Question

What happens if you access freed up space?

a) Memory leak
b) Buffer overflow
c) Segmentation fault
d) Resource exhaustion

Answer 1

When you access freed up space, it can result in memory leaks, buffer overflows, segmentation faults, or resource exhaustion.

Step-by-step explanation:

When you access freed up space, it means that you are trying to use memory that has been previously released and is no longer allocated to your program. This can lead to several potential issues:

1. Memory leak: In certain cases, accessing freed up space may result in a memory leak, where the program continues to allocate memory without releasing it, eventually causing the system to run out of available memory.
2. Buffer overflow: Accessing freed up space can also lead to a buffer overflow, where data is written outside the allocated memory, potentially overwriting important information and causing unexpected program behavior.
3. Segmentation fault: Another possible consequence is a segmentation fault, which occurs when a program tries to access memory that it is not allowed to access. This can happen if you try to access freed up space or access memory beyond the boundaries of an allocated block.
4. Resource exhaustion: Lastly, accessing freed up space can contribute to resource exhaustion, as the program may continue to consume resources even though they are no longer needed, eventually leading to performance issues or even system crashes.