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)
-
Pre-design: Use a language or compiler that performs automatic bounds checking.
-
Architecture and Design
Use an abstraction library to abstract away risky APIs. Not a complete solution.
-
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.
-
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].
-
Implementation
Implement and perform bounds checking on input.
-
Implementation
Do not use dangerous functions such as gets. Look for their safe equivalent, which checks for the boundary.
-
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
-
High 8.8
DHCP Server Service Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows DHCP Server allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over an adjacent network.
-
High 7.8
Windows Resilient File System (ReFS) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Resilient File System (ReFS) allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
-
High 7.8
Windows Media Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Media allows an authorized attacker to execute code locally.
-
Critical 9.6
Windows GDI+ Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows GDI+ allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
-
High 7.8
Windows NTFS Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows NTFS allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
-
High 7.8
Windows NTFS Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows NTFS allows an authorized attacker to execute code locally.
-
High 7.8
Windows NTFS Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows NTFS allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
-
High 7.8
Windows Push Notifications Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Push Notifications allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
-
High 7.8
Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Kernel allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
-
High 7.0
Windows Redirected Drive Buffering System Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Buffer over-read in Windows Redirected Drive Buffering allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
-
Medium 6.6
Windows USB Video Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows USB Video Driver allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges with a physical attack.
-
High 7.8
Windows NTFS Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Integer underflow (wrap or wraparound) in Windows NTFS allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
-
Medium 6.8
Windows Storage Spaces Direct Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Integer overflow or wraparound in Windows Storage Spaces Direct allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code with a physical attack.
-
High 7.8
Windows Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Protocol (WPAD) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Integer overflow or wraparound in Windows Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Protocol (WPAD) allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
-
High 7.8
Windows NTFS Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows NTFS allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
-
High 7.8
Windows GDI+ Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows GDI+ allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
-
High 7.8
Windows Resilient File System (ReFS) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Resilient File System (ReFS) allows an authorized attacker to execute code locally.
-
High 7.3
Windows Universal Disk Format File System Driver (UDFS) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Integer underflow (wrap or wraparound) in Windows Universal Disk Format File System Driver (UDFS) allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
-
High 8.4
Windows NTFS Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows NTFS allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
-
High 8.8
Windows Active Directory Domain Services Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Active Directory Domain Services allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network.
-
High 8.8
DHCP Server Service Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows DHCP Server allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network.
-
High 7.3
Windows NTFS Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows NTFS allows an authorized attacker to execute code locally.
-
High 7.8
Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Excel allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
-
High 7.8
Microsoft Windows Media Foundation Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Windows Media Foundation allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
-
High 7.8
Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) Miniport Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulernability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) Miniport Driver allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
-
Medium 6.6
Microsoft Excel Information Disclosure Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Excel allows an unauthorized attacker to disclose information locally.
-
High 7.8
Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Excel allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
-
High 7.8
Microsoft Defender Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Integer overflow or wraparound in Microsoft Defender allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
-
High 8.8
Microsoft Exchange Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Exchange Server allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network.
-
High 8.4
Windows GDI+ Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows GDI+ allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
-
High 7.8
Windows Resilient File System (ReFS) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Integer overflow or wraparound in Windows Resilient File System (ReFS) allows an authorized attacker to execute code locally.
-
High 8.4CVE-2026-54992 Public exploit
Microsoft Message Queuing Queue Manager Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Message Queuing Queue Manager allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
-
High 7.8
Microsoft Windows Media Foundation Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Windows Media Foundation allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
-
High 7.8
Windows Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Win32K allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
-
Medium 6.8
Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Kernel allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges with a physical attack.
-
Critical 9.8
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.
-
High 7.5
Internet Key Exchange (IKE) Protocol Denial of Service Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Internet Key Exchange (IKE) Protocol allows an unauthorized attacker to deny service over a network.
-
High 7.8
Windows Overlay Filter Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Overlay Filter allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
-
Critical 9.8
Windows FTP Service Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows FTP Service allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
-
High 7.8
Windows DNS Client Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows DNS allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.