Buffer Overflow
Buffer overflow is a software security vulnerability that occurs when a program writes more data to a buffer (a temporary storage area) than it can hold, causing the excess data to overflow into adjacent memory locations. This can corrupt data, crash the program, or allow attackers to execute arbitrary code by overwriting critical memory structures like the return address on the stack. It is a common type of memory corruption exploit that has been a major focus in cybersecurity for decades.
Developers should learn about buffer overflows to write secure code, especially in low-level languages like C and C++, where manual memory management makes programs susceptible to such attacks. Understanding buffer overflows is crucial for roles in cybersecurity, penetration testing, and secure software development, as it helps in identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities in applications, operating systems, and embedded systems. It is also essential for compliance with security standards and preventing data breaches.