How to access .text section using a function pointer in C? -

i trying inject executable code in memory using c. executable should able read it's own code , copy other location referenced pointer. general template code follows

int main(){     int (*main_ptr)();     main_ptr=main; // make pointer point start of main     /*     * rest of code.     *     */       /*now trying print first 10 bytes of main function.     * see if possible access main's code.     */      for(int i=0;i<10;i++)         printf("%x ",*main_ptr++);     return 0; } 

but output value of pointer (i.e. address of main function), not value points (the code of main function). had read somewhere c not dereference function pointers. not know why. there way around this? or, there way program access own code section?

p.s. understand many may think stupid question , not contribute research , that. i'am trying understand how malware written , given absence of material on web, has been frustrating, decided try myself. great.

there 2 issue code (even though such ub strict). implementations point of view there following issues

1. none of implementations define * operator function pointer.

2. none of implementations define ++ operator on function pointers because size of function not defined.

but implementations define casting fptr void* , other data pointers though ub.

you can make use of fact.

i tried simple modification of code -

for(i=0;i<10;i++)     printf("%x ",*((int*)main_ptr++)); 

and produced "expected" behavior gcc (mingw64), compared output against objdump.

finally goes warning none of approaches portable. perhaps there no portable way achieve doing.

if have same code main, 1 way read actual binary (pointed arg[0]). parse headers find main , read bytes there. since reading file give data pointer there no ub there.