Skip to content
OpenAdvisories

Weakness (CWE)

CWE-120: Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input

Base Incomplete

The product copies an input buffer to an output buffer without verifying that the size of the input buffer is less than the size of the output buffer.

How to prevent it (8 mitigations)
  1. Requirements

    Use a language that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.

    For example, many languages that perform their own memory management, such as Java and Perl, are not subject to buffer overflows. Other languages, such as Ada and C#, typically provide overflow protection, but the protection can be disabled by the programmer.

    Be wary that a language's interface to native code may still be subject to overflows, even if the language itself is theoretically safe.

  2. Architecture and Design

    Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.

    Examples include the Safe C String Library (SafeStr) by Messier and Viega [REF-57], and the Strsafe.h library from Microsoft [REF-56]. These libraries provide safer versions of overflow-prone string-handling functions.

  3. Operation, Build and Compilation

    Use automatic buffer overflow detection mechanisms that are offered by certain compilers or compiler extensions. Examples include: the Microsoft Visual Studio /GS flag, Fedora/Red Hat FORTIFY_SOURCE GCC flag, StackGuard, and ProPolice, which provide various mechanisms including canary-based detection and range/index checking.

    D3-SFCV (Stack Frame Canary Validation) from D3FEND [REF-1334] discusses canary-based detection in detail.

  4. Implementation

    Consider adhering to the following rules when allocating and managing an application's memory:

    - Double check that your buffer is as large as you specify.

    - When using functions that accept a number of bytes to copy, such as strncpy(), be aware that if the destination buffer size is equal to the source buffer size, it may not NULL-terminate the string.

    - Check buffer boundaries if accessing the buffer in a loop and make sure there is no danger of writing past the allocated space.

    - If necessary, truncate all input strings to a reasonable length before passing them to the copy and concatenation functions.

  5. Implementation

    Assume all input is malicious. Use an "accept known good" input validation strategy, i.e., use a list of acceptable inputs that strictly conform to specifications. Reject any input that does not strictly conform to specifications, or transform it into something that does.

    When performing input validation, consider all potentially relevant properties, including length, type of input, the full range of acceptable values, missing or extra inputs, syntax, consistency across related fields, and conformance to business rules. As an example of business rule logic, "boat" may be syntactically valid because it only contains alphanumeric characters, but it is not valid if the input is only expected to contain colors such as "red" or "blue."

    Do not rely exclusively on looking for malicious or malformed inputs. This is likely to miss at least one undesirable input, especially if the code's environment changes. This can give attackers enough room to bypass the intended validation. However, denylists can be useful for detecting potential attacks or determining which inputs are so malformed that they should be rejected outright.

  6. Architecture and Design

    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.

  7. Operation, Build and Compilation

    Run or compile the software using features or extensions that randomly arrange the positions of a program's executable and libraries in memory. Because this makes the addresses unpredictable, it can prevent an attacker from reliably jumping to exploitable code.

    Examples include Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) [REF-58] [REF-60] and Position-Independent Executables (PIE) [REF-64]. Imported modules may be similarly realigned if their default memory addresses conflict with other modules, in a process known as "rebasing" (for Windows) and "prelinking" (for Linux) [REF-1332] using randomly generated addresses. ASLR for libraries cannot be used in conjunction with prelink since it would require relocating the libraries at run-time, defeating the whole purpose of prelinking.

    For more information on these techniques see D3-SAOR (Segment Address Offset Randomization) from D3FEND [REF-1335].

  8. Operation

    Use a CPU and operating system that offers Data Execution Protection (using hardware NX or XD bits) or the equivalent techniques that simulate this feature in software, such as PaX [REF-60] [REF-61]. These techniques ensure that any instruction executed is exclusively at a memory address that is part of the code segment.

    For more information on these techniques see D3-PSEP (Process Segment Execution Prevention) from D3FEND [REF-1336].

Source: MITRE CWE-120

3,303 results · Feed

  • High 8.8
    CVE-2025-5903 EPSS 12%

    TOTOLINK T10 POST Request cstecgi.cgi setWiFiAclRules buffer overflow

    A vulnerability was found in TOTOLINK T10 4.1.8cu.5207. It has been classified as critical. Affected is the function setWiFiAclRules of the file /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi of the component POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument desc leads to buffer …

  • High 8.8

    TOTOLINK T10 POST Request cstecgi.cgi setUpgradeFW buffer overflow

    A vulnerability was found in TOTOLINK T10 4.1.8cu.5207 and classified as critical. This issue affects the function setUpgradeFW of the file /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi of the component POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument slaveIpList leads to buffe…

  • High 8.8

    TOTOLINK T10 POST Request cstecgi.cgi UploadCustomModule buffer overflow

    A vulnerability has been found in TOTOLINK T10 4.1.8cu.5207 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function UploadCustomModule of the file /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi of the component POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument File le…

  • High 8.8

    TP-LINK Technologies TL-IPC544EP-W4 main sub_69064 buffer overflow

    A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in TP-LINK Technologies TL-IPC544EP-W4 1.0.9 Build 240428 Rel 69493n. Affected is the function sub_69064 of the file /bin/main. The manipulation of the argument text leads to buffer overflow. It is possibl…

  • High 8.8

    Tenda AC7 setPptpUserList formSetPPTPUserList buffer overflow

    A vulnerability was found in Tenda AC7 15.03.06.44 and classified as critical. This issue affects the function formSetPPTPUserList of the file /goform/setPptpUserList. The manipulation of the argument list leads to buffer overflow. The attack may be initiated…

  • High 8.8

    Tenda AC7 AdvSetLanip fromadvsetlanip buffer overflow

    A vulnerability has been found in Tenda AC7 15.03.06.44 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function fromadvsetlanip of the file /goform/AdvSetLanip. The manipulation of the argument lanMask leads to buffer overflow. The attack can be i…

  • High 8.8

    Tenda AC6 AdvSetLanip fromadvsetlanip buffer overflow

    A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Tenda AC6 15.03.05.16. Affected by this issue is the function fromadvsetlanip of the file /goform/AdvSetLanip. The manipulation of the argument lanMask leads to buffer overflow. The attack m…

  • High 8.8

    Tenda AC6 setPptpUserList formSetPPTPUserList buffer overflow

    A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Tenda AC6 15.03.05.16. Affected is the function formSetPPTPUserList of the file /goform/setPptpUserList. The manipulation of the argument list leads to buffer overflow. It is possible to launch the atta…

  • High 8.8

    Tenda AC15 HTTP POST Request AdvSetLanip fromadvsetlanip buffer overflow

    A vulnerability was found in Tenda AC15 15.03.05.19_multi. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function fromadvsetlanip of the file /goform/AdvSetLanip of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument lanMask lead…

  • High 8.8

    Tenda AC15 HTTP POST Request SetLEDCf formsetschedled buffer overflow

    A vulnerability was found in Tenda AC15 15.03.05.19_multi. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function formsetschedled of the file /goform/SetLEDCf of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument Time…

  • High 8.8

    Tenda AC15 HTTP POST Request setPptpUserList formSetPPTPUserList buffer overflow

    A vulnerability was found in Tenda AC15 15.03.05.19_multi and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is the function formSetPPTPUserList of the file /goform/setPptpUserList of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument l…

  • High 8.8

    Tenda AC9 POST Request AdvSetLanip fromadvsetlanip buffer overflow

    A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Tenda AC9 15.03.02.13. Affected by this issue is the function fromadvsetlanip of the file /goform/AdvSetLanip of the component POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument lanMask …

  • High 8.8

    Tenda AC5 AdvSetLanip fromadvsetlanip buffer overflow

    A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Tenda AC5 1.0/15.03.06.47. This affects the function fromadvsetlanip of the file /goform/AdvSetLanip. The manipulation of the argument lanMask leads to buffer overflow. It is possible to initiate…

  • High 8.8

    Tenda AC5 setPptpUserList formSetPPTPUserList buffer overflow

    A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Tenda AC5 15.03.06.47. Affected by this issue is the function formSetPPTPUserList of the file /goform/setPptpUserList. The manipulation of the argument list leads to buffer overflow. The att…

  • High 8.8

    TOTOLINK EX1200T HTTP POST Request formPortFw buffer overflow

    A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in TOTOLINK EX1200T 4.1.2cu.5232_B20210713. Affected is an unknown function of the file /boafrm/formPortFw of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument service_type l…

  • High 8.8

    TOTOLINK EX1200T HTTP POST Request formWlanRedirect buffer overflow

    A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in TOTOLINK EX1200T 4.1.2cu.5232_B20210713. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file /boafrm/formWlanRedirect of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the a…

  • High 8.8

    TOTOLINK X15 HTTP POST Request formIpQoS buffer overflow

    A vulnerability classified as critical was found in TOTOLINK X15 1.0.0-B20230714.1105. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /boafrm/formIpQoS of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument mac leads to buffer overf…

  • High 8.8

    TOTOLINK X15 HTTP POST Request formPortFw buffer overflow

    A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in TOTOLINK X15 1.0.0-B20230714.1105. This affects an unknown part of the file /boafrm/formPortFw of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument service_type leads to buffer o…

  • High 8.8

    TOTOLINK X15 HTTP POST Request formReflashClientTbl buffer overflow

    A vulnerability was found in TOTOLINK X15 1.0.0-B20230714.1105. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /boafrm/formReflashClientTbl of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the ar…

  • High 8.8

    TOTOLINK X15 HTTP POST Request formWsc buffer overflow

    A vulnerability was found in TOTOLINK X15 1.0.0-B20230714.1105. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /boafrm/formWsc of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argume…

  • High 8.8

    TOTOLINK X15 HTTP POST Request formDMZ buffer overflow

    A vulnerability was found in TOTOLINK X15 1.0.0-B20230714.1105. It has been classified as critical. Affected is an unknown function of the file /boafrm/formDMZ of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument submit-url leads to bu…

  • High 8.8

    TOTOLINK X15 HTTP POST Request formWirelessTbl buffer overflow

    A vulnerability was found in TOTOLINK X15 1.0.0-B20230714.1105 and classified as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file /boafrm/formWirelessTbl of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument submit-url l…

  • Medium 5.3

    QTS, QuTS hero

    A buffer overflow vulnerability has been reported to affect several QNAP operating system versions. If exploited, the vulnerability could allow remote attackers who have gained user access to modify memory or crash processes. We have already fixed the vulnera…

  • High 8.8

    TOTOLINK X15 HTTP POST Request formSaveConfig buffer overflow

    A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in TOTOLINK X15 1.0.0-B20230714.1105. This affects an unknown part of the file /boafrm/formSaveConfig of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument submit-url leads to buffer…

  • High 8.8

    TOTOLINK X15 HTTP POST Request formStats buffer overflow

    A vulnerability was found in TOTOLINK X15 1.0.0-B20230714.1105. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /boafrm/formStats of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument subm…

  • High 8.8

    TOTOLINK X15 HTTP POST Request formDosCfg buffer overflow

    A vulnerability was found in TOTOLINK X15 1.0.0-B20230714.1105. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /boafrm/formDosCfg of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the arg…

  • High 8.8

    TOTOLINK X15 HTTP POST Request formNtp buffer overflow

    A vulnerability was found in TOTOLINK X15 1.0.0-B20230714.1105. It has been classified as critical. Affected is an unknown function of the file /boafrm/formNtp of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument submit-url leads to bu…

  • High 8.8

    TOTOLINK X15 HTTP POST Request formSetLg buffer overflow

    A vulnerability was found in TOTOLINK X15 1.0.0-B20230714.1105 and classified as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file /boafrm/formSetLg of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument submit-url leads t…

  • High 8.8

    TOTOLINK X15 HTTP POST Request formWlanRedirect buffer overflow

    A vulnerability has been found in TOTOLINK X15 1.0.0-B20230714.1105 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /boafrm/formWlanRedirect of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument redirect-…

  • High 8.8

    TOTOLINK N302R Plus HTTP POST Request formFilter buffer overflow

    A vulnerability has been found in TOTOLINK N302R Plus up to 3.4.0-B20201028 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /boafrm/formFilter of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of t…

  • High 8.8

    TOTOLINK N302R Plus HTTP POST Request formPortFw buffer overflow

    A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in TOTOLINK N302R Plus up to 3.4.0-B20201028. Affected is an unknown function of the file /boafrm/formPortFw of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument service_type…

  • High 7.3

    FreeFloat FTP Server REIN Command buffer overflow

    A vulnerability was found in FreeFloat FTP Server 1.0. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component REIN Command Handler. The manipulation leads to buffer overflow. The attack may be launched remotely. T…

  • High 7.3

    FreeFloat FTP Server XMKD Command buffer overflow

    A vulnerability was found in FreeFloat FTP Server 1.0. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component XMKD Command Handler. The manipulation leads to buffer overflow. The attack can be launched re…

  • High 7.3

    FreeFloat FTP Server XCWD Command buffer overflow

    A vulnerability was found in FreeFloat FTP Server 1.0. It has been classified as critical. Affected is an unknown function of the component XCWD Command Handler. The manipulation leads to buffer overflow. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The expl…

  • High 7.3

    FreeFloat FTP Server RESTART Command buffer overflow

    A vulnerability was found in FreeFloat FTP Server 1.0 and classified as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing of the component RESTART Command Handler. The manipulation leads to buffer overflow. The attack may be initiated remotely. The exploit…

  • High 7.3

    PCMan FTP Server SYSTEM Command buffer overflow

    A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in PCMan FTP Server 2.0.7. Affected is an unknown function of the component SYSTEM Command Handler. The manipulation leads to buffer overflow. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The explo…

  • High 7.3

    PCMan FTP Server SET Command buffer overflow

    A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in PCMan FTP Server 2.0.7. This issue affects some unknown processing of the component SET Command Handler. The manipulation leads to buffer overflow. The attack may be initiated remotely. The …

  • High 7.3

    PCMan FTP Server PLS Command buffer overflow

    A vulnerability classified as critical was found in PCMan FTP Server 2.0.7. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the component PLS Command Handler. The manipulation leads to buffer overflow. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been dis…

  • High 7.3

    PCMan FTP Server NOOP Command buffer overflow

    A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in PCMan FTP Server 2.0.7. This affects an unknown part of the component NOOP Command Handler. The manipulation leads to buffer overflow. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has bee…

  • High 8.8

    Tenda AC10 HTTP SetPptpServerCfg formSetPPTPServer buffer overflow

    A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Tenda AC10 up to 15.03.06.47. This affects the function formSetPPTPServer of the file /goform/SetPptpServerCfg of the component HTTP Handler. The manipulation of the argument startIp/endIp leads …