What are some examples of buffer overflow attacks?

What are some examples of buffer overflow attacks?

Buffer overflow attacks occur when a program writes more data to a buffer than it can hold. This can lead to various exploits.

Can you give me a specific example of a famous buffer overflow attack?

One famous example is the Morris Worm in 1988, which exploited a buffer overflow in the fingerd service.

How do these attacks affect system security?

They can allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, gain unauthorized access, or crash systems, severely compromising security.

What can be done to prevent buffer overflow attacks?

Preventive measures include using safe programming languages, implementing bounds checking, and employing security tools like stack canaries.