How can you write secure code that resists buffer overflow attacks?

Bounds Checking: Validate input sizes and ensure buffers are not overrun, preventing attackers from injecting malicious code into adjacent memory. Use Safe Functions: Utilize safer string manipulation functions like strncpy and snprintf instead of vulnerable functions like strcpy and sprintf. Compiler Protections: Enable compiler security features (e.g., stack canaries) that add runtime checks to detect buffer overflows. Memory-safe Languages: Prefer languages like Rust, Go, or Java that provide built-in memory safety features, reducing the risk of buffer overflows. Static Code Analysis: Regularly perform static code analysis to identify potential vulnerabilities and ensure adherence to secure coding practices.

✅ C and C++ are two languages that are highly vulnerable to buffer overflow attacks. This is because they don't have built in safeguards against overwriting or accessing data in their memory. ✅ The best practice is to use managed buffers and strings rather than raw arrays and pointers. ✅ One can also use automated tools such as AddressSanitizer (ASan). It safeguards all stack objects and heaps allocations with some poisoned memory by replacing malloc with a modified version and injects code into your application to detect if it tries to access any of those memories.

Escrever código seguro contra ataques de estouro de buffer envolve práticas como validar entradas de usuário, usar funções seguras para manipulação de strings (como strncpy em vez de strcpy), e implementar limites estritos para alocação de memória. Utilize tipos de dados seguros, como std::vector em C++, e evite o uso de buffers fixos quando possível. Adote ferramentas de análise estática e dinâmica para identificar potenciais vulnerabilidades. Mantenha-se informado sobre as melhores práticas de segurança e participe de treinamentos especializados para fortalecer as defesas contra estouros de buffer.

✅ A programmer should always secure the program under the assumption that all user input is malicious. Bound checks become really important. ✅ Developers should also check if the input does not have correctly implemented format strings. Attackers can leverage string vulnerability and compromise the software. ✅ A fuzzer tried a combination of special characters, alphabets, numbers,metadata etc. to check if the application is vulnerable. One can use automatic fuzzers to automate various inputs and test which input can cause abnormal behaviour in the program.

💡Another protection provided by windows is DEP - Data Execution Prevention. It protects you from executable code launching from undesired places. It does this by marking some areas in the PC memory exclusively for data and no executable code would be allowed to run from those areas.

A common cause of buffer overflow attacks is a C++ or Fortran program attempting to address an illegal array value. In a non-managed-execution language like C++ & Fortran, a buffer program called a Virtual Machine executes the code. In those programs, background routines continually monitor for array overflows & other important error conditions. No so with C++ and Fortran. That onus is on the programmer. These languages have 🔼power and 🔼flexibility, but also 🔼programming & 🔼testing responsibility. The TESTER is best served by documenting every array, Then writing unit tests to attempt to overflow all. The Unit Testing is done individually or as part of a group. No exception array overflow exception are allowed. #CodeTesting ☺️