In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
mlxsw: spectrum_acl_tcam: Fix possible use-after-free during rehash
The rehash delayed work migrates filters from one region to another according to the number of available credits.
The migrated from region is destroyed at the end of the work if the number of credits is non-negative as the assumption is that this is indicative of migration being complete. This assumption is incorrect as a non-negative number of credits can also be the result of a failed migration.
The destruction of a region that still has filters referencing it can result in a use-after-free [1].
Fix by not destroying the region if migration failed.
[1] BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in mlxsw_sp_acl_ctcam_region_entry_remove+0x21d/0x230 Read of size 8 at addr ffff8881735319e8 by task kworker/0:31/3858
CPU: 0 PID: 3858 Comm: kworker/0:31 Tainted: G W 6.9.0-rc2-custom-00782-gf2275c2157d8 #5 Hardware name: Mellanox Technologies Ltd. MSN3700/VMOD0005, BIOS 5.11 01/06/2019 Workqueue: mlxsw_core mlxsw_sp_acl_tcam_vregion_rehash_work Call Trace: dump_stack_lvl+0xc6/0x120 print_report+0xce/0x670 kasan_report+0xd7/0x110 mlxsw_sp_acl_ctcam_region_entry_remove+0x21d/0x230 mlxsw_sp_acl_ctcam_entry_del+0x2e/0x70 mlxsw_sp_acl_atcam_entry_del+0x81/0x210 mlxsw_sp_acl_tcam_vchunk_migrate_all+0x3cd/0xb50 mlxsw_sp_acl_tcam_vregion_rehash_work+0x157/0x1300 process_one_work+0x8eb/0x19b0 worker_thread+0x6c9/0xf70 kthread+0x2c9/0x3b0 ret_from_fork+0x4d/0x80 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30
Allocated by task 174: kasan_save_stack+0x33/0x60 kasan_save_track+0x14/0x30 __kasan_kmalloc+0x8f/0xa0 __kmalloc+0x19c/0x360 mlxsw_sp_acl_tcam_region_create+0xdf/0x9c0 mlxsw_sp_acl_tcam_vregion_rehash_work+0x954/0x1300 process_one_work+0x8eb/0x19b0 worker_thread+0x6c9/0xf70 kthread+0x2c9/0x3b0 ret_from_fork+0x4d/0x80 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30
Freed by task 7: kasan_save_stack+0x33/0x60 kasan_save_track+0x14/0x30 kasan_save_free_info+0x3b/0x60 poison_slab_object+0x102/0x170 __kasan_slab_free+0x14/0x30 kfree+0xc1/0x290 mlxsw_sp_acl_tcam_region_destroy+0x272/0x310 mlxsw_sp_acl_tcam_vregion_rehash_work+0x731/0x1300 process_one_work+0x8eb/0x19b0 worker_thread+0x6c9/0xf70 kthread+0x2c9/0x3b0 ret_from_fork+0x4d/0x80 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30
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 |
---|---|---|---|
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | RedHat | kernel-rt-0:4.18.0-553.8.1.rt7.349.el8_10 | * |
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | RedHat | kernel-0:4.18.0-553.8.1.el8_10 | * |
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | RedHat | kernel-0:5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5 | * |
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | RedHat | kernel-0:5.14.0-503.11.1.el9_5 | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | noble | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-allwinner-5.19 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-allwinner-5.19 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | noble | * |
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 | 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 | jammy | * |
Linux-aws-6.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws-fips | Ubuntu | fips-preview/jammy | * |
Linux-aws-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/focal | * |
Linux-aws-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/jammy | * |
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 | focal | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | noble | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
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 | jammy | * |
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/focal | * |
Linux-azure-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/jammy | * |
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/focal | * |
Linux-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/jammy | * |
Linux-fips | Ubuntu | fips/focal | * |
Linux-fips | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | noble | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
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 | jammy | * |
Linux-gcp-6.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp-fips | Ubuntu | fips-preview/jammy | * |
Linux-gcp-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/focal | * |
Linux-gcp-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/jammy | * |
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 | noble | * |
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 | upstream | * |
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 | jammy | * |
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 | noble | * |
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 | focal | * |
Linux-kvm | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-kvm | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-laptop | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
Linux-laptop | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-lowlatency | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-lowlatency | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
Linux-lowlatency | Ubuntu | noble | * |
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 | jammy | * |
Linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-lts-xenial | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-nvidia | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-nvidia | Ubuntu | noble | * |
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 | jammy | * |
Linux-nvidia-6.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-nvidia-lowlatency | Ubuntu | noble | * |
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 | noble | * |
Linux-oem-6.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | noble | * |
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 | 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 | jammy | * |
Linux-oracle-6.8 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-raspi | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-raspi | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-raspi | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
Linux-raspi | Ubuntu | noble | * |
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 | realtime/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 | realtime/noble | * |
Linux-realtime | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-riscv | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-riscv | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-riscv | Ubuntu | mantic | * |
Linux-riscv | Ubuntu | noble | * |
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 | jammy | * |
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.