Kernel fundamentals – understanding how kernel attacks work

A crucial philosophical point to remember: the kernel is a computer program. It's a construct that can be rather intimidating for us lowly noobs, so it helps to remember the true nature of the beast. The casual flaws you learn about in ordinary programming can all occur in kernel code. The kernel occupies memory, just like any ordinary program, so the potential to put something where it doesn't belong and execute it exists. If this is the case, what makes the kernel so special? The kernel manages all low-level functions by interfacing the hardware of the computer and the software of the operating system. There are many, many different programs running on a modern instance of Windows and they all want to use one processor at the same time. The programs can't decide who gets how much time, and the processor dumbly completes operations – it can't decide, either. It's the kernel that functions as the cop managing all the high-level...