Mad Code Hook replacement

[chaoslink]

This really belongs in both the Windows and Linux development forums, but I didn't want to double-post.

Last week I posted in the wish list a fairly whiney bit about portable code. This time I've begun to put my money where my mouth is.

After a search of utilities that provide the same function as Mad Code Hook, but were portable or at least exposed similar interfaces, I came up empty-handed.

However, Microsoft's Detours API particularly caught my attention. I've modified a subset of their code to compile under windows and linux and provide detour/trampoline functionality.

What all does this provide?
First, it reduces the amount of NWNX code which must be divergent between Windows and Linux platforms. My goal is to create one source tree which uses preprocessor macros to select the (minimal) divergent code. The less duplicate code, the less effort required to create new functionality and less places for error to be introduced in copying.

Second, and very importantly, it requires NO assembly code in NWNX itself (only in the detours code). This rids us of specific assembly to correctly call the original function after the hook has been executed.

I'm going to continue working on this - I will probably implement all the items I put in my wishlist post and provide my code for public consumption. Do with that what you will, but when it is ready my PW will sure be using it

[chaoslink]

If anyone has compiled a list of function signatures so that I can add hooking for all known (useful) functions for both windows and linux, could you please link below?

Otherwise, I'd like help in compiling such a list.

[chaoslink]

Finally making progress on this. I've got a codebase which compiles under both windows and linux. I'm getting some runtime errors with the windows version, but I am able to hook using code pulled from Detours on both platforms. More to come when I get something releasable.

[Papillon]

I am having troubles with my own madcodehook replacement. The problem I am having is, that I managed to load my NWNX DLL into the NWNServer process space, but I could not call any API functions in DLLMain afterwards (probably because of the loader lock the DLL loading mechanism sets up), so I can not setup DDE communications as well.

I haven't worked on this topic for a couple of weeks, so this is just from the top of my head.
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Papillon

[chaoslink]

I'll send you what I have once I fix the runtime errors.

[acaos]

Any chance I could get a look at this code? I've been working on a couple of new plugins for NWNX2 and it would be really helpful for what I'm doing.

Thanks,
Acaos

[chaoslink]

Sure... when I get a bit further on it, I think there may be a systemic problem with the port, but I'm not sure yet. I've been working 70+ hour weeks so it will be a bit.

[acaos]

Thanks very much, I'll be looking forward to it. I'd be glad to see if I can debug it as well if you're too busy to.

I have a new plugin for NWNX2 that allows hooking combat, which means the ability to add more feats (Weapon Focus for new weapons, etc), as well as change the behavior of the system.

We're already using it on Higher Ground. Right now we're only using a couple of features, but I intend to integrate more and offer it to the community at large once it's gone through some more extensive testing.

Acaos

[serafim]

Surfing madshi forum i found this:


http://forum.madshi.net/viewtopic.php?t=4211


revision 2.2.5.0 of hook code seems to be compatible with 64bit system and Vista too....


can someone confirm this (papillon maybe ? )

I must reinstall os on my server so shifting to server 03 64bit may be a good improvement for me .

thanks

[Darnah]

Yes, it would be very helpful, if someone could confirm this and if someone could say, how easy it is, to replace madhook with this version. I really think, that madshi will make a frée license for this project, as said in his post here:

http://forum.madshi.net/viewtopic.php?t=4210

[Papillon]

Could someone please try the new version ? I do not have access to a 64bit OS myself.

If there are incompabilities with the interface, I will update NWNX, of course.
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Papillon

[serafim]

Unfortunately the new 2.5.5.0 version oh madChook.dll is no more freeware.

That's the readme:

[mckillroy]

Madcodehook is not needed at all.

There are lots of descriptions out on how to implement DLL injection.

In the moment it appears to me, that using Microsofts Detour API is the most promising one to work under wine as well.

Once I have finished experimenting with it I'll tell here. Using the windows function "CreateRemoteThread" should also work. but I had trouble using it .. probably some mistakes on my side, and it caused trouble on wine for me.

EDIT: Just found the other thread about detours - good to see you're already on it.
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/McKillroy
a.k.a Yorlik

[xeopherith]

http://www.nwnx.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=476

mckillroy's solution is pretty close to working on my 64bit OS.

That Madchook.dll from the link above will "work" as long as you run an executable that comes with it for evaluation purposes HOWEVER, it doesn't work on my Windows Server 2003 R2 64bit edition so its useless to me.

[xeopherith]

Read the link I posted above, the solution does work.