Exploiting stack-based buffer overflow using modern-day techniques

This article describes the exploitation of stack-based buffer overflow using modern-day techniques. The buffer overflow vulnerability can affect a binary executable when a program overruns the buffer's boundary while writing data to a buffer and overwrites adjacent memory locations. Due to multiple protection mechanisms enforced by the operating systems, buffer overflow has become harder to exploit. The article reviews the protection mechanisms such as Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) which make it difficult to exploit this vulnerability. However, the article also discusses techniques to bypass these mechanisms such as return-oriented programming, libc attack, and address memory leak. The article concludes that successful exploitation of a buffer overflow vulnerability can lead to obtaining code execution on the affected operating system, which may result in elevated privileges inside the system.