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Q&A Ghidra decompiler: c_str() used in phantom string?

I loaded a binary into Ghidra for analysis. The decompiler says undefined8 main(void) { basic_ostream *pbVar1; char *pcVar2; [--snip--] pbVar1 = std::operator<<(pbVar1,"PXZ ");...

1 answer  ·  posted 1y ago by nteodosio‭  ·  edited 1y ago by Alexei‭

Question c++ ghidra
#3: Post edited by user avatar Alexei‭ · 2023-11-30T16:45:53Z (about 1 year ago)
removed tag scheduled for removal
#2: Post edited by user avatar Alexei‭ · 2023-11-12T18:57:30Z (about 1 year ago)
highlighted the problem the question is about
  • I loaded a binary into Ghidra for analysis.
  • The decompiler says
  • ```
  • undefined8 main(void)
  • {
  • basic_ostream *pbVar1;
  • char *pcVar2;
  • [--snip--]
  • pbVar1 = std::operator<<(pbVar1,"PXZ ");
  • pcVar2 = (char *)std::__cxx11::basic_string<>::c_str();
  • pbVar1 = std::operator<<(pbVar1,pcVar2);
  • pbVar1 = std::operator<<(pbVar1,"<<");
  • std::basic_ostream<>::operator<<((basic_ostream<> *)pbVar1,std::endl<>);
  • }
  • ```
  • I'm clueless about the meaning of the `pcVar2 =` line. I would expect `c_str` to be the method of some given string, [e.g.](https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/string/basic_string/c_str) `std::string const s("Emplary"); const char* p = s.c_str();`, but what is that string in the present case?
  • I can confirm that something is getting inserted as the binary prints "PXZ AX1<<", but it's hard to figure whence exactly this middle part is coming.
  • I loaded a binary into Ghidra for analysis.
  • The decompiler says
  • ```
  • undefined8 main(void)
  • {
  • basic_ostream *pbVar1;
  • char *pcVar2;
  • [--snip--]
  • pbVar1 = std::operator<<(pbVar1,"PXZ ");
  • pcVar2 = (char *)std::__cxx11::basic_string<>::c_str();
  • pbVar1 = std::operator<<(pbVar1,pcVar2);
  • pbVar1 = std::operator<<(pbVar1,"<<");
  • std::basic_ostream<>::operator<<((basic_ostream<> *)pbVar1,std::endl<>);
  • }
  • ```
  • **I'm clueless about the meaning of the `pcVar2 =` line**. I would expect `c_str` to be the method of some given string, [e.g.](https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/string/basic_string/c_str) `std::string const s("Emplary"); const char* p = s.c_str();`, but what is that string in the present case?
  • I can confirm that something is getting inserted as the binary prints "PXZ AX1<<", but it's hard to figure whence exactly this middle part is coming.
#1: Initial revision by user avatar nteodosio‭ · 2023-11-12T16:12:58Z (about 1 year ago)
Ghidra decompiler: c_str() used in phantom string?
I loaded a binary into Ghidra for analysis.

The decompiler says
```
undefined8 main(void)
{
  basic_ostream *pbVar1;
  char *pcVar2;
  [--snip--]
  pbVar1 = std::operator<<(pbVar1,"PXZ ");
  pcVar2 = (char *)std::__cxx11::basic_string<>::c_str();
  pbVar1 = std::operator<<(pbVar1,pcVar2);
  pbVar1 = std::operator<<(pbVar1,"<<");
  std::basic_ostream<>::operator<<((basic_ostream<> *)pbVar1,std::endl<>);
}
```

I'm clueless about the meaning of the `pcVar2 =` line. I would expect `c_str` to be the method of some given string, [e.g.](https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/string/basic_string/c_str) `std::string const s("Emplary"); const char* p = s.c_str();`, but what is that string in the present case?

I can confirm that something is getting inserted as the binary prints "PXZ AX1<<", but it's hard to figure whence exactly this middle part is coming.