Windows x64 Calling Convention: Stack Frame
Last updated
Last updated
When a function in a Windows x64 binary is called, the stack frame is used in the following manner:
First four integer arguments are passed to RCX, RDX, R8 and R9 registers accordingly (green)
Arguments 5, 6, and further are pushed on to the stack (blue)
Return address to the caller's next instruction is pushed is found at RSP + 0x0 (yellow)
Below return address (RSP + 0x0) 32 bytes are always allocated for RCD, RDX, R8 and R9, even if the callee uses less than 4 arguments
Local variables and non-volatile registers are stored above the return address (red)
RBP is not used for referencing local variables/function arguments (except for when functions use alloca()) as it used to be the case for X86. RSP is responsible for that, hence RSP value does not change throughout the function body (push and pop is only used for epilogue/prologue)
As an example, let's take a look at the function msv1_0.LsaInitializePackage in Ghidra.
Below shows how the first four arguments are stored in ECX (lower part of RCX), RDX, R8 and R9:
