Retro Exploitation - Vintage Computing as a Vulnerability Research Playground

Explore vulnerability discovery and exploit development through vintage computing in this DEF CON 31 conference talk focused on using retro systems as learning environments. Learn how the Commodore Amiga platform from the late 80s and early 90s serves as an ideal playground for understanding fundamental security concepts, free from the complexity of modern systems and security mitigations. Discover the complete setup process for an Amiga hacking environment, including hardware configuration, OS architecture details, and access to an extensive software library for research targets. Master both period-appropriate development tools and modern resources like the Ghidra disassembler for reverse engineering. Follow along with a detailed technical case study demonstrating the identification and exploitation of vulnerabilities in a 1994 FTP client, gaining practical insights into the foundations of security research through hands-on experimentation with vintage technology.