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C Language and Vulnerability Fundamentals
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C Language and Vulnerability Fundamentals

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of shellcode?

  • To execute a command in a shell (correct)
  • To create a vulnerability in a program
  • To create a buffer overflow
  • To debug a program in GDB
  • What is the difference between a vulnerability and an exploit?

  • An exploit is a fix for a vulnerability
  • A vulnerability is a type of exploit
  • A vulnerability is a weakness that can be exploited, while an exploit is an attack that takes advantage of a vulnerability (correct)
  • An exploit is a type of vulnerability
  • What is the purpose of ASLR?

  • To prevent buffer overflows
  • To prevent non-executable stack
  • To randomize the location of objects in memory (correct)
  • To prevent stack canaries
  • What is the effect of an integer overflow?

    <p>It causes the value to wrap around to a very large or very small number</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a stack canary?

    <p>To detect buffer overflows</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary difference between a stack and a heap?

    <p>A stack is used for static allocation, while a heap is used for dynamic allocation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of fuzzing?

    <p>To detect vulnerabilities in a program</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of GDB?

    <p>To debug a program</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary mechanism by which a threat actor can exploit a buffer?

    <p>By overflowing the buffer with a large input</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a common implication of integer overflow in real-world systems?

    <p>Unintended changes to system behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of the main function in C programming?

    <p>To define the program's entry point</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following GDB tools is used to disassemble executable code?

    <p>Disas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary difference between a stack and a heap in terms of memory allocation?

    <p>Stack is used for static allocation, heap is used for dynamic allocation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following format string specifiers is commonly used to exploit vulnerabilities?

    <p>%n</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of using a safer alternative to vulnerable functions like gets or strcpy?

    <p>To prevent buffer overflow attacks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a common limitation of fuzzing approaches?

    <p>Limited code coverage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary mechanism by which a non-executable stack can prevent exploitation of vulnerabilities?

    <p>By preventing the execution of shellcode</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a common industrial practice for testing software for vulnerabilities?

    <p>Fuzzing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Week 1: C Language and GDB Tool

    • C Language function syntax, main function syntax, and arguments
    • Data types: integer, float, char, arrays, and declarations
    • Pointers and notation
    • Input and output
    • Conditionals and looping
    • GDB Tool: executing with an executable file, listing and disassembling (disas), breakpoints, and register inspection
    • Vulnerability and exploit definitions: difference between a vulnerability and exploit (and zero day)

    Week 2: Integer Overflow

    • Integer types: 8-bit equal to char, signed or unsigned
    • Limits available as MACRO constants
    • Byte sizes of types
    • Effect of integer overflow: wrapping around positive or negative
    • Implications in reality: usually triggered in loop iteration
    • C Language: variable scope and variable types

    Week 3: Stacks and Buffers

    • Principle of a stack: stack frame organization, function entry and exit sequence
    • How stacks work during execution and debugging in GDB
    • Buffer and overflow principles: beneficial to a threat actor
    • How buffers can be viewed in GDB: examples from lab

    Week 4: Vulnerable Functions and Shellcode

    • Vulnerable functions: gets, strcpy, strcat, sprintf
    • Safer alternatives to these functions
    • Shellcode: aim, usage, and how it works

    Week 5: Format Strings

    • Strings vs format strings: format string specifiers
    • Functions: printf and sprintf
    • What makes format strings vulnerable: properties
    • Exploit setup: where does it read from initially?

    Week 7: Heap Properties

    • Heap properties and layout: vs the stack
    • Functions using heap space: relation to the stack with variables
    • Structure: chunks

    Week 8: Fuzzing Principles

    • Fuzzing principles: why and types
    • Phases and methods of fuzzing
    • Tools used in fuzzing

    Week 9: More Fuzzing

    • More fuzzing principles: issues with fuzzing approaches
    • Code coverage: AFL tool

    Week 10: Non-Executable Stack and Security

    • Non-executable stack and implications
    • Overrides: W^X, stack canaries, and ASLR

    Week 1: C Language and GDB Tool

    • C Language function syntax, main function syntax, and arguments
    • Data types: integer, float, char, arrays, and declarations
    • Pointers and notation
    • Input and output
    • Conditionals and looping
    • GDB Tool: executing with an executable file, listing and disassembling (disas), breakpoints, and register inspection
    • Vulnerability and exploit definitions: difference between a vulnerability and exploit (and zero day)

    Week 2: Integer Overflow

    • Integer types: 8-bit equal to char, signed or unsigned
    • Limits available as MACRO constants
    • Byte sizes of types
    • Effect of integer overflow: wrapping around positive or negative
    • Implications in reality: usually triggered in loop iteration
    • C Language: variable scope and variable types

    Week 3: Stacks and Buffers

    • Principle of a stack: stack frame organization, function entry and exit sequence
    • How stacks work during execution and debugging in GDB
    • Buffer and overflow principles: beneficial to a threat actor
    • How buffers can be viewed in GDB: examples from lab

    Week 4: Vulnerable Functions and Shellcode

    • Vulnerable functions: gets, strcpy, strcat, sprintf
    • Safer alternatives to these functions
    • Shellcode: aim, usage, and how it works

    Week 5: Format Strings

    • Strings vs format strings: format string specifiers
    • Functions: printf and sprintf
    • What makes format strings vulnerable: properties
    • Exploit setup: where does it read from initially?

    Week 7: Heap Properties

    • Heap properties and layout: vs the stack
    • Functions using heap space: relation to the stack with variables
    • Structure: chunks

    Week 8: Fuzzing Principles

    • Fuzzing principles: why and types
    • Phases and methods of fuzzing
    • Tools used in fuzzing

    Week 9: More Fuzzing

    • More fuzzing principles: issues with fuzzing approaches
    • Code coverage: AFL tool

    Week 10: Non-Executable Stack and Security

    • Non-executable stack and implications
    • Overrides: W^X, stack canaries, and ASLR

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    Description

    This quiz covers the basics of C programming, including function syntax, data types, pointers, and control structures, as well as an introduction to GDB tool and vulnerability concepts.

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