What is a buffer overflow and how does it work?

What is a buffer overflow and how does it work?

A buffer overflow occurs when data exceeds a buffer's storage capacity, leading to adjacent memory corruption.

Can you give me an example of how a buffer overflow can be exploited?

Sure! An attacker might input more data than a program can handle, overwriting critical memory and executing malicious code.

What programming languages are most vulnerable to buffer overflows?

Languages like C and C++ are particularly vulnerable due to their manual memory management and lack of built-in bounds checking.

How can developers prevent buffer overflow vulnerabilities?

Developers can use safe functions, implement bounds checking, and utilize modern languages that handle memory management automatically.