Featured resource
2025 Tech Upskilling Playbook
Tech Upskilling Playbook

Build future-ready tech teams and hit key business milestones with seven proven plays from industry leaders.

Check it out
  • Lab
    • Libraries: If you want this lab, consider one of these libraries.
    • 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
Lab platform
Lab Info
Level
Beginner
Last updated
Aug 04, 2025
Duration
50m

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.

About the author

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

Real skill practice before real-world application

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.

Learn by doing

Engage hands-on with the tools and technologies you’re learning. You pick the skill, we provide the credentials and environment.

Follow your guide

All labs have detailed instructions and objectives, guiding you through the learning process and ensuring you understand every step.

Turn time into mastery

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you take time to practice. Hands-on labs set you up for success to make those skills stick.

Get started with Pluralsight