Ghidra reverse engineering

By David Álvarez PérezRavikant TiwariPublisher Packt PublishingWritten by David Álvarez Pérez, a senior malware analyst at Gen Digital Inc., and Ravikant Tiwari, a senior security researcher at Microsoft, with expertise in malware and threat detection, this book is a complete guide to using Ghidra for examining malware, making patches, and customizing its features for your cybersecurity needs.This updated edition walks you through implementing Ghidra’s capabilities and automating reverse-engineering tasks with its plugins. You’ll learn how to set up an environment for practical malware analysis, use Ghidra in headless mode, and leverage Ghidra scripting to automate vulnerability detection in executable binaries. Advanced topics such as creating Ghidra plugins, adding new binary formats, analyzing processor modules, and contributing to the Ghidra project are thoroughly covered too.This edition also simplifies complex concepts such as remote and kernel debugging and binary diffing, and their practical uses, especially in malware analysis. From unpacking malware to analyzing modern ransomware, you’ll acquire the skills necessary for handling real-world cybersecurity challenges.By the end of this Ghidra book, you’ll be adept at avoiding potential vulnerabilities in code, extending Ghidra for advanced reverse-engineering, and applying your skills to strengthen your cybersecurity strategies.© 2025 Packt Publishing (Ebook): 9781835889831Release dateEbook: 17 January 2025

The NSA released the Ghidra, a multi-platform reverse engineering framework that could be used to find vulnerabilities and security holes in applications. In January 2019, the National Security Agency (NSA) announced the release at the RSA Conference of the free reverse engineering framework GHIDRA.GHIDRA is a multi-platform reverse engineering framework that runs on major OSs (Windows, macOS, and Linux).The framework was first mentioned in the CIA Vault 7 dump that was leaked in 2017. WikiLeaks obtained thousands of files allegedly originating from a CIA high-security network that details CIA hacking techniques, tools, and capabilities. Digging in the huge trove of files, it is possible to find also information about the GHIDRA, a Java-based engineering tool.Now the NSA has released the suite Ghidra that could be used to find vulnerabilities and security holes in applications. Ghidra is Apache 2.0-licensed and requires a Java runtime, it is availablefor download here. Of course, people fear the US Agency may have introduced a backdoor in the suite, but the NSA excluded it. The platform was presented at the RSA Conference in San Francisco on Tuesday by Rob Joyce, former head of the NSA’s elite hacking team and now White House cybersecurity coordinator, Joyce has presented the code-analysis suite, he remarked the absence of backdoors.“There is no backdoor in Ghidra,” he announced. “This is the last community you want to release something out to with a backdoor installed, to people who hunt for this stuff to tear apart.”The popular expert Matthew “HackerFantastic” Hickey, cofounder of British security shop Hacker House, noticed something of strange. Hickey told The Register that when you run it in debug mode the suite, it opens port 18001 to your local network that accepts and executes remote commands from any machine that can connect in. Even if the Debug mode is

Malware Analysis Tools and Platforms: Ghidra - A Powerful Open-Source RE ToolIntroductionMalware analysis is a critical aspect of cybersecurity that entails understanding the inner workings of malicious software to develop effective countermeasures. Reverse engineering plays a crucial role in this process, as it involves dissecting malware to gain insights into its code, functionality, and overall behavior. In this tutorial, we will explore Ghidra, an exceptionally powerful open-source reverse engineering tool widely used for malware analysis.What is Ghidra?Ghidra is a state-of-the-art software reverse-engineering framework developed by the National Security Agency (NSA). Initially released to the public in 2019, Ghidra quickly gained popularity for its extensive features, robustness, and user-friendly interface. Its open-source nature enables security researchers, malware analysts, and programmers to leverage its capabilities effectively without any financial constraints.Features of GhidraDecompilerGhidra's decompiler component is one of its most remarkable features. It translates compiled machine code into a higher-level programming language, making it easier to understand and analyze complex malware. Let's take a look at a code snippet to demonstrate this:int main() { int x = 5; int y = 10; int result = x + y; return result;}Using the Ghidra decompiler, we can obtain the following decompiled code:undefined4 main(void){ int x; int y; int local_c; x = 5; y = 10; local_c = x + y; return local_c;}Collaboration and ScriptingGhidra provides a collaborative environment that allows multiple analysts to work simultaneously on the same project. This feature fosters knowledge sharing, teamwork, and efficient analysis workflows. Additionally, Ghidra offers an extensive scripting interface, empowering analysts to automate tasks and create custom analysis tools tailored to their specific needs.Graphical User Interface (GUI)Ghidra's user-friendly GUI makes it accessible to both experienced analysts and beginners alike. The interface provides an intuitive navigation experience, simplifying the process of exploring disassembled code, debugging malware, and inspecting memory. Ghidra's GUI significantly enhances productivity and reduces the learning curve for newcomers in the field.Ghidra in Malware AnalysisNow that we have acquainted ourselves with Ghidra's features let's delve into its application in malware analysis.Static AnalysisStatic analysis involves examining malware without executing it. Ghidra enables analysts to statically analyze malicious binaries

Ghidra is the most advanced reverse engineering tool on the market, and best of all it is completly free and open source! Most of the content on RetroReversing will be using Ghidra going forward due to it being much more accessable than competitors such as IDA Pro.Introduction to GhidraThere is no better way to start out the hobby reverse engineering than learning Ghidra, it is an essentail tool that takes much of the headaches out of reversing. Introduction to Decompiling C++ with Ghidra For a good introduction to decompiling with Ghidra check out this post. Console PluginsNintendo Game BoyDownload the Ghidra plugin from GithubNintendo Game Boy AdvanceDownload the Ghidra plugin from GithubAn excellent guide for decompiling GBA games using Ghidra and mGBA is available on StarcubelabsAnother excellent guide is on wrongbaudNintendo DSDownload the Ghidra plugin from GithubNintendo Entertainment SystemDownload the Ghidra plugin from GithubIt even has multiple builds setup for each Ghidra version via Github Workflows!Note that there was another older Ghidra plugin called Ghidra-Nes-Rom-Decompiler-Plugin however it failed to build against latest Ghidra (11.1.2).Super NintendoThere is only one Ghidra plugin for SNES but it is currently not under active development you can get it from GithubNintendo 64Nintendo 64 games can be slightly harder to reverse due to everything being bundles as one large ROM image containing all the code and assets used in the game. Luckily there are a few tools that can help, such as the Reversing Emulator and a N64 Loader for Ghidra. N64 Decompiling with Ghidra If you are interested in Decompiling a Nintendo 64 game with Ghidra check out this post. GamecubeDownload the Ghidra plugin from GithubNote that to build the GameCubeLoader you will need to have gradle version 7 or below installed otherwise you will get an error similar to:FAILURE: Build failed with an exception.* Where:Build file './Ghidra-GameCube-Loader/build.gradle' line: 63* What went wrong:A problem occurred evaluating root project 'GameCubeLoader'.> Adding a Configuration as a dependency is no longer allowed as of Gradle 8.0.On Mac OSX you can install an older version of Gradle using brew:WiiA guide for using Ghidra on Wii games is available on WiiBrewSega Master System/Game gearDownload the Ghidra plugin from GithubSega Mega Drive/GenesisDownload the Ghidra plugin from GithubSega SaturnDownload the Ghidra plugin from GithubSega DreamcastDownload the Ghidra plugin from GithubAlso for GDI support in Ghidra: GithubOriginal XboxDownload the Ghidra plugin from GithubXbox 360Download the Ghidra plugin from GithubPlaystation 1Download the Ghidra plugin from GithubAlso for a guide for using Ghidra for PS1 reversing: tokimeki-memorialPlaystation 2Download the Ghidra plugin from GithubPlaystation 3There are a few useful script for working with PS3 executables on GithubPlaystation PortableDownload the Ghidra plugin from GithubFeature PluginsWhile Ghidra has a large number of features built in, there are a number of features missing that are thankfully available due to community plugins, this section will cover some of the most useful for game reversing.CodeCutCodeCut allows a user to assign functions to object files in Ghidra, and then interact with the binary at the object file level. Functions are assigned to

With a backdoor," he said. Some watchers on Twitter, however, remain skeptical. On whether the new reverse engineering tool from the NSA has a backdoor, senior advisor for NSA Rob Joyce says, "There's no backdoor in GHIDRA. This is the last community where you'd want to release a product with a backdoor." pic.twitter.com/aK4WKbnsV1 — Bitter, Tired, and Sweaty (@wmaxeddy) March 6, 2019 According to the NSA's website, the goal of GHIDRA is straightforward: to help researchers understand how malicious software works. "[GHIDRA] helps analyze malicious code and malware like viruses, and can give cybersecurity professionals a better understanding of potential vulnerabilities in their networks and systems," it says. Interestingly, a Wikipedia search for "GHIDRA" redirects to a Godzilla monster. In Joyce's words, GHIDRA helps turn the machine-readable code found in a complete software package into human-readable code that can be examined. "It's like working a puzzle; you're given a binary and you're trying to get back to what it was," he said. Recommended by Our Editors Despite covering more than 1.2 million lines of code, GHIDRA is intended to be straightforward, featuring a GUI and support on Linux, macOS, and Windows machines. A simple, usable interface was something that was of major importance in GHIDRA's development, said Joyce. The software has a lot of tricks up its sleeve, like being able to recognize the language in which certain software was written. It also includes a generic microprocessor module, and can be configured to use several different kinds of processors in the reverse-engineering process. GHIDRA is also highly customizable and extensible and capable of comparing different versions of the same software—especially important when examining different iterations of malware. A key feature Joyce highlighted is how GHIDRA works for groups tackling the same code. It can work a bit like Github, pulling together the combined efforts of multiple users. With GHIDRA now out in the wild, Joyce hopes others will build on it. "We really want to encourage collaboration within the reverse engineering community, so if you build something please share." SecurityWatch newsletter for our top privacy and security stories delivered right to your inbox.","first_published_at":"2021-09-30T21:22:09.000000Z","published_at":"2025-01-23T16:44:01.000000Z","last_published_at":"2025-01-23T16:43:49.000000Z","created_at":null,"updated_at":"2025-01-23T16:44:01.000000Z"})" x-intersect.once="window.trackGAImpressionEvents("pcmag-on-site-newsletter-block", "SecurityWatch", $el)"> Like What You're Reading? Sign up for SecurityWatch newsletter for our top privacy and security stories delivered right to your inbox. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking the button, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms