In this repository I will take down my process of solving the bomb lab of CS:APP. Since there exists a bunch of different versions of this problem, I' ve already uploaded my version. Although the problems differ from each other, the main methods we take are totally the same.
- GDB (debug tool)
- objdump (command)
- strings (command)
In this part we use objdump to get the assembly code we use
objdump -d bomb > bomb.asm
and get the following file (not the full code)
0000000000400ee0 <phase_1>:
400ee0: 48 83 ec 08 sub $0x8,%rsp
400ee4: be 00 24 40 00 mov $0x402400,%esi
400ee9: e8 4a 04 00 00 callq 401338 <strings_not_equal>
400eee: 85 c0 test %eax,%eax
400ef0: 74 05 je 400ef7 <phase_1+0x17>
400ef2: e8 43 05 00 00 callq 40143a <explode_bomb>
400ef7: 48 83 c4 08 add $0x8,%rsp
400efb: c3 retq
Then we go and defuse the first bomb.
We enter gdb, set a breakpoint at the phase 1. Then we take a look at the assembly code above, we see one register eax and an address 0x402400. Enter a random string and then we stop at the phase 1 position, then we try printing out the information around 0x402400. We get the following part
(gdb) p/x $eax
$1 = 0x603780
(gdb) x /25c 0x603780
0x603780 <input_strings>: 116 't' 101 'e' 115 's' 116 't' 0 '\000' 0 '\000' 0 '\000' 0 '\000'
0x603788 <input_strings+8>: 0 '\000' 0 '\000' 0 '\000' 0 '\000' 0 '\000' 0 '\000' 0 '\000' 0 '\000'
0x603790 <input_strings+16>: 0 '\000' 0 '\000' 0 '\000' 0 '\000' 0 '\000' 0 '\000' 0 '\000' 0 '\000'
0x603798 <input_strings+24>: 0 '\000'
(gdb) x /25c 0x402400
0x402400: 66 'B' 111 'o' 114 'r' 100 'd' 101 'e' 114 'r' 32 ' ' 114 'r'
0x402408: 101 'e' 108 'l' 97 'a' 116 't' 105 'i' 111 'o' 110 'n' 115 's'
0x402410: 32 ' ' 119 'w' 105 'i' 116 't' 104 'h' 32 ' ' 67 'C' 97 'a'
0x402418: 110 'n'
We see a critical keyword Border, right? Then we use strings command to find out the answer
$ strings bomb | grep Border
Border relations with Canada have never been better.
The first bomb is successfully defused.
Firstly, let's have a look at the code
0000000000400efc <phase_2>:
400efc: 55 push %rbp
400efd: 53 push %rbx
400efe: 48 83 ec 28 sub $0x28,%rsp
400f02: 48 89 e6 mov %rsp,%rsi
400f05: e8 52 05 00 00 callq 40145c <read_six_numbers>
400f0a: 83 3c 24 01 cmpl $0x1,(%rsp)
400f0e: 74 20 je 400f30 <phase_2+0x34>
400f10: e8 25 05 00 00 callq 40143a <explode_bomb>
400f15: eb 19 jmp 400f30 <phase_2+0x34>
400f17: 8b 43 fc mov -0x4(%rbx),%eax
400f1a: 01 c0 add %eax,%eax
400f1c: 39 03 cmp %eax,(%rbx)
400f1e: 74 05 je 400f25 <phase_2+0x29>
400f20: e8 15 05 00 00 callq 40143a <explode_bomb>
400f25: 48 83 c3 04 add $0x4,%rbx
400f29: 48 39 eb cmp %rbp,%rbx
400f2c: 75 e9 jne 400f17 <phase_2+0x1b>
400f2e: eb 0c jmp 400f3c <phase_2+0x40>
400f30: 48 8d 5c 24 04 lea 0x4(%rsp),%rbx
400f35: 48 8d 6c 24 18 lea 0x18(%rsp),%rbp
400f3a: eb db jmp 400f17 <phase_2+0x1b>
400f3c: 48 83 c4 28 add $0x28,%rsp
400f40: 5b pop %rbx
400f41: 5d pop %rbp
400f42: c3 retq Having a look at the code structure, you should notice that there exists a loop structure. What' more, there's a function call to read_six_numbers(), we can inspect it
000000000040145c <read_six_numbers>:
40145c: 48 83 ec 18 sub $0x18,%rsp
401460: 48 89 f2 mov %rsi,%rdx
401463: 48 8d 4e 04 lea 0x4(%rsi),%rcx
401467: 48 8d 46 14 lea 0x14(%rsi),%rax
40146b: 48 89 44 24 08 mov %rax,0x8(%rsp)
401470: 48 8d 46 10 lea 0x10(%rsi),%rax
401474: 48 89 04 24 mov %rax,(%rsp)
401478: 4c 8d 4e 0c lea 0xc(%rsi),%r9
40147c: 4c 8d 46 08 lea 0x8(%rsi),%r8
401480: be c3 25 40 00 mov $0x4025c3,%esi
401485: b8 00 00 00 00 mov $0x0,%eax
40148a: e8 61 f7 ff ff callq 400bf0 <__isoc99_sscanf@plt>
40148f: 83 f8 05 cmp $0x5,%eax
401492: 7f 05 jg 401499 <read_six_numbers+0x3d>
401494: e8 a1 ff ff ff callq 40143a <explode_bomb>
401499: 48 83 c4 18 add $0x18,%rsp
40149d: c3 retq Up till now, you should be able to find out that in this part, we are required to enter six numbers. Considering this line of code
400f0a: 83 3c 24 01 cmpl $0x1,(%rsp)It's obvious that the first number should be 1. We can find the latter numbers from the loop structure.
400f17: 8b 43 fc mov -0x4(%rbx),%eax
400f1a: 01 c0 add %eax,%eax
400f1c: 39 03 cmp %eax,(%rbx)
400f1e: 74 05 je 400f25 <phase_2+0x29>
400f20: e8 15 05 00 00 callq 40143a <explode_bomb>
400f25: 48 83 c3 04 add $0x4,%rbx
400f29: 48 39 eb cmp %rbp,%rbx
400f2c: 75 e9 jne 400f17 <phase_2+0x1b>
400f2e: eb 0c jmp 400f3c <phase_2+0x40>
400f30: 48 8d 5c 24 04 lea 0x4(%rsp),%rbx
400f35: 48 8d 6c 24 18 lea 0x18(%rsp),%rbp
400f3a: eb db jmp 400f17 <phase_2+0x1b>We multiply the number by 2 each step, so we guess the sequence to be 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, which is the answer.
The third bomb is about the switch expression. Firstly, let's have a look at the asm code.
0000000000400f43 <phase_3>:
400f43: 48 83 ec 18 sub $0x18,%rsp
400f47: 48 8d 4c 24 0c lea 0xc(%rsp),%rcx
400f4c: 48 8d 54 24 08 lea 0x8(%rsp),%rdx
400f51: be cf 25 40 00 mov $0x4025cf,%esi
400f56: b8 00 00 00 00 mov $0x0,%eax
400f5b: e8 90 fc ff ff callq 400bf0 <__isoc99_sscanf@plt>
400f60: 83 f8 01 cmp $0x1,%eax
400f63: 7f 05 jg 400f6a <phase_3+0x27>
400f65: e8 d0 04 00 00 callq 40143a <explode_bomb>
400f6a: 83 7c 24 08 07 cmpl $0x7,0x8(%rsp)
400f6f: 77 3c ja 400fad <phase_3+0x6a>
400f71: 8b 44 24 08 mov 0x8(%rsp),%eax
400f75: ff 24 c5 70 24 40 00 jmpq *0x402470(,%rax,8)
400f7c: b8 cf 00 00 00 mov $0xcf,%eax
400f81: eb 3b jmp 400fbe <phase_3+0x7b>
400f83: b8 c3 02 00 00 mov $0x2c3,%eax
400f88: eb 34 jmp 400fbe <phase_3+0x7b>
400f8a: b8 00 01 00 00 mov $0x100,%eax
400f8f: eb 2d jmp 400fbe <phase_3+0x7b>
400f91: b8 85 01 00 00 mov $0x185,%eax
400f96: eb 26 jmp 400fbe <phase_3+0x7b>
400f98: b8 ce 00 00 00 mov $0xce,%eax
400f9d: eb 1f jmp 400fbe <phase_3+0x7b>
400f9f: b8 aa 02 00 00 mov $0x2aa,%eax
400fa4: eb 18 jmp 400fbe <phase_3+0x7b>
400fa6: b8 47 01 00 00 mov $0x147,%eax
400fab: eb 11 jmp 400fbe <phase_3+0x7b>
400fad: e8 88 04 00 00 callq 40143a <explode_bomb>
400fb2: b8 00 00 00 00 mov $0x0,%eax
400fb7: eb 05 jmp 400fbe <phase_3+0x7b>
400fb9: b8 37 01 00 00 mov $0x137,%eax
400fbe: 3b 44 24 0c cmp 0xc(%rsp),%eax
400fc2: 74 05 je 400fc9 <phase_3+0x86>
400fc4: e8 71 04 00 00 callq 40143a <explode_bomb>
400fc9: 48 83 c4 18 add $0x18,%rsp
400fcd: c3 retq From the first few lines, we guess that there are two arguments to enter. Using gdb we can convince our guess.
(gdb) x /s 0x4025cf
0x4025cf: "%d %d"
Then we can get the range of the first argument from the line
400f6a: 83 7c 24 08 07 cmpl $0x7,0x8(%rsp)
The first argument must be less than 7, right? Then we encounter with an optimized switch expression.
400f75: ff 24 c5 70 24 40 00 jmpq *0x402470(,%rax,8)
400f7c: b8 cf 00 00 00 mov $0xcf,%eax
400f81: eb 3b jmp 400fbe <phase_3+0x7b>
400f83: b8 c3 02 00 00 mov $0x2c3,%eax
400f88: eb 34 jmp 400fbe <phase_3+0x7b>
400f8a: b8 00 01 00 00 mov $0x100,%eax
400f8f: eb 2d jmp 400fbe <phase_3+0x7b>
400f91: b8 85 01 00 00 mov $0x185,%eax
400f96: eb 26 jmp 400fbe <phase_3+0x7b>
400f98: b8 ce 00 00 00 mov $0xce,%eax
400f9d: eb 1f jmp 400fbe <phase_3+0x7b>
400f9f: b8 aa 02 00 00 mov $0x2aa,%eax
400fa4: eb 18 jmp 400fbe <phase_3+0x7b>
400fa6: b8 47 01 00 00 mov $0x147,%eax
400fab: eb 11 jmp 400fbe <phase_3+0x7b>
400fad: e8 88 04 00 00 callq 40143a <explode_bomb>
400fb2: b8 00 00 00 00 mov $0x0,%eax
400fb7: eb 05 jmp 400fbe <phase_3+0x7b>
400fb9: b8 37 01 00 00 mov $0x137,%eaxWe can inspect its structure directly using gdb
(gdb) x /10a 0x402470
0x402470: 0x400f7c <phase_3+57> 0x400fb9 <phase_3+118>
0x402480: 0x400f83 <phase_3+64> 0x400f8a <phase_3+71>
0x402490: 0x400f91 <phase_3+78> 0x400f98 <phase_3+85>
0x4024a0: 0x400f9f <phase_3+92> 0x400fa6 <phase_3+99>
0x4024b0 <array.3449>: 0x737265697564616d 0x6c796276746f666e
We can see that the last line shouldn't be contained in this switch structure, while the first four should be. Actually in this part, the answer isn't unique. You just choose a number arbitarily from 0 to 6 and go through the switch expression, and you get your second argument. I choose the first argument as 1 and then the second one should be 311.
In this part, we are given two functions phase_4() and func4(). The key part is the latter one. Let's inspect the code at first.
0000000000400fce <func4>:
400fce: 48 83 ec 08 sub $0x8,%rsp
400fd2: 89 d0 mov %edx,%eax
400fd4: 29 f0 sub %esi,%eax
400fd6: 89 c1 mov %eax,%ecx
400fd8: c1 e9 1f shr $0x1f,%ecx
400fdb: 01 c8 add %ecx,%eax
400fdd: d1 f8 sar %eax
400fdf: 8d 0c 30 lea (%rax,%rsi,1),%ecx
400fe2: 39 f9 cmp %edi,%ecx
400fe4: 7e 0c jle 400ff2 <func4+0x24>
400fe6: 8d 51 ff lea -0x1(%rcx),%edx
400fe9: e8 e0 ff ff ff callq 400fce <func4>
400fee: 01 c0 add %eax,%eax
400ff0: eb 15 jmp 401007 <func4+0x39>
400ff2: b8 00 00 00 00 mov $0x0,%eax
400ff7: 39 f9 cmp %edi,%ecx
400ff9: 7d 0c jge 401007 <func4+0x39>
400ffb: 8d 71 01 lea 0x1(%rcx),%esi
400ffe: e8 cb ff ff ff callq 400fce <func4>
401003: 8d 44 00 01 lea 0x1(%rax,%rax,1),%eax
401007: 48 83 c4 08 add $0x8,%rsp
40100b: c3 retq
Ahhhh, recursion, right? However, you do need to handle recursion actually. Let's have a look at the phase_4 function.
000000000040100c <phase_4>:
40100c: 48 83 ec 18 sub $0x18,%rsp
401010: 48 8d 4c 24 0c lea 0xc(%rsp),%rcx
401015: 48 8d 54 24 08 lea 0x8(%rsp),%rdx
40101a: be cf 25 40 00 mov $0x4025cf,%esi
40101f: b8 00 00 00 00 mov $0x0,%eax
401024: e8 c7 fb ff ff callq 400bf0 <__isoc99_sscanf@plt>
401029: 83 f8 02 cmp $0x2,%eax
40102c: 75 07 jne 401035 <phase_4+0x29>
40102e: 83 7c 24 08 0e cmpl $0xe,0x8(%rsp)
401033: 76 05 jbe 40103a <phase_4+0x2e>
401035: e8 00 04 00 00 callq 40143a <explode_bomb>
40103a: ba 0e 00 00 00 mov $0xe,%edx
40103f: be 00 00 00 00 mov $0x0,%esi
401044: 8b 7c 24 08 mov 0x8(%rsp),%edi
401048: e8 81 ff ff ff callq 400fce <func4>
40104d: 85 c0 test %eax,%eax
40104f: 75 07 jne 401058 <phase_4+0x4c>
401051: 83 7c 24 0c 00 cmpl $0x0,0xc(%rsp)
401056: 74 05 je 40105d <phase_4+0x51>
401058: e8 dd 03 00 00 callq 40143a <explode_bomb>
40105d: 48 83 c4 18 add $0x18,%rsp
401061: c3 retq As an experienced engineer, I believe you can figure out that there are two arguments, each of which should be integers. Moreover, it's obvious that the second one must be zero being aware of the line
401056: 74 05 je 40105d <phase_4+0x51>
401058: e8 dd 03 00 00 callq 40143a <explode_bomb>
So the problem becomes easier. The problem requires that the return value of the func4 should also be zero. Thinking of the func4 function, we put two lines together to see more clearly
400fe2: 39 f9 cmp %edi,%ecx
......
400ff2: b8 00 00 00 00 mov $0x0,%eax
400ff7: 39 f9 cmp %edi,%ecx
These lines indicate that if the first argument equal the last one(right before this line), then we get 0. From phase_4, we call the four arguments of func4 to be a, b(known, 0), c(known, 14), d(known, 0). Going through func4, we get the value of d at 400ff7 and 400fe2 to be (14 + 0) >> 1 = 7. So a should be 7, too. Then you get the answer to be the pair(7, 0).
This part is a little bit trickier. The code shows as follows:
0000000000401062 <phase_5>:
401062: 53 push %rbx
401063: 48 83 ec 20 sub $0x20,%rsp
401067: 48 89 fb mov %rdi,%rbx
40106a: 64 48 8b 04 25 28 00 mov %fs:0x28,%rax
401071: 00 00
401073: 48 89 44 24 18 mov %rax,0x18(%rsp)
401078: 31 c0 xor %eax,%eax
40107a: e8 9c 02 00 00 callq 40131b <string_length>
40107f: 83 f8 06 cmp $0x6,%eax
401082: 74 4e je 4010d2 <phase_5+0x70>
401084: e8 b1 03 00 00 callq 40143a <explode_bomb>
401089: eb 47 jmp 4010d2 <phase_5+0x70>
40108b: 0f b6 0c 03 movzbl (%rbx,%rax,1),%ecx
40108f: 88 0c 24 mov %cl,(%rsp)
401092: 48 8b 14 24 mov (%rsp),%rdx
401096: 83 e2 0f and $0xf,%edx
401099: 0f b6 92 b0 24 40 00 movzbl 0x4024b0(%rdx),%edx
4010a0: 88 54 04 10 mov %dl,0x10(%rsp,%rax,1)
4010a4: 48 83 c0 01 add $0x1,%rax
4010a8: 48 83 f8 06 cmp $0x6,%rax
4010ac: 75 dd jne 40108b <phase_5+0x29>
4010ae: c6 44 24 16 00 movb $0x0,0x16(%rsp)
4010b3: be 5e 24 40 00 mov $0x40245e,%esi
4010b8: 48 8d 7c 24 10 lea 0x10(%rsp),%rdi
4010bd: e8 76 02 00 00 callq 401338 <strings_not_equal>
4010c2: 85 c0 test %eax,%eax
4010c4: 74 13 je 4010d9 <phase_5+0x77>
4010c6: e8 6f 03 00 00 callq 40143a <explode_bomb>
4010cb: 0f 1f 44 00 00 nopl 0x0(%rax,%rax,1)
4010d0: eb 07 jmp 4010d9 <phase_5+0x77>
4010d2: b8 00 00 00 00 mov $0x0,%eax
4010d7: eb b2 jmp 40108b <phase_5+0x29>
4010d9: 48 8b 44 24 18 mov 0x18(%rsp),%rax
4010de: 64 48 33 04 25 28 00 xor %fs:0x28,%rax
4010e5: 00 00
4010e7: 74 05 je 4010ee <phase_5+0x8c>
4010e9: e8 42 fa ff ff callq 400b30 <__stack_chk_fail@plt>
4010ee: 48 83 c4 20 add $0x20,%rsp
4010f2: 5b pop %rbx
4010f3: c3 retq After inspecting the code, you should figure out that the length of the string must be 6. Then you set a breakpoint at 4010b3 and find the target string to be "flyers". Up till now, there shouldn't be any difficulties.
Then the tricky part comes. You encounter with a loop and you can't find out what it is doing easily. However, you know that the loop is doing some transitions on your input string.
I try a input sequence "aaaaaa" and get the value after transitions doesn't change at all, which means that the output of a given input is unique. Then you can solve this problem by making a table(Yeah, it may seem silly, but I think it's the most convenient way). I will list some transitions here:
| alpha | after transition |
|---|---|
| a | 97 |
| i | 102 |
| o | 108 |
| n | 121 |
| e | 101 |
| f | 114 |
| g | 115 |
The ascii code of "flyers" should be "102, 108, 121, 101, 114, 115". You create a table using the method above, and then you get the answer to be "ionefg".
This part is really long. Actually I'm not that patient and I didn't go through this part on my own. There exists a linked list structure under these codes. I'll paste the code here
00000000004010f4 <phase_6>:
4010f4: 41 56 push %r14
4010f6: 41 55 push %r13
4010f8: 41 54 push %r12
4010fa: 55 push %rbp
4010fb: 53 push %rbx
4010fc: 48 83 ec 50 sub $0x50,%rsp
401100: 49 89 e5 mov %rsp,%r13
401103: 48 89 e6 mov %rsp,%rsi
401106: e8 51 03 00 00 callq 40145c <read_six_numbers>
40110b: 49 89 e6 mov %rsp,%r14
40110e: 41 bc 00 00 00 00 mov $0x0,%r12d
401114: 4c 89 ed mov %r13,%rbp
401117: 41 8b 45 00 mov 0x0(%r13),%eax
40111b: 83 e8 01 sub $0x1,%eax
40111e: 83 f8 05 cmp $0x5,%eax
401121: 76 05 jbe 401128 <phase_6+0x34>
401123: e8 12 03 00 00 callq 40143a <explode_bomb>
401128: 41 83 c4 01 add $0x1,%r12d
40112c: 41 83 fc 06 cmp $0x6,%r12d
401130: 74 21 je 401153 <phase_6+0x5f>
401132: 44 89 e3 mov %r12d,%ebx
401135: 48 63 c3 movslq %ebx,%rax
401138: 8b 04 84 mov (%rsp,%rax,4),%eax
40113b: 39 45 00 cmp %eax,0x0(%rbp)
40113e: 75 05 jne 401145 <phase_6+0x51>
401140: e8 f5 02 00 00 callq 40143a <explode_bomb>
401145: 83 c3 01 add $0x1,%ebx
401148: 83 fb 05 cmp $0x5,%ebx
40114b: 7e e8 jle 401135 <phase_6+0x41>
40114d: 49 83 c5 04 add $0x4,%r13
401151: eb c1 jmp 401114 <phase_6+0x20>
401153: 48 8d 74 24 18 lea 0x18(%rsp),%rsi
401158: 4c 89 f0 mov %r14,%rax
40115b: b9 07 00 00 00 mov $0x7,%ecx
401160: 89 ca mov %ecx,%edx
401162: 2b 10 sub (%rax),%edx
401164: 89 10 mov %edx,(%rax)
401166: 48 83 c0 04 add $0x4,%rax
40116a: 48 39 f0 cmp %rsi,%rax
40116d: 75 f1 jne 401160 <phase_6+0x6c>
40116f: be 00 00 00 00 mov $0x0,%esi
401174: eb 21 jmp 401197 <phase_6+0xa3>
401176: 48 8b 52 08 mov 0x8(%rdx),%rdx
40117a: 83 c0 01 add $0x1,%eax
40117d: 39 c8 cmp %ecx,%eax
40117f: 75 f5 jne 401176 <phase_6+0x82>
401181: eb 05 jmp 401188 <phase_6+0x94>
401183: ba d0 32 60 00 mov $0x6032d0,%edx
401188: 48 89 54 74 20 mov %rdx,0x20(%rsp,%rsi,2)
40118d: 48 83 c6 04 add $0x4,%rsi
401191: 48 83 fe 18 cmp $0x18,%rsi
401195: 74 14 je 4011ab <phase_6+0xb7>
401197: 8b 0c 34 mov (%rsp,%rsi,1),%ecx
40119a: 83 f9 01 cmp $0x1,%ecx
40119d: 7e e4 jle 401183 <phase_6+0x8f>
40119f: b8 01 00 00 00 mov $0x1,%eax
4011a4: ba d0 32 60 00 mov $0x6032d0,%edx
4011a9: eb cb jmp 401176 <phase_6+0x82>
4011ab: 48 8b 5c 24 20 mov 0x20(%rsp),%rbx
4011b0: 48 8d 44 24 28 lea 0x28(%rsp),%rax
4011b5: 48 8d 74 24 50 lea 0x50(%rsp),%rsi
4011ba: 48 89 d9 mov %rbx,%rcx
4011bd: 48 8b 10 mov (%rax),%rdx
4011c0: 48 89 51 08 mov %rdx,0x8(%rcx)
4011c4: 48 83 c0 08 add $0x8,%rax
4011c8: 48 39 f0 cmp %rsi,%rax
4011cb: 74 05 je 4011d2 <phase_6+0xde>
4011cd: 48 89 d1 mov %rdx,%rcx
4011d0: eb eb jmp 4011bd <phase_6+0xc9>
4011d2: 48 c7 42 08 00 00 00 movq $0x0,0x8(%rdx)
4011d9: 00
4011da: bd 05 00 00 00 mov $0x5,%ebp
4011df: 48 8b 43 08 mov 0x8(%rbx),%rax
4011e3: 8b 00 mov (%rax),%eax
4011e5: 39 03 cmp %eax,(%rbx)
4011e7: 7d 05 jge 4011ee <phase_6+0xfa>
4011e9: e8 4c 02 00 00 callq 40143a <explode_bomb>
4011ee: 48 8b 5b 08 mov 0x8(%rbx),%rbx
4011f2: 83 ed 01 sub $0x1,%ebp
4011f5: 75 e8 jne 4011df <phase_6+0xeb>
4011f7: 48 83 c4 50 add $0x50,%rsp
4011fb: 5b pop %rbx
4011fc: 5d pop %rbp
4011fd: 41 5c pop %r12
4011ff: 41 5d pop %r13
401201: 41 5e pop %r14
401203: c3 retq I should say the first half of the code is plain. You get to know that the input sequence must be an arbitary combination of number 1,2,3,4,5,6. Then you may not find the key to the second part(at least I didn't). The numbers you enter are used to sort a linked list actually. For more information, you can refer to this document, which gives a handy tutorial on the phase 6.
I will omit this part here, you can refer to this document