smash the stack

( n.)

   [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}.

[glossary]
[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}]