How to set a value in the Windows registry in assembly language? - windows

Ok. So I have this program that attempts to create a value in the Windows registry. Unfortunately, nothing happens. I have been trying to figure out if any of the parameters are wrong. Here is the code:
includelib \Masm64\Lib\Kernel32.lib
includelib \Masm64\Lib\Advapi32.lib
extern RegOpenKeyExA : proc
extern RegSetValueExA : proc
extern ExitProcess : proc
dseg segment para 'DATA'
vlnm db 'Startup', 0
sbky db 'Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run', 0
phkr dd 0
path db 'C:\Users\School\AppData\Roaming\Startups.exe', 0
dseg ends
cseg segment para 'CODE'
start proc
lea rdx, [phkr]
push rdx
sub rsp, 28h
mov r9d, 2
xor r8d, r8d
lea rdx, [sbky]
mov ecx, 80000001h
call RegOpenKeyExA
add rsp, 28h
push 45
lea rbx, [path]
push rbx
sub rsp, 28h
mov r9d, 1
xor r8d, r8d
lea rdx, [vlnm]
mov ecx, phkr
call RegSetValueExA
call ExitProcess
start endp
cseg ends
end
Any suggestions?

Allow me to answer my own question. The problem does not truly concern incorrect parameters, but a mistake that I made allocating stack space. Whereas I was expected to allocate 20h of stack space for rcx, rdx, r8, and r9, and align the return address on a 16-byte boundary, I had mistakenly created a template as follows:
*empty* (rsp-8)
param2 (rsp-16)
param1 (rsp-24)
*empty* (rsp-32... causes incorrect parameters and convention!)
space for r9 (rsp-40)
space for r8 (rsp-48)
space for rdx (rsp-56)
space for rcx (rsp-64)
return address (rsp-72... not on a 16-byte boundary!)
The correct template would be
*empty* (rsp-8)
param2 (rsp-16)
param1 (rsp-24)
space for r9 (rsp-32)
space for r8 (rsp-40)
space for rdx (rsp-48)
space for rcx (rsp-56)
return address (rsp-64)
I had unintentionally allocated an extra 8 bytes between the stack parameters and register parameters, before the RegSetValueEx call, thus supplying an incorrect parameter. Here is the correct code:
includelib \Masm64\Lib\Kernel32.lib
includelib \Masm64\Lib\Advapi32.lib
extern RegOpenKeyExA : proc
extern RegSetValueExA : proc
extern ExitProcess : proc
dseg segment para 'DATA'
vlnm db 'Startup', 0
sbky db 'Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run', 0
phkr dd 0
path db 'C:\Users\Games\AppData\Roaming\Startups.exe', 0
dseg ends
cseg segment para 'CODE'
start proc
lea rdx, [phky]
push rdx
sub rsp, 20h
mov r9d, 2
xor r8d, r8d
lea rdx, [sbky]
mov ecx, 80000001h
call RegOpenKeyExA
add rsp, 20h
push 44
lea rbx, [path]
push rbx
sub rsp, 20h
mov r9d, 1
xor r8, r8
lea rdx, [vlnm]
mov ecx, phkr
call RegSetValueExA
fini: call ExitProcess
start endp
cseg ends
end
Cheers!

You're only allocating 2 bytes for your key (phkr dw 0). It seems to me like it should be at least 4 bytes.
Apart from that, I suggest that you add some error checks. Both RegOpenKeyEx and RegSetValueEx return non-zero error codes if they fail.

Related

Reversing an array and printing it in x86-64

I am trying to print an array, reverse it, and then print it again. I manage to print it once. I can also make 2 consecutive calls to _printy and it works. But the code breaks with the _reverse function. It does not segfault, it exits with code 24 (I looked online but this seems to mean that the maximum number of file descriptors has been exceeded, and I cannot get what this means in this context). I stepped with a debugger and the loop logic seems to make sense.
I am not passing the array in RDI, because _printy restores the content of that register when it exits. I also tried to load it directly into RDI before calling _reverse but that does not solve the problem.
I cannot figure out what the problem is. Any idea?
BITS 64
DEFAULT REL
; -------------------------------------
; -------------------------------------
; PRINT LIST
; -------------------------------------
; -------------------------------------
%define SYS_WRITE 0x02000004
%define SYS_EXIT 0x02000001
%define SYS_OPEN 0x02000005
%define SYS_CLOSE 0x02000006
%define SYS_READ 0x02000003
%define EXIT_SUCCESS 0
%define STDOUT 1
%define LF 10
%define INT_OFFSET 48
section .text
extern _printf
extern _puts
extern _exit
global _main
_main:
push rbp
lea rdi, [rel array]
call _printy
call _reverse
call _printy
pop rbp
call _exit
_reverse:
push rbp
lea rsi, [rdi + 4 * (length - 1) ]
.LOOP2:
cmp rdi, rsi
jge .DONE2
mov r8, [rdi]
mov r9, [rsi]
mov [rdi], r9
mov [rsi], r8
add rdi,4
sub rsi,4
jmp .LOOP2
.DONE2:
xor rax, rax
lea rdi, [rel array]
pop rbp
ret
_printy:
push rbp
xor rcx, rcx
mov r8, rdi
.loop:
cmp rcx, length
jge .done
push rcx
push r8
lea rdi, [rel msg]
mov rsi, [r8 + rcx * 4]
xor rax, rax
call _printf
pop r8
pop rcx
add rcx, 1
jmp .loop
.done:
xor rax, rax
lea rdi, [rel array]
pop rbp
ret
section .data
array: dd 78, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
length: equ ($ - array) / 4
msg: db "%d => ", 0
Edit with some info from the debugger
Stepping into the _printy function gives the following msg, once reaching the call to _printf.
* thread #1, queue = 'com.apple.main-thread', stop reason = step over failed (Could not create return address breakpoint.)
frame #0: 0x0000000100003f8e a.out`printf
a.out`printf:
-> 0x100003f8e <+0>: jmp qword ptr [rip + 0x4074] ; (void *)0x00007ff80258ef0b: printf
0x100003f94: lea r11, [rip + 0x4075] ; _dyld_private
0x100003f9b: push r11
0x100003f9d: jmp qword ptr [rip + 0x5d] ; (void *)0x00007ff843eeb520: dyld_stub_binder
I am not an expert, but a quick research online led to the following
During the 'thread step-out' command, check that the memory we are about to place a breakpoint in is executable. Previously, if the current function had a nonstandard stack layout/ABI, and had a valid data pointer in the location where the return address is usually located, data corruption would occur when the breakpoint was written. This could lead to an incorrectly reported crash or silent corruption of the program's state. Now, if the above check fails, the command safely aborts.
So after all this might not be a problem (I am also able to track the execution of the printf call). But this is really the only understandable piece of information I am able to extract from the debugger. Deep in some quite obscure (to me) function calls I reach this
* thread #1, queue = 'com.apple.main-thread', stop reason = instruction step into
frame #0: 0x00007ff80256db7f libsystem_c.dylib`flockfile + 10
libsystem_c.dylib`flockfile:
-> 0x7ff80256db7f <+10>: call 0x7ff8025dd480 ; symbol stub for: __error
0x7ff80256db84 <+15>: mov r14d, dword ptr [rax]
0x7ff80256db87 <+18>: mov rdi, qword ptr [rbx + 0x68]
0x7ff80256db8b <+22>: add rdi, 0x8
Target 0: (a.out) stopped.
(lldb)
Process 61913 stopped
* thread #1, queue = 'com.apple.main-thread', stop reason = instruction step into
frame #0: 0x00007ff8025dd480 libsystem_c.dylib`__error
This is one of the function calls happening in _printf.
Ask further questions if there is something more I can do.
Your array consists of int32 numbers aka dd in nasm terminology, but your swap operates on 64 bit numbers:
mov r8, [rdi]
mov r9, [rsi]
mov [rdi], r9
mov [rsi], r8
Assuming you were not after some crazy optimizations where you swap a pair of elements simultaneously you want this to remain in 32 bits:
mov r8d, [rdi]
mov r9d, [rsi]
mov [rdi], r9d
mov [rsi], r8d

How to break infinite loop assembly Windows x64

I'm trying to add arrA and arrB and store the values into arrC and print out.. once I run the code it takes me to infinite loop. How can I break the loop? Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
ExitProcess PROTO
WriteHex64 PROTO
.data
arrA BYTE 10h, 30h
arrB BYTE 0E0h, 40h
arrC BYTE 0, 0
string BYTE ", ", 00h
.code
main PROC
nop
mov rdi, OFFSET arrA
mov rsi, OFFSET arrB
mov rbx, OFFSET arrC
mov rdx, OFFSET string
mov rcx, LENGTHOF arrA
mov rax, 0
L1:
mov rax, [rdi]
mov rax, [rsi]
add rdi, TYPE arrA
add rsi, TYPE arrB
mov [rbx], rax
add rbx, TYPE arrC
call WriteHex64
call WriteString
loop L1
nop
mov ecx, 0
call ExitProcess
main ENDP
END

NASM ReadConsoleA or WriteConsoleA Buffer Debugging Issue

I am writing a NASM Assembly program on Windows to get the user to enter in two single digit numbers, add these together and then output the result. I am trying to use the Windows API for input and output.
Unfortunately, whilst I can get it to read in one number as soon as the program loops round to get the second the program ends rather than asking for the second value.
The output of the program shown below:
What is interesting is that if I input 1 then the value displayed is one larger so it is adding to something!
This holds for other single digits (2-9) entered as well.
I am pretty sure it is related to how I am using the ReadConsoleA function but I have hit a bit of a wall attempting to find a solution. I have installed gdb to debug the program and assembled it as follows:
nasm -f win64 -g -o task9.obj task9.asm
GoLink /console /entry _main task9.obj kernel32.dll
gdb task9
But I just get the following error:
"C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop/task9.exe": not in executable format: File format not recognized
I have since read that NASM doesn't output the debug information needed for the Win64 format but I am not 100% sure about that. I am fairly sure I have the 64-bit version of GDB installed:
My program is as follows:
extern ExitProcess ;windows API function to exit process
extern WriteConsoleA ;windows API function to write to the console window (ANSI version)
extern ReadConsoleA ;windows API function to read from the console window (ANSI version)
extern GetStdHandle ;windows API to get the for the console handle for input/output
section .data ;the .data section is where variables and constants are defined
STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE equ -11
STD_INPUT_HANDLE equ -10
digits db '0123456789' ;list of digits
input_message db 'Please enter your next number: '
length equ $-input_message
section .bss ;the .bss section is where space is reserved for additional variables
input_buffer: resb 2 ;reserve 64 bits for user input
char_written: resb 4
chars: resb 1 ;reversed for use with write operation
section .text ;the .text section is where the program code goes
global _main ;tells the machine which label to start program execution from
_num_to_str:
cmp rax, 0 ;compare value in rax to 0
jne .convert ;if not equal then jump to label
jmp .output
.convert:
;get next digit value
inc r15 ;increment the counter for next digit
mov rcx, 10
xor rdx, rdx ;clear previous remainder result
div rcx ;divide value in rax by value in rcx
;quotient (result) stored in rax
;remainder stored in rdx
push rdx ;store remainder on the stack
jmp _num_to_str
.output:
pop rdx ;get the last digit from the stack
;convert digit value to ascii character
mov r10, digits ;load the address of the digits into rsi
add r10, rdx ;get the character of the digits string to display
mov rdx, r10 ;digit to print
mov r8, 1 ;one byte to be output
call _print
;decide whether to loop
dec r15 ;reduce remaining digits (having printed one)
cmp r15, 0 ;are there digits left to print?
jne .output ;if not equal then jump to label output
ret
_print:
;get the output handle
mov rcx, STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE ;specifies that the output handle is required
call GetStdHandle ;returns value for handle to rax
mov rcx, rax
mov r9, char_written
call WriteConsoleA
ret
_read:
;get the input handle
mov rcx, STD_INPUT_HANDLE ;specifies that the input handle is required
call GetStdHandle
;get value from keyboard
mov rcx, rax ;place the handle for operation
mov rdx, input_buffer ;set name to receive input from keyboard
mov r8, 2 ;max number of characters to read
mov r9, chars ;stores the number of characters actually read
call ReadConsoleA
movzx r12, byte[input_buffer]
ret
_get_value:
mov rdx, input_message ;move the input message into rdx for function call
mov r8, length ;load the length of the message for function call
call _print
xor r8, r8
xor r9, r9
call _read
.end:
ret
_main:
mov r13, 0 ;counter for values input
mov r14, 0 ;total for calculation
.loop:
xor r12, r12
call _get_value ;get value from user
sub r12, '0' ;convert char to integer
add r14, r12 ;add value to total
;decide whether to loop for another character or not
inc r13
cmp r13, 2
jne .loop
;convert total to ASCII value
mov rax, r14 ;num_to_str expects total in rax
mov r15, 0 ;num_to_str uses r15 as a counter - must be initialised
call _num_to_str
;exit the program
mov rcx, 0 ;exit code
call ExitProcess
I would really appreciate any assistance you can offer either with resolving the issue or how to resolve the issue with gdb.
I found the following issues with your code:
Microsoft x86-64 convention mandates rsp be 16 byte aligned.
You must reserve space for the arguments on the stack, even if you pass them in registers.
Your chars variable needs 4 bytes not 1.
ReadConsole expects 5 arguments.
You should read 3 bytes because ReadConsole returns CR LF. Or you could just ignore leading whitespace.
Your _num_to_str is broken if the input is 0.
Based on Jester's suggestions this is the final program:
extern ExitProcess ;windows API function to exit process
extern WriteConsoleA ;windows API function to write to the console window (ANSI version)
extern ReadConsoleA ;windows API function to read from the console window (ANSI version)
extern GetStdHandle ;windows API to get the for the console handle for input/output
section .data ;the .data section is where variables and constants are defined
STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE equ -11
STD_INPUT_HANDLE equ -10
digits db '0123456789' ;list of digits
input_message db 'Please enter your next number: '
length equ $-input_message
NULL equ 0
section .bss ;the .bss section is where space is reserved for additional variables
input_buffer: resb 3 ;reserve 64 bits for user input
char_written: resb 4
chars: resb 4 ;reversed for use with write operation
section .text ;the .text section is where the program code goes
global _main ;tells the machine which label to start program execution from
_num_to_str:
sub rsp, 32
cmp rax, 0
jne .next_digit
push rax
inc r15
jmp .output
.next_digit:
cmp rax, 0 ;compare value in rax to 0
jne .convert ;if not equal then jump to label
jmp .output
.convert:
;get next digit value
inc r15 ;increment the counter for next digit
mov rcx, 10
xor rdx, rdx ;clear previous remainder result
div rcx ;divide value in rax by value in rcx
;quotient (result) stored in rax
;remainder stored in rdx
sub rsp, 8 ;add space on stack for value
push rdx ;store remainder on the stack
jmp .next_digit
.output:
pop rdx ;get the last digit from the stack
add rsp, 8 ;remove space from stack for popped value
;convert digit value to ascii character
mov r10, digits ;load the address of the digits into rsi
add r10, rdx ;get the character of the digits string to display
mov rdx, r10 ;digit to print
mov r8, 1 ;one byte to be output
call _print
;decide whether to loop
dec r15 ;reduce remaining digits (having printed one)
cmp r15, 0 ;are there digits left to print?
jne .output ;if not equal then jump to label output
add rsp, 32
ret
_print:
sub rsp, 40
;get the output handle
mov rcx, STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE ;specifies that the output handle is required
call GetStdHandle ;returns value for handle to rax
mov rcx, rax
mov r9, char_written
mov rax, qword 0 ;fifth argument
mov qword [rsp+0x20], rax
call WriteConsoleA
add rsp, 40
ret
_read:
sub rsp, 40
;get the input handle
mov rcx, STD_INPUT_HANDLE ;specifies that the input handle is required
call GetStdHandle
;get value from keyboard
mov rcx, rax ;place the handle for operation
xor rdx, rdx
mov rdx, input_buffer ;set name to receive input from keyboard
mov r8, 3 ;max number of characters to read
mov r9, chars ;stores the number of characters actually read
mov rax, qword 0 ;fifth argument
mov qword [rsp+0x20], rax
call ReadConsoleA
movzx r12, byte[input_buffer]
add rsp, 40
ret
_get_value:
sub rsp, 40
mov rdx, input_message ;move the input message into rdx for function call
mov r8, length ;load the length of the message for function call
call _print
call _read
.end:
add rsp, 40
ret
_main:
sub rsp, 40
mov r13, 0 ;counter for values input
mov r14, 0 ;total for calculation
.loop:
call _get_value ;get value from user
sub r12, '0' ;convert char to integer
add r14, r12 ;add value to total
;decide whether to loop for another character or not
inc r13
cmp r13, 2
jne .loop
;convert total to ASCII value
mov rax, r14 ;num_to_str expects total in rax
mov r15, 0 ;num_to_str uses r15 as a counter - must be initialised
call _num_to_str
;exit the program
mov rcx, 0 ;exit code
call ExitProcess
add rsp, 40
ret
As it turned out I was actually missing a 5th argument in the WriteConsole function as well.

x64 asm ret lands in no mans land

I assumed I had push'ed something without popping it, or vice versa, but I can't find anything wrong! I write to the console with a call to a dll that links properly, and I inexplicably am in no mans land... (address 0x0000000000000000)
I've put some sleeps in, and I'm sure that the api call WriteConsoleA is returning. It's on my last ret under the print function.
Any ideas?
.exe:
extern FreeConsole
extern Sleep
extern ExitProcess
extern print
extern newconsole
extern strlen
section .data BITS 64
title: db 'Consolas!',0
message: db 'Hello, world',0,0
section .text bits 64
global Start
Start:
mov rcx, title
call newconsole
mov rcx, 1000
call Sleep
mov rcx, message
call print
mov rcx, 10000
call Sleep
call FreeConsole
xor rcx, rcx
call ExitProcess
.dll:
extern AllocConsole
extern SetConsoleTitleA
extern GetStdHandle
extern WriteConsoleA
extern Sleep
export newconsole
export strlen
export print
section .data BITS 64
console.writehandle: dq 0
console.readhandle: dq 0
console.write.result: dq 0
section .text BITS 64
global strlen
strlen:
push rax
push rdx
push rdi
mov rdi, rcx
xor rax, rax
mov rcx, dword -1
cld
repnz scasb
neg rcx
sub rcx, 2
pop rdi
pop rdx
pop rax
ret
global print
print:
mov rbp, rsp
push rcx
call strlen
mov r8, rcx
pop rdx
mov rcx, [console.writehandle]
mov r9, console.write.result
push qword 0
call WriteConsoleA
ret
global newconsole
newconsole:
push rax
push rcx
call AllocConsole
pop rcx
call SetConsoleTitleA
mov rcx, -11
call GetStdHandle
mov [console.writehandle], rax
pop rax
ret
I assume you're talking about this function:
global print
print:
mov rbp, rsp
push rcx
call strlen
mov r8, rcx
pop rdx
mov rcx, [console.writehandle]
mov r9, console.write.result
push qword 0
call WriteConsoleA
ret
The x64 ABI requires that stack space is reserved even for parameters passed in registers. WriteConsoleA is free to use those stack locations for whatever it wants - so you need to make sure that you've adjusted the stack appropriately. As it stands, you're pushing only the last reserved pointer parameter. I think something like the following will do the trick for you:
push qword 0
sub rsp, 4 * 8 // reserve stack for register parameters
call WriteConsoleA
mov rsp, rbp // restore rsp
ret
See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms235286.aspx (emphasis added):
The x64 Application Binary Interface (ABI) is a 4 register fast-call calling convention, with stack-backing for those registers.
...
The caller is responsible for allocating space for parameters to the callee, and must always allocate sufficient space for the 4 register parameters, even if the callee doesn’t have that many parameters.
According to calling convention, you have to clean up arguments you put on the stack. In this case that applies to the 5th argument to WriteConsoleA. Since you have a copy of original rsp in rbp, you can reload rsp from rbp, or just add 8 after the call.

Accessing malloc'd memory in assembly

I'm trying to access memory I have malloced in assembly but I keep just repeatedly getting segfault errors. What am I doing wrong in the following code, I'm sure it's simple but I just can't see it!
EDIT: I am using 64 bit NASM assembly
; Allocate room for 8 integers
mov r8, 8
mov rdi, r8
imul rdi, 8 ; Multiply by 8 (8 bytes per entry in 64bit)
xor rax, rax
call malloc
add rsp, 8
test rax, rax
jz malloc_failure
mov r8, rsp
; r8 now = base of array
; Set the first element to be 100
mov r9, 0
add r9, r8
mov qword [r9], 100
malloc_failure:
deallocate_start:
dealloc_1:
mov rdi, r8
xor rax, rax
call free
add rsp, 8
deallocate_end:
call os_return ; return to operating system
And the segfault (Not very interesting...)
matrix05% ./arr5
Segmentation fault
mov r8, 8
mov rdi, r8
imul rdi, 8
xor rax, rax
call malloc
add rsp, 8 ;; here we _add_ 8 bytes to the stack pointer
;; this is equivalent to _popping_ off the stack
;; remember, the x86 stack grows down!
test rax, rax ;; rax is indeed where the return value is..... but:
jz malloc_failure
mov r8, rsp ;; we overwrite r8 with the stack pointer (why??)
; r8 now = base of array ;; no it's not
mov r9, 0
add r9, r8 ;; r9 = r8 = stack pointer
mov qword [r9], 100 ;; we now write 100 to the current stack pointer.
;; The stack pointer initially (on entry to the function)
;; pointed to a return address; where exactly are you overwriting?
malloc_failure:
deallocate_start:
dealloc_1:
mov rdi, r8
xor rax, rax
call free
add rsp, 8 ;; we pop from the stack pointer _again_. I do hope there's a sub rsp, 16 at the top...
deallocate_end:
call os_return ; return to operating system (and probably crash because our stack is FUBAR'd)

Resources