Memory Pointer Manipulation

Memory Pointer Manipulation is a sophisticated sub-technique of Remote Code Execution Exploitation within the Payload Execution tactic, where attackers manipulate memory addresses and pointers to achieve arbitrary code execution. This approach involves identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities that allow for the redirection or corruption of memory pointers, such as function pointers, virtual table pointers (vtables), or Global Offset Table (GOT) entries. By overwriting these critical memory references, attackers can redirect program execution flow to their malicious payload while bypassing conventional security controls. This technique often leverages memory corruption vulnerabilities like use-after-free, type confusion, or uninitialized memory access to achieve the pointer manipulation. Unlike straightforward buffer overflows, these attacks require a deeper understanding of the target application's memory layout and often involve complex multi-stage exploitation chains to achieve successful code execution. Memory pointer manipulation remains a persistent threat in applications written in memory-unsafe languages like C and C++, and can circumvent mitigations such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) and Data Execution Prevention (DEP) when combined with information leakage vulnerabilities.