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CWE-788 - Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer

CWE-788

  • Abstraction:
  • Base
  • Structure:
  • Simple
  • Status:
  • Incomplete
Weakness Name

Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer

Description

The product reads or writes to a buffer using an index or pointer that references a memory location after the end of the buffer.

This typically occurs when a pointer or its index is incremented to a position after the buffer; or when pointer arithmetic results in a position after the buffer.

Common Consequences

Scope: Confidentiality

Impact: Read Memory

Notes: For an out-of-bounds read, the attacker may have access to sensitive information. If the sensitive information contains system details, such as the current buffer's position in memory, this knowledge can be used to craft further attacks, possibly with more severe consequences.

Scope: Integrity, Availability

Impact: Modify Memory, DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart

Notes: Out of bounds memory access will very likely result in the corruption of relevant memory, and perhaps instructions, possibly leading to a crash. Other attacks leading to lack of availability are possible, including putting the program into an infinite loop.

Scope: Integrity

Impact: Modify Memory, Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands

Notes: If the memory accessible by the attacker can be effectively controlled, it may be possible to execute arbitrary code, as with a standard buffer overflow. If the attacker can overwrite a pointer's worth of memory (usually 32 or 64 bits), they can redirect a function pointer to their own malicious code. Even when the attacker can only modify a single byte arbitrary code execution can be possible. Sometimes this is because the same problem can be exploited repeatedly to the same effect. Other times it is because the attacker can overwrite security-critical application-specific data -- such as a flag indicating whether the user is an administrator.

Related Weaknesses
  • Release Date:
  • 2009-10-29
  • Latest Modification Date:
  • 2024-07-16

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