int main() {
// Allocate memory for three chunks
char *a = (char *)malloc(10);
char *b = (char *)malloc(10);
char *c = (char *)malloc(10);
char *d = (char *)malloc(10);
char *e = (char *)malloc(10);
char *f = (char *)malloc(10);
char *g = (char *)malloc(10);
char *h = (char *)malloc(10);
char *i = (char *)malloc(10);
// Print initial memory addresses
printf("Initial allocations:\n");
printf("a: %p\n", (void *)a);
printf("b: %p\n", (void *)b);
printf("c: %p\n", (void *)c);
printf("d: %p\n", (void *)d);
printf("e: %p\n", (void *)e);
printf("f: %p\n", (void *)f);
printf("g: %p\n", (void *)g);
printf("h: %p\n", (void *)h);
printf("i: %p\n", (void *)i);
// Fill tcache
free(a);
free(b);
free(c);
free(d);
free(e);
free(f);
free(g);
// Introduce double-free vulnerability in fast bin
free(h);
free(i);
free(h);
// Reallocate memory and print the addresses
char *a1 = (char *)malloc(10);
char *b1 = (char *)malloc(10);
char *c1 = (char *)malloc(10);
char *d1 = (char *)malloc(10);
char *e1 = (char *)malloc(10);
char *f1 = (char *)malloc(10);
char *g1 = (char *)malloc(10);
char *h1 = (char *)malloc(10);
char *i1 = (char *)malloc(10);
char *i2 = (char *)malloc(10);
// Print initial memory addresses
printf("After reallocations:\n");
printf("a1: %p\n", (void *)a1);
printf("b1: %p\n", (void *)b1);
printf("c1: %p\n", (void *)c1);
printf("d1: %p\n", (void *)d1);
printf("e1: %p\n", (void *)e1);
printf("f1: %p\n", (void *)f1);
printf("g1: %p\n", (void *)g1);
printf("h1: %p\n", (void *)h1);
printf("i1: %p\n", (void *)i1);
printf("i2: %p\n", (void *)i1);
return 0;
}
```
In this example, after filling the tcache with several freed chunks (7), the code **frees chunk `h`, then chunk `i`, and then `h` again, causing a double free** (also known as Fast Bin dup). This opens the possibility of receiving overlapping memory addresses when reallocating, meaning two or more pointers can point to the same memory location. Manipulating data through one pointer can then affect the other, creating a critical security risk and potential for exploitation.
Executing it, note how **`i1` and `i2` got the same address**:
Initial allocations:
a: 0xaaab0f0c22a0
b: 0xaaab0f0c22c0
c: 0xaaab0f0c22e0
d: 0xaaab0f0c2300
e: 0xaaab0f0c2320
f: 0xaaab0f0c2340
g: 0xaaab0f0c2360
h: 0xaaab0f0c2380
i: 0xaaab0f0c23a0
After reallocations:
a1: 0xaaab0f0c2360
b1: 0xaaab0f0c2340
c1: 0xaaab0f0c2320
d1: 0xaaab0f0c2300
e1: 0xaaab0f0c22e0
f1: 0xaaab0f0c22c0
g1: 0xaaab0f0c22a0
h1: 0xaaab0f0c2380
i1: 0xaaab0f0c23a0
i2: 0xaaab0f0c23a0
## Examples
* [**Dragon Army. Hack The Box**](https://7rocky.github.io/en/ctf/htb-challenges/pwn/dragon-army/)
* We can only allocate Fast-Bin-sized chunks except for size `0x70`, which prevents the usual `__malloc_hook` overwrite.
* Instead, we use PIE addresses that start with `0x56` as a target for Fast Bin dup (1/2 chance).
* One place where PIE addresses are stored is in `main_arena`, which is inside Glibc and near `__malloc_hook`
* We target a specific offset of `main_arena` to allocate a chunk there and continue allocating chunks until reaching `__malloc_hook` to get code execution.
* [**zero_to_hero. PicoCTF**](https://7rocky.github.io/en/ctf/picoctf/binary-exploitation/zero_to_hero/)
* Using Tcache bins and a null-byte overflow, we can achieve a double-free situation:
* We allocate three chunks of size `0x110` (`A`, `B`, `C`)
* We free `B`
* We free `A` and allocate again to use the null-byte overflow
* Now `B`'s size field is `0x100`, instead of `0x111`, so we can free it again
* We have one Tcache-bin of size `0x110` and one of size `0x100` that point to the same address. So we have a double free.
* We leverage the double free using [Tcache poisoning](tcache-bin-attack.md)
## References
* [https://heap-exploitation.dhavalkapil.com/attacks/double\_free](https://heap-exploitation.dhavalkapil.com/attacks/double\_free)
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