To keep C code position-independent, you cannot use global variables, static strings, or direct function calls like printf or MessageBoxA . Instead, you must load functions dynamically.
I’ve been experimenting with various methods to convert executables (EXEs) into position-independent shellcode for payload development and exploit research. After trying "convert exe to shellcode" (specifically tools like msfvenom or custom extractors like Donut or PE2SHC ), here is my honest take. convert exe to shellcode
Because standard EXEs rely heavily on the loader and absolute addressing, you cannot simply strip the headers from an EXE and expect the remaining .text section to run as shellcode. Specialized translation layers or custom compilation strategies are required. Why Convert an EXE to Shellcode? To keep C code position-independent, you cannot use
For absolute control and the smallest size, shellcode is often written directly in Assembly. [IT432] Class 12: Shellcode After trying "convert exe to shellcode" (specifically tools
int main() MessageBoxA(NULL, "I am shellcode now!", "Converted EXE", MB_OK); return 0;
payload.bin is now raw shellcode that can be injected. Challenges and Limitations