diff --git a/pkg/security/ace.go b/pkg/security/ace.go
index 05db14e..6a414b6 100644
--- a/pkg/security/ace.go
+++ b/pkg/security/ace.go
@@ -83,6 +83,9 @@ func ParseACE(data []byte) (*ACE, int, error) {
 	}
 
 	// Parse SID from remaining data
+	if offset > aceSize {
+		return nil, 0, fmt.Errorf("ACE object header of %d bytes exceeds ACE size %d", offset, aceSize)
+	}
 	sid, _, err := ParseSIDBytes(data[offset:aceSize])
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, 0, fmt.Errorf("failed to parse ACE SID: %v", err)
diff --git a/pkg/security/ace_overflow_test.go b/pkg/security/ace_overflow_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8654297
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/security/ace_overflow_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+package security
+
+import (
+	"encoding/binary"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// A malformed object ACE whose AceSize is smaller than the object header it
+// declares must be rejected, not panic. ParseACE advances `offset` past the
+// object-type GUIDs (up to 28 bytes) but then slices data[offset:aceSize];
+// when aceSize < offset the slice bounds are inverted and Go panics.
+func TestParseACE_ObjectAceSizeBelowHeaderNoPanic(t *testing.T) {
+	data := make([]byte, 32)
+	data[0] = ACCESS_ALLOWED_OBJECT_ACE_TYPE     // object ACE
+	data[1] = 0                                  // flags
+	binary.LittleEndian.PutUint16(data[2:4], 12) // AceSize = 12 (>=8, <= len)
+	binary.LittleEndian.PutUint32(data[4:8], 0)  // Mask
+	// ObjectFlags at [8:12] with OBJECT_TYPE_PRESENT so offset advances to 28.
+	binary.LittleEndian.PutUint32(data[8:12], ACE_OBJECT_TYPE_PRESENT)
+	// data[12:28] is the 16-byte ObjectType GUID (zeros), present in the buffer.
+
+	// Must return an error, not panic.
+	_, _, err := ParseACE(data)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected error for object ACE with AceSize below object header")
+	}
+}