What is binary exploitation?

Binary exploitation is a field within cybersecurity focused on finding and leveraging vulnerabilities in compiled software binaries to alter their intended behavior. This often involves analyzing how programs manage memory, handle user input, or interact with the operating system to identify flaws such as buffer overflows or use-after-free errors. Attackers use these techniques to gain unauthorized access, execute arbitrary code, or escalate privileges. Professionals in this field use a combination of reverse engineering, programming, and security analysis skills.