BGGP 4 starts tomorrow!

I am excited, it is an annual small file competition (organized by security researchers specializing in malware analysis, reverse engineering and exploit) since 2020!

Will update here tomorrow!

RESULT: https://github.com/binarygolf/BGGP/tree/main/2023

This post has been edited by MatQuasar: Oct 31 2023, 01:03 PM

The organizer has announced it a few hours ago.

The theme is : "Create the smallest self-replicating file",

A valid submission will:
- Produce exactly 1 copy of itself
- Name the copy "4"
- Not execute the copied file
- Print, return, or display the number 4

Please go to their website for more info: https :// binary.golf

Below is my example in VBScript, 97 bytes (if you use CR/LF as new line):



It copies itself (must be named as 04.vbs) to a new file "4", then display "4" in message box.

According to organizer, other file types that can be fun are:

Smallest self-replicating shell script
Smallest self-replicating COM
Smallest self-replicating Kernel Module
Smallest self-replicating core dump
Smallest self-replicating VxD
Smallest self-replicating Makefile
Smallest self-replicating UEFI App
Smallest self-replicating .pyc
Smallest self-replicating APK
Smallest self-replicating Gameboy ROM
Smallest self-replicating GIF
Smallest self-replicating MP4
Smallest self-replicating Postgres query
Smallest self-replicating .tar.gz
Smallest self-replicating Word Document

But a self-replicating GIF? The organizer also just demonstrate (through diagram) how a GIF can copies itself (through some protocol).

Who wants to join?

It involves coding this time, Python/Lua/Perl scripts are also accepted, according to organizer on Twitter.

For the smallest COM, which one you think will be smaller using Assembly language?

1. Use DOS Interrupt to open existing file, create new file, read and write as usual

2. Execute an external program (in this case, run internal "copy" command)

From what I found on the Internet


Is there third option to replicate itself to a new file "4"?

IMHO, using Windows API or linux syscall should be preferred.

Obsolete DOS INT may only applicable on emulator,
which may difficult for justified the "usability",
and not accessible by most of the people.

If someone create an environment with shortcut of command,
and use script to create shorter code,
should this result accepted by others who was using standard shell ?

Thanks for your feedback. Yes, I already submitted a Windows EXE as my first entry for this competition, thinking to either submit another program, maybe ELF (Linux) or DOS COM. But there is not much challenge, because it is open file, create file, read /write, close file, not much improvement can be done to make them shorter. Maybe I don't know how, I am not expert in reverse-engineering.

As for your last question, that will be classified as another file type. And binary.golf website says:


So each file type is different category, standard shell script file is different category than custom shell script file, so I think it is still acceptable.

Will you join, flashang?

already submitted lua file.

may be do other language when free.

Good news for me! It is definitely an honour to be followed by the organizer of BGGP (Binary Golf Association)!

I am one of the 37 users whom they are following on Twitter.



This post has been edited by MatQuasar: Jul 31 2023, 03:25 AM

For those who have visited the binary.golf website would know, the submission format requires the SHA256 and BASE64 of the entry.

On the other forum, an expert (he submitted a lot of entries for BGGP4) suggested this is the command in Windows to generate that automatically.


I haven't tried it myself, but you may want to use it next time if you plan to participate BGGP4 and your script/program is residing in Windows.

Someone almost beat me with its small EXE! Fortunately I still win after comparing the final size:

His/Her: 1548 bytes .NET PE

Mine: 1024 bytes PE (standalone)




You can read up about his/her write-up here:
https :// knifecoat.com/Posts/Writing+Small+.NET+PE's

I submitted another Linux program, 290 bytes for self-replicating file, using syscall 0 (sys_read), 1 (sys_write), 2 (sys_open), 3 (sys_close), 60 (sys_exit) and 85 (sys_creat for creating file).
I don't think conventional programming can do smallest program, but anyhow I have participated with two entries, 1KB PE and 290-byte ELF64.

EDIT: @flashang, nice to see you on Twitter!

This post has been edited by MatQuasar: Sep 23 2023, 08:48 PM

Sorry, I mean @flashang..... not angch who is already on Twitter long time ago.

Below is some code posted by another guy on another forum.

Please don't copy and send this to BGGP4, because that guy already submitted it.
It is pasted here as an example for all.

Lua. @flashang


Makefile


BAT/CMD:


He also has entries for DOS COM, Python and refined VBScript, but I am not going to post them all on here.

If you have participated BGGP this year, I hope you have had fun!

For those not following Binary Golf Association, here's the latest update about this BGGP4 event.

Someone posted a DOS COM solution at just 22 bytes! Terrific!



And when you think it is not possible to further squeeze it, someone came up with 18-byte DOS COM code snippet!

https :// github.com/yo-yo-yo-jbo/binary_golf_com/issues

They used very sophisticated technique that if I joined one, my DOS COM would be 50~60 bytes, I think.

I sent another entry, this time is DLL.....

Does sound like everyone is just writing to a new file called "4" from orig or the memory, then outputting "4".

Very "Hello World" exercise, and not as fun as it *could* be.

I *think* I can better the 22 byte .COM file, but I don't have spare cycles these days. Just need to write the memory to disk, and output "4".

Perl quine version, though copying the file version is smaller: (so not entering this one, esp since I adapted from a known Perl quine)


This post has been edited by angch: Jul 3 2023, 12:03 PM

Yes, I agree that it is "not as fun as it could be", but it does open to a wide audience for participation, since the entry level is low, almost everyone can do file copying and displaying "4" in their scripts or programs.

Perl script, or your Perl script, is known to be short, that one you posted is just 61 bytes. But no comparison can be done, as my end does not have any known entries that are in Perl.

Still about over one month left, take your time, angch, to try 22-byte COM file challenge. They relied on undocumented behavior, and some replies on DOSBox-X (not DOSBox) and real DOS to run properly.

That day I saw this "Uncle Lua" restaurant on the way to nearby town in Cheras.

(But the photo is from Google Maps, not my own)

Sorry, just kidding.

Just learn lua for some testing when free.
It's quite easy.

Whoa! A security researcher beat me with his/her 158-byte ELF! I surrender!

His recorded video : https :// asciinema.org/a/595560