Binary Exploitation Workshop Setup Guide

This is a guide that walks you through setting up a environment for this workshop. Use VM Software and try to avoids using WSL. You'll install essential tools for debugging, reversing, and exploiting binaries.

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1. Install VM Software

Step 1: Choose a Virtualization Software

Option 1: VMware

• Download: VMware Workstation Player (Windows/Linux) or VMware Fusion (Mac)

Option 2: VirtualBox

• Download: VirtualBox (Windows/macOS/Linux)

Step 2: Enable Virtualization in BIOS

Ensure Intel VT-x or AMD-V is enabled.

Step 3: Download Ubuntu ISO

• Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 LTS Desktop ISO

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🛠️ 2. Creating & Installing Ubuntu VM

• RAM: 4 GB minimum (8 GB recommended)
• Disk: 25 GB minimum (30–50 GB recommended)

• Install the ubuntu image on the VM

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3. Initial Ubuntu Setup

Update & Upgrade Packages

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

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🧰 4. Installing Required Tools

4.1 GCC, GDB, and Development Tools

sudo apt install build-essential gdb binutils

4.2 Text Editor (Choose one)

• nano (pre-installed): nano <file>
• vim: sudo apt install vim
• VS Code: https://code.visualstudio.com/download

4.3 Python 3 and pip

sudo apt install python3-pip python3-dev libssl-dev libffi-dev git
python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip

4.4 Pwntools

python3 -m pip install --upgrade pwntools

4.5 GDB Pwndbg Plugin

git clone https://github.com/pwndbg/pwndbg.git
cd pwndbg
./setup.sh

4.6 ROPgadget

python3 -m pip install ROPgadget

4.7 Confirm Installations

gcc --version
gdb --version
objdump --version
python3 --version
ROPgadget --help

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Environment Checklist

You should have:

• GCC for compiling
• GDB + Pwndbg debugging
• Python + Pwntools for exploit scripting
• ROPgadget + objdump for binary inspection
• nano/vim/VSCode for code editing