Definition
Plain language
A hidden table of function pointers that makes object-oriented code work.
As stated in the literature
Virtual function table — a data structure of method pointers used to implement polymorphic dispatch in C++ and COM-style binaries.
Why it matters: Corrupting a vtable is a classic exploitation technique, so it's a frequent target in memory-safety research and binary analysis.
For example, when C++ code calls a method on a base-class pointer, the program looks up the actual function to run via the object's vtable.
Heard on the show
“" But the most important thing it does is automatic vtable resolution.”Episode 024 — An AI Agent That Found 28 Zero-Days in Windows — And What Made It Work