In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
Bluetooth: btmtksdio: fix use-after-free at btmtksdio_recv_event
We should not access skb buffer data anymore after hci_recv_frame was called.
[ 39.634809] BUG: KASAN: use-after-free in btmtksdio_recv_event+0x1b0 [ 39.634855] Read of size 1 at addr ffffff80cf28a60d by task kworker [ 39.634962] Call trace: [ 39.634974] dump_backtrace+0x0/0x3b8 [ 39.634999] show_stack+0x20/0x2c [ 39.635016] dump_stack_lvl+0x60/0x78 [ 39.635040] print_address_description+0x70/0x2f0 [ 39.635062] kasan_report+0x154/0x194 [ 39.635079] __asan_report_load1_noabort+0x44/0x50 [ 39.635099] btmtksdio_recv_event+0x1b0/0x1c4 [ 39.635129] btmtksdio_txrx_work+0x6cc/0xac4 [ 39.635157] process_one_work+0x560/0xc5c [ 39.635177] worker_thread+0x7ec/0xcc0 [ 39.635195] kthread+0x2d0/0x3d0 [ 39.635215] ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 [ 39.635247] Allocated by task 0: [ 39.635260] (stack is not available) [ 39.635281] Freed by task 2392: [ 39.635295] kasan_save_stack+0x38/0x68 [ 39.635319] kasan_set_track+0x28/0x3c [ 39.635338] kasan_set_free_info+0x28/0x4c [ 39.635357] ____kasan_slab_free+0x104/0x150 [ 39.635374] __kasan_slab_free+0x18/0x28 [ 39.635391] slab_free_freelist_hook+0x114/0x248 [ 39.635410] kfree+0xf8/0x2b4 [ 39.635427] skb_free_head+0x58/0x98 [ 39.635447] skb_release_data+0x2f4/0x410 [ 39.635464] skb_release_all+0x50/0x60 [ 39.635481] kfree_skb+0xc8/0x25c [ 39.635498] hci_event_packet+0x894/0xca4 [bluetooth] [ 39.635721] hci_rx_work+0x1c8/0x68c [bluetooth] [ 39.635925] process_one_work+0x560/0xc5c [ 39.635951] worker_thread+0x7ec/0xcc0 [ 39.635970] kthread+0x2d0/0x3d0 [ 39.635990] ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 [ 39.636021] The buggy address belongs to the object at ffffff80cf28a600 which belongs to the cache kmalloc-512 of size 512 [ 39.636039] The buggy address is located 13 bytes inside of 512-byte region [ffffff80cf28a600, ffffff80cf28a800)
Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code.
Name | Vendor | Start Version | End Version |
---|---|---|---|
Linux_kernel | Linux | 5.2 (including) | 5.15.54 (excluding) |
Linux_kernel | Linux | 5.16 (including) | 5.17.14 (excluding) |
Linux_kernel | Linux | 5.18 (including) | 5.18.3 (excluding) |
Linux | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-allwinner-5.19 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-allwinner-5.19 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws-5.0 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-aws-5.0 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-aws-5.0 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws-5.11 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-aws-5.11 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-aws-5.11 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws-5.13 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-aws-5.13 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-aws-5.13 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws-5.15 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-aws-5.15 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws-5.19 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-aws-5.19 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws-5.3 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-aws-5.3 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-aws-5.3 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws-5.4 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-aws-5.4 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-aws-5.4 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws-5.8 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-aws-5.8 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-aws-5.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws-6.2 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-aws-6.2 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws-6.5 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-aws-6.5 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws-6.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/focal | * |
Linux-aws-fips | Ubuntu | fips/focal | * |
Linux-aws-fips | Ubuntu | trusty | * |
Linux-aws-fips | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws-fips | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
Linux-aws-hwe | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-4.15 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-5.11 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-azure-5.11 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-azure-5.11 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-5.13 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-azure-5.13 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-azure-5.13 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-5.15 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-azure-5.15 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-5.19 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-azure-5.19 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-5.3 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-azure-5.3 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-azure-5.3 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-5.4 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-azure-5.4 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-azure-5.4 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-5.8 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-azure-5.8 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-azure-5.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-6.11 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-6.2 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-azure-6.2 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-6.5 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-azure-6.5 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-6.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-edge | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-azure-edge | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-azure-edge | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-fde | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-azure-fde | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-azure-fde | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-fde-5.15 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-fde-5.19 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-azure-fde-5.19 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-fde-6.2 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-azure-fde-6.2 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/focal | * |
Linux-azure-fips | Ubuntu | fips/focal | * |
Linux-azure-fips | Ubuntu | trusty | * |
Linux-azure-fips | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-fips | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
Linux-azure-nvidia | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-bluefield | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-bluefield | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-bluefield | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/focal | * |
Linux-fips | Ubuntu | fips/focal | * |
Linux-fips | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp-4.15 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp-5.11 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-gcp-5.11 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-gcp-5.11 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp-5.13 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-gcp-5.13 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-gcp-5.13 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp-5.15 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-gcp-5.15 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp-5.19 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-gcp-5.19 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp-5.3 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-gcp-5.3 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-gcp-5.3 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp-5.4 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-gcp-5.4 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-gcp-5.4 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp-5.8 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-gcp-5.8 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-gcp-5.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp-6.11 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp-6.2 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-gcp-6.2 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp-6.5 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-gcp-6.5 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp-6.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/focal | * |
Linux-gcp-fips | Ubuntu | fips/focal | * |
Linux-gcp-fips | Ubuntu | trusty | * |
Linux-gcp-fips | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp-fips | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
Linux-gke | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-gke | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-gke | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-gke | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gke | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
Linux-gke-4.15 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-gke-4.15 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-gke-4.15 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gke-5.15 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-gke-5.15 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-gke-5.15 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gke-5.4 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-gke-5.4 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-gke-5.4 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gkeop | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-gkeop | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-gkeop | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-gkeop | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gkeop-5.15 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-gkeop-5.15 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-gkeop-5.15 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gkeop-5.4 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-gkeop-5.4 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-gkeop-5.4 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-hwe | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-hwe | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-hwe | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-hwe-5.11 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-hwe-5.11 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-hwe-5.11 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-hwe-5.13 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-hwe-5.13 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-hwe-5.13 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-hwe-5.15 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-hwe-5.15 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-hwe-5.19 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-hwe-5.19 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-hwe-5.4 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-hwe-5.4 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-hwe-5.4 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-hwe-5.8 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-hwe-5.8 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-hwe-5.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-hwe-6.11 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-hwe-6.2 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-hwe-6.2 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-hwe-6.5 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-hwe-6.5 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-hwe-6.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-hwe-edge | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-hwe-edge | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-hwe-edge | Ubuntu | esm-infra/xenial | * |
Linux-hwe-edge | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-hwe-edge | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
Linux-ibm | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-ibm | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-ibm | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-ibm | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-ibm-5.15 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-ibm-5.4 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-ibm-5.4 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-ibm-5.4 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-intel | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-intel-5.13 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-intel-5.13 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-intel-5.13 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-intel-iot-realtime | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-intel-iot-realtime | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-intel-iotg | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-intel-iotg | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-intel-iotg-5.15 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-intel-iotg-5.15 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-iot | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-iot | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-kvm | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-kvm | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-kvm | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-kvm | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-lowlatency | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-lowlatency | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-lts-xenial | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-nvidia | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-nvidia | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-nvidia-6.2 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-nvidia-6.2 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-nvidia-6.5 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-nvidia-6.5 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-nvidia-6.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-nvidia-lowlatency | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-nvidia-tegra | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-nvidia-tegra-igx | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oem | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-oem | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-oem | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oem | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
Linux-oem-5.10 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-oem-5.10 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-oem-5.10 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oem-5.13 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-oem-5.13 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-oem-5.13 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oem-5.14 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-oem-5.14 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-oem-5.14 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oem-5.17 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-oem-5.17 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oem-5.6 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-oem-5.6 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-oem-5.6 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oem-6.0 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-oem-6.0 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oem-6.1 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-oem-6.1 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oem-6.11 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oem-6.5 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-oem-6.5 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oem-6.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oracle-5.0 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-oracle-5.0 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-oracle-5.0 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oracle-5.11 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-oracle-5.11 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-oracle-5.11 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oracle-5.13 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-oracle-5.13 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-oracle-5.13 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oracle-5.15 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-oracle-5.15 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oracle-5.3 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-oracle-5.3 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-oracle-5.3 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oracle-5.4 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-oracle-5.4 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-oracle-5.4 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oracle-5.8 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-oracle-5.8 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-oracle-5.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oracle-6.5 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-oracle-6.5 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oracle-6.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-raspi | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-raspi | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-raspi | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-raspi | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-raspi-5.4 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-raspi-5.4 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-raspi-5.4 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-raspi-realtime | Ubuntu | noble | * |
Linux-raspi-realtime | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-raspi2 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-raspi2 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-raspi2 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-raspi2 | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
Linux-realtime | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-realtime | Ubuntu | realtime/jammy | * |
Linux-realtime | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-riscv | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-riscv | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-riscv | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-riscv | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-riscv-5.11 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-riscv-5.11 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-riscv-5.11 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-riscv-5.15 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-riscv-5.15 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-riscv-5.19 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-riscv-5.19 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-riscv-5.8 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-riscv-5.8 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-riscv-5.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-riscv-6.5 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-riscv-6.5 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-riscv-6.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-starfive-5.19 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-starfive-5.19 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-starfive-6.2 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-starfive-6.2 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-starfive-6.5 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-starfive-6.5 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-xilinx-zynqmp | Ubuntu | esm-infra/focal | * |
Linux-xilinx-zynqmp | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-xilinx-zynqmp | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
The use of previously-freed memory can have any number of adverse consequences, ranging from the corruption of valid data to the execution of arbitrary code, depending on the instantiation and timing of the flaw. The simplest way data corruption may occur involves the system’s reuse of the freed memory. Use-after-free errors have two common and sometimes overlapping causes:
In this scenario, the memory in question is allocated to another pointer validly at some point after it has been freed. The original pointer to the freed memory is used again and points to somewhere within the new allocation. As the data is changed, it corrupts the validly used memory; this induces undefined behavior in the process. If the newly allocated data happens to hold a class, in C++ for example, various function pointers may be scattered within the heap data. If one of these function pointers is overwritten with an address to valid shellcode, execution of arbitrary code can be achieved.