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---
name: exploiting-heap-grooming-techniques
description: >-
  Exploit heap memory through grooming techniques to achieve controlled memory layouts, enabling reliable exploitation of heap overflows, use-after-free, and double-free vulnerabilities.
domain: cybersecurity
subdomain: binary-exploitation
tags:
  - heap-grooming
  - heap-spray
  - memory-layout
  - controlled-allocation
version: "1.0"
author: defconxt
license: AGPL-3.0
metadata:
  mitre-attack: ["T1203"]
  frameworks: ["MITRE ATT&CK", "CWE-122"]
  tools: ["gdb", "pwntools", "heap-analysis"]
---

# Exploiting Heap Grooming Techniques

## Overview

Exploit heap memory through grooming techniques to achieve controlled memory layouts, enabling reliable exploitation of heap overflows, use-after-free, and double-free vulnerabilities.

## Prerequisites

| Tool / Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| `gdb` | Security tooling |
| `pwntools` | Security tooling |
| `heap-analysis` | Security tooling |
| GDB with heap visualization, pwntools, understanding of allocator internals (ptmalloc, jemalloc) | Environment requirement |

## Quick Reference

```bash
# Quick start commands
node scripts/agent.js --help
node scripts/agent.js analyze --binary ./target --allocator ptmalloc
```

## Workflow

### Step 1: Analyze Heap Layout

```bash
node scripts/agent.js analyze --binary ./target --allocator ptmalloc
```

### Step 2: Groom Heap State

```bash
node scripts/agent.js groom --binary ./target --strategy fill-holes
```

### Step 3: Exploit Controlled Layout

```bash
node scripts/agent.js exploit --binary ./target --primitive overlapping-chunks
```

## Detection

```yaml
title: Exploiting Heap Grooming Techniques Detection
id: 29035d56-dd14-45fa-b58c-ed271c69c360
status: experimental
description: Detects suspicious activity related to exploiting heap grooming techniques techniques in binary exploitation context
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    CommandLine: "*exploiting*heap*"
  condition: selection
level: critical
tags:
  - attack.t1203
  - attack.execution
falsepositives:
  - Vulnerability scanner testing known exploit signatures
```


**Detection Opportunities**

| Indicator | Source | Detection Logic |
|---|---|---|
| Exploiting Heap Grooming Techniques Detection | windows/process_creation | Sigma rule (critical) |
| ATT&CK Coverage | MITRE ATT&CK | T1203 |

## Verification

- **Verify heap state**: `node scripts/agent.js analyze --binary ./target --allocator ptmalloc`
- **Confirm exploitation**: `node scripts/agent.js exploit --binary ./target --primitive overlapping-chunks`

## References

- MITRE ATT&CK: T1203
- Frameworks: MITRE ATT&CK, CWE-122
- Tools: gdb, pwntools, heap-analysis
