CWE-788 Base Incomplet

Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer

This vulnerability occurs when software attempts to read from or write to a memory buffer using an index or pointer that points past the buffer's allocated boundary.

Définition

What is CWE-788?

This vulnerability occurs when software attempts to read from or write to a memory buffer using an index or pointer that points past the buffer's allocated boundary.
This flaw, often called a buffer over-read or over-write, happens when a program incorrectly calculates a memory position. It typically stems from a pointer being incremented too far, an index being miscalculated, or pointer arithmetic producing an invalid address that lands outside the intended buffer's range. The result is access to adjacent memory that doesn't belong to the buffer, which can corrupt data or expose sensitive information. For developers, this is a critical memory safety issue. It can lead to crashes, unpredictable behavior, or be exploited to leak confidential data or gain code execution. Common causes include off-by-one errors in loops, incorrect size calculations, or using untrusted input directly as an array index without proper bounds checking.
Impact réel

Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-788

  • CVE-2009-2550

    Classic stack-based buffer overflow in media player using a long entry in a playlist

  • CVE-2009-2403

    Heap-based buffer overflow in media player using a long entry in a playlist

  • CVE-2009-0689

    large precision value in a format string triggers overflow

  • CVE-2009-0558

    attacker-controlled array index leads to code execution

  • CVE-2008-4113

    OS kernel trusts userland-supplied length value, allowing reading of sensitive information

  • CVE-2007-4268

    Chain: integer signedness error (CWE-195) passes signed comparison, leading to heap overflow (CWE-122)

Comment les attaquants l'exploitent

Parcours de l'attaquant étape par étape

  1. 1

    This example takes an IP address from a user, verifies that it is well formed and then looks up the hostname and copies it into a buffer.

  2. 2

    This function allocates a buffer of 64 bytes to store the hostname, however there is no guarantee that the hostname will not be larger than 64 bytes. If an attacker specifies an address which resolves to a very large hostname, then the function may overwrite sensitive data or even relinquish control flow to the attacker.

  3. 3

    Note that this example also contains an unchecked return value (CWE-252) that can lead to a NULL pointer dereference (CWE-476).

  4. 4

    In the following example, it is possible to request that memcpy move a much larger segment of memory than assumed:

  5. 5

    If returnChunkSize() happens to encounter an error it will return -1. Notice that the return value is not checked before the memcpy operation (CWE-252), so -1 can be passed as the size argument to memcpy() (CWE-805). Because memcpy() assumes that the value is unsigned, it will be interpreted as MAXINT-1 (CWE-195), and therefore will copy far more memory than is likely available to the destination buffer (CWE-787, CWE-788).

Exemple de code vulnérable

Vulnerable C

This example takes an IP address from a user, verifies that it is well formed and then looks up the hostname and copies it into a buffer.

Vulnérable C 
void host_lookup(char *user_supplied_addr){
  		struct hostent *hp;
  		in_addr_t *addr;
  		char hostname[64];
  		in_addr_t inet_addr(const char *cp);
```
/*routine that ensures user_supplied_addr is in the right format for conversion */* 
  		
  		validate_addr_form(user_supplied_addr);
  		addr = inet_addr(user_supplied_addr);
  		hp = gethostbyaddr( addr, sizeof(struct in_addr), AF_INET);
  		strcpy(hostname, hp->h_name);}
Exemple de code sécurisé

Secure pseudo

Sécurisé pseudo 
// Validate, sanitize, or use a safe API before reaching the sink.
function handleRequest(input) {
  const safe = validateAndEscape(input);
  return executeWithGuards(safe);
}
What changed: the unsafe sink is replaced (or the input is validated/escaped) so the same payload no longer triggers the weakness.
Liste de contrôle de prévention

How to prevent CWE-788

  • Architecture Use safe-by-default frameworks and APIs that prevent the unsafe pattern from being expressible.
  • Implementation Validate input at trust boundaries; use allowlists, not denylists.
  • Implementation Apply the principle of least privilege to credentials, file paths, and runtime permissions.
  • Testing Cover this weakness in CI: SAST rules + targeted unit tests for the data flow.
  • Operation Monitor logs for the runtime signals listed in the next section.
Signaux de détection

How to detect CWE-788

Fuzzing High

Fuzz testing (fuzzing) is a powerful technique for generating large numbers of diverse inputs - either randomly or algorithmically - and dynamically invoking the code with those inputs. Even with random inputs, it is often capable of generating unexpected results such as crashes, memory corruption, or resource consumption. Fuzzing effectively produces repeatable test cases that clearly indicate bugs, which helps developers to diagnose the issues.

Automated Static Analysis High

Automated static analysis, commonly referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST), can find some instances of this weakness by analyzing source code (or binary/compiled code) without having to execute it. Typically, this is done by building a model of data flow and control flow, then searching for potentially-vulnerable patterns that connect "sources" (origins of input) with "sinks" (destinations where the data interacts with external components, a lower layer such as the OS, etc.)

Correction automatique Plexicus

Plexicus détecte automatiquement CWE-788 et ouvre une PR de correction en moins de 60 secondes.

Codex Remedium analyse chaque commit, identifie cette faiblesse précise et livre une pull request prête à être relue avec le correctif. Pas de tickets. Pas de transferts.

Obtenir une démo Essayer Plexicus gratuitement
Questions fréquentes

Frequently asked questions

Qu'est-ce que CWE-788 ?

This vulnerability occurs when software attempts to read from or write to a memory buffer using an index or pointer that points past the buffer's allocated boundary.

Quelle est la gravité de CWE-788 ?

MITRE n'a pas publié de note de probabilité d'exploitation pour cette faiblesse. Traitez-la comme un impact moyen jusqu'à ce que votre modèle de menace prouve le contraire.

Quels langages ou plateformes sont affectés par CWE-788 ?

MITRE lists the following affected platforms: C, C++.

Comment puis-je prévenir CWE-788 ?

Use safe-by-default frameworks, validate untrusted input at trust boundaries, and apply the principle of least privilege. Cover the data-flow signature in CI with SAST.

Comment Plexicus détecte et corrige CWE-788 ?

Le moteur SAST de Plexicus reconnaît la signature de flux de données de CWE-788 à chaque commit. Lorsqu'une correspondance est trouvée, notre agent Codex Remedium ouvre une PR de correction avec le code corrigé, les tests et un résumé d'une ligne pour le relecteur.

Où puis-je en savoir plus sur CWE-788 ?

MITRE publie la définition canonique à https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/788.html. Vous pouvez également consulter la documentation OWASP et NIST pour des conseils adjacents.

Faiblesses associées

Weaknesses related to CWE-788

CWE-119 Parent

Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer

This vulnerability occurs when software accesses a memory buffer but reads from or writes to a location outside its allocated boundary.…

CWE-120 Frère

Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')

This vulnerability occurs when a program copies data from one memory location to another without first verifying that the source data will…

CWE-123 Frère

Write-what-where Condition

A write-what-where condition occurs when an attacker can control both the data written and the exact memory location where it's written,…

CWE-125 Frère

Out-of-bounds Read

An out-of-bounds read occurs when software accesses memory outside the boundaries of a buffer, array, or similar data structure, reading…

CWE-130 Frère

Improper Handling of Length Parameter Inconsistency

This vulnerability occurs when a program reads a structured data packet or message but fails to properly validate that the declared length…

CWE-466 Frère

Return of Pointer Value Outside of Expected Range

This vulnerability occurs when a function returns a memory pointer that points outside the expected buffer range, potentially exposing…

CWE-786 Frère

Access of Memory Location Before Start of Buffer

This vulnerability occurs when software attempts to read from or write to a memory location positioned before the official start of a…

CWE-787 Frère

Out-of-bounds Write

This vulnerability occurs when software incorrectly writes data outside the boundaries of its allocated memory buffer, either beyond the…

CWE-805 Frère

Buffer Access with Incorrect Length Value

This vulnerability occurs when software reads from or writes to a buffer using a loop or sequential operation, but mistakenly calculates…

Ressources

Further reading

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