Buffer overflow attacks remain one of the most fundamental yet dangerous vulnerabilities in computer systems. Despite being discovered decades ago, they continue to pose significant threats to modern software. This comprehensive guide delves deep into the technical aspects of buffer overflow attacks, their mechanics, and advanced exploitation techniques.
Understanding Memory Layout Before diving into buffer overflows, it’s crucial to understand how program memory is organized:
Memory Segments:
Text Segment: Contains executable code (read-only) Data Segment: Initialized global variables BSS Segment: Uninitialized global variables Heap: Dynamic memory allocation Stack: Local variables, function parameters, return addresses Stack Organization: