Welcome to the world of BinExport, a handy tool for exporting disassembly data into the Protocol Buffer format, essential for utilizing BinDiff. This guide will walk you through the installation and usage of BinExport across various platforms, ensuring you have your disassembler toolsets primed for reverse engineering.
Table of Contents
Introduction
BinExport stands as the exporter component of BinDiff. It acts as a plugin extension for popular disassemblers like IDA Pro, Binary Ninja, and Ghidra, facilitating the export of disassembly data into the required Protocol Buffer format, making it an essential tool for reverse engineers.
Installation
IDA Pro
To install BinExport for IDA Pro:
- Download the binaries from the releases page.
- Copy them into the IDA Pro plugins directory. Default paths include:
- Linux:
/opt/idapro-8.2/plugins - macOS:
/Applications/IDA Pro 8.2/idabin/plugins - Windows:
%ProgramFiles%/IDA 8.2/plugins - For user-specific installation, use:
- Linux/macOS:
~/.idapro/plugins - Windows:
%AppData%/Hex-Rays/IDA Pro/plugins
Binary Ninja
To install BinExport for Binary Ninja:
- Download the binaries from the releases page.
- Copy them into your Binary Ninja plugins directory:
- Linux:
~/.binaryninjaplugins - macOS:
~/Library/Application Support/Binary Ninja/plugins - Windows:
%AppData%/Binary Ninja/plugins
Ghidra
To install BinExport for Ghidra:
- Download the binaries from the releases page.
- Start Ghidra and go to
File > Install Extensions.... - Add the extension by locating the
ghidra_BinExport.zipfile you downloaded.
Usage
The primary use of BinExport is through BinDiff, although it also allows exporting disassembly in multiple formats:
- Protocol Buffer based full export
- Statistics text file
- Text format for debugging
Usage in IDA Pro
- Open an IDA Pro database.
- Go to
Edit > Plugins > BinExport. - Choose the export type you desire.
Usage in Binary Ninja
- Open or create an analysis database.
- Go to
Tools > Plugins > BinExport.
Usage in Ghidra
- Open a project and import a file if necessary.
- Right-click the file and select
Export.... - Choose
Binary Export (v2)for BinDiff.
How to Build
Building BinExport involves several prerequisites and configurations based on your operating system.
Preparing the Build Environment
You will need dependencies such as Boost, CMake, and various SDKs. Make sure you have the following:
- Boost 1.83.0 or higher
- CMake 3.14 or higher
- GCC 9 or a recent version of Clang for Linux/macOS, Visual Studio 2019 for Windows.
- IDA SDK 8.2 or higher for IDA Pro builds.
Linux
1. Prepare your build environment using Debian 11 and install required packages.
2. Follow the commands provided in the README to configure and build BinExport.
macOS
1. Use macOS 13 Ventura and Xcode to prepare your environment.
2. Download and install CMake before proceeding with the build commands listed.
Windows
1. Use Windows 10 with Visual Studio 2022.
2. Follow the detailed instructions in the README to build BinExport using CMake.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter difficulties during installation or usage, consider the following troubleshooting steps:
- Ensure all dependencies are installed correctly.
- Verify that you are copying binaries to the right plugin directories.
- Check if you are running the latest version of your disassembler.
For more insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.
Remember, building software is like constructing a house. Each dependency is like a brick—if one is missing or improperly placed, the structure may not hold! Always double-check your environment and paths to ensure everything is solid.
At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.