Secure Memory Handling Quiz

A modern computer architecture where both program instructions and data are stored in the same memory space. This means the CPU can access both instructions and data from the same location.

A security feature that prevents executable code from being run in memory regions that are designated for data. It's like having separate doors for deliveries and customers in a shop.

A security technique that randomly arranges the location of key memory regions like the program's code, libraries, heap, and stack. This makes it harder for attackers to predict and exploit these memory areas.

A region of memory that stores data and instructions for an executing program. It is divided into segments that hold specific types of information.

A special region of memory used to store information about function calls, local variables, and return addresses. It acts like a stack of plates, where the last item placed on top is the first one removed.

Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) is a security technique that randomizes the memory addresses of key program components, such as the stack, heap, and libraries, making it much harder for attackers to predict where they are located, which disrupts attacks relying on fixed memory locations.

A data structure that follows a LIFO (Last In, First Out) principle. Imagine a stack of plates – you can only add or remove plates from the top.

A stack frame is a section of memory allocated to a function call. It holds information like local variables, function parameters, and the return address, which helps the program manage function execution.

The 'call stack' is a dynamic data structure that keeps track of all active function calls in a program. When a function is called, its frame is pushed onto the stack. When the function returns, its frame is popped.

A method call creates a new stack frame. This frame is pushed onto the 'call stack' to store information about the function like its local variables, arguments, and the return address.

ESP (Extended Stack Pointer) and EBP (Extended Base Pointer) are registers used in CPU architectures to manage the stack. ESP points to the top of the stack, while EBP points to the base of the current function's stack frame.

The 'CALL' instruction pushes the return address (where execution should resume after the function ends) onto the stack. This ensures the program knows where to go back after the function finishes.

The 'PUSH' and 'POP' instructions move data onto (PUSH) and off of (POP) the stack, respectively. This is essential for managing function arguments, local variables, and return values.

The stack is generally a smaller memory area compared to other memory regions like the heap. It is not ideal to store large chunks of data on the stack, as it might lead to stack overflow issues.

Allocating data on the stack is efficient, as it happens quickly during compile time. It is ideal for holding temporary data that exists only within the function's execution scope.

The call stack is a dynamic data structure that manages function calls, local variables, and return addresses. It acts like a stack of plates, where the last item placed on top is the first one removed. Each function call has its own stack frame, containing information about its local variables, parameters, and the address to return to when the function finishes.

The heap is a region of memory available for dynamic allocation. This means you can request memory from the heap at runtime based on your program's needs, and release it back when you no longer need it.

Automatic storage is a memory allocation strategy where variables declared inside functions are automatically allocated on the call stack when the function is called. These variables are automatically deallocated when the function returns.

The lifetime of a variable is the period during which a variable is allocated in memory and can be accessed. Variables on the stack typically have a short lifetime that ends when the function returns.

When a program is running, its memory is divided into three areas: the code segment, the call stack, and the heap. The code segment holds the program's instructions, the call stack manages function calls and local variables, and the heap is used for dynamic memory allocation.