A method for detecting a stack buffer overflow attack is provided that includes receiving a memory access request from a processor core of a system, and determining that the memory access request indicates a stack buffer overflow attack. The method may further include preventing completion of the memory access request and/or executing a security violation response. A system is also provided that includes a processor core coupled to a plurality of busses and an execution stack in a random access memory coupled to the plurality of busses. The system further includes a buffer overflow protection (BOP) logic coupled to the plurality of busses to receive memory access requests from the plurality of busses. The BOP logic is operable to detect a buffer overflow attack comprising a memory access request addressing the execution stack initiated by a program executing on the processor core.