How dasciam/mc-hooks works
1. Project shape
- This is a very small C++/CMake repository centered around a single source file, main.cpp.
- The architecture is intentionally minimal: build system + one compiled binary + two third-party libraries used for reverse-engineering demos.
2. Primary purpose
- The README makes the intent explicit: it is an educational demo for signature scanning and inline function hooking on Windows DLLs.
- So the core “application” is not a business app or service; it is a low-level Windows native program that likely interacts with another process/module or with loaded DLL code.
3. Execution boundary
- The main runtime boundary is Windows x64.
- The program is built with a MSVC-compatible toolchain and targets Windows binaries, which matters because the hooking library and inline patching are architecture- and ABI-sensitive.
4. Core source boundary
- main.cpp is the only project source file, so it likely contains the entire demo flow:
- locate a target function or code pattern,
- resolve an address from a signature scan,
- install a hook,
- demonstrate redirected execution or interception.
- There is no evidence of a multi-module domain split; all runtime behavior is concentrated here.
5. Signature-scanning subsystem
- The project depends on libhat, which the README identifies as a pattern/signature scanning library.
- This subsystem is the “discovery” phase: it helps find code/data in a binary by matching byte patterns instead of relying on exported symbols or fixed addresses.
6. Hooking subsystem
- The project depends on safetyhook, an x86/x64 inline hooking library.
- This is the “interception” phase: once a target address is found, the code can patch the function prologue and redirect execution to custom logic, typically while preserving a trampoline to the original function.
7. Data flow
- The natural flow is: binary/module memory → signature scan → resolved address → hook installation → intercepted execution path.
- The key handoff is from the scanner to the hooker: the output of pattern matching becomes the input address for inline patching.
8. Build and dependency management
- The project uses CMake as the build orchestrator.
- cmake/CPM.cmake indicates use of CPM.cmake for fetching/managing dependencies, so the third-party libraries are likely pulled in at configure time rather than vendored as source.
- This means the repo boundary is small, with external libraries forming a clear dependency layer.
9. Toolchain support
- toolchain/toolchain-mingw64.cmake shows the repo includes an alternate MinGW-w64 toolchain file.
- That suggests the build system is prepared for more than one Windows-targeting compiler environment, even though the README specifically calls out MSVC.
10. Platform/infrastructure assumptions
- The code is meant for native Windows development and runtime, not cross-platform portability.
- The architecture depends on Windows DLL loading, x86/x64 calling conventions, and executable memory patching semantics.
11. Non-goals / boundary clarity
- There is no sign of networking, persistence, UI, database access, or multi-process orchestration.
- The repository is essentially a focused proof-of-concept around binary analysis and code redirection, not a larger product system.
12. How to diagram it
- A good architecture diagram would show:
- one application box for main.cpp,
- a build/dependency layer via CMake + CPM,
- external libraries libhat and safetyhook,
- a Windows DLL/module target being scanned and hooked,
- and the resulting control-flow redirection back into custom code.
Main entry points: CMakeLists.txt CMake · CPM.cmake CPM · main.cpp Demo app · toolchain-mingw64.cmake MinGW toolchain
Components 11
Build
CMake-based build and toolchain setup.
- CMake · Configures and generates the Windows C++ build.
CMakeLists.txt - CPM · Fetches external libraries during configure time.
cmake/CPM.cmake - MinGW toolchain · Alternate Windows-targeting compiler configuration.
toolchain/toolchain-mingw64.cmake
Runtime
Windows-native demo execution and target module interaction.
- Demo app · Single-file program that drives the scan-and-hook proof of concept.
main.cpp - DLL target · Loaded binary or DLL region being searched and patched.
- Signature scan · Finds a target function or code pattern by matching bytes.
- Resolved address · Matched location used as the hook insertion point.
- Inline hook · Patches the target prologue and redirects execution.
- Custom logic · Replacement or interception code reached through the hook.
Dependencies
Third-party libraries used for scanning and hooking.
- libhat · Third-party library for pattern and signature scanning.
- safetyhook · Third-party library for x86/x64 inline function hooking.
Connections 13
- CMake → Demo app: builds · Compiles the demo application.
- CMake → CPM: uses · Invokes CPM for dependency acquisition.
- CMake → MinGW toolchain: can select · Supports an alternate MinGW-w64 toolchain.
- CPM → libhat: fetches · Brings in the scanning library.
- CPM → safetyhook: fetches · Brings in the hooking library.
- Demo app → DLL target: inspects · Operates on a Windows DLL or module image.
- Demo app → Signature scan: performs · Searches for a byte pattern or function signature.
- Signature scan → libhat: uses · Delegates pattern matching to libhat.
- Signature scan → Resolved address: produces · Returns the matched code address.
- Resolved address → Inline hook: feeds · Supplies the hook installation point.
- Inline hook → safetyhook: uses · Delegates inline patching to safetyhook.
- Inline hook → Custom logic: redirects to · Transfers control into custom interception logic.
- Custom logic → DLL target: intercepts · Runs in place of or alongside the original code path.