Featured resource
Forrester Wave Report 2025
Pluralsight named a Leader in the Forrester Wave™

Our tech skill development platform earned the highest scores possible across 11 criteria.

Learn more
  • Labs icon Lab
  • Security
Google Cloud Platform icon
Labs

Exploit Format String Vulnerabilities

In this lab, you’ll practice exploiting format string vulnerabilities. This will allow you to manipulate computer memory. When you’re finished, you’ll have the ability to read and write to computer memory via format string vulnerabilities.

Google Cloud Platform icon
Labs

Path Info

Level
Clock icon Beginner
Duration
Clock icon 50m
Published
Clock icon Jun 03, 2025

Contact sales

By filling out this form and clicking submit, you acknowledge our privacy policy.

Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Getting Started in the Lab Environment

    Here are the initial instructions and explanation of the lab environment. Read this while your environment is busy creating itself from nothing. Yes, this violates physics; we know. How fun!

  2. Challenge

    Reading from Memory

    In this challenge, you will perform an exploit for a format string vulnerability in a Python application, with the goal of reading from the computer’s memory.

  3. Challenge

    Write to Memory

    In this challenge, you will perform an exploit for a format string vulnerability in a Python application, with the goal of writing to the computer’s memory.

  4. Challenge

    The Last Challenge

    Welcome to the final challenge! This is your last chance to experiment in the environment. Clicking Finish Lab will end this little world that flittered into existence just for you.

Shimon Brathwaite is a seven-year cybersecurity professional with extensive experience in Incident Response, Vulnerability Management, Identity and Access Management and Consulting.

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.