Windows executable file loader

This is Windows PE format file loader application that provides functionality similar to the OS internal executable file loader, but runs from the user mode. It maps an executable file to the memory, patches and initializes several mechanisms and then passes control flow to the loaded image. This project was developed for educational purposes.

Usage

The project can be built with Visual Studio 2013 / 2015 or MSBuild.

Compiled executables can be found in build\(Debug|Release) Usage example:

loader.exe "C:\WINDOWS\system32\ping.exe" -t 127.0.0.1

Limitations

• Compatible mostly with Windows XP (tested on Windows XP, 7, 8)
• 32-bit images only
• Image validation in accordance with the official PE format documentation

Support

• Image memory mapping
• Process information patching
• Activation context
• CUI
• API redirection (EAT patching)
• Image relocation
• IAT processing
• TLS (heuristic record location)

Debug

There is a debugger to debug loader. Loader use named pipes to send log messages to the debugger. Logging can be enabled with the following definitions: