DWORD combined with a pointer + using this in a function

[Nik08154]

I have one question:

Example:

    #include<windows.h>
    #define playerpointer 0xABC12375
    
    int main()
    {
        DWORD DllThePointerIsStoredIn = (DWORD*)GetModuleHandleA("example.dll");
        DWORD playerPtr = *(DWORD*)(playerpointer);
    }

I found this in MPGH and why using a cast to convert a value to a pointer in DWORD for a function?

so thanks for answering (and thanks for the answer before)

[abuckau907]

edit: misread. removed.

Which line are you referring to?
(DWORD*)GetModuleHandleA("example.dll")
or
*(DWORD*)(playerpointer)

[Nik08154]

edit: misread. removed.

Which line are you referring to?
(DWORD*)GetModuleHandleA("example.dll")
or
*(DWORD*)(playerpointer)

(DWORD*)GetModuleHandleA("example.dll")

[Fovea]

Handles returned from GetModuleHandle are not true handles. GetModuleHandle returns the image base of the loaded image.

[abuckau907]

Handles returned from GetModuleHandle are not true handles. GetModuleHandle returns the image base of the loaded image.

Ah maybe I see what he means...

DWORD DllThePointerIsStoredIn = (DWORD*)GetModuleHandleA("example.dll");

DWORD == DWORD*

How can a DWORD be set equal to a DWORD Pointer ? (without using dereference operator) I'd expect it to throw some type of "invalid asignment" error, but I don't know C++ very well.

edit:tested, and got compiler errors : /


If you're wondering what the return value of GetModuleHandleA() is / what it could be converted to

 

@OP To answer your question, it's invalid code and won't compile. (?) Though I don't have much of an explanation for you, sry.

[Biesi]

Ofc this won't work

[Nik08154]

and what is this meaning?

DWORD pWeaponMgr = *(DWORD*)(CShell + WeaponMgr);

I mean what does this *(DWORD*) mean?

[Hell_Demon]

and what is this meaning?

DWORD pWeaponMgr = *(DWORD*)(CShell + WeaponMgr);

I mean what does this *(DWORD*) mean?

Dereference a pointer, you get the value of what CShell+WeaponMgr points to

[Akar]

and what is this meaning?

DWORD pWeaponMgr = *(DWORD*)(CShell + WeaponMgr);

I mean what does this *(DWORD*) mean?

DWORD = Read 4 Bytes // use for pointer,example = 0x11223344
WORD = Read 2 Bytes // use for offset, expamle = 0x1122

these two values ​​is use to read information from memory

[abuckau907]

and what is this meaning?

DWORD pWeaponMgr = *(DWORD*)(CShell + WeaponMgr);

I mean what does this *(DWORD*) mean?

*(TYPE*) is a 2 step process. (and with Cshell + WeaponMgr; 3 steps)

In the example, DWORD pWeaponMgr = *(DWORD*) (an addr);

step 1. numeric add CShell + weaponMgr --> the result is simply a numeric : a memory address.
step 2. read an address from the location in step 1. If 32 bit cpu, read 4 bytes; if 64 bit, read 8 bytes.
--the value we read is ANOTHER MEMORY ADDRESS.
step 3. read a value from the addr we got in step 2

assuming CShell + WeaponMgr == some number, let's say 0x11223344

step 1. add CShell + weaponMgr == 0x11223344
step 2. (assuming 32 bit..as most current/old games were 32 bit) Read 4 bytes starting at 0x11223344
-Pretend those 4 bytes hold the value 0x22446688
step 3. Since we're going to store this in a DWORD, and dword size is 4 bytes, we read 4 bytes starting at 0x22446688

We dereferenced the pointer at 0x11223344 : ) The type inside *(TYPE*) dictates how many bytes are read from the final addr (22446688) in step 3.

big_struct myObj = *(big_struct*)0x11223344; would read a different number of bytes starting at 0x22446688.