We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Srinivas .
This course teaches exploit development for Linux (x86). This course introduces students to the exploit development concepts associated with Linux x86 binaries. This is an entry level to intermediate level course and we encourage you to take this course if you are interested to learn exploit development. However, remember that the course involves a lot of assembly language and debugging using a debugger. So, you need patience and passion to learn the concepts taught in the course. This course makes use of a variety of techniques on exploit development and brace yourself if you are willing to learn by sitting in front of a computer. After successfully completing this course, you will be ready to attempt several industry leading practical cyber security certification exams.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/ouo3qd/exploit
What's inside
Learning objectives
- Students will learn assembly language fundamentals for x86 processors
- Students will learn how to write shellcode on linux for x86 processors
- Students will learn practical linux exploit development concepts
- Students will learn how to bypass linux exploit mitigation techniques such as nx and aslr
- Students will learn assembly language fundamentals for x86 processors
- Students will learn how to write shellcode on linux for x86 processors
- Students will learn practical linux exploit development concepts
- Students will learn how to bypass linux exploit mitigation techniques such as nx and aslr
Syllabus
Course Introduction
Introduction
Lab setup
Installing Ubuntu 16.04 Desktop
Read more
Syllabus
Course Introduction
Introduction
Lab setup
Installing Ubuntu 16.04 Desktop
Read more
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Provides hands-on experience with exploit development techniques, which is essential for roles in penetration testing and vulnerability analysis
Covers bypassing exploit mitigation techniques like NX and ASLR, which are critical skills for modern exploit development
Requires familiarity with assembly language and debugging, which may pose a challenge for true beginners without prior experience
Teaches shellcode writing for Linux x86 processors, a foundational skill for understanding and developing exploits
Uses Ubuntu 16.04, which is an older version of Linux, so learners may need to adapt the techniques to newer systems
Explores return-oriented programming (ROP), which is a powerful technique for bypassing security mitigations and gaining control of a system
Save this course
Create your own learning path.
Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save
Save
Reviews summary
Practical linux exploit development
According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in practical Linux x86 exploit development. Students particularly appreciate the extensive hands-on labs and detailed demonstrations which help solidify theoretical concepts. While the course covers essential techniques like Ret2Libc and Return Oriented Programming (ROP), several reviews mention that a strong prerequisite in x86 assembly is crucial for success. The material is considered challenging but highly relevant for those preparing for practical cybersecurity certification exams. Some reviewers noted that keeping the lab environment current can be a minor challenge.
Concepts can be difficult for beginners.
"This course is challenging and requires patience, especially with debugging and assembly."
"It's definitely not a walk in the park, but very rewarding if you put in the effort."
"Some sections required me to rewatch the lectures multiple times to grasp fully."
Requires prior knowledge of x86 assembly.
"Make sure you have a decent understanding of x86 assembly beforehand, as it's used extensively."
"I struggled early on because my assembly background wasn't strong."
"While there's a crash course, foundational assembly knowledge really helps you keep up."
Helps prepare for practical exams.
"This material is directly applicable to practical cybersecurity certifications."
"I feel much better prepared for my certification exam after completing this course."
"The skills learned here are essential for OSCP and similar practical tests."
Covers essential exploit techniques.
"The course covers important techniques like Ret2Libc, ROP, and bypassing NX/ASLR effectively."
"I was impressed by the breadth of topics covered for an entry-intermediate level course."
"It touches upon all the necessary exploit mitigation bypasses needed to get started."
Strong emphasis on hands-on learning.
"The hands-on labs and step-by-step demos are invaluable for learning the concepts."
"I learned the most by actually doing the exercises provided in the labs."
"The practical sessions were incredibly helpful, making difficult topics much clearer."
Setting up labs can require troubleshooting.
"Setting up the exact lab environment could be a bit tricky and required some troubleshooting."
"Using an older OS version (Ubuntu 16.04) meant I had to adjust setup for newer systems."
"Some tools or dependencies needed updates or specific versions not immediately obvious."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Exploit Development for Linux (x86) with these
activities:
Review x86 Assembly Fundamentals
Show steps
Solidify your understanding of x86 assembly language, which is crucial for understanding exploit development.
Show steps
-
Review assembly language concepts such as registers, instructions, and memory addressing.
-
Practice writing simple assembly programs.
-
Debug assembly code using a debugger like GDB.
Read 'Hacking: The Art of Exploitation'
Show steps
Gain a deeper understanding of exploit development concepts by reading a classic book on the subject.
View
Hacking: The Art of Exploitation, 2nd Edition
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read the chapters related to buffer overflows and shellcode.
-
Try the examples and exercises in the book.
-
Research any topics that are unclear.
Practice Buffer Overflow Exploits
Show steps
Reinforce your understanding of buffer overflows by practicing on vulnerable programs.
Show steps
-
Set up a vulnerable virtual machine environment.
-
Find and exploit buffer overflow vulnerabilities in sample programs.
-
Experiment with different shellcode payloads.
-
Use debugging tools to analyze the exploit process.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Write a Blog Post on a Specific Exploit Technique
Show steps
Solidify your understanding by explaining a specific exploit technique in a blog post.
Show steps
-
Choose an exploit technique covered in the course.
-
Research the technique in detail.
-
Write a clear and concise blog post explaining the technique.
-
Include examples and diagrams to illustrate the concepts.
Develop a Simple Exploit for a CTF Challenge
Show steps
Apply your knowledge by developing an exploit for a Capture The Flag (CTF) challenge.
Show steps
-
Choose a CTF challenge that involves exploit development.
-
Analyze the vulnerable program and identify potential vulnerabilities.
-
Develop an exploit to take advantage of the vulnerability.
-
Test the exploit and refine it until it works.
Read 'Gray Hat Hacking: The Ethical Hacker's Handbook'
Show steps
Expand your knowledge of hacking techniques by reading a comprehensive handbook.
View
Gray Hat Hacking: The Ethical Hacker's Handbook...
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read the sections related to exploit development and vulnerability analysis.
-
Explore the different hacking tools and techniques discussed in the book.
-
Consider the ethical implications of hacking.
Contribute to an Open-Source Security Project
Show steps
Gain practical experience by contributing to an open-source security project related to exploit development.
Show steps
-
Find an open-source security project that interests you.
-
Explore the project's codebase and documentation.
-
Identify a bug or feature that you can contribute to.
-
Submit a pull request with your changes.
Review x86 Assembly Fundamentals
Show steps
Solidify your understanding of x86 assembly language, which is crucial for understanding exploit development.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Review assembly language concepts such as registers, instructions, and memory addressing.
- Practice writing simple assembly programs.
- Debug assembly code using a debugger like GDB.
Read 'Hacking: The Art of Exploitation'
Show steps
Gain a deeper understanding of exploit development concepts by reading a classic book on the subject.
View
Hacking: The Art of Exploitation, 2nd Edition
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read the chapters related to buffer overflows and shellcode.
- Try the examples and exercises in the book.
- Research any topics that are unclear.
Practice Buffer Overflow Exploits
Show steps
Reinforce your understanding of buffer overflows by practicing on vulnerable programs.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Set up a vulnerable virtual machine environment.
- Find and exploit buffer overflow vulnerabilities in sample programs.
- Experiment with different shellcode payloads.
- Use debugging tools to analyze the exploit process.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Write a Blog Post on a Specific Exploit Technique
Show steps
Solidify your understanding by explaining a specific exploit technique in a blog post.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Choose an exploit technique covered in the course.
- Research the technique in detail.
- Write a clear and concise blog post explaining the technique.
- Include examples and diagrams to illustrate the concepts.
Develop a Simple Exploit for a CTF Challenge
Show steps
Apply your knowledge by developing an exploit for a Capture The Flag (CTF) challenge.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Choose a CTF challenge that involves exploit development.
- Analyze the vulnerable program and identify potential vulnerabilities.
- Develop an exploit to take advantage of the vulnerability.
- Test the exploit and refine it until it works.
Read 'Gray Hat Hacking: The Ethical Hacker's Handbook'
Show steps
Expand your knowledge of hacking techniques by reading a comprehensive handbook.
View
Gray Hat Hacking: The Ethical Hacker's Handbook...
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read the sections related to exploit development and vulnerability analysis.
- Explore the different hacking tools and techniques discussed in the book.
- Consider the ethical implications of hacking.
Contribute to an Open-Source Security Project
Show steps
Gain practical experience by contributing to an open-source security project related to exploit development.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find an open-source security project that interests you.
- Explore the project's codebase and documentation.
- Identify a bug or feature that you can contribute to.
- Submit a pull request with your changes.
Career center
Learners who complete Exploit Development for Linux (x86) will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Exploit Developer
Exploit Developer
Exploit Developers create code that takes advantage of security vulnerabilities in software or systems. The course directly aligns with the core responsibilities of this role. The course's curriculum, covering assembly language, shellcode writing, and techniques for bypassing exploit mitigation, provides practical skills and techniques. The detailed exploration of stack based buffer overflows, return oriented programming, and bypassing techniques will be invaluable for someone in this role. Exploit Developer is all about the course's content.
Vulnerability Researcher
Vulnerability Researcher
Vulnerability Researchers investigate software and hardware to discover security flaws that could be exploited by attackers. This course provides the foundational knowledge required to understand and identify such vulnerabilities, especially in Linux x86 environments. The course's deep dive into assembly language, stack based buffer overflows, and bypassing techniques like NX and ASLR are essential skills for a Vulnerability Researcher. Furthermore, learning to write shellcode and understanding return oriented programming are crucial for analyzing and proving the exploitability of vulnerabilities. The content within covers the practical knowledge to discover vulnerabilities.
Penetration Tester
Penetration Tester
Penetration Testers, also known as ethical hackers, simulate cyber attacks to identify vulnerabilities in systems. A key aspect of this role is understanding how exploits work, and this is where this course proves invaluable. This course provides practical knowledge of Linux exploit development, from writing shellcode to bypassing mitigation techniques. Learning to crash programs, find offsets, and use techniques such as JMP EAX and JMP ESP directly translates to real-world penetration testing scenarios. One who wishes to enter this field should take this course to gain a deeper understanding of the offensive side of security, complementing defensive skills.
Reverse Engineer
Reverse Engineer
Reverse Engineers analyze software or hardware to understand its inner workings, often to identify vulnerabilities or malicious code. This course helps build a foundation in reverse engineering, particularly within the context of Linux x86 binaries. The course's coverage of assembly language is fundamental for reverse engineering. The techniques for exploiting vulnerabilities are also applicable in the reverse engineering process. A Reverse Engineer would benefit from the knowledge of assembly language, shellcode writing, and exploit mitigation techniques.
Malware Analyst
Malware Analyst
Malware Analysts dissect and analyze malicious software to understand its functionality and develop methods for detection and removal. This course helps build skills in understanding how malware exploits vulnerabilities, particularly in Linux x86 systems. Malware often leverages techniques covered in this course, such as shellcode injection and bypassing exploit mitigation. The course's content on assembly language and reverse TCP shellcode would be particularly helpful for analyzing malware. Also, the knowledge of stack based buffer overflows is essential.
Security Engineer
Security Engineer
A Security Engineer focuses on protecting computer systems and networks. This role involves identifying vulnerabilities, developing security measures, and responding to security incidents. This course helps build a foundation in understanding exploit development concepts specifically for Linux x86 binaries, which is crucial for identifying and mitigating potential threats. The course's coverage of assembly language fundamentals, shellcode writing, and bypassing exploit mitigation techniques like NX and ASLR are directly relevant to this job. The knowledge of stack based buffer overflows will be very useful. Completion prepares one for industry certifications, highly valued in this field.
Application Security Engineer
Application Security Engineer
Application Security Engineers focus on securing software applications by identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities throughout the development lifecycle. The course teaches the fundamentals of exploit development, which is valuable for understanding potential attack vectors against applications. The course's coverage of stack based buffer overflows, shellcode writing, and techniques for bypassing exploit mitigation like NX and ASLR are directly applicable to application security. The concepts taught in this course will help secure applications.
Firmware Engineer
Firmware Engineer
Firmware engineer is a role in which one designs, develops, and tests low-level software that controls hardware devices. Exploit development knowledge is valuable for understanding device vulnerabilities. This course may be useful by providing a foundation in exploit techniques applicable to the processor architecture and system used in the device. This is because Firmware Engineers may need to secure Linux x86 binaries. The course's content on assembly language will be very useful. Industry certifications may be useful.
Cloud Security Engineer
Cloud Security Engineer
Cloud Security Engineers specialize in securing cloud-based systems and data. Exploit development knowledge is valuable for understanding vulnerabilities specific to cloud environments. This course may be useful by providing a foundation in exploit techniques applicable to Linux systems often used in cloud infrastructure. This is because Cloud Security Engineers must secure Linux x86 binaries. The course's content on exploit mitigation will be very useful. Industry certifications in Cloud Security may be useful.
Cybersecurity Consultant
Cybersecurity Consultant
Cybersecurity Consultants advise organizations on how to improve their security posture and protect against cyber threats. A solid understanding of exploit development is valuable for assessing risks and recommending appropriate security measures. This course may be useful by providing insights into the techniques used by attackers, particularly in Linux environments. The course will enhance a consultant's ability to provide informed recommendations and develop effective security strategies. The concepts would be useful for industry certifications.
Security Analyst
Security Analyst
Security Analysts monitor and analyze security events to detect and respond to threats. While this role has a broader scope than exploit development, understanding how exploits work is crucial for effective threat analysis. This course may be useful by providing insights into exploit development techniques, particularly in Linux x86 environments. The course's content on assembly language and exploit mitigation may aid in understanding the potential impact of vulnerabilities. This also helps with industry certifications.
Security Architect
Security Architect
Security Architects design and implement security systems and networks. Knowledge of exploit development is valuable for understanding potential attack vectors and designing robust security architectures. This course may be useful by providing insights into exploit techniques, particularly in Linux x86 environments. The course's content on exploit mitigation techniques like NX and ASLR can inform the design of secure systems. Industry certifications would be useful in this field.
Software Developer
Software Developer
Software Developers design, write, and test code for various applications and systems. While not directly focused on security, understanding exploit development can help developers write more secure code. This course may be useful by providing insights into common vulnerabilities and how they can be exploited. The course's content on stack based buffer overflows and other attack techniques can inform secure coding practices. Someone interested in industry certifications in cybersecurity may consider this.
Game Developer
Game Developer
Game developers create video games, designing gameplay, writing code, and creating art. A basic understanding of security vulnerabilities can help prevent cheating or exploits in online games. This course may be useful by providing some knowledge of common vulnerabilities and exploit techniques. The course's content on shellcode and buffer overflows may inform secure coding practices in game development. Industry certifications in security may be useful.
System Administrator
System Administrator
System Administrators are responsible for maintaining and managing computer systems and servers. The course may be useful by providing a deeper understanding of potential security threats and how to mitigate them. Knowledge of assembly language will be very useful. It will help System Administrators to troubleshoot the underlying cause of the incident. The information may be helpful with industry certifications.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/ouo3qd/exploit
Reading list
We've selected two books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Exploit Development for Linux (x86).
Provides a comprehensive introduction to exploit development, covering topics such as buffer overflows, shellcode, and network hacking. It highly recommended resource for understanding the fundamentals of exploit development. The book is commonly used as a textbook in cybersecurity courses and provides a solid foundation for further learning.
Provides a broad overview of hacking techniques, including exploit development. It covers a wide range of topics and provides practical examples. It useful reference for understanding the broader context of exploit development and ethical hacking. This book is valuable as additional reading to expand on the course material.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/ouo3qd/exploit
Share
Similar courses
Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission
OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.
Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.
Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.
Affiliate disclosure
We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.
Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.
Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.
© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser