When attaching agent to running process, bytebuddy transformer doesn't seem to take effect - byte-buddy

Question

The code of my program to be attached is as below.
public class Foo {
}
public class TestEntry {
public TestEntry() {
}
public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
try
{
while(true)
{
System.out.println(new Foo().toString());
Thread.sleep(1000);
}
}
catch(Exception e)
{}
}
}
What I attempt to do is to make Foo.toString() returns 'test' by using the following agent.
public class InjectionAgent {
public InjectionAgent() {
}
public static void agentmain(String args, Instrumentation inst) throws Exception
{
System.out.println("agentmain Args:" + args);
new AgentBuilder.Default()
.type(ElementMatchers.named("Foo"))
.transform(new AgentBuilder.Transformer() {
#Override
public Builder<?> transform(Builder<?> arg0, TypeDescription arg1,
ClassLoader arg2, JavaModule arg3) {
return arg0.method(ElementMatchers.named("toString"))
.intercept(FixedValue.value("test"));
}
}).installOn(inst);
}
public static void premain(String args, Instrumentation inst) throws Exception
{
System.out.println("premain Args:" + args);
new AgentBuilder.Default()
.type(ElementMatchers.named("Foo"))
.transform(new AgentBuilder.Transformer() {
#Override
public Builder<?> transform(Builder<?> arg0, TypeDescription arg1,
ClassLoader arg2, JavaModule arg3) {
return arg0.method(ElementMatchers.named("toString"))
.intercept(FixedValue.value("test"));
}
}).installOn(inst);
}
}
I notice that, it was successful when I using -javaagent way, whereas attach way failed, here is code for attach.
public class Injection {
public Injection() {
}
public static void main(String[] args) throws AttachNotSupportedException, IOException, AgentLoadException, AgentInitializationException, InterruptedException {
VirtualMachine vm = null;
String agentjarpath = args[0];
vm = VirtualMachine.attach(args[1]);
vm.loadAgent(agentjarpath, "This is Args to the Agent.");
vm.detach();
}
}
I tried to add AgentBuilder.Listener.StreamWriting.toSystemOut() to the agent, after attaching, the output of TestEntry shows
[Byte Buddy] DISCOVERY Foo [sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader#33909752, null, loaded=true]
[Byte Buddy] TRANSFORM Foo [sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader#33909752, null, loaded=true]
[Byte Buddy] COMPLETE Foo [sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader#33909752, null, loaded=true]
Foo#7f31245a
Foo#6d6f6e28
Foo#135fbaa4
Foo#45ee12a7
Foo#330bedb4
==================================Update=====================================
I defined a public method 'Bar' in Foo like this
public class Foo {
public String Bar()
{
return "Bar";
}
}
and then I was trying to make Foo.Bar() returns "modified" in the following way:
public static void agentmain(String args, Instrumentation inst) throws Exception
{
System.out.println("agentmain Args:" + args);
premain(args, inst);
new AgentBuilder.Default()
.with(RedefinitionStrategy.RETRANSFORMATION)
.disableClassFormatChanges()
.with(AgentBuilder.Listener.StreamWriting.toSystemOut())
.type(ElementMatchers.named("Foo"))
.transform(new AgentBuilder.Transformer() {
#Override
public Builder<?> transform(Builder<?> arg0, TypeDescription arg1,
ClassLoader arg2, JavaModule arg3) {
return arg0.visit(Advice.to(InjectionTemplate.class).on(ElementMatchers.named("Bar")));
}
})
.installOn(inst);
}
static class InjectionTemplate {
#Advice.OnMethodExit
static void exit(#Advice.Return String self) {
System.out.println(self.toString() + " " + self.getClass().toString());
self = new String("modified");
}
}
but I got this error:
java.lang.IllegalStateException: Cannot write to read-only parameter class java.lang.String at 1
any suggestions?

Answer 1

It does not seem like you are using redefinition for your agent. You can activate it using:
new AgentBuilder.Default()
.with(RedefinitionStrategy.RETRANSFORMATION)
.disableClassFormatChanges();
The last part is required on most JVMs (with the notable exception of the dynamic code evolution VM, a custom build of HotSpot). It tells Byte Buddy to not add fields or methods, what most VMs do not support.
In this case, it is no longer possible to invoke the original implementation of a method what is however not required for your FixedValue. Typically, users of Byte Buddy take advantage of Advice when creating an agent that applies dynamic transformations of classes.