Here is a short story to help you understand its evolution and role. The Invisible Architect: A Tale of the Microsoft C Runtime
| Feature | Description | |---------|-------------| | | strcpy_s(dest, dest_size, src) prevents buffer overflows. | | Parameter validation | Invalid pointers or null args in CRT functions trigger invalid parameter handler. | | Heap hardening | malloc and free implement heap cookies, guard pages (in debug), free list validation. | | /GS (buffer security check) | Compiler-inserted stack cookies checked on function return; failure calls __report_gsfailure . | | Safe unlinking of DLLs | Prevents DLL preload attacks. | | _set_printf_count_output | Controls %n specifier behavior to prevent format string exploits. | | _controlfp_s | Secure version of FPU control word manipulation. | microsoft c runtime