Answer:
A programmer that fails to check the length of input before processing leaves their code vulnerable to a buffer overflow attack.
Step-by-step explanation:
A buffer overflow attack occurs when a program attempts to write more data to a buffer (a temporary data storage area) than the buffer is allocated to hold. This can cause the program to crash or allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the program.
Failing to check the length of input before processing can leave a program vulnerable to a buffer overflow attack because it allows an attacker to send more data than the program is prepared to handle. This can cause the program to crash or, in some cases, allow the attacker to inject malicious code into the program and gain control of it.
To prevent buffer overflow attacks, programmers should always check the length of input before processing it, and ensure that the program is able to handle any data that it receives. This can help to protect the program and prevent attackers from taking advantage of it.