Individual skill
format-string-exploitation
Format string exploitation playbook. Use when printf-family functions receive user-controlled format strings, enabling arbitrary stack reads (%p/%s), arbitrary memory writes (%n/%hn/%hhn), GOT/hook overwrites, and canary/libc/PIE leaks.
skills/format-string-exploitation/SKILL.md
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# SKILL: Format String Exploitation — Expert Attack Playbook
> **AI LOAD INSTRUCTION**: Expert format string techniques. Covers stack reading, arbitrary write via %n, GOT overwrite, __malloc_hook overwrite, pointer chain exploitation, blind format string, FORTIFY_SOURCE bypass, 64-bit null byte handling, and pwntools automation. Distilled from ctf-wiki fmtstr, CTF patterns, and real-world scenarios. Base models often miscalculate positional parameter offsets or forget 64-bit address placement after format string.
## 0. RELATED ROUTING
- [stack-overflow-and-rop](../stack-overflow-and-rop/SKILL.md) — combine format string leak with stack overflow for full exploit
- [binary-protection-bypass](../binary-protection-bypass/SKILL.md) — format string is the primary canary/PIE/ASLR leak method
- [arbitrary-write-to-rce](../arbitrary-write-to-rce/SKILL.md) — convert format string write primitive to code execution targets
- [heap-exploitation](../heap-exploitation/SKILL.md) — heap address leak via format string for heap exploitation
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## 1. VULNERABILITY IDENTIFICATION