. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Multiple stack-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities exist in the readOFF functionality of libigl v2.5.0. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
TOTOLINK NR1800X v9.1.0u.6681_B20230703 was discovered to contain a stack overflow via the password parameter in the function urldecode. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
TOTOLINK LR350 V9.3.5u.6369_B20220309 was discovered to contain a stack overflow via the http_host parameter in the function loginAuth. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
D-Link DIR-2640 HTTP Referer Stack-Based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
TP-Link Omada ER605 Stack-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
xmedcon 0.23.0 and fixed in v.0.24.0 is vulnerable to Buffer Overflow via libs/dicom/basic.c which allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.2), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Tenda AX1806 v1.0.0.1 contains a stack overflow via the adv.iptv.stbpvid parameter in the function formSetIptv. 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.
Tenda AX1806 v1.0.0.1 contains a stack overflow via the iptv.city.vlan parameter in the function formSetIptv. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Tenda AX1806 v1.0.0.1 contains a stack overflow via the adv.iptv.stballvlans parameter in the function formSetIptv. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.0), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Tenda AX1806 v1.0.0.1 contains a stack overflow via the iptv.stb.port parameter in the function formSetIptv. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.2), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A buffer overflow vulnerability was identified in some Lenovo printers that could allow an unauthenticated user to trigger a device restart by sending a specially crafted web request. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Adobe Framemaker versions 2020.5, 2022.3 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.
Animate versions 24.0.2, 23.0.5 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.
There is a buffer overflow vulnerability in the underlying SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals) service that could lead to unauthenticated remote code execution by sending specially crafted. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
There are buffer overflow vulnerabilities in the underlying Central Communications service that could lead to unauthenticated remote code execution by sending specially crafted packets destined to. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
There are buffer overflow vulnerabilities in the underlying Central Communications service that could lead to unauthenticated remote code execution by sending specially crafted packets destined to. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
There are buffer overflow vulnerabilities in the underlying CLI service that could lead to unauthenticated remote code execution by sending specially crafted packets destined to the PAPI (Aruba's. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
There are buffer overflow vulnerabilities in the underlying CLI service that could lead to unauthenticated remote code execution by sending specially crafted packets destined to the PAPI (Aruba's. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in Solid Edge (All versions < V224.0 Update 2). 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 < V2312.0001), Teamcenter Visualization V14.1 (All versions < V14.1.0.13), Teamcenter Visualization V14.2 (All versions < V14.2.0.10),. 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 Simcenter Femap (All versions < V2406). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.3), this vulnerability is no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
Potential buffer overflow in unsafe UEFI variable handling in Phoenix SecureCore™ for Intel Gemini Lake.This issue affects: SecureCore™ for Intel Gemini Lake: from 4.1.0.1 before 4.1.0.567. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Tenda FH1206 V1.2.0.8(8155)_EN was discovered to contain a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability via the page parameter at ip/goform/DhcpListClient. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.