GIAC Foundational Cybersecurity Technologies Practice Test

When debugging an executable with pwndbg, what happens when a function named function_A is stepped over, instead of into?

1. The debugger executes the code within function_A and moves to the next instruction

2. The debugger skips over the code within function_A and moves to the next instruction

3. The debugger will stop at each line of code within function_A

4. The debugger terminates the session immediately

The correct answer is: The debugger executes the code within function_A and moves to the next instruction

When debugging an executable with pwndbg, stepping over a function means that the debugger executes the entire code within that function without stepping into it line by line. This approach allows the developer to bypass the internal workings of the function while still progressing through the program. Therefore, this action results in the execution of all the statements within function_A, and the debugger then moves to the next instruction after function_A has fully executed. This behavior is particularly useful when the function being called does not require detailed inspection for debugging purposes or when the user has confidence that the function works correctly. It allows the developer to maintain the flow of debugging without getting bogged down in the specifics of the function's implementation. Stepping over instead of stepping into helps to keep the debugging session efficient, especially in larger applications where functions may have multiple lines of code that do not require immediate scrutiny.