In a collaborative effort, Microsoft and Google recently unveiled a report highlighting a concerning trend - over 70% of the disclosed bugs in their systems were linked to memory safety issues. Furthermore, a substantial majority of the 88 discovered zero-day exploits were also attributed to these persistent memory safety concerns. While it's crucial to distinguish between bugs and vulnerabilities, the interconnected nature of these issues underscores a deeper problem in the realm of cybersecurity.

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Memory Safety Problem Overview

The roots of memory safety issues trace back to the dawn of computing, with the first reported stack buffer overflow emerging in 1988. Despite their long existence, the question arises: why do memory safety problems persist? The simple answer lies in the reactive measures adopted over the past 30 years, focusing on detecting and addressing individual exploits rather than tackling the broader class of vulnerabilities. The true solution requires a comprehensive understanding of the motivations and influences shaping the private sector and the cybersecurity industry.

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