Heap Exploitation Guide

Overview

This repository provides an in-depth exploration of heap exploitation techniques in the context of Linux-based operating systems, particularly focusing on the glibc memory allocator. It covers the fundamentals of heap memory management, common vulnerabilities, and advanced exploitation techniques. The content is derived from a detailed study and walk-through of various heap exploitation strategies, including practical examples.

Contents

• Introduction

  • Overview of memory management in C/C++.
  • The role of ELF files in Linux and the process initialization.

• Heap Fundamentals

  • Memory Allocation: Explains how the operating system manages memory allocation through syscalls.
  • Heap Allocators: Overview of different memory allocators like dlmalloc, ptmalloc, tcmalloc, and jemalloc.
  • Glibc Algorithm: Detailed explanation of the ptmalloc algorithm used by glibc, including per-thread arenas and chunk management.

• Heap Management & Structure

  • Discussion on how heap memory is structured and managed in terms of allocated and free chunks.
  • Explanation of bins (Unsorted, Small, Large, Fast) and how they are used in memory allocation and deallocation.

• Exploitation Techniques

  • Vulnerabilities:
    • Use After Free
    • Double Free
    • Heap Overflow
  • Bin Attacks:
    • Fast Bin Attack
    • Unsorted Bin Attack
  • Houses:
    • House of Force

• Practical Walk-through:

  • Detailed walk-through of the Asciigal challenge, demonstrating heap exploitation in a real-world scenario.
  • Steps include information gathering, reverse engineering, planning the exploit, and executing the attack using Python scripts and the pwntools library.

How to Use

1. Clone the repository: ```bash git clone https://github.com/your_username/heap-exploitation-guide.git ```

2. Explore the Contents:

   • Navigate through the provided sections to understand the theoretical aspects and practical examples of heap exploitation.

3. Run the Examples:

   • Use the provided Python scripts to replicate the exploitation techniques discussed in the guide.

Requirements

• Basic knowledge of C/C++ programming.
• Familiarity with Linux operating system and ELF files.
• Understanding of memory management