In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
smb: client: fix use-after-free bug in cifs_debug_data_proc_show()
Skip SMB sessions that are being teared down (e.g. @ses->ses_status == SES_EXITING) in cifs_debug_data_proc_show() to avoid use-after-free in @ses.
This fixes the following GPF when reading from /proc/fs/cifs/DebugData while mounting and umounting
[ 816.251274] general protection fault, probably for non-canonical address 0x6b6b6b6b6b6b6d81: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP NOPTI … [ 816.260138] Call Trace: [ 816.260329] [ 816.260499] ? die_addr+0x36/0x90 [ 816.260762] ? exc_general_protection+0x1b3/0x410 [ 816.261126] ? asm_exc_general_protection+0x26/0x30 [ 816.261502] ? cifs_debug_tcon+0xbd/0x240 [cifs] [ 816.261878] ? cifs_debug_tcon+0xab/0x240 [cifs] [ 816.262249] cifs_debug_data_proc_show+0x516/0xdb0 [cifs] [ 816.262689] ? seq_read_iter+0x379/0x470 [ 816.262995] seq_read_iter+0x118/0x470 [ 816.263291] proc_reg_read_iter+0x53/0x90 [ 816.263596] ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0x7f [ 816.263945] vfs_read+0x201/0x350 [ 816.264211] ksys_read+0x75/0x100 [ 816.264472] do_syscall_64+0x3f/0x90 [ 816.264750] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6e/0xd8 [ 816.265135] RIP: 0033:0x7fd5e669d381
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 | * | 6.1.64 (excluding) |
Linux_kernel | Linux | 6.2 (including) | 6.5.13 (excluding) |
Linux_kernel | Linux | 6.6 (including) | 6.6.3 (excluding) |
Linux | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | esm-infra-legacy/trusty | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | esm-infra/xenial | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | trusty | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | trusty/esm | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
Linux-allwinner-5.19 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-allwinner-5.19 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | esm-infra/xenial | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | trusty | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | trusty/esm | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
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 | focal | * |
Linux-aws-5.11 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
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 | 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-preview/jammy | * |
Linux-aws-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/bionic | * |
Linux-aws-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/focal | * |
Linux-aws-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/jammy | * |
Linux-aws-fips | Ubuntu | fips/bionic | * |
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 | esm-infra/xenial | * |
Linux-aws-hwe | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws-hwe | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | esm-infra/xenial | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | trusty | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | trusty/esm | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
Linux-azure-4.15 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-azure-4.15 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-azure-4.15 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-5.11 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-azure-5.11 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
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 | focal | * |
Linux-azure-5.8 | 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 | focal | * |
Linux-azure-fde | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-azure-fde | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-fde-5.15 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
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-preview/jammy | * |
Linux-azure-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/bionic | * |
Linux-azure-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/focal | * |
Linux-azure-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/jammy | * |
Linux-azure-fips | Ubuntu | fips/bionic | * |
Linux-azure-fips | Ubuntu | fips/focal | * |
Linux-azure-fips | Ubuntu | trusty | * |
Linux-azure-fips | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-fips | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
Linux-bluefield | Ubuntu | bluefield/jammy | * |
Linux-bluefield | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-bluefield | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-fips | Ubuntu | fips-preview/jammy | * |
Linux-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/bionic | * |
Linux-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/focal | * |
Linux-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/jammy | * |
Linux-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/xenial | * |
Linux-fips | Ubuntu | fips/bionic | * |
Linux-fips | Ubuntu | fips/focal | * |
Linux-fips | Ubuntu | fips/xenial | * |
Linux-fips | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | esm-infra/xenial | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
Linux-gcp-4.15 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-gcp-4.15 | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-gcp-4.15 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp-5.11 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-gcp-5.11 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
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 | focal | * |
Linux-gcp-5.8 | 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-preview/jammy | * |
Linux-gcp-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/bionic | * |
Linux-gcp-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/focal | * |
Linux-gcp-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/jammy | * |
Linux-gcp-fips | Ubuntu | fips/bionic | * |
Linux-gcp-fips | Ubuntu | fips/focal | * |
Linux-gcp-fips | Ubuntu | trusty | * |
Linux-gcp-fips | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp-fips | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
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 | 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 | focal | * |
Linux-gkeop | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-gkeop | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
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 | esm-infra/xenial | * |
Linux-hwe | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-hwe | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
Linux-hwe-5.11 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-hwe-5.11 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
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 | focal | * |
Linux-hwe-5.8 | 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 | focal | * |
Linux-ibm | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-ibm | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
Linux-ibm | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-ibm-5.15 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
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 | focal | * |
Linux-intel-5.13 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-intel-iot-realtime | Ubuntu | realtime/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 | bionic | * |
Linux-kvm | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-kvm | Ubuntu | esm-infra/xenial | * |
Linux-kvm | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-kvm | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-kvm | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-kvm | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
Linux-laptop | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
Linux-laptop | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-lowlatency | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-lowlatency | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
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-6.2 | 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 | trusty | * |
Linux-lts-xenial | Ubuntu | trusty/esm | * |
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-oem | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-oem | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-oem | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oem | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
Linux-oem-5.10 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-oem-5.10 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oem-5.13 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-oem-5.13 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
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 | 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-6.5 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-oem-6.5 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oem-6.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | esm-infra/xenial | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
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 | focal | * |
Linux-oracle-5.11 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
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 | 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 | focal | * |
Linux-raspi | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-raspi | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
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 | 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 | focal | * |
Linux-riscv | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-riscv | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
Linux-riscv | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
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 | 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 | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
Linux-starfive | 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 | focal | * |
Linux-xilinx-zynqmp | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
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.