Sydney

Let's set a breakpoint at main using break main.

We can see that the program no longer calls the create_password function. So we'll have to find a new approach to open the lock.

The check_password function is still being called, so let's set a breakpoint there.

We are then asked to enter the password.

If we continue the program execution, it stops at the breakpoint that we set earlier at check_password.

So the first two bytes of our input are being compared with the word 0x6348 which is cH in ASCII.

The next two are being compared to 0x5551 which is UQ in ASCII. And the next two are being compared with 0x6927 which is i' in ASCII and the next two to @A.

Let's rerun the program using the reset command and give it the password cHUQi'@A.

Look, our password is in the memory, we're going to unlock the lock. Or are we?

See, even though the bytes are stored in memory in the correct order, they are not in the order that the program wants them to be.

The program stores bytes in little-endian format i.e. the LSB is supposed to be in the leftmost position and MSB in the rightmost.

So when it reads our first word, it expects them to in little-endian format and reads them as 0x4863. In the same manner, the next word is read as 0x5155, the third one is read as 0x2769 and the last word is read as 0x4140.

In order to pass the checks, our bytes need to be flipped when they are stored so that the program will flip them when reading and interpret them correctly.

Therefore the password should actually be HcQU'iA@.

We've now robbed the bank in Sydney.