Backdoor Foundry - A Toolchain for Building Application Specific Implants

This course aims to introduce the desired capability of building application-specific implants and the challenges associated with it. It covers the concept of executable containers, focusing on the Executable and Linkable Format (ELF) with practical examples. The course delves into the software build lifecycle, emphasizing linking and the role of the linker in enabling the loader. It references prior work in the application backdoor space and explores the drawbacks of existing solutions. The teaching method involves an in-depth exploration of the problem space, understanding the components of ELF files, and the artifacts emitted during a build cycle using tools like `clang` or `gcc`. The intended audience for this course includes individuals interested in cybersecurity, software development, and understanding the intricacies of executable files.