[C programming] To corrupt the execution stack by writing past the end of a local array or other data structure. Code that smashes the stack can cause a return from the routine to jump to a random address, resulting in some of the most insidious data-dependent bugs known to mankind. Variants include trash the stack, {scribble} the stack, {mangle} the stack; the term **{mung} the stack is not used, as this is never done intentionally. See {spam}; see also {aliasing bug}, {fandango on core}, {memory leak}, {memory smash}, {precedence lossage}, {overrun screw}.
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[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {aliasing bug}{arena}{clobber}{fandango on core}{heisenbug}{memory leak}{overrun screw}{precedence lossage}{spam}{unwind the stack}{walk off the end of}]