GDB Warning: Loadable section not found in added symbol-file system-supplied DSO at 0x7ffff7ffd000

Question

abijith bufferOverFlow $ gdb a.out
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Reading symbols from /home/abijith/Project/Security/bufferOverFlow/a.out...done
(gdb) r
Starting program: /home/abijith/Projec2qt/Security/bufferOverFlow/a.out 
warning: no loadable sections found in added symbol-file system-supplied 
SO at 0x7ffff7ffd000

I wrote a simple program which prints a string and returns. I was able to execute it directly, by typing "./a.out". But when I run it in gdb the error mentioned above happens. I tried compiling the code using the "-g" flag and without using it. Both time it gave the same result. Can anyone help me with this issue??

Answer 1

That message,

warning: no loadable sections found in added symbol-file system-supplied 

SO at 0x7ffff7ffd000

is a warning that does not prevent GCC from running a.out; at least, it should not.

It is saying that there's a dynamically loaded object used by a.out that is missing symbols. Nothing about a.out itself.

You can try to build a.out as a static executable; like this:

gcc -static a.c

Obviously, add any other compiler arguments needed.

As a static executable, you won't get that warning from GCC. Those symbols may still be missing, but it should not affect execution of the program.