Buffer Overflow

A buffer overflow condition exists when a program attempts to put more data in a buffer than it can hold or when a program attempts to put data in a memory area past a buffer. In this case, a buffer is a sequential section of memory allocated to contain anything from a character string to an array of integers. Writing outside the bounds of a block of allocated memory can corrupt data, crash the program, or cause the execution of malicious code.

Any attack technique that exploits a vulnerability resulting from computer software or hardware that does not check for exceeding the bounds of a storage area when data is written into a sequence of storage locations beginning in that area.

Tutorial: By causing a normal system operation to write data beyond the bounds of a storage area, the attacker seeks to either disrupt system operation or cause the system to execute malicious software inserted by the attacker.