Functions and stack frame, C/C++ Programming

Assignment Help:

Each function has its own stack frame between %fp and %sp. Let Caller calls Callee. Then Caller's %sp becomes callee's %fp, and callee's %sp set to be a new value (a smaller one because stack grows from large address to small address). You can think that Callee's stack frame is on top of Caller's stack frame.

In Caller: put arguments in %o0 to %o5 registers or if number of arguments more than 6, prepare values in call linkage of the current stack frame. Then "call" address_of_callee; %o7 stored the returned address. (This %o7 will becomes %i7 in callee after the callee executes save instruction.)

In Callee: it executes "save" instruction:

  • 0. Caller's %i (input registers) and %l (local registers) are reserved in its own stack frame. They are put in the top portion of the caller's stack frame. Implication: the return address of Caller (NOT CALLEE), %i7, is stored there.
  • 1. set callee's %i (input registers) by callers %o (output registers). The implication: pass parameters and return address now is in %i7. And now callee's fp (%i6) <-- caller's sp (%o6).
  • 2. Allocate space for new frame pointers. Caller's sp (%o6) is now set to be the new value.

So at this point in callee, %i6 (%fp was caller's %o6) is set, and %o6 (%sp is set to be a new value). Question: where is the old %fp? It is stored somewhere in the top portion of the previous stack frame (see step 0.) The return address of Callee is stored in %i7. Is it possible to write a program to overflow this %i7? What return address that you really can overflow? Question: how to access that return address.

The "restore" instruction is the inverse function of save. Then the "ret" instruction should branch to %i7+8. The normal address should be %i7+4 as the next instruction address after call. The extra 4 is because sparc has a "branch delay" instruction that is executed BEFORE the call is made even it is put just after CALL. Is it strange. Not really. This is because modern CPU is a pipeline machine. It loads instruction every clock cycle, and branch (or jump or call) somewhat cannot be really done until the later stage the pipeline. And then it is already too late because the one JUST after this branch has already been executed. If you want to know more, you should take a look at computer architecture textbook which I think every graduate should know.

You should be very clear what return address in server.c is overflowed? Is it the return address of main() or the return address of copy()?


Related Discussions:- Functions and stack frame

Cipher: Decrypt and Encrypt, You must write a program that can both decrypt...

You must write a program that can both decrypt and encrypt a single word that is entered by the user. The initial choice of encryption and decryption is left up to the user. Addi

Illustrate bit fields with structures, C language lets us do this in a stru...

C language lets us do this in a structure definition by putting: bit length after the variable that is. struct packed_struct { unsigned int f1:1; unsigned int f2:1; unsigned

Amie, what happens when the following command is used? chmod u=rwx,go=r-x f...

what happens when the following command is used? chmod u=rwx,go=r-x foo

Load catalogue from file, Implement a menu driven real estate catalogue sys...

Implement a menu driven real estate catalogue system that allows users to perform various catalogue maintenance and search tasks.  You are only allowed to use the C programming la

Areaunder curve, Write a program to find the area under the curve y = f(x) ...

Write a program to find the area under the curve y = f(x) between x = a and x = b, integrate y = f(x) between the limits of a and b

Described overriding?, In order to override a method, a subclass of the cla...

In order to override a method, a subclass of the class which originally declared the method have to declare a method along with the same name, return type (or a subclass of that re

Write a c program to calculate the equation, Write a C program to calculate...

Write a C program to calculate the output Y for a given value of X for the following formula   Y=X 2 + 2X +3   #include stdio.h   void main()   {   char promt;   float y,x

Develop libcurl xml project, Develop libcurl XML project I have a Projec...

Develop libcurl XML project I have a Project using XML with C++. You will use things like LIbcurl etc....and a XML parser to finish the project. Developer must know how to use X

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd