CWE-761: Free of Pointer not at Start of Buffer
The product calls free() on a pointer to a memory resource that was allocated on the heap, but the pointer is not at the start of the buffer.
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Overview
This can cause the product to crash, or in some cases, modify critical program variables or execute code. This weakness often occurs when the memory is allocated explicitly on the heap with one of the malloc() family functions and free() is called, but pointer arithmetic has caused the pointer to be in the interior or end of the buffer.
Real-world CVEs
2 recorded CVEs are caused by CWE-761 (Free of Pointer not at Start of Buffer). The highest-severity and most recent are shown first. 0 new CWE-761 CVEs have been recorded so far in 2026 (1 in 2025).
Common consequences
What can happen when CWE-761 is exploited.
Modify Memory, DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart, Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
Affects: Integrity, Availability, Confidentiality