Individual skill
exploiting-arbitrary-write-to-execution
Methodology for converting an arbitrary-write (write-what-where) or write-anything-anywhere primitive into code execution during authorized engagements, covering target selection among GOT/PLT entries, .fini_array/.dtors, __malloc_hook/__free_hook, the atexit/__exit_funcs handler list, and __printf_arginfo_table, plus how mitigations (Full RELRO, pointer mangling) change which target is viable and how to confirm hijacked control flow.
internal/tools/skills/data/binary-exploitation/exploiting-arbitrary-write-to-execution/SKILL.md
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- cybersecurity Repository topic
- security Repository topic
- bug-bounty Repository topic
- automation Repository topic
- autonomous-pentesting Repository topic
- ai-agent Repository topic
- ai-security Repository topic
- ethical-hacking Repository topic
- golang Repository topic
- penetration-testing Repository topic
- binary-exploitation Declared skill tag
- arbitrary-write Declared skill tag
- exploit-development Declared skill tag
- engineering Derived category
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# Exploiting Arbitrary Write to Execution
## When to Use
- During authorized binary exploitation when a bug yields a **write-what-where** primitive: format-string `%n`, an OOB
array write, a heap metadata corruption (e.g., tcache/fastbin poisoning to return an arbitrary chunk), or a UAF that
lets you write a controlled value to a controlled address.
- When you control *where* and *what* you write but do **not** yet have direct control of `RIP`/`EIP`, and you need a
code pointer to overwrite that the program will later call.
- When deciding between targets based on mitigations: Partial vs Full RELRO, presence of `__malloc_hook`/`__free_hook`
(removed in glibc >= 2.34), and pointer mangling on `atexit` handlers.
- As the bridge step that turns "I can write 8 bytes somewhere" into "the program jumps to my gadget/one_gadget".
## Critical: Concepts/Steps Most Often Missed