C Language Programming Fundamentals
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of shellcode?

  • To provide a safer alternative to vulnerable functions
  • To spawn a shell and gain system access (correct)
  • To execute a denial-of-service attack
  • To debug a program using GDB
  • What is the difference between a vulnerability and an exploit?

  • A vulnerability is a potential security risk, while an exploit is a piece of code that takes advantage of it (correct)
  • A vulnerability is a type of zero-day attack, while an exploit is a type of integer overflow
  • A vulnerability is a type of shellcode, while an exploit is a type of format string
  • A vulnerability is a type of buffer overflow, while an exploit is a type of fuzzing
  • What is the primary benefit of using GDB to debug a program?

  • To execute a program with an executable file
  • To list and disassemble the code (correct)
  • To identify vulnerabilities in the code
  • To improve the performance of the program
  • What is the effect of an integer overflow?

    <p>It wraps around to a positive or negative value</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of a stack canary?

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

    What is the relationship between the stack and the heap?

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

    What is the purpose of ASLR?

    <p>To make it harder for an attacker to predict where a program's libraries are located in memory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary benefit of using format strings?

    <p>They allow for more flexibility in formatting output</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of fuzzing?

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

    What is the difference between a buffer and an overflow?

    <p>A buffer is a region of memory, while an overflow is a type of vulnerability</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

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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 debugging with GDB and basic security concepts.

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