In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
firmware: arm_scmi: Fix slab-use-after-free in scmi_bus_notifier()
The scmi_dev->name is released prematurely in __scmi_device_destroy(), which causes slab-use-after-free when accessing scmi_dev->name in scmi_bus_notifier(). So move the release of scmi_dev->name to scmi_device_release() to avoid slab-use-after-free.
| BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in strncmp+0xe4/0xec | Read of size 1 at addr ffffff80a482bcc0 by task swapper/0/1 | | CPU: 1 PID: 1 Comm: swapper/0 Not tainted 6.6.38-debug #1 | Hardware name: Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. SA8775P Ride (DT) | Call trace: | dump_backtrace+0x94/0x114 | show_stack+0x18/0x24 | dump_stack_lvl+0x48/0x60 | print_report+0xf4/0x5b0 | kasan_report+0xa4/0xec | __asan_report_load1_noabort+0x20/0x2c | strncmp+0xe4/0xec | scmi_bus_notifier+0x5c/0x54c | notifier_call_chain+0xb4/0x31c | blocking_notifier_call_chain+0x68/0x9c | bus_notify+0x54/0x78 | device_del+0x1bc/0x840 | device_unregister+0x20/0xb4 | __scmi_device_destroy+0xac/0x280 | scmi_device_destroy+0x94/0xd0 | scmi_chan_setup+0x524/0x750 | scmi_probe+0x7fc/0x1508 | platform_probe+0xc4/0x19c | really_probe+0x32c/0x99c | __driver_probe_device+0x15c/0x3c4 | driver_probe_device+0x5c/0x170 | __driver_attach+0x1c8/0x440 | bus_for_each_dev+0xf4/0x178 | driver_attach+0x3c/0x58 | bus_add_driver+0x234/0x4d4 | driver_register+0xf4/0x3c0 | __platform_driver_register+0x60/0x88 | scmi_driver_init+0xb0/0x104 | do_one_initcall+0xb4/0x664 | kernel_init_freeable+0x3c8/0x894 | kernel_init+0x24/0x1e8 | ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 | | Allocated by task 1: | kasan_save_stack+0x2c/0x54 | kasan_set_track+0x2c/0x40 | kasan_save_alloc_info+0x24/0x34 | __kasan_kmalloc+0xa0/0xb8 | __kmalloc_node_track_caller+0x6c/0x104 | kstrdup+0x48/0x84 | kstrdup_const+0x34/0x40 | __scmi_device_create.part.0+0x8c/0x408 | scmi_device_create+0x104/0x370 | scmi_chan_setup+0x2a0/0x750 | scmi_probe+0x7fc/0x1508 | platform_probe+0xc4/0x19c | really_probe+0x32c/0x99c | __driver_probe_device+0x15c/0x3c4 | driver_probe_device+0x5c/0x170 | __driver_attach+0x1c8/0x440 | bus_for_each_dev+0xf4/0x178 | driver_attach+0x3c/0x58 | bus_add_driver+0x234/0x4d4 | driver_register+0xf4/0x3c0 | __platform_driver_register+0x60/0x88 | scmi_driver_init+0xb0/0x104 | do_one_initcall+0xb4/0x664 | kernel_init_freeable+0x3c8/0x894 | kernel_init+0x24/0x1e8 | ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 | | Freed by task 1: | kasan_save_stack+0x2c/0x54 | kasan_set_track+0x2c/0x40 | kasan_save_free_info+0x38/0x5c | __kasan_slab_free+0xe8/0x164 | __kmem_cache_free+0x11c/0x230 | kfree+0x70/0x130 | kfree_const+0x20/0x40 | __scmi_device_destroy+0x70/0x280 | scmi_device_destroy+0x94/0xd0 | scmi_chan_setup+0x524/0x750 | scmi_probe+0x7fc/0x1508 | platform_probe+0xc4/0x19c | really_probe+0x32c/0x99c | __driver_probe_device+0x15c/0x3c4 | driver_probe_device+0x5c/0x170 | __driver_attach+0x1c8/0x440 | bus_for_each_dev+0xf4/0x178 | driver_attach+0x3c/0x58 | bus_add_driver+0x234/0x4d4 | driver_register+0xf4/0x3c0 | __platform_driver_register+0x60/0x88 | scmi_driver_init+0xb0/0x104 | do_one_initcall+0xb4/0x664 | kernel_init_freeable+0x3c8/0x894 | kernel_init+0x24/0x1e8 | ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20
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 | 5.6 (including) | 6.6.61 (excluding) |
Linux_kernel | Linux | 6.7 (including) | 6.11.8 (excluding) |
Linux_kernel | Linux | 6.12-rc1 (including) | 6.12-rc1 (including) |
Linux_kernel | Linux | 6.12-rc2 (including) | 6.12-rc2 (including) |
Linux_kernel | Linux | 6.12-rc3 (including) | 6.12-rc3 (including) |
Linux_kernel | Linux | 6.12-rc4 (including) | 6.12-rc4 (including) |
Linux_kernel | Linux | 6.12-rc5 (including) | 6.12-rc5 (including) |
Linux_kernel | Linux | 6.12-rc6 (including) | 6.12-rc6 (including) |
Linux | Ubuntu | devel | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | noble | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | oracular | * |
Linux | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-allwinner-5.19 | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-allwinner-5.19 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | devel | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | noble | * |
Linux-aws | Ubuntu | oracular | * |
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 | 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/jammy | * |
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 | devel | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | noble | * |
Linux-azure | Ubuntu | oracular | * |
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 | 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 | 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-preview/jammy | * |
Linux-azure-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/jammy | * |
Linux-azure-fips | Ubuntu | trusty | * |
Linux-azure-fips | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-azure-fips | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
Linux-bluefield | Ubuntu | bluefield/jammy | * |
Linux-bluefield | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-fips | Ubuntu | fips-preview/jammy | * |
Linux-fips | Ubuntu | fips-updates/jammy | * |
Linux-fips | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | devel | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | noble | * |
Linux-gcp | Ubuntu | oracular | * |
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 | 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/jammy | * |
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 | noble | * |
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 | 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 | esm-infra/bionic | * |
Linux-hwe-edge | Ubuntu | esm-infra/xenial | * |
Linux-hwe-edge | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-hwe-edge | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
Linux-ibm | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
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 | upstream | * |
Linux-intel | Ubuntu | noble | * |
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 | upstream | * |
Linux-kvm | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-kvm | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-lowlatency | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-lowlatency | Ubuntu | noble | * |
Linux-lowlatency | Ubuntu | oracular | * |
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-6.11 | Ubuntu | noble | * |
Linux-oem-6.11 | 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 | devel | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | noble | * |
Linux-oracle | Ubuntu | oracular | * |
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 | 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 | devel | * |
Linux-raspi | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-raspi | Ubuntu | noble | * |
Linux-raspi | Ubuntu | oracular | * |
Linux-raspi | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
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 | devel | * |
Linux-realtime | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-realtime | Ubuntu | oracular | * |
Linux-realtime | Ubuntu | realtime/jammy | * |
Linux-realtime | Ubuntu | realtime/noble | * |
Linux-realtime | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Linux-riscv | Ubuntu | devel | * |
Linux-riscv | Ubuntu | focal | * |
Linux-riscv | Ubuntu | jammy | * |
Linux-riscv | Ubuntu | noble | * |
Linux-riscv | Ubuntu | oracular | * |
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-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 | 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.