Explain how a buffer overflow can redirect program execution and identify two mitigations from the material.

### What a good answer covers - The program expects data of a limited size in a buffer. - Excess input overwrites adjacent memory. - A saved return address may be overwritten, redirecting where execution continues. - Size checks, memory-safe languages, and stack canaries are stated mitigations. ### The concept A buffer overflow is an implementation flaw, not simply a large input. The weakness occurs when code fails to enforce the expected capacity. Memory corruption may cause crashes or alter control flow. A canary helps detect some overwrites, while safer coding and language choices reduce the chance of writing outside valid memory. ### Terms - **Buffer**: a memory area used to hold data. - **Return address**: a location to which execution returns after a function. - **Stack canary**: a marker checked to detect certain stack overwrites. ### Remember Overflow can affect control data as well as the data buffer itself.