Software Security Exploitation: Stack, Heap, and ROP Attacks

Learn how real-world exploits work and how to break modern defenses

What you'll learn
Understand software vulnerabilities – Learn how exploits work, explore key attack vectors, and discover how to bypass security protections in Linux-based system
Grasp complex exploitation concepts – Gain deep understanding through clear, real-world analogies and intuitive explanations that simplify even the most advance
Exploit stack overflow vulnerabilities – Get hands-on experience overwriting return addresses, hijacking control flow, and evading modern defenses.
Master Return-Oriented Programming (ROP) attacks – Use tools like ROPgadget and Ropper to craft practical ROP chains and bypass NX-bit protections.
Perform advanced heap exploitation – Learn heap shaping and Heap Feng Shui techniques to manipulate memory layout and exploit real-world heap bugs.
Apply mitigation strategies to harden software – Understand how protections like ASLR, stack canaries, DEP, and CFI help prevent modern memory corruption attack

Requirements
Basic knowledge of C programming – Understanding functions, pointers, and memory management will be helpful.
No prior exploitation experience required! – This course covers everything from basic stack overflows to advanced ROP & heap exploits.
A Linux-based system or VM – Preferably Ubuntu or Kali Linux, for running hands-on labs.
GDB and Python 3 installed – Debugging and crafting exploits require gdb, ROPgadget, and Ropper, which we will install together.

Description
Learn how real-world software exploits work — and how attackers use them to break into systems, bypass protections, and take control.In this hands-on course, you’ll go beyond theory and gain the skills to understand, analyze, and craft memory corruption exploits. You'll explore techniques like stack overflows, Return-Oriented Programming (ROP), and heap spraying — all using real C code, modern Linux targets, and guided labs that connect every concept to practice.We break down complex topics using intuitive explanations, visual examples, and real-world analogies to make advanced exploitation techniques both accessible and actionable.Whether you're a security researcher, defender, reverse engineer, or developer looking to level up your exploitation skills, investigate the "how" behind critical CVEs, or take your first steps into the security world — this course will equip you with the deep understanding and attacker mindset needed to analyze vulnerabilities and understand how modern mitigations are bypassed.What You’ll Learn:How attack vectors and chains unfold — and how they map to real-world exploitsHow ROP chains are constructed from gadgets to bypass NX-bitHow to manipulate heap layout and corrupt function pointersThe purpose and limitations of modern mitigations like ASLR, NX, canaries, and CFIHow stack overflows work and how they’re used to hijack executionHow to think like an attacker — and defend like one tooHands-On Labs Include:Writing and exploiting a classic stack overflowUsing GDB and Python to craft real payloadsFinding ROP gadgets with ROPgadget and analyzing their purposePerforming heap spraying and overriding function pointers in a custom binary

Who this course is for
Aspiring Exploit Developers/Defenders & Security Enthusiasts – If you want to move beyond theory and actually exploit and defend against real vulnerabilities, this course will give you the foundational hands-on experience you need.
Cybersecurity Professionals & Pentesters – If you're in offensive security, red teaming, or penetration testing, this course will level up your exploitation skills with hands-on stack, heap, and ROP attacks.
Developers & Software Engineers – Understand how vulnerabilities are exploited so you can write secure code and defend against memory attacks.
CTF Players & Ethical Hackers – Competing in Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions? This course provides practical skills to solve binary exploitation challenges.
Students & Enthusiasts Interested in Exploitation – If you’re curious about memory corruption, exploitation, and security mitigations, this course guides you from basics to advanced techniques.
Security Researchers & Reverse Engineers – Looking to level up your advanced exploitation capabilities? This course provides everything you need to get started with your first real memory exploit.