Cheat Engine

[LostForever]

Title pretty much says it all, I'm trying to find a dynamic string. This isn't a game but an application that I'd like to stop filling out every single time I start it.

It has an input box for your username and various other fields.

1. I find the String using a text scan, pretty simple stuff no problem.
2. I find a pointer to the value using a pointer scan.
3. I restart and change the value pointed to by the saved pointer, it works!
4. Unfortunately however when the string exceeds 23 characters (as mine does) the string is reallocated elsewhere meaning that my pointer doesn't work for my username. The side-effect of this is that my username is not actually entered correctly (I simply tell the C++ application to enter the keys).

i.e. I attempt to type TheUsernameIWantToEnterIsThis but it only gets as far as TheUsernameIwantToEnte (I assume it's 22 characters and the null terminator)

The pointer is then no longer valid, changing it does nothing but doing a new scan finds a new address that writes to a larger empty block of memory (which I confirmed in the memory browser, I want to say it's ~40 or 50). This pattern repeats all the way up to 80 characters.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated, I know this is the Gamehacking section but I figure it's still the most accurate place for it, if I'm wrong I'm happy to repost it or have it moved.

Thanks in advance.

[atom0s]

Based on how you described this, it sounds like a string type similar to C++'s std::string. By default, the first chunk of characters are stored in a small char[] array. After that array hits its max size used, it instead converts the string to an allocated buffer (ie. char*) and resizes as needed as the string grows.

For this type of string, if it is the case for your application, the pointer is usually stored near the char[] array. Find the first small string of the user name like you have before then open it in the memory view of Cheat Engine. Start filling in the name more until the point it changes the address and see if there is a value near the old buffer that is then used to handle the new strings pointer.

[LostForever]

That was incredibly insightful I didn't realize that's how std::string worked, I'll give it a shot as soon as I finish work.

Thanks for the help I hope it pays off.

[LostForever]

Just a quick update: I haven't forgotten about this but the application has a lot of anti-debug features I'm currently trying to contend with.