GDB commands to trace calls to malloc/free

README.md

Attach to a running process with

  gdb -x trace-dyn-mem -p $PID

After every malloc the returned value (the allocated address) will be read from the RAX (64 bits) register.

After every free the last item in the backtrace (the free itself) will be shown. With the libc6-dbg package installed you can see the address passed as the first argument of free.

trace-dyn-mem

break malloc
commands
  silent
  bt 4
  up
  break
  commands
    silent
    clear
    print $rax
    cont
  end
  cont
end
break free
commands
  silent
  bt 1
  cont
end
cont

This will litter your gdb session with tons of breakpoints