Ghidra Software Reverse Engineering for Beginners: Analyze, identify, and avoid malicious code and potential threats in your networks and systems

by A.P. David

Detect potentials bugs in your code or program and develop your own tools using the Ghidra reverse engineering framework developed by the NSA project

Key FeaturesMake the most of Ghidra on different platforms such as Linux, Windows, and macOSLeverage a variety of plug-ins and extensions to perform disassembly, assembly, decompilation, and scriptingDiscover how you can meet your cybersecurity needs by creating custom patches and toolsBook DescriptionGhidra, an open source software reverse engineering (SRE) framework created by the NSA research directorate, enables users to analyze compiled code on any platform, whether Linux, Windows, or macOS. This book is a starting point for developers interested in leveraging Ghidra to create patches and extend tool capabilities to meet their cybersecurity needs.

You'll begin by installing Ghidra and exploring its features, and gradually learn how to automate reverse engineering tasks using Ghidra plug-ins. You'll then see how to set up an environment to perform malware analysis using Ghidra and how to use it in the headless mode. As you progress, you'll use Ghidra scripting to automate the task of identifying vulnerabilities in executable binaries. The book also covers advanced topics such as developing Ghidra plug-ins, developing your own GUI, incorporating new process architectures if needed, and contributing to the Ghidra project.

By the end of this Ghidra book, you'll have developed the skills you need to harness the power of Ghidra for analyzing and avoiding potential vulnerabilities in code and networks.

What you will learnGet to grips with using Ghidra's features, plug-ins, and extensionsUnderstand how you can contribute to GhidraFocus on reverse engineering malware and perform binary auditingAutomate reverse engineering tasks with Ghidra plug-insBecome well-versed with developing your own Ghidra extensions, scripts, and featuresAutomate the task of looking for vulnerabilities in executable binaries using Ghidra scriptingFind out how to use Ghidra in the headless modeWho this book is forThis SRE book is for developers, software engineers, or any IT professional with some understanding of cybersecurity essentials. Prior knowledge of Java or Python, along with experience in programming or developing applications, is required before getting started with this book.

Table of ContentsGetting Started with GhidraAutomating RE Tasks with Ghidra ScriptsGhidra Debug ModeUsing Ghidra ExtensionsReversing Malware Using GhidraScripting Malware AnalysisUsing Ghidra Headless AnalyzerAuditing Program BinariesScripting Binary AuditsDeveloping Ghidra PluginsIncorporating New Binary FormatsAnalyzing Processor ModulesContributing to the Ghidra CommunityExtending Ghidra for Advanced Reverse Engineering

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 8, 2021

Reviews

[Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a simple tutorial on how to use Ghidra. I found it barely marginally useful. The reason I bought it was that I was sure where this material would be available online.

[Andrea Santambrogio · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is mainly a copy paste of the Ghidra documentation and the source code of the extensions/plugins. I am giving two stars because at times the author elucidates some interesting insights on malware reverse enginering, yet in such in passing that learning is superficial. Also riddled in typos!