Advanced Cybersecurity Programming
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 48 hours face to face + Blended
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.
Aims and objectives
This unit covers assembly language programming for Intel 80x86/64 CPU architectures and introductory assembly programming for ARM CPU architectures. Students will use their knowledge to write and inject shell code into vulnerable process, identify ROP gadgets and bypass ASLR and DEP OS protection and to write custom "malware" to exfiltrate data or provide unauthorised access. Student will make extensive use of debuggers and memory forensics tools to understand the operation of their code.
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of assembly language programming in a modern CPU architecture
2. Analyse and explain small assembly language programs
3. Analyse and reverse-engineer medium-sized binaries using semi-automated tools
4. Alter the behaviour of computer programs by changing machine code instructions
5. Locate and use ROP gadgets to subvert normal program execution
6. Design, write and inject shell code into vulnerable processes
7. Design, write and implement forward and reverse shell programs as services or applications
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment and content.
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
On Campus Lecture | 2 | 12 | 24 |
On Campus Tutorial (Comp Lab) | 2 | 12 | 24 |
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 8.5 | 12 | 102 |
TOTAL | 150 hours |
Assessment
Types | Individual/Group Role | Weighting | Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) |
Assignment | Individual | 50% | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
Examination | Individual | 50% | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
Content
- Architecture, Data representation, Program Format
- Tool Chain, Debuggers, Volatility, Ada Pro
- Instruction set, Addressing modes, Stac,
- Program development
- Macros, Functions
- Source files, includes
- Stack smashing
- CLI, I/O buffering
- Floating point instructions
- Parallelisation, Interrupts
- Return Oriented Programming
- ASM and C socket programming
Study resources
- Reading materials.
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required texts will be made available in the Unit Outline.