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

Convert coordinate - c++ program, Convert coordinate: class rect{  ...

Convert coordinate: class rect{                 private :                 float  x,y;                   public :                 void  input()

Explain mixed mode expressions and implicit type conversions, Mixed Mode Ex...

Mixed Mode Expressions and Implicit type Conversions A mixed mode expression is one in which the operands are not of the similar type. In this case, the operands are converted

Write the program of function templates, Consider the following example: ...

Consider the following example: int max(int x, int y)                  {                                 return ( x > y) ? x : y ;                  }   float max

Function with two arguments, Write out pseudocode for a function called "an...

Write out pseudocode for a function called "and" that takes two arguments, both booleans, and returns the logical and of the inputs. DO NOT use the logical and operator: instead, w

Addition of array elements, Addition of array elements: #define rows 3 ...

Addition of array elements: #define rows 3 #define cols 3 void main() {                 int i=0,j=0,sum=0;                 int arr[rows][cols];

Wap to calculate total marks and percentage of 3 subjects, WAP TO ACCEPT MA...

WAP TO ACCEPT MARKS OF THREE SUBJECT FOR STUDENT & CALCULATE TOTAL MARKS AND PERCENTAGE #include stdio.h> #include conio.h>   void main() {            int M1,M

Padovan stringf, A Padovan string P(n) for a natural number n is defined as...

A Padovan string P(n) for a natural number n is defined as: P(0) = ‘X’ P(1) = ‘Y’ P(2) = ‘Z’ P(n) = P(n-2) + P(n-3), n>2 where + denotes string concatenation.

Hotel reservation, •Flow Chart and Pseudocode of Add module - Hotel booking...

•Flow Chart and Pseudocode of Add module - Hotel booking - Signup for new membership Delete module - Hotel reservation cancellation - Change of reservation

C, A Padovan string P(n) for a natural number n is defined as: P(0) = ‘X’ P...

A Padovan string P(n) for a natural number n is defined as: P(0) = ‘X’ P(1) = ‘Y’ P(2) = ‘Z’ P(n) = P(n-2) + P(n-3), n>2 where + denotes string concatenation. For a string of the c

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