Weakness (CWE)
CWE-122: Heap-based Buffer Overflow
The product writes past the end of a buffer that was allocated on the heap.
How to prevent it (7 mitigations)
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Pre-design: Use a language or compiler that performs automatic bounds checking.
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Architecture and Design
Use an abstraction library to abstract away risky APIs. Not a complete solution.
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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.
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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].
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Implementation
Implement and perform bounds checking on input.
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Implementation
Do not use dangerous functions such as gets. Look for their safe equivalent, which checks for the boundary.
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Operation
Use OS-level preventative functionality. This is not a complete solution, but it provides some defense in depth.
Source: MITRE CWE-122
4,087 results · Feed
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High 7.8
Windows Kernel-Mode Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Integer underflow (wrap or wraparound) in Windows Kernel Mode Driver allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 8.8
Microsoft Windows Media Foundation Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Windows Media Foundation allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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High 8.8
Microsoft Office Word Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Word allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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Medium 6.7
Windows Overlay Filter Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Overlay Filter allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.8
Windows Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Win32K allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 8.0
Windows Print Spooler Components Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Print Spooler Components allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
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High 7.1
Windows NTFS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows NTFS allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
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High 7.1
Microsoft Standard XPS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Standard XPS allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
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High 7.8
Windows CD-ROM Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows CD-ROM Driver allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.8
Windows DCOM Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows DCOM Server allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.8
Windows USB Audio Class driver (usbaudio.sys) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows USB Audio Class driver (usbaudio.sys) allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 8.0
Windows Error Reporting Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Error Reporting allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
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High 7.1
Microsoft Standard XPS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Standard XPS allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
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High 7.1
Microsoft Standard XPS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Standard XPS allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
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High 7.8
Microsoft Standard XPS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Standard XPS allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.8
Microsoft Standard XPS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Standard XPS allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.8
Microsoft Account Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Account allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 8.0
Windows Program Compatibility Assistant Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Program Compatibility Assistant Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
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High 8.0
Windows Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Win32K allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
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High 7.8
Windows Print Spooler Components Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Print Spooler Components allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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Critical 9.8
Windows USB Mass Storage Class Driver Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows USB Mass Storage Class Driver allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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High 8.0
Windows GDI+ Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Integer underflow (wrap or wraparound) in Windows GDI+ allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
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High 8.8
Remote Desktop Client Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Remote Desktop Client allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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High 8.8
Microsoft SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in SQL Server allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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High 8.8
Microsoft SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in SQL Server allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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High 8.8
Microsoft SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in SQL Server allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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High 8.8
Microsoft SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in SQL Server allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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High 8.8
Microsoft SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in SQL Server allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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High 8.8
Microsoft SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in SQL Server allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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High 8.8
Microsoft SQL Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in SQL Server allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
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High 7.8
Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.8CVE-2026-85880 Exploited
Windows Advanced Local Procedure Call (ALPC) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows ALPC allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
KEV Sep 8, 2026 -
High 8.8
Windows Print Spooler Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Print Spooler Components allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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High 8.8
Remote Desktop Client Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Remote Desktop Client allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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High 8.8
Windows Error Reporting Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Error Reporting allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.8
Windows Biometric Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Biometric Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.8
Windows Biometric Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Biometric Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.8
Windows Biometric Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Biometric Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.8
Windows Biometric Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Biometric Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.8
Windows Biometric Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Biometric Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.