Run program from byte array

Question

I have a program stored in an array of bytes.

Is it possible to run it inside C #?

Answer 1

Yes. This answer shows that you can directly execute the contents of an array of bytes. Basically, you use VirtualAlloc to allocate an executable region on a heap with a known address ( IntPtr ). Then you copy the byte array to this address using Marshal.Copy . You convert the pointer to a delegate with GetDelegateForFunctionPointer and finally call it a normal delegate.

Answer 2

Sure.

• Save the byte array in the .exe .
• Use the Process class to execute the file.

Note : it is assumed that your byte array is executable code, not source code. It also assumes that you have a valid PE header or know how to create one.

Answer 3

Assuming the byte array contains the .net assembly (.exe or .dll):

  Assembly assembly = AppDomain.Load(yourByteArray) Type typeToExecute = assembly.GetType("ClassName"); Object instance = Activator.CreateInstance(typeToExecute); 

Now, if typeToExecute implements an interface known to your caller, you can apply it to this interface and call methods on it:

  ((MyInterface)instance).methodToInvoke(); 

Answer 4

If the byte array is an .Net assembly with EntryPoint (the main method), you can just do it. In most cases, returnValue will be null . And if you want to provide command line arguments, you can put them in the commandArgs line below.

 var assembly = Assembly.Load(assemblyBuffer); var entryPoint = assembly.EntryPoint; var commandArgs = new string[0]; var returnValue = entryPoint.Invoke(null, new object[] { commandArgs }); 

Answer 5

You can create a virtual machine and execute the code OR use potential reflections and dynamic types to create a dynamic assembly. You can dynamically load the assembly.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.reflection.assembly.load.aspx

So you could do something about it. If my memory serves me, though there are some limitations.

Cm.

Reflection Assembly.Load Application Area