What is Hooking?

Definition

A technique used by attackers to intercept and modify the behavior of functions in a running application. Hooking is typically done by injecting code into a process that reroutes the execution flow of target functions, allowing the attacker to monitor, alter, or hijack data as it moves through the system.

Real-World Examples

An attacker uses hooking to intercept a mobile app’s encryption function, allowing them to view sensitive data in plain text.

Featured Articles

Quiz

What does hooking allow an attacker to modify in an application?

The behavior of functions in a running application.