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

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/programming@programming.dev

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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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[–] rollmagma@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Words of wisdom right here.

Personally, what bothers me about the security field is how quickly it becomes a counterproductive thing. Either by forcing people to keep working on time consuming processes like certifications or mitigation work (e.g. see the state of CVEs in the linux kernel) or simply by pumping out more and more engineers that have never put together a working solution in their lives. Building anything of value is already hard as it is nowadays.

[–] LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Yeah I fully agree with the former in particular. The GRC side of things is just not that interesting and not that valuable. I do vulnerability management as a job which is somewhat depressing after a cybersec MSc, but honestly a job is a job and I don't really believe it produces that much value to anyone, but neither does the entire company I work for, the entire system we live under incentivizes waste, and who am I to argue as long as I get paid?

When it comes to low level stuff, this is purely curiousity and self-fulfillment of understanding for me.