Writing ROP on x64 is harder than x86 because function arguments are passed via registers ( rcx , rdx , r8 , r9 ) rather than the stack. You will learn to find "gadgets" that pop rcx; ret and chain them together to call WinExec or CreateRemoteThread .
For example, consider the concept of . Instead of trying to execute shellcode (which is hard with CFG and DEP), an advanced exploiter might simply manipulate data pointers in memory. By overwriting a function pointer or a security token in memory, they can hijack the program's logic without ever injecting a single instruction of code. exp-401 advanced windows exploitation
As of recent years, OffSec retired the EXP-401 course code in favor of and the advanced OSEE (Offensive Security Exploitation Expert). However, the legacy of EXP-401 lives on. The OSEE exam is widely considered the final boss of Windows certification—requiring you to bypass SMEP, CFG, and kASLR in a single exploit chain. Writing ROP on x64 is harder than x86
Modern Windows environments—Windows 10, Windows 11, and Server 2019/2022—are fortresses. They employ sophisticated mitigations: Instead of trying to execute shellcode (which is