buffer overflows

A simple solution for buffer overflows is to switch to a language that prevents them.

Likewise, when a buffer overflows, the excess data may trample on other meaningful data that the program might wish to access in the future.

In this column we've introduced you to buffer overflows, which are probably the worst software security problem of all time.

For some reason, developers have not readily moved to eliminate buffer overflows as the leading pitfall in software security.

Buffer overflows begin with something every program needs: a place to put bits.

In chart above, the number of vulnerabilities that can be directly attributed to buffer overflows is displayed.

An alternative is to use another programming language, since almost all of today's other languages protect against buffer overflows.

The most frequent attack path hackers use to get into systems is to use stack overflows, buffer overflows, and memory overflows.

It's a lot easier to find potential buffer overflows (or most security flaws, for that matter) when you have the source code for a program.

Later topics will include avoiding buffer overflows, minimizing privileges, and avoiding race conditions.

Buffer overflows are the cause of many a security bug.

Another way in which buffer overflows cause security problems is through stack-smashing attacks.

The most spectacular buffer overflows are stack smashes that result in a superuser, or root, shell.

Very long descriptors cause buffer overflows on the PS3, allowing code to be injected onto the stack and executed.

Commonly, attackers exploit buffer overflows to get an interactive session (shell) on the machine.

Buffer overflows are a commonly exploited security problem.

Although there are lots of ways that buffer overflows can be exploited, the most common approach is the "stack-smashing" attack.

Many of the crashes resulting from fuzz testing are direct results of memory allocation mistakes and buffer overflows.

Ada normally detects and prevents buffer overflows (raising an exception on the attempt), but various pragmas can disable this.

Some languages have "escape" clauses that allow buffer overflows to occur.

This prevents the server from doing added CPU and disk work if the buffer overflows.

There are many common application-level security issues which can lead to security breaches, including buffer overflows and SQL injection.

There's also information on buffer overflows, firewalls, intrusion detection, and lots more.

Let's start with a quick review of buffer overflows.

There are other ways to exploit buffer overflows besides smashing the stack and changing the return address.

In doing so, it triggers a series of buffer overflows allowing it to write various pieces of data and code to the stack.

We'll go into the details of stack smashing in our third and fourth columns on buffer overflows.

Memory debugging for finding memory leaks and buffer overflows in unmanaged code.

The exception thrown when the internal buffer overflows.

C is slightly better but can still create buffer overflows.

Buffer overflows are, sadly, all too common in C programs.

Why are buffer overflows a security problem?

Stack and buffer overflows are two of the most common problems in the C and C world.

Occurs when the internal buffer overflows.

Provides a discussion of buffer overflows and how to exploit them.

Let's dig deeper into why some kinds of buffer overflows have big security implications.

In the National Institute of Standards and Technology's ICAT index of computer vulnerabilities, six of the top 10 involve buffer overflows.

New tricks to counter buffer overflows

Common C and C mistakes that permit buffer overflows

How to write buffer overflows