Test executive with buffer overwrite detection for parameters of user-supplied code modules

A computer accessible memory medium comprising program instructions executable to:

• include a plurality of test executive steps in a test executive sequence in response to user input;
• configure each of the test executive steps to call a user-supplied code module in response to user input;
• and
• execute the test executive sequence, wherein said executing comprises executing each of the test executive steps in the test executive sequence;
• wherein said including the plurality of test executive steps in the test executive sequence in response to user input comprises including a first test executive step in the test executive sequence in response to user input;
• wherein said configuring each of the test executive steps to call a user-supplied code module in response to user input comprises configuring the first test executive step to call a first user-supplied code module, wherein the first user-supplied code module takes a buffer parameter;
• wherein executing the first test executive step comprises:
• allocating a memory block for the buffer parameter from a heap, wherein said allocating the memory block comprises allocating space for storing data for the buffer parameter and space for storing guard bits for the buffer parameter;
• copying guard bits into at least one end of the memory block, wherein each guard bit has an initial value, wherein the guard bits prevent the first user-supplied code module from corrupting data on the heap if the first user-supplied code module writes outside the space for storing data for the buffer parameter;
• and
• invoking execution of the first user-supplied code module called by the first test executive step, wherein said invoking execution of the first user-supplied code module comprises passing the first user-supplied code module a pointer into the memory block for the buffer parameter, wherein the pointer points to the space for storing data for the buffer parameter;
• wherein said executing the test executive sequence comprises executing the test executive sequence under control of a test executive engine, and wherein, in executing the first test executive step, the test executive engine performs said allocating the memory block, said copying the one or more guard bits, and said invoking execution of the first user-supplied code module called by the first test executive step.

A computer accessible memory medium comprising program instructions executable to:

• include a plurality of test executive steps in a test executive sequence in response to user input;
• configure each of the test executive steps to call a user-supplied code module in response to user input;
• and
• execute the test executive sequence, wherein said executing comprises executing each of the test executive steps in the test executive sequence;
• wherein said including the plurality of test executive steps in the test executive sequence in response to user input comprises including a first test executive step in the test executive sequence in response to user input;
• wherein said configuring each of the test executive steps to call a user-supplied code module in response to user input comprises configuring the first test executive step to call a first user-supplied code module, wherein the first user-supplied code module takes a buffer parameter;
• wherein executing the first test executive step comprises:
• allocating a memory block for the buffer parameter from a heap, wherein said allocating the memory block comprises allocating space for storing data for the buffer parameter and space for storing guard bits for the buffer parameter;
• copying guard bits into at least one end of the memory block, wherein each guard bit has an initial value, wherein the guard bits are useable for detecting if the first user-supplied code module writes outside the space for storing data for the buffer parameter;
• and
• invoking execution of the first user-supplied code module called by the first test executive step, wherein said invoking execution of the first user-supplied code module comprises passing the first user-supplied code module a pointer into the memory block for the buffer parameter, wherein the pointer points to the space for storing data for the buffer parameter;
• wherein said executing the test executive sequence comprises executing the test executive sequence under control of a test executive engine, and wherein, in executing the first test executive step, the test executive engine performs said allocating the memory block, said copying the one or more guard bits, and said invoking execution of the first user-supplied code module called by the first test executive step.

A computer accessible memory medium comprising program instructions executable to:

• include a first test executive step in a test executive sequence in response to user input;
• configure the first test executive step to call a first user-supplied code module, wherein the first user-supplied code module uses a buffer parameter;
• and
• execute the test executive sequence, wherein said executing comprises executing the first test executive step in the test executive sequence;
• wherein said executing the first test executive step comprises:
• allocating a memory block for the buffer parameter from a heap, wherein said allocating the memory block comprises allocating space for storing data for the buffer parameter and space for storing guard bits for the buffer parameter;
• copying one or more guard bits into a starting end of the memory block;
• and
• copying one or more guard bits into a terminal end of the memory block;
• wherein the space for storing data for the buffer parameter comprises space between the guard bits at the starting end of the memory block and the guard bits at the terminal end of the memory block;
• wherein the guard bits at the starting end of the memory block are useable for one or more of detecting if the first user-supplied code module writes before the space for storing data for the buffer parameter and/or preventing the first user-supplied code module from corrupting heap data if the first user-supplied code module writes before the space for storing data for the buffer parameter;
• wherein the guard bits at the terminal end of the memory block are useable for one or more of detecting if the first user-supplied code module writes beyond the space for storing data for the buffer parameter and/or preventing the first user-supplied code module from corrupting heap data if the first user-supplied code module writes beyond the space for storing data for the buffer parameter;
• wherein executing the first test executive step further comprises:
• invoking execution of the first user-supplied code module called by the first test executive step, wherein said invoking execution of the first user-supplied code module comprises passing the first user-supplied code module a pointer to the space for storing data for the buffer parameter;
• wherein said executing the test executive sequence comprises executing the test executive sequence under control of a test executive engine, and wherein, in executing the first test executive step, the test executive engine performs said allocating the memory block, said copying one or more guard bits into a starting end of the memory block, said copying one or more guard bits into a terminal end of the memory block, and said invoking execution of the first user-supplied code module called by the first test executive step.

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• including a first test executive step in a test executive sequence in response to user input;
• configuring the first test executive step to call a first user-supplied code module, wherein the first user-supplied code module uses a buffer parameter;
• and
• executing the test executive sequence, wherein said executing comprises executing the first test executive step in the test executive sequence;
• wherein said executing the first test executive step comprises:
• allocating a memory block for the buffer parameter from a heap, wherein said allocating the memory block comprises allocating space for storing data for the buffer parameter and space for storing guard bits for the buffer parameter;
• copying one or more guard bits into at least one end of the memory block;
• and
• invoking execution of the first user-supplied code module called by the first test executive step, wherein said invoking execution of the first user-supplied code module comprises passing the first user-supplied code module a pointer into the memory block for the buffer parameter;
• wherein the one or more guard bits are useable for one or more of detecting if the first user-supplied code module writes outside the space for storing data for the buffer parameter and/or preventing the first user-supplied code module from corrupting data on the heap if the first user-supplied code module writes outside the space for storing data for the buffer parameter;
• wherein said executing the test executive sequence comprises executing the test executive sequence under control of a test executive engine, and wherein, in executing the first test executive step, the test executive engine performs said allocating the memory block, said copying the one or more guard bits, and said invoking execution of the first user-supplied code module called by the first test executive step.

A system comprising:

• a sequence editor;
• a test executive engine;
• a host computer operable to execute the sequence editor and the test executive engine;
• and
• a unit under test (UUT) coupled to the host computer;
• wherein the host computer is operable to execute the sequence editor to create a test executive sequence for testing the UUT, wherein said creating the test executive sequence comprises including a plurality of test executive steps in the test executive sequence in response to user input to the sequence editor and configuring each of the test executive steps to call a user-supplied code module in response to user input to the sequence editor;
• wherein said including the plurality of test executive steps in the test executive sequence in response to user input to the sequence editor comprises including a first test executive step in the test executive sequence in response to user input to the sequence editor;
• wherein said configuring each of the test executive steps to call a user-supplied code module in response to user input to the sequence editor comprises configuring the first test executive step to call a first user-supplied code module, wherein the first user-supplied code module takes a buffer parameter;
• wherein the host computer is further operable to execute the test executive engine, wherein the test executive engine is operable to control execution of the test executive sequence, wherein said controlling execution of the test executive sequence comprises causing each of the test executive steps in the test executive sequence to be executed on the host computer;
• wherein for the first test executive step, the test executive engine is operable to:
• allocate a memory block for the buffer parameter from a heap, wherein said allocating the memory block comprises allocating space for storing data for the buffer parameter and space for storing guard bits for the buffer parameter;
• copy guard bits into at least one end of the memory block, wherein each guard bit has an initial value, wherein the guard bits are useable for one or more of detecting if the first user-supplied code module writes outside the space for storing data for the buffer parameter and/or preventing the first user-supplied code module from corrupting data on the heap if the first user-supplied code module writes outside the space for storing data for the buffer parameter;
• and
• invoke execution of the first user-supplied code module called by the first test executive step, wherein said invoking execution of the first user-supplied code module comprises passing the first user-supplied code module a pointer into the memory block for the buffer parameter, wherein the pointer points to the space for storing data for the buffer parameter.