in C++, I can easily create a function pointer by taking the address of a member function. However, is it possible to change the address of that local function?
I.e. say I have funcA() and funcB() in the same class, defined differently. I’m looking to change the address of funcA() to that of funcB(), such that at run time calling funcA() actually results in a call to funcB(). I know this is ugly, but I need to do this, thanks!
EDIT———-
Background on what I’m trying to do:
I’m hoping to implement unit tests for an existing code base, some of the methods in the base class which all of my modules are inheriting from are non-virtual. I’m not allowed to edit any production code. I can fiddle with the build process and substitute in a base class with the relevant methods set to virtual but I thought I’d rather use a hack like this (which I thought was possible).
Also, I’m interested in the topic out of technical curiosity, as through the process of trying to hack around this problem I’m learning quite a bit about how things such as code generation & function look-up work under the hood, which I haven’t had a chance to learn in school having just finished 2nd year of university. I’m not sure as to I’ll ever be taught such things in school as I’m in a computer engineering program rather than CS.
Back on topic
The the method funcA() and funcB() do indeed have the same signature, so the problem is that I can only get the address of a function using the & operator? Would I be correct in saying that I can’t change the address of the function, or swap out the contents at that address without corrupting portions of memory? Would DLL injection be a good approach for a situation like this if the functions are exported to a dll?
No. Functions are compiled into the executable, and their address is fixed throughout the life-time of the program.
The closest thing is virtual functions. Give us an example of what you’re trying to accomplish, I promise there’s a better way.