What is the difference between heap overflow and stack overflow?

What is the difference between heap overflow and stack overflow?

Heap overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a heap memory area than it was allocated, while stack overflow happens when too much memory is used on the call stack, often due to deep or infinite recursion.

Can you give me examples of each?

Sure! A heap overflow might occur in a program that dynamically allocates memory for an array but writes beyond its bounds. A stack overflow can happen in a recursive function that doesn't have a proper base case, causing it to call itself indefinitely.

What are the consequences of these overflows?

Consequences can include program crashes, data corruption, and security vulnerabilities, as attackers may exploit these overflows to execute arbitrary code.

How can I prevent these types of overflows?

To prevent heap overflows, always validate memory allocations and bounds. For stack overflows, ensure that recursive functions have proper base cases and consider using iterative solutions when possible.