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

Assignment, Classify computer systems according to capacity. How they are d...

Classify computer systems according to capacity. How they are different from computers according to the classification of technology. Provide comparative study also.

Masm procedure to perform letter case conversion, Assignment:  write a C pr...

Assignment:  write a C program and a MASM procedure.  The C program calls the MASM procedure to perform letter case conversion. Text sections covered:  12.1 to 12.3.1 Write a

Demonstration using moss open source machine translation, Demonstration usi...

Demonstration using Moss Open Source Machine Translation Project Description: Moses is an open source Statistical Machine Translation System. I need someone to provide me a d

what does it mean to declare a member variable as a static, b) The static ...

b) The static keyword let a variable to maintain its value among distinct function calls. If the value of a static variable alters while the variable has been accessed, variable

Word counting, Task Your task is to write a program, words, that reports i...

Task Your task is to write a program, words, that reports information about the number of words read from its standard input. For example, if the file qbf.txtcontains the text th

Find out the largest torque, Find out the largest torque: A flat belt...

Find out the largest torque: A flat belt is taken in use to transmit torque from pulley A to pulley B as shown in figure given below. The radius of each pulley is 50mm and co

#luminous jewel polishing necklace, Ask question # Byteland county is very ...

Ask question # Byteland county is very famous for luminous jewels. Luminous jewels are used in making beautiful necklaces. A necklace consists of various luminous jewels of particu

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