CAPEC-8 Buffer Overflow in an API Call – Attack Pattern Analysis

CAPEC-8 Metadata

Likelihood of Attack

High

Typical Severity

High

Overview

Summary

This attack targets libraries or shared code modules which are vulnerable to buffer overflow attacks. An adversary who has knowledge of known vulnerable libraries or shared code can easily target software that makes use of these libraries. All clients that make use of the code library thus become vulnerable by association. This has a very broad effect on security across a system, usually affecting more than one software process.

Prerequisites

The target host exposes an API to the user. One or more API functions exposed by the target host has a buffer overflow vulnerability.

Execution Flow

Step	Phase	Description	Techniques
1	Explore	[Identify target application] The adversary, with knowledge of vulnerable libraries or shared code modules, identifies a target application or program that makes use of these.
2	Experiment	[Find injection vector] The adversary attempts to use the API, and if they can they send a large amount of data to see if the buffer overflow attack really does work.	Provide large input to a program or application and observe the behavior. If there is a crash, this means that a buffer overflow attack is possible.
3	Experiment	[Craft overflow content] The adversary crafts the content to be injected based on their knowledge of the vulnerability and their desired outcome. If the intent is to simply cause the software to crash, the content need only consist of an excessive quantity of random data. If the intent is to leverage the overflow for execution of arbitrary code, the adversary will craft a set of content that not only overflows the targeted buffer but does so in such a way that the overwritten return address is replaced with one of the adversaries' choosing which points to code injected by the adversary.	Create malicious shellcode that will execute when the program execution is returned to it. Use a NOP-sled in the overflow content to more easily "slide" into the malicious code. This is done so that the exact return address need not be correct, only in the range of all of the NOPs
4	Exploit	[Overflow the buffer] Using the API as the injection vector, the adversary injects the crafted overflow content into the buffer.

Potential Solutions / Mitigations

Use a language or compiler that performs automatic bounds checking. Use secure functions not vulnerable to buffer overflow. If you have to use dangerous functions, make sure that you do boundary checking. Compiler-based canary mechanisms such as StackGuard, ProPolice and the Microsoft Visual Studio /GS flag. Unless this provides automatic bounds checking, it is not a complete solution. Use OS-level preventative functionality. Not a complete solution.

Related Weaknesses (CWE)

CWE ID	Description
CWE-20	Improper Input Validation
CWE-74	Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
CWE-118	Incorrect Access of Indexable Resource ('Range Error')
CWE-119	Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
CWE-120	Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
CWE-680	Integer Overflow to Buffer Overflow
CWE-697	Incorrect Comparison
CWE-733	Compiler Optimization Removal or Modification of Security-critical Code

Related CAPECs

CAPEC ID	Description
CAPEC-100	Buffer Overflow attacks target improper or missing bounds checking on buffer operations, typically triggered by input injected by an adversary. As a consequence, an adversary is able to write past the boundaries of allocated buffer regions in memory, causing a program crash or potentially redirection of execution as per the adversaries' choice.

Stay Ahead of Attack Patterns

Understanding CAPEC patterns helps security professionals anticipate and thwart potential attacks. Leverage these insights to enhance threat modeling, strengthen your software development lifecycle, and train your security teams effectively.