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

Decoding the messages, 6999066263304447777077766622337778 -----> message se...

6999066263304447777077766622337778 -----> message sent by the first smuggler. my name is robert---------> message decoded by the second smuggler. Where ‘0’ denotes the "space".

Program, Byteland county is very famous for luminous jewels. Luminous jewel...

Byteland county is very famous for luminous jewels. Luminous jewels are used in making beautiful necklaces. A necklace consists of various luminous jewels of particular colour. Nec

Determining the monthly payment on a mortgage loan, The following is the fo...

The following is the formula that can be used to complete that calculation: Monthly Payment = Monthly Interest Rate / (1 - (1 + Monthly Interest Rate) -Payment Interval )) *

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

Working of ordered linked list, Working Ordered linked list: • Eachint...

Working Ordered linked list: • Eachinteger in the queue is stored inside of a QueueItem. The QueueItem contains the integer, and a pointer to the next item in the queue. Fo

C program to demonstrate call by reference, C program to demonstrate call b...

C program to demonstrate call by reference: void disp(int *,int*,int*,int*); void main() {                 int a=2,b=3, sum,mul;                 printf("Enter 1st n

#title prime number or not, to find prime numbers upto any number say "n" e...

to find prime numbers upto any number say "n" entered by user

Write a c program to compute the value of a sine wave, Write a C program to...

Write a C program to compute the value of a sine wave from 0 to 2P with an increment of 0.1 radians.   #include stdio.h #include math.h #define pi 3.1415927 void main() {   c

Playback pattern sequences, This task involves creating a new class(es) tha...

This task involves creating a new class(es) that will allow the system to playback pattern sequences using the Neo  Freerunner  hardware. The first thing to note is that the vibrat

C++ Data Structure program, Description A long time ago in a galaxy far, f...

Description A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, the country Mafghanistan had n cities and m old roads, where each road connected a pair of cities. Due to the treacherous mo

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