With Category Theory in View

● ●

● ●

Dmitry Vostokov
Software Diagnostics Services
Prerequisites

 Development experience

and (optional)

 Basic process core dump analysis

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Training Goals

 Review fundamentals of Linux API

 Learn diagnostic analysis techniques

 See how Linux API knowledge is used

during diagnostics and debugging

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Training Principles

 Talk only about what I can show

 Lots of pictures

 Lots of examples

 Original content and examples

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Schedule

 Review of relevant x64 and A64 disassembly

 General Linux API aspects
 Linux API formalization
 Linux API and languages
 Linux API classes
 Practical exercises

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Training Idea

 Previous Accelerated Windows API training

 Cybersecurity

 Memory dump analysis

 Reading Windows-based Code training

 Experience writing Linux API monitoring tools

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

General Linux API Aspects
 Header view  Static linking
 Naming convention  Delayed dynamic linking
 Basic type system  API name patterns
 Call types  API namespaces
 Export/import functions  API syntagms/paradigms
 PLT and GOT  Marked API
 Virtual process address space  ADDR patterns
 Calling convention  DebugWare patterns
 API sequences  Memory analysis patterns
 API layers  API tracing
 API and system calls  Trace and log analysis patterns
 API source code  API and errors
 Shared Libraries  API and functional programming
 API usage  API and security
 API internals  API and versioning

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Linux API Formalization
 API compositionality
 Category theory language
 A view of category theory
 Category theory square
 API category
 API functor
 API diagram
 API natural transformation
 Cross-platform API
 API adjunction
 Informal n-API
 API and trace categories
 API I/O

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Linux API and Languages

 C#
 Scala Native
 Golang
 Rust
 Python

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Linux API Classes

 System configuration  Job

 File I/O  Signals
 File control  Thread
 Filesystem  Networking
 Dynamic memory  Time
 Virtual memory  Timers
 Shared libraries  Tracing and logging
 Process  Accounts
 IPC  Terminal

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Links

 Core Dumps
Included in Exercise L0

 Exercise Transcripts
Included in this book

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Exercise L0
 Goal: Install GDB and check if GDB loads a core dump correctly

 Goal: Install WinDbg or Debugging Tools for Windows, or pull Docker

image, and check that symbols are set up correctly

 Memory Analysis Patterns: Stack Trace; Incorrect Stack Trace

 \LAPI-Dumps\Exercise-L0-GDB.pdf

 \LAPI-Dumps\Exercise-L0-WinDbg.pdf

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Why Linux API?
 Development
 Malware analysis
 Vulnerability analysis and exploitation
 Reversing
 Diagnostics
 Debugging
 Monitoring
 Memory forensics
 Crash and hang analysis
 Secure coding
 Static code analysis
 Trace and log analysis
© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services
My History of Linux API
 C runtime library from 1989
 I started using Linux API in 1997 (Old CV)
 Commercial application development in 2000 – 2003
 Reading of Linux API for core dump analysis since 2015
 Teaching foundations of x64 Linux debugging from 2021
 and A64 Linux debugging from 2022, two books
 System programming using Linux API in 2022
 Linux disassembly and reversing course in 2022,
 second edition in 2023
 Third edition of Linux core dump analysis course in 2023
 Commercial core dump analysis service in 2023

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Perspectives of Linux API

 Memory analysis: dumps / live debugging

 Disassembly, reconstruction, reversing

 Trace and log analysis (strace, ltrace, perf,

eBPF, procmon)

 Category theory

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What Linux API?

 Source code perspective

 ABI (Application Binary Interface) perspective

 Libraries
 Syscalls

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API and Language Levels

 Conceptual cross-platform level

 High-level and assembly language

 Machine language

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x64 and A64

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CPU Registers (x64)
 RAX  EAX  AX  {AH, AL} RAX 64-bit EAX 32-bit

 ALU: RAX, RDX

 Counter: RCX

 Memory copy: RSI (src), RDI (dst)

 Stack: RSP, RBP

 Next instruction: RIP

 New: R8 – R15, Rx(D|W|L)

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Instructions: registers (x64)
 Opcode SRC, DST # default AT&T flavour

 Examples:

mov $0x10, %rax # 0x10 → RAX

mov %rsp, %rbp # RSP → RBP
add $0x10, %r10 # R10 + 0x10 → R10
imul %ecx, %edx # ECX * EDX → EDX
callq *%rdx # RDX already contains
# the address of func (&func)
# PUSH RIP; &func → RIP
sub $0x30, %rsp # RSP–0x30 → RSP
# make a room for local variables

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Memory and Stack Addressing
Lower addresses

RSP-0x20 → ← RBP-0x20
RSP-0x18 → ← RBP-0x18
Stack grows

RSP-0x10 → ← RBP-0x10
RSP-0x8 → ← RBP-0x8
RSP → ← RBP
RSP+0x8 → ← RBP+0x8
RSP+0x10 → ← RBP+0x10
RSP+0x18 → ← RBP+0x18
RSP+0x20 → ← RBP+0x20

Higher addresses
© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services
Instructions: memory load (x64)
 Opcode Offset(SRC), DST

 Opcode DST

 Examples:

mov 0x10(%rsp), %rax # value at address RSP+0x10 → RAX

mov -0x10(%rbp), %rcx # value at address RBP-0x10 → RCX
add (%rax), %rdx # RDX + value at address RAX → RDX
pop %rdi # value at address RSP → RDI
# RSP + 8 → RSP
lea 0x20(%rbp), %r8 # address RBP+0x20 → R8

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Instructions: memory store (x64)
 Opcode SRC, Offset(DST)

 Opcode SRC|DST

 Examples:

mov %rcx, -0x20(%rbp) # RCX → value at address RBP-0x20

addl $1, (%rax) # 1 + 32-bit value at address RAX →
# 32-bit value at address RAX
push %rsi # RSP - 8 → RSP
# RSI → value at address RSP
inc (%rcx) # 1 + value at address RCX →
# value at address RCX

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Instructions: flow (x64)
 Opcode DST

 Examples:

jmpq 0x10493fc1c # 0x10493fc1c → RIP

# (goto 0x10493fc1c)

jmpq *0x100(%rip) # value at address RIP+0x100 → RIP

callq 0x10493ff74 # RSP – 8 → RSP

0x10493fc14: # 0x10493fc14 → value at address RSP
# 0x10493ff74 → RIP
# (goto 0x10493ff74)

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Function Call and Prolog (x64)
Lower addresses

# void proc(int p1, long p2);

mov $0x1, %edi RSP-0x20 → ← RBP-0x28
mov $0x2, %rsi
call proc RSP → adr2 ← RBP-0x20

Stack grows
addr: RSP-0x10 → 0 ← RBP-0x8
# void proc2(); RSP-0x8 → RBP ← RBP
# void proc(int p1, long p2) {
# long local = 0; RSP → addr ← RBP-0x8
# proc2();
# } RSP+0x8 → ← RBP
proc: RSP+0x10 → ← RBP+0x8
push %rbp
mov %rsp, %rbp RSP+0x18 → ← RBP+0x10
sub $0x8, %rsp
mov $0, -0x8(%rbp) RSP+0x20 → ← RBP+0x18
call proc2
adr2:
...

Higher addresses
© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services
CPU Registers (A64)
 X0 – X28, W0 – W28 X 64-bit W 32-bit

 X16 (XIP0), X17 (XIP1)

 Stack: SP, X29 (FP)

 Next instruction: PC

 Link register: X30 (LR)

 Zero register: XZR, WZR

 64-bit floating point registers D0 – D31

 128-bit Q0 – Q31
© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services
Instructions: registers (A64)
 Opcode DST, SRC, SRC2

 Examples:

mov x0, #16 // X0 ← 16 (0x10)

mov x29, sp // X29 ← SP
add x1, x2, #16 // X1 ← X2+16 (0x10)
mul x1, x2, x3 // X1 ← X2*X3
blr x8 // X8 already contains
// the address of func (&func)
// LR ← PC+4; PC ← &func
sub sp, sp, #48 // SP ← SP-48 (–0x30)
// make a room for local variables

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Memory and Stack Addressing
Lower addresses

SP-0x20 → ← X29-0x20
Stack grows SP-0x18 → ← X29-0x18
SP-0x10 → ← X29-0x10
SP-0x8 → ← X29-0x8
SP → ← X29
SP+0x8 → ← X29+0x8
SP+0x10 → ← X29+0x10
SP+0x18 → ← X29+0x18
SP+0x20 → ← X29+0x20

Higher addresses
© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services
Instructions: memory load (A64)
 Opcode DST, DST2, [SRC, Offset]

 Opcode DST, DST2, [SRC], Offset // Postincrement

 Examples:

ldr x0, [sp] // X0 ← value at address SP+0

ldr x0, [x29, #-8] // X0 ← value at address X29-0x8
ldp x29, x30, [sp, #32] // X29 ← value at address SP+32 (0x20)
// X30 ← value at address SP+40 (0x28)
ldp x29, x30, [sp], #16 // X29 ← value at address SP+0
// X30 ← value at address SP+8
// SP ← SP+16 (0x10)

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Instructions: memory store (A64)
 Opcode SRC, SRC2, [DST, Offset]

 Opcode SRC, SRC2, [DST, Offset]! // Preincrement

 Examples:

str x0, [sp, #16] // x0 → value at address SP+16 (0x10)

str x0, [x29, #-8] // x0 → value at address X29-8
stp x29, x30, [sp, #32] // x29 → value at address SP+32 (0x20)
// x30 → value at address SP+40 (0x28)
stp x29, x30, [sp, #-16]! // SP ← SP-16 (-0x10)
// x29 → set value at address SP
// x30 → set value at address SP+8

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Instructions: flow (A64)
 Opcode DST, SRC

 Examples:

adrp x0, 0x420000 // x0 ← 0x420000

b 0x10493fc1c // PC ← 0x10493fc1c
// (goto 0x10493fc1c)
br x17 // PC ← the value of X17

0x10493fc14: // PC == 0x10493fc14
bl 0x10493ff74 // LR ← PC+4 (0x10493fc18)
// PC ← 0x10493ff74
// (goto 0x10493ff74)
© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services
Function Call and Prolog (A64)
Lower addresses
X30 adr2
// void proc(int p1, long p2);
mov w0, #0x1 SP → X29 ← X29
mov x1, #0x2
bl proc SP-0x18 → X30 ← X29-0x18

Stack grows
addr: SP+0x10 → 0 ← X29+16
// void proc2(); SP-0x8 → ← X29-0x8
// void proc(int p1, long p2) {
// long local = 0; SP → ← X29
// proc2();
// } SP+0x8 → ← X29+0x8
proc: SP+0x10 → ← X29+0x10
stp x29, x30, [sp, #-32]!
mov x29, sp SP+0x18 → ← X29+0x18
str zxr, [x29, #16]
bl proc2 SP+0x20 → ← X29+0x20
adr2:
...

Higher addresses
© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services
General Linux API Aspects

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Lexicon

 IAT ↔ PLT
 DLL ↔ SO
 Module ↔ Shared Library

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Manual Page and Header Views

 Manual pages (2 and 3)

 Syscalls / overview
 Library calls

 Headers
 Kernel source code cross-reference
 Manual pages 0

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Naming Convention
 Naming conventions

 Functions, types, parameters, fields: twowords,

snake_case
 pthread_create
 pid_t
 tm_sec

 Constants, macros: TWOWORDS, SCREAMING_SNAKE_CASE

 SOCK_STREAM

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

sys/types.h

Basic Type System

 Basic types are typedef-ed

 inttypes.h

 uint64_t

 sys/types.h

 size_t, pid_t

GDB Commands WinDbg Commands

(gdb) info types 0:000> dt *!*

(gdb) info functions 0:000> x *!*

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Call Types (x64)
 Direct (same executable or shared library)
shell_execve:
...
0x000055e16508f807 <+103>: callq 0x55e1650891a0 <file_isdir>

 Indirect
 Pointer (.got.plt)

○ PLT inter-module call

shell_execve:
...
0x000055e16508f89b <+251>: callq 0x55e165078aa0 <open@plt>

open@plt:
...
0x000055e165078aa0 <+0>: jmpq *0xe7aaa(%rip) # 0x55e165160550 <open@got.plt>

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Call Types (A64)
 Direct (same executable or shared library)
shell_execve:
...
0x0000aaaabb6f71e4 <+160>: bl 0xaaaabb742530 <file_status>

 Indirect
 Pointer (.got)

○ PLT inter-module call

shell_execve:
...
0x0000aaaabb6f7210 <+204>: bl 0xaaaabb6d1ec0 <open@plt>

open@plt:
...
0x0000aaaabb6d1ec0 <+0>: adrp x16, 0xaaaabb7ff000
0x0000aaaabb6d1ec4 <+4>: ldr x17, [x16, #1464]
...
0x0000aaaabb6d1ecc <+12>: br x17
© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services
API as Interface
 Provided by (exported from) some .so library

 Used by (imported by) executable or .so

 Can be functional or object-oriented

executable/.so .so

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Exploration Tools

 ldd

 readelf

 objdump

 $ LD_DEBUG=libs bash

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Symbol Import/Export
ELF (app) ELF (libc.so.6)
.plt / .rela.plt .plt / .rela.plt
...
open@plt:
...

.dynsym
...
“open@GLIBC_2.2.5”: open
.dynsym
...
...
“open@GLIBC_2.2.5”
...

open:
...

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Procedure Linkage Table (x64)
ELF (app) ELF (libc.so.6)
.plt/.plt.got .plt/.plt.got
...
open@plt: .got/.got.plt
jmpq *<open@got.plt>
...
.got/.got.plt
... .dynsym
open@got.plt: open
...

.dynsym
2

1 open:
...

...
callq open@plt
...

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Procedure Linkage Table (A64)
ELF (app) ELF (libc.so.6)
.plt .plt
...
open@plt: .got
br *<open@got>
...
.got
... .dynsym
open@got: open
...

.dynsym
2

1 open:
...

...
callq open@plt
...

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Virtual Process Address Space
ELF (app)
ELF (app) .plt
...
open@plt:
.plt
...
...
open@plt:
...
...
callq open@plt
... ...
callq open@plt
...

ELF (libc.so.6)
open:
...

ELF (libc.so.6)
open:
...

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Exercise L1
 Goal: Explore import/export information and calls to shared libraries

 ADDR Patterns: Call Path

 \LAPI-Dumps\Exercise-L1-GDB.pdf

 \LAPI-Dumps\Exercise-L1-WinDbg.pdf

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

VS Code and WSL

 Get started

 Troubleshooting

Add to .bashrc
alias code="'/mnt/c/Users/[USER]/AppData/Local/Programs/Microsoft VS Code/Code.exe'"

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Calling Convention
 ioctl (from documentation)

 Actual declaration (sys/ioctl.h)

extern int ioctl (int __fd, unsigned long int __request, ...) __THROW;

 __THROW is defined in sys/cdefs.h

 Argument passing order (simplified)

 x64 left-to-right via RDI, RSI, RDX, RCX, R8, R9, right-to-left PUSH ...

 A64 left-to-right via X0 – X7, [SP], [SP+8], [SP+16], ...

 System V Application Binary Interface: AMD64 Architecture Processor

Supplement

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Parameter Passing (x64)
Test8params(int p1, int p2, int p3, int p4, int p5, int p6, int p7, int p8);

Caller Callee
EDI (p1) EDI (p1)
ESI (p2) ESI (p2)
EDX (p3) EDX (p3)
ESX (p4) ESX (p4)
R8D (p5) R8D (p5)
R9D (p6) R9D (p6)
call

RSP: 0`p7 RSP: return address

RSP+0x8: 0`p8 RSP+0x8: 0`p7
RSP+0x10: 0`p8

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Parameter Passing (A64)
Test10params(int p1, int p2, int p3, int p4, int p5, int p6, int p7, int p8, int p9, int p10);

Caller Callee
W0 (p1) W0 (p1)
W1 (p2) W1 (p2)
W2 (p3) W2 (p3)
W3 (p4) W3 (p4)
W4 (p5) W4 (p5)
W5 (p6) W5 (p6)
W6 (p7) call W6 (p7)
W7 (p8) W7 (p8)

SP: 0`p9 SP: 0`p9

SP+8: 0`p10 SP+8: 0`p10

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Exercise L2
 Goal: Compare calling conventions on x64 and A64 platforms

 ADDR Patterns: Call Prologue; Call Parameter; Function Prologue

 \LAPI-Dumps\Exercise-L2-GDB.pdf

 \LAPI-Dumps\Exercise-L2-WinDbg.pdf

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Static Linkage

 Example

 core.18256 from /LAPI/x64/static-example

main:
...
callq 0x43c1f0 <sleep>
...
callq 0x43d6e0 <ioctl>
...

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Shared Libraries
a.so

executable libc.so

b.so

GDB Commands WinDbg Commands

(gdb) info sharedlibrary 0:000> lm

(gdb) info files 0:000> x mpattern!pattern

(gdb) info functions pattern 0:000> x *!pattern

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Modules and Analysis Patterns

 Module memory analysis patterns

 Module Collection
 Coupled Modules
 Duplicated Module

 Namespace malware analysis pattern

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Exercise L3
 Goal: Explore shared libraries and their dependencies

 Memory Analysis Patterns: Module Collection; Coupled

Modules; Value References

 Malware Analysis Patterns: Namespace

 \LAPI-Dumps\Exercise-L3-GDB.pdf

 \LAPI-Dumps\Exercise-L3-WinDbg.pdf

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API Usage

 Module usage (static analysis)

 Hidden Module

 Function usage (dynamic analysis)

GDB Commands

(gdb) break function

(gdb) rbreak regex

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Exercise L4
 Goal: Find usage of specific Linux API functions

 Debugging Implementation Patterns: Code Breakpoint;

Breakpoint Action

 \LAPI-Dumps\Exercise-L4-GDB.pdf

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Delayed Dynamic Linking

 First call:
open@plt:
0x0000555555581aa0 <+0>: jmpq *0xe7aaa(%rip) # 0x555555669550 <open@got.plt>
0x0000555555581aa6 <+6>: pushq $0xa7
0x0000555555581aab <+11>: jmpq 0x555555581020 DL

 Subsequent calls:
LIBC
open@plt:
0x0000555555581aa0 <+0>: jmpq *0xe7aaa(%rip) # 0x555555669550 <open@got.plt>
0x0000555555581aa6 <+6>: pushq $0xa7
0x0000555555581aab <+11>: jmpq 0x555555581020

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Exercise L5
 Goal: Explore the delayed dynamic linking

 Debugging Implementation Patterns: Code Breakpoint; Break-in

 ADDR Patterns: Call Path

 \LAPI-Dumps\Exercise-L5-GDB.pdf

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API Sequences (Prescriptive)

 open, …, close

 malloc, …, free

 pthread_create, …, pthread_join

 socket, …, bind, …, listen, …, accept

 wl_surface_damage, …, wl_surface_attach, …,
wl_surface_commit

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API Sequences (Descriptive)

 Horizontal

 Code disassembly
 Traces and logs (Thread of Activity analysis pattern)

 Vertical

 Stack trace
 Traces and logs (Fiber Bundle analysis pattern)

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API Layers
liba_a libb

liba_b libpthread

liba_c libc

syscalls

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API Internals

 Memory analysis patterns:

 Hooked Functions (User Space)
 Module patterns
GDB Commands
○ Hooked Modules
(gdb) disassemble function

(gdb) x/<n>i address

 Malware analysis patterns:
WinDbg Commands
 Patched Code 0:000> !for_each_module

0:000> u fname

0:000> uf /c fname

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API and System Calls
 Syscall numbers and arguments

 API that does not require syscalls

 strlen
 malloc
 fread

 API that requires kernel services

 getpid
 mmap
 read

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Exercise L6
 Goal: Explore API layers and internals of specific API functions;
check whether the selected API functions use system calls

 ADDR Patterns: Function Skeleton; Call Path

 \LAPI-Dumps\Exercise-L6-GDB.pdf

 \LAPI-Dumps\Exercise-L6-WinDbg.pdf

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API Name Patterns

 create/open/delete/close

 pthread

 display/surface/window

 alloc/free GDB Commands

(gdb) info functions pattern

 read/write WinDbg Commands

0:000> x module!fpattern

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API Namespaces

 Functions required to accomplish a particular task

 Example: network communication

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API Syntagms/Paradigms

 Syntagms / syntagmatic analysis

 Paradigms / paradigmatic analysis

create_a
Paradigmatic axis

b_create

open wait close

Syntagmatic axis

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Marked API

 Marked Message trace and log analysis pattern

 Points to the presence or absence of activity

 Example:

 execve [-]
 socket [+]
 connect [+]
GDB Commands
 create [-] (gdb) info functions @plt

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

ADDR Patterns

 From Accelerated Disassembly Deconstruction

Reversing

 List of pattern names

 Pattern descriptions

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

DebugWare Patterns

 Patterns for troubleshooting and debugging

tools

 API Query

Periodic or asynchronous query of the same set of

APIs and logging of their input and output data.

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Patterns vs. Analysis Patterns
Diagnostic Pattern: a common recurrent identifiable problem together with a set of
recommendations and possible solutions to apply in a specific context.

Diagnostic Problem: a set of indicators (symptoms, signs) describing a problem.

Diagnostic Analysis Pattern: a common recurrent analysis technique and method

of diagnostic pattern identification in a specific context.

Diagnostics Pattern Language: common names of diagnostic and diagnostic analysis

patterns. The same language for any operating system: Windows, macOS, Linux, ...

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Memory Analysis Patterns

 User space
 Process memory dumps

 Function analysis patterns

• Stack Trace Collection • Stack Trace
• Well-Tested Function • Execution Residue
• False Function Parameters • Hidden Parameter
• String Parameter • Parameter Flow
• Small Value / Design Value • Data Correlation

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Thread and Adjoint Thread

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Trace and Log Analysis Patterns

 Function calls:
• Thread of Activity
• Fiber of Activity
• Adjoint Thread of Activity
• Strand of Activity
• Discontinuity
• Fiber Bundle
• Weave of Activity

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API and Errors

 errno.h (values)

 errno

 rtld_errno

 GDB needs an executable linked with –pthread

 FS (x64) and TPIDR_EL0 (ARM64) TLS ABI

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Exercise L7
 Goal: Explore error handling implementation in Linux API

 ADDR Patterns: Call Epilogue

 Memory Analysis Patterns: Last Error Collection

 \LAPI-Dumps\Exercise-L7-GDB.pdf

 \LAPI-Dumps\Exercise-L7-WinDbg.pdf

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API and Functional Programming
 Referential transparency

 strlen

strlen(s), strlen(s) → n, n

 read

read(fd, buf, len),

read(fd, buf, len) → n1, n2

 Side effects

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API and Security

 Maliciousness: What, When, Where

 SecQuant: Quantifying Container System Call Exposure

 System call risk level classification / syscalls / masks

 Vulnerability: How

 SAST
 Static code analysis tools

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API and Versioning

 Windows: Ex-suffix, longer descriptive function names

CopyFile/CopyFileEx
CreateThread/CreateRemoteThread

 Linux: numbering, shorter prefixes/suffixes

openat/openat2
accept/accept4
read/pread/readv/preadv/preadv2

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Linux API Formalization
Ideas from Conceptual Mathematics

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API Compositionality

 Principle of compositionality

API call Code glue

API call Code glue

Code glue
API call
API call

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Category Theory Language
 Category

 Objects
 Arrows between objects (must be transitive, if A → B and B → C then A → C)

 Functor

 Arrow between categories (can be the same category)

 Maps objects to objects and arrows to arrows

 Natural Transformation

 Arrows between functors in a category of functors

 Adjunction

 Relationship between functors, change of perspective, back translation

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A View of Category Theory
Category
Category
Functor

Functor Adjoint
Functors

Category

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Category Theory Square

Category Functor

Natural
Adjunction
Transformation

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API Category
 API as objects, glue code as arrows

 API as arrows, glue code as objects fails at composition

 Initial and terminal API objects in subcategories

open

read

write

close

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API Functor
 Translates between API layers (different API)

 Stack trace as functor

 Translates between different API sequences

 Endofunctor – between the same API

 Translates between different code implementations

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API Diagram
 Indexed set → diagram

 Functor from a shape (pattern)

open

D
read

close

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API Natural Transformation
 Maps between different vertical API sequences (stack traces)

 Maps between different code translations

 Diagnostics and debugging as natural transformation

Working code

Non-working
Working code
code

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Cross-platform API
 Windows API / Linux API

 Similar diagrams

 Cross-platform development as a natural transformation

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API Adjunction
 Navigation between different API sequences

 Call and return stack trace sequences, callbacks (when stack

traces correspond to vertical API sequences)

 Back translation between traces/logs (when traces correspond to

API horizontal sequences)

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Informal n-API
 Arrows between arrows

 1-API – normal API usage

 2-API – diagnostics, debugging

 3-API – higher diagnostics, debugging (debugging the debugging)

 ∞-API – for homework ☺

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API and Trace Categories
API3

API1
 1-category API (semigroup)
C

API2

API3

 2-category of traces and logs API1

... API2

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API I/O
 Categories – one input, one output

 Operads – many inputs, one output

 Properads – many inputs, many outputs

int socketpair(
int domain,
int type,
socketpair
int protocol,
int sv[2]
);

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Linux API and Languages

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API and C#

 Installation

 Platform Invoke

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Exercise L8
 Goal: Install .NET environment and write a simple program that
uses Linux API

 \LAPI-Dumps\Exercise-L8.pdf

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API and Scala Native

 Documentation

 Scala Native

 Native code interoperability

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Exercise L9
 Goal: Install Scala Native environment and write a simple program
that uses Linux API

 \LAPI-Dumps\Exercise-L9.pdf

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API and Golang

 unix

 Example:
package main

import (
"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
)

func main() {
unix.Exec("/bin/ps", nil, nil)
}

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API and Rust

 Unsafe: libc

 Safe: nix, rustix

 Example:
use libc::{c_char, execve};

fn main() {
unsafe {
execve("/bin/ps".as_ptr() as *const c_char, std::ptr::null(), std::ptr::null());
}
}

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

API and Python

 os

 ctypes

 Example:

import ctypes

ctypes.CDLL("libc.so.6").execve("/bin/ps".encode("utf-8"), 0, 0)

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Linux API Classes

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Tracing

 strace (syscalls, signals)

 ltrace (libraries, syscalls, signals)

 Examples

 strace bash
 ltrace bash
 ltrace -S bash

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Classification

 Classification and Grouping of Linux System

Calls

 A study of modern Linux API usage and

compatibility (slides)

 A study of modern Linux API usage and

compatibility (paper)

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

System Configuration API
 Library
 Invariant and increasable sysconf
 Pathnames (f)pathconf

 Syscalls
 Identification uname

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

File I/O API
 File I/O Essentials

 Layers
 Stream-based f(open|seek|read|write|close) FILE*
 Syscall-based creat|open|lseek|read|write|ioctl|close fd

 Buffering
 Block-based f(read|write)
 Line-based (f)puts, (f)printf
 Unbuffered (p)read(v), (p)write(v)

 Multiplexing (p)select, poll, epoll_(create|ctl|wait)

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

File Control API
 Library
 Mixing FILE* and fd fileno, fdopen
 Buffering set(v)buf, fflush
 Temp mkstemp, tmpfile

 Syscalls
 Buffering f(data)sync
 Access posix_fadvise
 Control fcntl
 Locking flock
 Truncation (f)truncate

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Filesystem API
 Library
 Directories (n)ftw, (fd)(open|read)dir, remove, get(c)wd
 Paths realpath, (dir|base)name

 Syscalls
 Mounting (u)mount
 Metadata (f|l)stat(at|vfs)
 Attributes (list|get|set)(f|l)xattr
 Permissions (l|f)ch(own|mod), umask
 Time utime(s)
 Links (un)link, rename
 Symlinks (sym|read)link
 Directories (mk|rm|ch)dir, chroot
 Monitoring inotify_(init|(add|rm)_watch)
© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services
Dynamic Memory API
 Library
 Control mall(opt|info), memalign
 Allocation (m|c|re)alloc
 Deallocation free
 Debugging m(un)trace, m(check|probe)
 Stack alloca

 Syscalls
 Adjustment (s)brk

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Virtual Memory API
 Library
 Usage posix_madvise

 Syscalls
 Mapping m((un|re)map|sync), remap_file_pages
 Protection mprotect
 Locking m(un)lock(all)
 Residence mincore
 Usage madvise

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Shared Libraries API
 Library
 Loading dlopen
 Unloading dlclose
 Errors dlerror
 Symbols dl(addr|sym)

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Process API
 Library
 Execution exec(v(p)|l(e|p)), fexecve, system
 Termination exit
 Exit (at|on_)exit
 Capabilities cap_((get_|set_)proc|free)

 Syscalls
 Creation fork, clone
 Execution execve
 Termination _exit
 Waiting wait(pid|id|3|4)
 Resources acct, getrusage, (get|set)rlimit
 Priority (get|set)priority, sched_get_priority_(min|max)
 Scheduling sched_((set|get)(scheduler|param)|yield|rr_get_interval)
 Affinity sched_(set|get)affinity
 Capabilities prctl
© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services
IPC API
 Library
 Pipes p(open|close) FILE*
 FIFO mkfifo
 Keys ftok
 POSIX (mq|sem|shm)_(open|unlink|*)

 Syscalls
 Pipes pipe
 Handles dup(2), close
 Message queues msg(get|snd|rcv|ctl)
 Semaphores sem(get|ctl|op)
 Shared memory shm(get|at|ctl|dt)

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Job API
 Library
 Terminal ctermid, tc(get|set)pgrp

 Syscalls
 Groups (get|set)pgid
 Sessions (get|set)sid

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Signals API
 Library
 Sets sig(((empty|fill|add|del|and|or|isempty)set)|ismember)
 Sending raise, killpg, abort
 Description strsignal, psignal
 Waiting pause
 BSD sig(vec|block|(get|set)mask|pause)

 Syscalls
 Disposition signal, sigaction
 Mask sig(procmask|pending)
 Sending kill, sigqueue
 Waiting sig(suspend|waitinfo), signalfd
 Stack sigaltstack

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Thread API
 Library
 One-time initialization pthread_once
 Creation pthread_(create|atfork)
 Termination pthread_exit
 Identification pthread_(self|equal)
 Wait pthread_(join|detach)
 Cancellation pthread_(set|test)cancel(state|type)
 Cleanup pthread_cleanup_(push|pop)
 Signals pthread_(sigmask|kill|sigqueue), sigwait
 Attributes pthread_attr_(init|set*|destroy)
 Synchonization pthread_mutex(_(init|(un|try|timed)lock|destroy)|
attr_(init|set*|destroy))
pthread_cond_(init|signal|broadcast|(timed)wait|destroy)
 Data pthread_(key_create|(set|get)specific)

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Networking API
 Library
 Addresses (get|free)addrinfo, gai_strerror
 Names getnameinfo

 Syscalls
 Sockets socket, bind, listen, accept, connect, close, shutdown
 Streaming write, send, read, recv
 Datagrams recvfrom, sendto
 Messages (send|recv)msg
 Files sendfile
 Domain socketpair
 Addresses get(sock|peer)name
 Options (get|set)sockopt

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Time API
 Library
 Conversion (c|asc|strf|strp|get|local|mk)time
 Zones tzset
 Locales setlocale
 Correction adjtime
 Process clock

 Syscalls
 Calendar (get|set)timeofday, (s)time
 Process times

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Timers API
 Library
 Low-res sleep
 Clock (clock|pthread)_getcpuclockid

 Syscalls
 Intervals (get|set)itimer, timer_(create|settime|delete)
 Repeating timer_getoverrun
 Once alarm
 File timerfd_(create|(get|set)time)
 Clock clock_(get|set)(time|res)
 Hi-res (clock_)nanosleep

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Tracing and Logging API
 Library
 Writing (open|(v)sys|close)log
 Filtering setlogmask

 Syscalls
 Process ptrace
 Performance and monitoring perf_event_open
 eBPF bpf

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Accounts API
 Library
 Records getpw(nam|uid), getgr(nam|gid)
 Scanning getspnam, (set|get|end)spent
 Groups (init|get|set)groups
 Encryption crypt(_r)

 Syscalls
 ID (get|set)((r)e)(s)(u|g)id
 Filesystem setfs(u|g)id

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Terminal API
 Library
 Identification isatty, ttyname
 Attributes tc(get|set)attr
 Speed cf(get|set)(to|ti)speed
 Control tc(sendbreak|drain|flush|flow)
 Windows ioctl
 Pseudo (posix_open|grant|unlock)pt, ptsname

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

References and Resources

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Resources (Construction)
 Windows System Programming, Fourth Edition (Appendix B)
 Programming with POSIX Threads
 The Linux Programming Interface
 Hands-On System Programming with Linux
 Linux System Programming Techniques
 Advanced Programming in the UNIX Environment
 Effective TCP/IP Programming
 UNIX Systems Programming
 Low Level X Window Programming
 Wayland Architecture / Wayland Book

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Resources (Postconstruction)
 WinDbg Help / WinDbg.org (quick links)
 DumpAnalysis.org / SoftwareDiagnostics.Institute / PatternDiagnostics.com
 Debugging.TV / YouTube.com/DebuggingTV / YouTube.com/PatternDiagnostics
 Foundations of Linux Debugging, Disassembling, and Reversing
 Foundations of ARM64 Linux Debugging, Disassembling, and Reversing
 Software Diagnostics Library
 Encyclopedia of Crash Dump Analysis Patterns, Third Edition
 Trace, Log, Text, Narrative, Data
 Memory Dump Analysis Anthology (Diagnomicon)

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Resources (Training)

 Accelerated Linux Core Dump Analysis, Third Edition

 Accelerated Linux Debugging4

 Accelerated Linux Disassembly, Reconstruction, and Reversing,

Second Edition

 Accelerated Software Trace Analysis, Revised Edition, Part 1:

Fundamentals and Basic Patterns

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Resources (Category Theory)
Applied category theory books that have chapters explaining category theory:

 Conceptual Mathematics: A First Introduction to Categories

 The Joy of Abstraction: An Exploration of Math, Category Theory, and Life
 Category Theory for Programmers
 Categories for Software Engineering
 An Invitation to Applied Category Theory: Seven Sketches in Compositionality
 Life Itself: A Comprehensive Inquiry Into the Nature, Origin, and Fabrication of Life
 Category Theory for the Sciences
 Conceptual Mathematics and Literature: Toward a Deep Reading of Texts and Minds
 Diagrammatic Immanence: Category Theory and Philosophy
 Mathematical Mechanics: From Particle To Muscle
 Memory Evolutive Systems; Hierarchy, Emergence, Cognition
 Mathematical Structures of Natural Intelligence
 Sheaf Theory Through Examples
 Visual Category Theory

© 2023 Software Diagnostics Services

Q&A

Please send your feedback using the contact

form on PatternDiagnostics.com

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