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Labs

Buffer Overflows

Master the fundamentals of buffer overflow exploitation by building a complete exploit chain against a vulnerable application. You'll start by triggering crashes with malformed input, identify the precise buffer length, and confirm control of the instruction pointer (EIP). From there, you’ll test for bad characters, gauge available shellcode space, and craft a reliable exploit buffer. The final payload will redirect execution into custom shellcode to gain a remote shell, all using WinDbg and hands-on analysis techniques essential for OSCP-level exploitation.

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Labs

Path Info

Level
Clock icon Intermediate
Duration
Clock icon 2h 0m
Last updated
Clock icon Sep 02, 2025

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Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Fuzz and Crash the Application

    Discover whether the application crashes from malformed input and identify the buffer length that causes it.

  2. Challenge

    Find and Control the Instruction Pointer

    Determine if you can overwrite the instruction pointer (EIP) and control program execution after the crash.

  3. Challenge

    Identify Available Space and Discover Bad Characters

    Determine how much space is available for shellcode, test for bad characters, and prepare a safe exploit buffer.

  4. Challenge

    Exploit the Buffer Overflow and Get Shell

    Craft a final payload that uses your control of the instruction pointer (EIP) to redirect execution to your shellcode.

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

What's a lab?

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Provided environment for hands-on practice

We will provide the credentials and environment necessary for you to practice right within your browser.

Guided walkthrough

Follow along with the author’s guided walkthrough and build something new in your provided environment!

Did you know?

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you get time for practice.