by Charis Marshal, Student Public Relations Writer
Most cybersecurity threats originate from small, overlooked errors in everyday code, allowing hackers to subtly exploit those vulnerabilities. A new course developed by Cedarville University professor Dr. Keith Shomper for the Ohio Cyber Range Institute (OCRI) trains students to identify those weaknesses and prevent cyberattacks through code exploitation.
New Cybersecurity Curriculum Teaches Arbitrary Code Execution and Defense Strategies
Titled “Arbitrary Code Execution, Exploitation Techniques and Countermeasures,” the course was created for the OCRI’s educational module collection and is aimed at intermediate learners, including college-level cybersecurity or engineering students, working professionals who maintain critical computer infrastructure and high school students seeking early exposure to computer science pathways.
Cedarville’s cyber operations program, launched in 2016, is recognized by the National Security Agency as an NSA Center of Excellence in Cyber Operations, a credential that helped shape Shomper’s curriculum and standards. The course uses both a virtual lab environment and formal instruction. It will be available in July 2026 through the Range’s Cyber Library.
Arbitrary Code Execution Allows Hackers to Exploit Software Vulnerabilities
“When a program runs, it should do what the programmer intended,” said Shomper. “But in arbitrary code execution, the adversary is trying to get that program to do something it was never intended to do.”
The course focuses on exploit techniques commonly seen in real incidents and explains not only how those are executed but how defenders can spot indicators of compromise and fortify their systems.
Ohio Cyber Range Institute Highlights Need for Low-Level Software Analysis
“Software that operates close to the computer architecture can affect system stability,” said Dan Schaupner, associate director at the OCRI. “This course speaks directly to this challenge by encouraging the kind of careful analysis, curiosity and technical rigor needed to evaluate software behavior at the lowest levels of the computing stack.”
After 20 years of service in the Air Force, Shomper joined the Cedarville faculty in 2003. He brings more than four decades of experience in computer science and specializes in low-level computing, working close to the computer architecture to understand foundational code and processes. That perspective informs the course’s emphasis on reading program behavior from the bottom up.
“It is tedious working at the lowest level of the computer,” Shomper said. “But understanding all the details at the lowest level can help you troubleshoot and solve any problem because you know how to interpret what’s going on from the bottom to the top.”
Cybersecurity Course Supports Workforce Development and Future Practitioners
The “Arbitrary Code Execution” course will become one of the educational resources available through the OCRI for workforce development, continuing higher education and exposure for future practitioners. By teaching learners about exploit techniques and how to defend against such attacks, the course equips cyber professionals with practical skills stronger defense and security.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
