Activity 2: Process Memory Layout

Abstract

This activity aims to introduce students to the memory layout for processes that execute within a computer system. It is the second in a series of guided inquiry learning style activities that are intended to be incorporated into the Software Security module of a junior / senior level undergraduate course on Introduction to Security and Privacy.  Students are expected to have completed the first activity in the series  - Activity 1: Introduction to C - where they are expected to learn how to create simple C programs using variables, functions and arrays ; understand the structure of strings in C, their memory composition in bytes and the unsafe C function strcpy() ; create and run a C program that uses command-line arguments. Upon completion of the current activity, students should be able to describe the different segments within the main memory of a computer, their growth directions, and relative positions ; describe a stack pointer and program counter, what constitutes a stack frame, how and when they are added and removed from the stack and recognize the current state of the stack when given a program and the current place of execution ; and correctly identify the values of argv and argc when given a command-line input. Students are also expected to develop critical thinking and information processing skills as they work through this activity.

Level: Undergraduate
Setting: Classroom 
Activity Type: Learning Cycle
Discipline: Computer Science
Course: Cybersecurity
Keywords: memory layout, stack, stack frame, buffer overflow, command-line parameters