Menu
What is the difference between a stack overflow and a buffer overflow in programming?
532
Stack buffer overflow is a type of the more general programming malfunction known as buffer overflow (or buffer overrun). Overfilling a buffer on the stack is more likely to derail program execution than overfilling a buffer on the heap because the stack contains the return addresses for all active function calls.
Stack buffer overflow vs heap buffer overflowsStack overflows corrupt memory on the stack. This means that values of local variables, function arguments, and return addresses are affected. Whereas heap overflows refer to overflows that corrupt memory located on the heap.
A stack buffer is a type of buffer or temporary location created within a computer's memory for storing and retrieving data from the stack. It enables the storage of data elements within the stack, which can later be accessed programmatically by the program's stack function or any other function calling that stack.
Also known as a buffer overrun, buffer overflow occurs when the amount of data in the buffer exceeds its storage capacity. That extra data overflows into adjacent memory locations and corrupts or overwrites the data in those locations.
Stack overflow refers specifically to the case when the execution stack grows beyond the memory that is reserved for it. For example, if you call a function which recursively calls itself without termination, you will cause a stack overflow as each function call creates a new stack frame and the stack will eventually consume more memory than is reserved for it.
Buffer overflow refers to any case in which a program writes beyond the end of the memory allocated for any buffer (including on the heap, not just on the stack). For example, if you write past the end of an array allocated from the heap, you've caused a buffer overflow.
61
If you love us? You can donate to us via Paypal or buy me a coffee so we can maintain and grow! Thank you!
Donate Us With
