windows - Several int3 in a row

Question

I'm using x64dbg to inspect the disassembly of a .DLL.

At several points in the assembly I see several Int3 instructions in a row.

00007FFA24BF1638 | CC                       | int3                                    |
00007FFA24BF1639 | CC                       | int3                                    |
00007FFA24BF163A | CC                       | int3                                    |
00007FFA24BF163B | CC                       | int3                                    |
00007FFA24BF163C | CC                       | int3                                    |
00007FFA24BF163D | CC                       | int3                                    |
00007FFA24BF163E | CC                       | int3                                    |
00007FFA24BF163F | CC                       | int3                                    |

This instruction is used for debugging / break points right? So then why are there so many in a row, and why is there any at all considering this DLL was compiled with a release configuration VC++.

Answer 1

It's probably just padding, they won't ever be executed. I assume the next function begins at 00007FFA24BF1640 which is 16 byte aligned, and the preceding function presumably ends before these instructions.