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Tutorial 4: Optional Header

We have learned about the DOS header and some members of the PE header. Here's the last, the biggest and probably the most important member of the PE header, the optional header.

To refresh your memory, the optional header is a structure that is the last member of IMAGE_NT_HEADERS. It contains information about the logical layout in the PE file. There are 31 fields in this structure. Some of them are crucial and some are not useful. I'll explain only those fields that are really useful.

There is a word that's used frequently in relation to PE file format: RVA
RVA stands for relative virtual address. You know what virtual address is. RVA is a daunting term for such a simple concept. Simply put, an RVA is a distance from a reference point in the virtual address space. I bet you're familiar with file offset: an RVA is exactly the same thing as file offset. However, it's relative to a point in virtual address space, not a file. I'll show you an example. If a PE file loads at 400000h in the virtual address (VA) space and the program starts execution at the virtual address 401000h, we can say that the program starts execution at RVA 1000h. An RVA is relative to the starting VA of the module.
Why does the PE file format use RVA? It's to help reduce the load of the PE loader. Since a module can be relocated anywhere in the virtual address space, it would be a hell for the PE loader to fix every relocatable items in the module. In contrast, if all relocatable items in the file use RVA, there is no need for the PE loader to fix anything: it simply relocates the whole module to a new starting VA. It's like the concept of relative path and absolute path: RVA is akin to relative path, VA is like absolute path.

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Tutorial 5: Section Table

Download the example.

Theory:

Up to this tutorial, we learned about the DOS header, the PE header. What remains is the section table. A section table is actually an array of structure immediately following the PE header. The number of the array members is determined by NumberOfSections field in the file header (IMAGE_FILE_HEADER) structure. The structure is called IMAGE_SECTION_HEADER.

IMAGE_SIZEOF_SHORT_NAME equ 8

IMAGE_SECTION_HEADER STRUCT
   Name1 db IMAGE_SIZEOF_SHORT_NAME dup(?)
   union Misc
      PhysicalAddress dd ?
      VirtualSize dd ?
   ends
   VirtualAddress dd ?
   SizeOfRawData dd ?
   PointerToRawData dd ?
   PointerToRelocations dd ?
   PointerToLinenumbers dd ?
   NumberOfRelocations dw ?
   NumberOfLinenumbers dw ?
   Characteristics dd ?
IMAGE_SECTION_HEADER ENDS

Again, not all members are useful. I'll describe only the ones that are really important.

Now that we know about IMAGE_SECTION_HEADER structure, let's see how we can emulate the PE loader's job:

1. Read NumberOfSections in IMAGE_FILE_HEADER so we know how many sections there are in the file.
2. Use the value in SizeOfHeaders as the file offset of the section table and moves the file pointer to that offset.
3. Walk the structure array, examining each member.
4. For each structure, we obtain the value in PointerToRawData and move the file pointer to that offset. Then we read the value in SizeOfRawData so we know how many bytes we should map into memory. Read the value in VirtualAddress and add the value in ImageBase to it to get the virtual address the section should start from. And then we are ready to map the section into memory and mark the attribute of the memory according to the flags in Characteristics.
5. Walk the array until all the sections are processed.

Note that we didn't make use the the name of the section: it's not really necessary.

Example:

This example opens a PE file and walks the section table, showing the information about the sections in a listview control.

.386
.model flat,stdcall
option casemap:none
include \masm32\include\windows.inc
include \masm32\include\kernel32.inc
include \masm32\include\comdlg32.inc
include \masm32\include\user32.inc
include \masm32\include\comctl32.inc
includelib \masm32\lib\comctl32.lib
includelib \masm32\lib\user32.lib
includelib \masm32\lib\kernel32.lib
includelib \masm32\lib\comdlg32.lib

IDD_SECTIONTABLE equ 104
IDC_SECTIONLIST equ 1001

SEH struct
PrevLink dd ? ; the address of the previous seh structure
CurrentHandler dd ? ; the address of the new exception handler
SafeOffset dd ? ; The offset where it's safe to continue execution
PrevEsp dd ? ; the old value in esp
PrevEbp dd ? ; The old value in ebp
SEH ends

.data
AppName db "PE tutorial no.5",0
ofn OPENFILENAME <>
FilterString db "Executable Files (*.exe, *.dll)",0,"*.exe;*.dll",0
             db "All Files",0,"*.*",0,0
FileOpenError db "Cannot open the file for reading",0
FileOpenMappingError db "Cannot open the file for memory mapping",0
FileMappingError db "Cannot map the file into memory",0
FileInValidPE db "This file is not a valid PE",0
template db "%08lx",0
SectionName db "Section",0
VirtualSize db "V.Size",0
VirtualAddress db "V.Address",0
SizeOfRawData db "Raw Size",0
RawOffset db "Raw Offset",0
Characteristics db "Characteristics",0

.data?
hInstance dd ?
buffer db 512 dup(?)
hFile dd ?
hMapping dd ?
pMapping dd ?
ValidPE dd ?
NumberOfSections dd ?

.code
start proc
LOCAL seh:SEH
   invoke GetModuleHandle,NULL
   mov hInstance,eax
   mov ofn.lStructSize,SIZEOF ofn
   mov ofn.lpstrFilter, OFFSET FilterString
   mov ofn.lpstrFile, OFFSET buffer
   mov ofn.nMaxFile,512
   mov ofn.Flags, OFN_FILEMUSTEXIST or OFN_PATHMUSTEXIST or OFN_LONGNAMES or OFN_EXPLORER or OFN_HIDEREADONLY
   invoke GetOpenFileName, ADDR ofn
   .if eax==TRUE
      invoke CreateFile, addr buffer, GENERIC_READ, FILE_SHARE_READ, NULL, OPEN_EXISTING, FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL, NULL
      .if eax!=INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE
         mov hFile, eax
         invoke CreateFileMapping, hFile, NULL, PAGE_READONLY,0,0,0
         .if eax!=NULL
            mov hMapping, eax
            invoke MapViewOfFile,hMapping,FILE_MAP_READ,0,0,0
            .if eax!=NULL
               mov pMapping,eax
               assume fs:nothing
               push fs:[0]
               pop seh.PrevLink
               mov seh.CurrentHandler,offset SEHHandler
               mov seh.SafeOffset,offset FinalExit
               lea eax,seh
               mov fs:[0], eax
               mov seh.PrevEsp,esp
               mov seh.PrevEbp,ebp
               mov edi, pMapping
               assume edi:ptr IMAGE_DOS_HEADER
               .if [edi].e_magic==IMAGE_DOS_SIGNATURE
                  add edi, [edi].e_lfanew
                  assume edi:ptr IMAGE_NT_HEADERS
                  .if [edi].Signature==IMAGE_NT_SIGNATURE
                     mov ValidPE, TRUE
                  .else
                     mov ValidPE, FALSE
                  .endif
               .else
                  mov ValidPE,FALSE
               .endif
FinalExit:
               push seh.PrevLink
               pop fs:[0]
               .if ValidPE==TRUE
                  call ShowSectionInfo
               .else
                  invoke MessageBox, 0, addr FileInValidPE, addr AppName, MB_OK+MB_ICONINFORMATION
               .endif
               invoke UnmapViewOfFile, pMapping
           .else
               invoke MessageBox, 0, addr FileMappingError, addr AppName, MB_OK+MB_ICONERROR
          .endif
          invoke CloseHandle,hMapping
       .else
          invoke MessageBox, 0, addr FileOpenMappingError, addr AppName, MB_OK+MB_ICONERROR
       .endif
       invoke CloseHandle, hFile
    .else
       invoke MessageBox, 0, addr FileOpenError, addr AppName, MB_OK+MB_ICONERROR
    .endif
  .endif
  invoke ExitProcess, 0
  invoke InitCommonControls
start endp

SEHHandler proc C uses pExcept:DWORD,pFrame:DWORD,pContext:DWORD,pDispatch:DWORD
   mov edx,pFrame
   assume edx:ptr SEH
   mov eax,pContext
   assume eax:ptr CONTEXT
   push [edx].SafeOffset
   pop [eax].regEip
   push [edx].PrevEsp
   pop [eax].regEsp
   push [edx].PrevEbp
   pop [eax].regEbp
   mov ValidPE, FALSE
   mov eax,ExceptionContinueExecution
   ret
SEHHandler endp

DlgProc proc uses edi esi hDlg:DWORD, uMsg:DWORD, wParam:DWORD, lParam:DWORD
   LOCAL lvc:LV_COLUMN
   LOCAL lvi:LV_ITEM
   .if uMsg==WM_INITDIALOG
      mov esi, lParam
      mov lvc.imask,LVCF_FMT or LVCF_TEXT or LVCF_WIDTH or LVCF_SUBITEM
      mov lvc.fmt,LVCFMT_LEFT
      mov lvc.lx,80
      mov lvc.iSubItem,0
      mov lvc.pszText,offset SectionName
      invoke SendDlgItemMessage,hDlg,IDC_SECTIONLIST,LVM_INSERTCOLUMN,0,addr lvc inc lvc.iSubItem
      mov lvc.fmt,LVCFMT_RIGHT
      mov lvc.pszText,offset VirtualSize
      invoke SendDlgItemMessage,hDlg,IDC_SECTIONLIST,LVM_INSERTCOLUMN,1,addr lvc
      inc lvc.iSubItem
      mov lvc.pszText,offset VirtualAddress
      invoke SendDlgItemMessage,hDlg,IDC_SECTIONLIST,LVM_INSERTCOLUMN,2,addr lvc
      inc lvc.iSubItem
      mov lvc.pszText,offset SizeOfRawData
      invoke SendDlgItemMessage,hDlg,IDC_SECTIONLIST,LVM_INSERTCOLUMN,3,addr lvc
      inc lvc.iSubItem
      mov lvc.pszText,offset RawOffset
      invoke SendDlgItemMessage,hDlg,IDC_SECTIONLIST,LVM_INSERTCOLUMN,4,addr lvc
      inc lvc.iSubItem
      mov lvc.pszText,offset Characteristics
      invoke SendDlgItemMessage,hDlg,IDC_SECTIONLIST,LVM_INSERTCOLUMN,5,addr lvc
      mov ax, NumberOfSections
      movzx eax,ax
      mov edi,eax      
      mov lvi.imask,LVIF_TEXT
      mov lvi.iItem,0
      assume esi:ptr IMAGE_SECTION_HEADER
      .while edi>0
         mov lvi.iSubItem,0
         invoke RtlZeroMemory,addr buffer,9
         invoke lstrcpyn,addr buffer,addr [esi].Name1,8
         lea eax,buffer
         mov lvi.pszText,eax
         invoke SendDlgItemMessage,hDlg,IDC_SECTIONLIST,LVM_INSERTITEM,0,addr lvi
         invoke wsprintf,addr buffer,addr template,[esi].Misc.VirtualSize
         lea eax,buffer
         mov lvi.pszText,eax
         inc lvi.iSubItem
         invoke SendDlgItemMessage,hDlg,IDC_SECTIONLIST,LVM_SETITEM,0,addr lvi
         invoke wsprintf,addr buffer,addr template,[esi].VirtualAddress
         lea eax,buffer
         mov lvi.pszText,eax
         inc lvi.iSubItem
         invoke SendDlgItemMessage,hDlg,IDC_SECTIONLIST,LVM_SETITEM,0,addr lvi
         invoke wsprintf,addr buffer,addr template,[esi].SizeOfRawData
         lea eax,buffer
         mov lvi.pszText,eax
         inc lvi.iSubItem
         invoke SendDlgItemMessage,hDlg,IDC_SECTIONLIST,LVM_SETITEM,0,addr lvi
         invoke wsprintf,addr buffer,addr template,[esi].PointerToRawData
         lea eax,buffer
         mov lvi.pszText,eax
         inc lvi.iSubItem
         invoke SendDlgItemMessage,hDlg,IDC_SECTIONLIST,LVM_SETITEM,0,addr lvi
         invoke wsprintf,addr buffer,addr template,[esi].Characteristics
         lea eax,buffer
         mov lvi.pszText,eax
         inc lvi.iSubItem
         invoke SendDlgItemMessage,hDlg,IDC_SECTIONLIST,LVM_SETITEM,0,addr lvi
         inc lvi.iItem
         dec edi
         add esi, sizeof IMAGE_SECTION_HEADER
      .endw
   .elseif
      uMsg==WM_CLOSE
         invoke EndDialog,hDlg,NULL
   .else
      mov eax,FALSE
      ret
   .endif
   mov eax,TRUE
   ret
DlgProc endp

ShowSectionInfo proc uses edi
   mov edi, pMapping
   assume edi:ptr IMAGE_DOS_HEADER
   add edi, [edi].e_lfanew
   assume edi:ptr IMAGE_NT_HEADERS
   mov ax,[edi].FileHeader.NumberOfSections
   movzx eax,ax
   mov NumberOfSections,eax
   add edi,sizeof IMAGE_NT_HEADERS
   invoke DialogBoxParam, hInstance, IDD_SECTIONTABLE,NULL, addr DlgProc, edi
   ret
ShowSectionInfo endp
end start

Analysis:

This example reuses the code of the example in PE tutorial 2. After it verifies that the file is a valid PE, it calls a function, ShowSectionInfo.

ShowSectionInfo proc uses edi
   mov edi, pMapping
   assume edi:ptr IMAGE_DOS_HEADER
   add edi, [edi].e_lfanew
   assume edi:ptr IMAGE_NT_HEADERS

We use edi as the pointer to the data in the PE file. At first, we initialize it to the value of pMapping which is the address of the DOS header. Then we add the value in e_lfanew to it so it now contains the address of the PE header.

   mov ax,[edi].FileHeader.NumberOfSections
   mov NumberOfSections,ax

Since we need to walk the section table, we must obtain the number of sections in this file. That's the value in NumberOfSections member of the file header. Don't forget that this member is of word size.

   add edi,sizeof IMAGE_NT_HEADERS

Edi currently contains the address of the PE header. Adding the size of the PE header to it will make it point at the section table.

   invoke DialogBoxParam, hInstance, IDD_SECTIONTABLE,NULL, addr DlgProc, edi

Call DialogBoxParam to show the dialog box containing the listview control. Note that we pass the address of the section table as its last parameter. This value will be available in lParam during WM_INITDIALOG message.

In the dialog box procedure, in response to WM_INITDIALOG message, we store the value of lParam (address of the section table) in esi, the number of sections in edi and then dress up the listview control. When everything is ready, we enter a loop which will insert the info about each section into the listview control. This part is very simple.

      .while edi>0
         mov lvi.iSubItem,0

Put this string in the first column.

         invoke RtlZeroMemory,addr buffer,9
         invoke lstrcpyn,addr buffer,addr [esi].Name1,8
         lea eax,buffer
         mov lvi.pszText,eax

We will display the name of the section but we must convert it to an ASCIIZ string first.

         invoke SendDlgItemMessage,hDlg,IDC_SECTIONLIST,LVM_INSERTITEM,0,addr lvi

Then we display it in the first column.
We continue with this scheme until the last value we want to display for this section is displayed. Then we must move to the next structure.

         dec edi
         add esi, sizeof IMAGE_SECTION_HEADER
      .endw

We decrement the value in edi for each section processed. And we add the size of IMAGE_SECTION_HEADER to esi so it contains the address of the next IMAGE_SECTION_HEADER structure.

The steps in walking the section table are:

1. Verify that the file is a valid PE
2. Go to the beginning of the PE header
3. Obtain the number of sections from NumberOfSections field in the file header.
4. Go to the section table either by adding ImageBase to SizeOfHeaders or by adding the address of the PE header to the size of the PE header. (The section table immediately follows the PE header). If you don't use file mapping, you need to move the file pointer to the section table using SetFilePointer. The file offset of the section table is in SizeOfHeaders.(SizeOfHeaders is a member of IMAGE_OPTIONAL_HEADER)
5. Process each IMAGE_SECTION_HEADER structure.

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