Common Weakness Enumeration

CWE-77

Allowed-with-Review

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')

Abstraction: Class · Status: Draft

The product constructs all or part of a command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended command when it is sent to a downstream component.

5380 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.

GHSA-C5CP-FJXP-F66Q

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-07-07 15:30 – Updated: 2024-04-04 05:50
VLAI
Details

TOTOLINK LR350 V9.3.5u.6369_B20220309 was discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability via the hostname parameter in the setOpModeCfg function.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2023-37145"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2023-07-07T14:15:09Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "TOTOLINK LR350 V9.3.5u.6369_B20220309 was discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability via the hostname parameter in the setOpModeCfg function.",
  "id": "GHSA-c5cp-fjxp-f66q",
  "modified": "2024-04-04T05:50:26Z",
  "published": "2023-07-07T15:30:19Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-37145"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/DaDong-G/Vulnerability_info/blob/main/TOTOLINK/lr350/1/Readme.md"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-C5FC-3737-QPVJ

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-08-18 21:31 – Updated: 2025-08-18 21:31
VLAI
Details

TOTOLINK-A3002R v4.0.0-B20230531.1404 was discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability in the devicemac parameter in the formMapDel endpoint.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2025-55591"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2025-08-18T20:15:31Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "TOTOLINK-A3002R v4.0.0-B20230531.1404 was discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability in the devicemac parameter in the formMapDel endpoint.",
  "id": "GHSA-c5fc-3737-qpvj",
  "modified": "2025-08-18T21:31:21Z",
  "published": "2025-08-18T21:31:21Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-55591"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/goldenGlow21/softwares_PoC/blob/main/A3002R_V4/Boa%20-%20Command%20Injection/PoC%202.md"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-C5J2-GGVF-GWVG

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-04-21 01:57 – Updated: 2025-10-22 00:31
VLAI
Details

On certain Ubiquiti devices, Command Injection exists via a GET request to stainfo.cgi (aka Show AP info) because the ifname variable is not sanitized, as demonstrated by shell metacharacters. The fixed version is v4.0.1 for 802.11 ISP products, v5.3.5 for AirMax ISP products, and v5.4.5 for AirSync firmware. For example, Nanostation5 (Air OS) is affected.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2010-5330"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2019-06-11T21:29:00Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "On certain Ubiquiti devices, Command Injection exists via a GET request to stainfo.cgi (aka Show AP info) because the ifname variable is not sanitized, as demonstrated by shell metacharacters. The fixed version is v4.0.1 for 802.11 ISP products, v5.3.5 for AirMax ISP products, and v5.4.5 for AirSync firmware. For example, Nanostation5 (Air OS) is affected.",
  "id": "GHSA-c5j2-ggvf-gwvg",
  "modified": "2025-10-22T00:31:41Z",
  "published": "2022-04-21T01:57:42Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-5330"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://community.ubnt.com/t5/airMAX-General-Discussion/AirOS-Security-Exploit-Updated-Firmware/td-p/212974"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2010-5330"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/14146"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-C5PJ-M2VW-68WH

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-03-26 21:30 – Updated: 2025-01-09 21:31
VLAI
Details

LB-LINK BL-AC1900_2.0 v1.0.1, LB-LINK BL-WR9000 v2.4.9, LB-LINK BL-X26 v1.2.5, and LB-LINK BL-LTE300 v1.0.8 were discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability via the mac, time1, and time2 parameters at /goform/set_LimitClient_cfg.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2023-26801"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2023-03-26T21:15:00Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "LB-LINK BL-AC1900_2.0 v1.0.1, LB-LINK BL-WR9000 v2.4.9, LB-LINK BL-X26 v1.2.5, and LB-LINK BL-LTE300 v1.0.8 were discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability via the mac, time1, and time2 parameters at /goform/set_LimitClient_cfg.",
  "id": "GHSA-c5pj-m2vw-68wh",
  "modified": "2025-01-09T21:31:24Z",
  "published": "2023-03-26T21:30:22Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-26801"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/winmt/my-vuls/tree/main/LB-LINK%20BL-AC1900%2C%20BL-WR9000%2C%20BL-X26%20and%20BL-LTE300%20Wireless%20Routers"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.akamai.com/blog/security-research/cve-2023-26801-exploited-spreading-mirai-botnet"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-C5PJ-MQFH-RVC3

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-04-26 06:30 – Updated: 2024-06-05 18:30
VLAI
Summary
Withdrawn: Runc allows an arbitrary systemd property to be injected
Details

Withdrawn Advisory

This advisory has been withdrawn because it was incorrectly attributed to runc. Please see the issue here for more information.

Original Description

A flaw was found in cri-o, where an arbitrary systemd property can be injected via a Pod annotation. Any user who can create a pod with an arbitrary annotation may perform an arbitrary action on the host system. This issue has its root in how runc handles Config Annotations lists.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Go",
        "name": "github.com/opencontainers/runc"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "1.2.0-rc.1"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2024-04-26T22:44:51Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2024-04-26T04:15:09Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "## Withdrawn Advisory\n\nThis advisory has been withdrawn because it was incorrectly attributed to runc. Please see the issue [here](https://github.com/opencontainers/runc/issues/4263) for more information.\n\n## Original Description\n\nA flaw was found in cri-o, where an arbitrary systemd property can be injected via a Pod annotation. Any user who can create a pod with an arbitrary annotation may perform an arbitrary action on the host system. This issue has its root in how runc handles Config Annotations lists.",
  "id": "GHSA-c5pj-mqfh-rvc3",
  "modified": "2024-06-05T18:30:34Z",
  "published": "2024-04-26T06:30:34Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/security/advisories/GHSA-2cgq-h8xw-2v5j"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-3154"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/opencontainers/runc/pull/4217"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/opencontainers/runc/commit/3db0871f1cf25c7025861ba0d51d25794cb21623"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:2669"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:2672"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:2784"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:3496"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2024-3154"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2272532"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/opencontainers/runc"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/blob/main/features.md#unsafe-annotations-in-configjson"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "Withdrawn: Runc allows an arbitrary systemd property to be injected",
  "withdrawn": "2024-04-30T09:37:23Z"
}

GHSA-C5V9-4F44-PWRX

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-02-03 18:30 – Updated: 2023-02-10 15:30
VLAI
Details

TOTOLINK CA300-PoE V6.2c.884 was discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability via the NetDiagPingSize parameter in the setNetworkDiag function.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2023-24142"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2023-02-03T16:15:00Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "TOTOLINK CA300-PoE V6.2c.884 was discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability via the NetDiagPingSize parameter in the setNetworkDiag function.",
  "id": "GHSA-c5v9-4f44-pwrx",
  "modified": "2023-02-10T15:30:28Z",
  "published": "2023-02-03T18:30:33Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-24142"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/Double-q1015/CVE-vulns/blob/main/totolink_ca300-poe/setNetworkDiag_NetDiagPingSize/setNetworkDiag_NetDiagPingSize.md"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-C5WX-4CQQ-FF6W

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2021-12-22 00:00 – Updated: 2022-01-05 00:02
VLAI
Details

Mesa Labs AmegaView version 3.0 is vulnerable to a command injection, which may allow an attacker to remotely execute arbitrary code.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2021-27447"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2021-12-21T18:15:00Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "Mesa Labs AmegaView version 3.0 is vulnerable to a command injection, which may allow an attacker to remotely execute arbitrary code.",
  "id": "GHSA-c5wx-4cqq-ff6w",
  "modified": "2022-01-05T00:02:05Z",
  "published": "2021-12-22T00:00:36Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-27447"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ics/advisories/icsa-21-147-03"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": []
}

GHSA-C649-C59G-VQ2W

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:32 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:32
VLAI
Details

A remote execution of arbitrary commands vulnerability was discovered in Aruba Airwave Software version(s): Prior to 1.3.2.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2020-24631"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2020-10-26T16:15:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "A remote execution of arbitrary commands vulnerability was discovered in Aruba Airwave Software version(s): Prior to 1.3.2.",
  "id": "GHSA-c649-c59g-vq2w",
  "modified": "2022-05-24T17:32:10Z",
  "published": "2022-05-24T17:32:10Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-24631"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US\u0026docId=emr_na-hpesbnw04051en_us"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": []
}

GHSA-C659-RVFG-WGF8

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-03-22 18:30 – Updated: 2026-03-22 18:30
VLAI
Details

A flaw has been found in Linksys MR9600 2.0.6.206937. Affected is the function smartConnectConfigure of the file SmartConnect.lua. Executing a manipulation of the argument configApSsid/configApPassphrase/srpLogin/srpPassword can lead to os command injection. The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been published and may be used. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-4558"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-03-22T18:16:06Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "A flaw has been found in Linksys MR9600 2.0.6.206937. Affected is the function smartConnectConfigure of the file SmartConnect.lua. Executing a manipulation of the argument configApSsid/configApPassphrase/srpLogin/srpPassword can lead to os command injection. The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been published and may be used. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.",
  "id": "GHSA-c659-rvfg-wgf8",
  "modified": "2026-03-22T18:30:13Z",
  "published": "2026-03-22T18:30:13Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-4558"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/utmost3/cve/issues/1"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.352385"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://vuldb.com/?id.352385"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://vuldb.com/?submit.775036"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.linksys.com"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    },
    {
      "score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
      "type": "CVSS_V4"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-C675-7CFX-698P

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-10-08 18:33 – Updated: 2024-10-08 18:33
VLAI
Details

Azure Command Line Integration (CLI) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2024-43591"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2024-10-08T18:15:27Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "Azure Command Line Integration (CLI) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability",
  "id": "GHSA-c675-7cfx-698p",
  "modified": "2024-10-08T18:33:17Z",
  "published": "2024-10-08T18:33:17Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-43591"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2024-43591"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

Mitigation
Architecture and Design

If at all possible, use library calls rather than external processes to recreate the desired functionality.

Mitigation
Implementation

If possible, ensure that all external commands called from the program are statically created.

Mitigation MIT-5
Implementation

Strategy: Input Validation

  • Assume all input is malicious. Use an "accept known good" input validation strategy, i.e., use a list of acceptable inputs that strictly conform to specifications. Reject any input that does not strictly conform to specifications, or transform it into something that does.
  • When performing input validation, consider all potentially relevant properties, including length, type of input, the full range of acceptable values, missing or extra inputs, syntax, consistency across related fields, and conformance to business rules. As an example of business rule logic, "boat" may be syntactically valid because it only contains alphanumeric characters, but it is not valid if the input is only expected to contain colors such as "red" or "blue."
  • Do not rely exclusively on looking for malicious or malformed inputs. This is likely to miss at least one undesirable input, especially if the code's environment changes. This can give attackers enough room to bypass the intended validation. However, denylists can be useful for detecting potential attacks or determining which inputs are so malformed that they should be rejected outright.
Mitigation
Operation

Run time: Run time policy enforcement may be used in an allowlist fashion to prevent use of any non-sanctioned commands.

Mitigation
System Configuration

Assign permissions that prevent the user from accessing/opening privileged files.

CAPEC-136: LDAP Injection

An attacker manipulates or crafts an LDAP query for the purpose of undermining the security of the target. Some applications use user input to create LDAP queries that are processed by an LDAP server. For example, a user might provide their username during authentication and the username might be inserted in an LDAP query during the authentication process. An attacker could use this input to inject additional commands into an LDAP query that could disclose sensitive information. For example, entering a * in the aforementioned query might return information about all users on the system. This attack is very similar to an SQL injection attack in that it manipulates a query to gather additional information or coerce a particular return value.

CAPEC-15: Command Delimiters

An attack of this type exploits a programs' vulnerabilities that allows an attacker's commands to be concatenated onto a legitimate command with the intent of targeting other resources such as the file system or database. The system that uses a filter or denylist input validation, as opposed to allowlist validation is vulnerable to an attacker who predicts delimiters (or combinations of delimiters) not present in the filter or denylist. As with other injection attacks, the attacker uses the command delimiter payload as an entry point to tunnel through the application and activate additional attacks through SQL queries, shell commands, network scanning, and so on.

CAPEC-183: IMAP/SMTP Command Injection

An adversary exploits weaknesses in input validation on web-mail servers to execute commands on the IMAP/SMTP server. Web-mail servers often sit between the Internet and the IMAP or SMTP mail server. User requests are received by the web-mail servers which then query the back-end mail server for the requested information and return this response to the user. In an IMAP/SMTP command injection attack, mail-server commands are embedded in parts of the request sent to the web-mail server. If the web-mail server fails to adequately sanitize these requests, these commands are then sent to the back-end mail server when it is queried by the web-mail server, where the commands are then executed. This attack can be especially dangerous since administrators may assume that the back-end server is protected against direct Internet access and therefore may not secure it adequately against the execution of malicious commands.

CAPEC-248: Command Injection

An adversary looking to execute a command of their choosing, injects new items into an existing command thus modifying interpretation away from what was intended. Commands in this context are often standalone strings that are interpreted by a downstream component and cause specific responses. This type of attack is possible when untrusted values are used to build these command strings. Weaknesses in input validation or command construction can enable the attack and lead to successful exploitation.

CAPEC-40: Manipulating Writeable Terminal Devices

This attack exploits terminal devices that allow themselves to be written to by other users. The attacker sends command strings to the target terminal device hoping that the target user will hit enter and thereby execute the malicious command with their privileges. The attacker can send the results (such as copying /etc/passwd) to a known directory and collect once the attack has succeeded.

CAPEC-43: Exploiting Multiple Input Interpretation Layers

An attacker supplies the target software with input data that contains sequences of special characters designed to bypass input validation logic. This exploit relies on the target making multiples passes over the input data and processing a "layer" of special characters with each pass. In this manner, the attacker can disguise input that would otherwise be rejected as invalid by concealing it with layers of special/escape characters that are stripped off by subsequent processing steps. The goal is to first discover cases where the input validation layer executes before one or more parsing layers. That is, user input may go through the following logic in an application: <parser1> --> <input validator> --> <parser2>. In such cases, the attacker will need to provide input that will pass through the input validator, but after passing through parser2, will be converted into something that the input validator was supposed to stop.

CAPEC-75: Manipulating Writeable Configuration Files

Generally these are manually edited files that are not in the preview of the system administrators, any ability on the attackers' behalf to modify these files, for example in a CVS repository, gives unauthorized access directly to the application, the same as authorized users.

CAPEC-76: Manipulating Web Input to File System Calls

An attacker manipulates inputs to the target software which the target software passes to file system calls in the OS. The goal is to gain access to, and perhaps modify, areas of the file system that the target software did not intend to be accessible.