Binary Analysis Cookbook: Actionable recipes for disassembling and analyzing binaries for security risks

by Michael Born

Explore open-source Linux tools and advanced binary analysis techniques to analyze malware, identify vulnerabilities in code, and mitigate information security risks

Key Features Adopt a methodological approach to binary ELF analysis on Linux Learn how to disassemble binaries and understand disassembled code Discover how and when to patch a malicious binary during analysis Book Description

Binary analysis is the process of examining a binary program to determine information security actions. It is a complex, constantly evolving, and challenging topic that crosses over into several domains of information technology and security.

This binary analysis book is designed to help you get started with the basics, before gradually advancing to challenging topics. Using a recipe-based approach, this book guides you through building a lab of virtual machines and installing tools to analyze binaries effectively. You'll begin by learning about the IA32 and ELF32 as well as IA64 and ELF64 specifications. The book will then guide you in developing a methodology and exploring a variety of tools for Linux binary analysis. As you advance, you'll learn how to analyze malicious 32-bit and 64-bit binaries and identify vulnerabilities. You'll even examine obfuscation and anti-analysis techniques, analyze polymorphed malicious binaries, and get a high-level overview of dynamic taint analysis and binary instrumentation concepts.

By the end of the book, you'll have gained comprehensive insights into binary analysis concepts and have developed the foundational skills to confidently delve into the realm of binary analysis.

What you will learn Traverse the IA32, IA64, and ELF specifications Explore Linux tools to disassemble ELF binaries Identify vulnerabilities in 32-bit and 64-bit binaries Discover actionable solutions to overcome the limitations in analyzing ELF binaries Interpret the output of Linux tools to identify security risks in binaries Understand how dynamic taint analysis works Who this book is for

This book is for anyone looking to learn how to dissect ELF binaries using open-source tools available in Linux. If you’re a Linux system administrator or information security professional, you’ll find this guide useful. Basic knowledge of Linux, familiarity with virtualization technologies and the working of network sockets, and experience in basic Python or Bash scripting will assist you with understanding the concepts in this book

Table of Contents Setting Up The Lab 32-bit Assembly on Linux And The ELF Specification 64-bit Assembly on Linux and the ELF Specification Creating A Binary Analysis Methodology Linux Tools for Binary Analysis Analyzing A Simple Bind Shell Analyzing A Simple Reverse Shell Identifying Vulnerabilities Understanding Anti-Analysis Techniques A Simple Reverse Shell With Polymorphism Appendix: Dynamic Taint Analysis - the 30,000 Foot View

396 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2019

Reviews

[Bogdan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good book as introduction to ELF and Assembly Language. The first 5 chapters can be easily condensed in only two. The author only touches the basic information about buffer overflow exploitation and gives very simple examples without going in depth in any of the topics presented. In the same time, it feels like a commercial for online paid courses. I started reading the book very excited about the content but soon got disappointed. Still, I finished reading the book with a list of topics that require thorough study.