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

Array-based Lists and Array-based Queues, Objectives: The objective of this...

Objectives: The objective of this assignment is to use C++ to queue students into an array-based queue for BCS registration. Students have the option of taking five different cours

Compute the average of five numbers, Step 1 Define the program headers and ...

Step 1 Define the program headers and the variables      #include   #include   #include   #include void main()   {       char prompt;     float a,b,c,d,e;     floa

Can inline functions contain a recursion?, A: No. Syntax wise it is permitt...

A: No. Syntax wise it is permitted. But then the function is no longer Inline. Since the compiler will never know how deep the recursion is at compilation time.

Print the sorted output on the console, Question 1 Describe the theory beh...

Question 1 Describe the theory behind class templates and function templates along with relevant programming examples Question 2 With the help of suitable programming example

Strings, A string S is said to be "Super ASCII", if it contains the charact...

A string S is said to be "Super ASCII", if it contains the character frequency equal to their ascii values. String will contain only lower case alphabets (''a''-''z'') and the asci

Scope resolution operator, what are the significances of scope resolution o...

what are the significances of scope resolution operator? Illustrate with example

Change to palindrome, convert string s into palindrome by doing character r...

convert string s into palindrome by doing character replacement

Execution of string length using pointer hopping, A: #include // Test to...

A: #include // Test to see if pointer hopping is worthwhile. // strlen implemented with usual indexing mechanism. int strlen1( const char str[ ] ) { int i; for( i =

Explain about the expressions in c language, Explain about the Expressions ...

Explain about the Expressions in c Language? An expression is the combination of constants, variables and operators arranged as per the syntax of the language. Some of the illu

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