How Can I Execute an Executable Directly from Memory Without Writing to Disk?

Executing Executables from Memory

In certain scenarios during program development, the need arises to execute an executable binary directly from memory without involving file operations like writing to disk or employing system calls like exec or fork. This article will explore a potential solution for executing an executable within a program without writing it back to the disk.

Solution: Leveraging Memory Protection

In the context of C language, the mprotect() system call can be employed to manipulate the memory protection attributes of a specific memory region. By invoking mprotect(), one can alter the access permissions for a memory segment, allowing it to be executed as code.

Once the memory region is configured as executable, the program can execute code stored within that region by performing a direct jump into the memory. This technique eliminates the need for intermediary file operations, such as writing the executable to disk and subsequently invoking it.

Implementation in Go

Although the provided solution is described in terms of C language, it can be implemented in Go using the CGO package, which enables the integration of C code within a Go application. By utilizing CGO, it is possible to bridge the gap between Go and C, thereby facilitating the execution of the proposed solution within a Go program.

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