Return-Oriented Programming (ROP)
Return-oriented programming (ROP) is a type of computer attack that can be used to take over a system or application. In order to understand ROP, it’s important to know a bit about how programs are stored and executed in a computer’s memory.
When a program runs, it is stored in a section of memory called the stack. This is a special type of memory that is used to keep track of function calls and other data within a program. ROP takes advantage of the fact that when a function is called, the program will “return” to the point in memory where it left off before the function call.
To perform a ROP attack, an attacker first identifies a vulnerable section of code that can be exploited. They then overwrite the stack with their own code, which is made up of small, pre-existing “gadgets” - short snippets of code that perform specific tasks. By carefully selecting and chaining together these gadgets, the attacker can essentially “build” their own program that takes control of the system or application.
One of the reasons ROP is so dangerous is that it can be difficult to detect. Because the attacker is using existing code rather than introducing new code, it can be hard to distinguish a legitimate program from a ROP attack. This makes it a popular tool among attackers looking to take over a system or steal sensitive data.
To protect against ROP attacks, there are a few different strategies that can be used. These include things like data execution prevention (DEP), which prevents executable code from being run from the stack, and return address signing (RAS), which cryptographically verifies the return address of a function call. By using these and other defensive techniques, it is possible to make ROP attacks much more difficult and less likely to succeed.