Learning Linux Binary Analysis

ELF section headers

Now that we've looked at what program headers are, it is time to look at section headers. I really want to point out here the distinction between the two; I often hear people calling sections, segments, and vice versa. A section is not a segment. Segments are necessary for program execution, and within each segment, there is either code or data divided up into sections. A section header table exists to reference the location and size of these sections and is primarily for linking and debugging purposes. Section headers are not necessary for program execution, and a program will execute just fine without having a section header table. This is because the section header table doesn't describe the program memory layout. That is ...