aryanguenthner/hide-payload-in-images

A project that demonstrates embedding shellcode payloads into image files (like PNGs) using Python and extracting them using C/C++. Payloads can be retrieved directly from the file on disk or from the image stored in a binary's resources section (.rsrc)

Hiding Shellcode in Image Files with Python and C/C++

-> A project that demonstrates embedding shellcode payloads into image files (like PNGs) using Python and extracting them using C/C++. Payloads can be retrieved directly from the file on disk or from the image stored in a binary's resources section (.rsrc)

Note: This repository just hit 101 stars ⭐! Thank you guys so much for your support!

🔍 Learn more about this in my blog post:

• Blog post link

Code of this Project

• payload-embedder.py
  • Append shellcode payloads to the end of an image file.
• payload-extractor-from-file.cpp
  • Extract payloads from modified image files stored on disk.
• payload-extractor-from-resource.cpp
  • Extracts payloads from image files stored in the binary's resources section (.rsrc) using WinAPI functions like FindResource and LockResource.
• (NEW) payload-extractor-from-resource-via-peb.cpp
  • Extracts payloads from image files stored in the binary's resources section by manually parsing the Process Environment Block (PEB) and PE headers, avoiding WinAPI functions for increased stealth.

❗ Updates ❗

1. Stealthier Payload Extraction: Implemented manual PE header parsing to retrieve resources without WinAPI calls, avoiding detection vectors.
2. PEB Reliability Fix: Replaced function hGetCurrentModuleHandle's unsafe backward header parsing with direct PEB access via __readgsqword/__readfsdword, resolving compiler-optimization crashes and supporting x86/x64.
3. PEB Structure Support: Added PEB_Structs.h for portable PEB/PE definitions, eliminating dependencies on Windows headers.

🎥 Video Demo

👉 Watch the full video demo here:

• Updated to include payload-extractor-from-resource-via-peb.cpp demo.

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Credits

• The GetResourceData function is based on code from @NUL0x4C's AtomLdr

Made with 💙 by @WafflesExploits