# stack-overflow-and-rop

Exploitation playbook for hijacking control flow via stack buffer overflows, ret2libc, ROP chains, ret2csu, and ret2dlresolve on Linux binaries.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 3500 installs · ★ 2547
- Author: yaklang
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/yaklang/hack-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/stack-overflow-and-rop/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-09-13
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/stack-overflow-and-rop

## What it does

The skill provides playbooks for exploiting Linux userland binaries across x86 and x86-64 architectures. It covers return address hijacking, libc address leaks via PLT entries, stack alignment fixes for `movaps`, and resolving symbols dynamically with `ret2dlresolve`.

Gadget hunting patterns include workflows for ROPgadget, ropper, pwntools, and xrop. On 64-bit binaries, libc functions expect arguments in specific registers. A missing gadget breaks the chain unless you pivot or fall back to `ret2csu`. This means gadget discovery dictates the entire exploit path.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yaklang/hack-skills --skill stack-overflow-and-rop -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/stack-overflow-and-rop/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/stack-overflow-and-rop/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yaklang/hack-skills --skill stack-overflow-and-rop -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/stack-overflow-and-rop/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yaklang/hack-skills --skill stack-overflow-and-rop -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/stack-overflow-and-rop/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install yaklang/hack-skills stack-overflow-and-rop
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/stack-overflow-and-rop/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yaklang/hack-skills --skill stack-overflow-and-rop -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/yaklang/hack-skills --path skills/stack-overflow-and-rop
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/stack-overflow-and-rop/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yaklang/hack-skills --skill stack-overflow-and-rop -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/yaklang/hack-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/stack-overflow-and-rop/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- bypass NX protection by redirecting execution via ret2libc
- construct x86-64 ROP chains to populate argument registers
- fix 16-byte stack misalignment before calling `system`
- execute unlinked functions without libc leaks via ret2dlresolve
- control three arguments using gadgets from `__libc_csu_init`

## Example prompts
- Build a 64-bit ROP chain calling system('/bin/sh') with proper movaps stack alignment.
- How do I set up a ret2csu call with three arguments when pop rdx is missing?
- Write a pwntools payload using ret2dlresolve without an existing libc leak.

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 6aea3233093e7208.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 6aea3233093e7208
````text
---
name: stack-overflow-and-rop
description: >-
  Stack overflow and ROP playbook. Use when exploiting buffer overflows to hijack control flow via return address overwrite, ROP chains, ret2libc, ret2csu, ret2dlresolve, or SROP on Linux userland binaries.
---

# SKILL: Stack Overflow & ROP — Expert Attack Playbook

> **AI LOAD INSTRUCTION**: Expert stack-based exploitation techniques. Covers classic buffer overflow, return-to-libc, ROP chain construction, ret2csu, ret2dlresolve, SROP, stack pivoting, and canary bypass. Distilled from ctf-wiki advanced-rop, real-world CVEs, and CTF competition patterns. Base models often miss the nuance of gadget selection under constrained conditions.

## 0. RELATED ROUTING

- [format-string-exploitation](../format-string-exploitation/SKILL.md) — leak canary/libc/PIE base via format string before triggering overflow
- [binary-protection-bypass](../binary-protection-bypass/SKILL.md) — systematic bypass of NX, ASLR, PIE, canary, RELRO
- [arbitrary-write-to-rce](../arbitrary-write-to-rce/SKILL.md) — convert a write primitive (GOT, hooks, vtable) into code execution
- [heap-exploitation](../heap-exploitation/SKILL.md) — when the vulnerability is in heap rather than stack

### Advanced Reference

Load [ROP_ADVANCED_TECHNIQUES.md](./ROP_ADVANCED_TECHNIQUES.md) when you need:
- Blind ROP (BROP) methodology against remote services without binary
- ret2vdso for ASLR bypass on 32-bit systems
- Partial overwrite techniques for PIE bypass
- JOP / COP alternative code-reuse paradigms

---

## 1. STACK LAYOUT FUNDAMENTALS

```
High Address
┌─────────────────────┐
│   ...  (caller)     │
├─────────────────────┤
│   Return Address    │  ← overwrite target (EIP/RIP control)
├─────────────────────┤
│   Saved EBP/RBP     │  ← overwrite for stack pivoting
├─────────────────────┤
│   Canary (if enabled)│
├─────────────────────┤
│   Local Variables    │  ← buffer starts here
├─────────────────────┤
│   ...               │
└─────────────────────┘
Low Address
```

| Element | x86 (32-bit) | x86-64 (64-bit) |
|---|---|---|
| Return address size | 4 bytes | 8 bytes |
| Saved frame pointer | 4 bytes (EBP) | 8 bytes (RBP) |
| Canary size | 4 bytes | 8 bytes |
| Calling convention | args on stack | RDI, RSI, RDX, RCX, R8, R9 then stack |
| Syscall instruction | `int 0x80` | `syscall` |

---

## 2. RETURN-TO-LIBC

When NX is enabled (stack not executable), redirect execution to libc functions.

### Classic ret2libc (32-bit)

```python
payload = b'A' * offset
payload += p32(system_addr)
payload += p32(exit_addr)      # fake return address for system()
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 6aea3233093e7208

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 6aea3233093e7208 tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

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