What is heap-based buffer overflow?
A heap-based buffer overflow attack is a type of attack that exploits a security vulnerability by overflowing the buffer allocated on the heap memory.
Azərbaycanca: Heap-based buffer overflow hücumu yaddaşda (heap) ayrılmış buferin ölçüsünü aşaraq, təhlükəsizlik zəifliyindən yararlanmağa çalışan bir hücum növüdür.
How it works
An attacker can write a large amount of data to a buffer allocated on the heap without controlling its size, affecting adjacent areas in memory. This can cause the program to crash or execute malicious code.
Defense checklist6
- 01
Update software to the latest versions.
- 02
Follow secure coding practices (e.g., control memory allocation and buffer sizes).
- 03
Use memory safety tools (e.g., AddressSanitizer).
- 04
Implement EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) solutions.
- 05
Conduct security tests and penetration testing.
- 06
Implement MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication).
Real-world evidence
Vulnerabilities such as CVE-2026-55971 (in Apache Thrift C++ bindings), CVE-2026-66758 (in GIMP's file-fits plugin), CVE-2026-48372 (in Format Plugins), CVE-2026-68579 (in FreeRDP), CVE-2026-18784 (in open62541), CVE-2017-20241 (in Keysight IxChariot Endpoint), CVE-2026-34502 and CVE-2026-34501 (in Apache Portable Runtime Utility), CVE-2026-19206 and CVE-2026-19259 (in libiec61850), CVE-2024-14043 (in Open5GS), and CVE-2026-19968 (in Open Asset Import Library Assimp) are examples of heap-based buffer overflow attacks.
Sources
- CVE-2026-55971: Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability in Apache Thrift C++ bindings. This issue affectnvd
- CVE-2026-66758: A flaw was found in the file-fits plugin in GIMP. When processing a FITS image file, the pnvd
- CVE-2026-48372: Format Plugins is affected by a Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability that could resultnvd
- CVE-2026-68579: FreeRDP before 3.30.0 (<= 3.29.0) contains a heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows clinvd
- CVE-2026-18784: A vulnerability was found in o6 open62541 up to 1.5.5. This issue affects the function UA_nvd
- CVE-2017-20241: Keysight IxChariot Endpoint before 9.5.102 contains a heap-based buffer overflow. An unautnvd
- CVE-2026-34502: Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability in Apache Portable Runtime Utility memcached clienvd
- CVE-2026-34501: Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability in Apache Portable Runtime Utility redis client.nvd
- CVE-2026-19206: A security flaw has been discovered in MZ Automation libiec61850 up to 1.6.1. This affectsnvd
- CVE-2026-19259: A vulnerability has been found in MZ Automation libiec61850 up to 1.6.1. The affected elemnvd
- CVE-2024-14043: A vulnerability was determined in Open5GS up to 2.7.1. This vulnerability affects the funcnvd
- CVE-2026-19968: A weakness has been identified in Open Asset Import Library Assimp 17c12da. The affected envd
Other attack types
See also6
This guide is AI-written from the real incident sources skopnix collected — the examples above are drawn from those cited items, nothing is invented.