Programming

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Is there an example program that illustrates how a buffer overflow attack actually executes arbitrary code? (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by [email protected] to c/programming

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I've found lots of examples in C of programs illustrating buffer Overflows, including those of pointer rewrites which has been of great help in understanding how a buffer overflow works and memory safety etc. but I've yet to be able to find an example illustrating how such a buffer overflow can rewrite a pointer in such a way that it actually results in code execution?

Is this just not a thing, or is my google-fu rust y? Tried ChatGPT and my local Mistral and they both seem unable to spit out precisely what I'm asking, so maybe I'm wording this question wrong.

If anyone in here knows, could point me in the right direction? Thanks y'all btw love this community 🧡

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Since you are interested in practical examples, I would recommend you watch and maybe even follow along with Ben Eater’s 6502 breadboard computer series on YouTube (piped link). The kit is cheap and works great but more importantly it introduces so many core concepts about how computers actually work from a raw metal and machine code standpoint while touching on so many different aspects about computers that still apply today.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

Yeah I'm a big fan of this actually! I remember putting together a half adder with some breadboards, never got to the full computer because I didn't have the drive to do so and felt like I understood the concepts well enough, but yes this is awesome!