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In computing and telecommunications, the payload is the part of transmitted data that is the actual intended message. Headers and metadata are sent only to enable payload delivery [1] [2] and are considered overhead. In the context of a computer virus or worm, the payload is the portion of the malware which performs malicious action.
In hacking, a shellcode is a small piece of code used as the payload in the exploitation of a software vulnerability.It is called "shellcode" because it typically starts a command shell from which the attacker can control the compromised machine, but any piece of code that performs a similar task can be called shellcode.
Typically, the proxy or VPN applications enabling pivoting are executed on the target computer as the payload of an exploit. Pivoting is usually done by infiltrating a part of a network infrastructure (as an example, a vulnerable printer or thermostat) and using a scanner to find other devices connected to attack them.
This includes both where a user copies a payload into an input, and in the web developer console. [1] Usually, the attacker posts a message that says by copying and running certain code, the user will be able to receive virtual rewards or hack a website. In fact, the code allows the attacker to hijack the victim's account. [2]
In a return-into-library attack, an attacker hijacks program control flow by exploiting a buffer overrun vulnerability, exactly as discussed above. Instead of attempting to write an attack payload onto the stack, the attacker instead chooses an available library function and overwrites the return address with its entry location.
A logic bomb is a piece of code intentionally inserted into a software system that will set off a malicious function when specified conditions are met. For example, a programmer may hide a piece of code that starts deleting files (such as a salary database trigger), should they ever be terminated from the company.
Code injection is a class of computer security exploits in which vulnerable computer programs or system processes fail to correctly handle external data, such as user input, leading to the program misinterpreting the data as a command that should be executed.
The illegal operation, or payload in Metasploit terminology, can include functions for logging keystrokes, taking screenshots, installing adware, stealing credentials, creating backdoors using shellcode, or altering data. Some companies maintain large databases of known exploits and provide products that automatically test target systems for ...