Master binary analysis patterns including disassembly, decompilation, control flow analysis, and code pattern recognition. Use when analyzing executables, understanding compiled code, or performing static analysis on binaries.
Comprehensive patterns and techniques for analyzing compiled binaries, understanding assembly code, and reconstructing program logic.
Use this skill when
Working on binary analysis patterns tasks or workflows
Needing guidance, best practices, or checklists for binary analysis patterns
Do not use this skill when
The task is unrelated to binary analysis patterns
You need a different domain or tool outside this scope
Instructions
Clarify goals, constraints, and required inputs.
Apply relevant best practices and validate outcomes.
Provide actionable steps and verification.
If detailed examples are required, open resources/implementation-playbook.md.
Disassembly Fundamentals
x86-64 Instruction Patterns
Function Prologue/Epilogue
; Standard prologue
push rbp ; Save base pointer
mov rbp, rsp ; Set up stack frame
sub rsp, 0x20 ; Allocate local variables
; Leaf function (no calls)
; May skip frame pointer setup
sub rsp, 0x18 ; Just allocate locals
; Standard epilogue
mov rsp, rbp ; Restore stack pointer
pop rbp ; Restore base pointer
ret
; Leave instruction (equivalent)
leave ; mov rsp, rbp; pop rbp
ret
; Arguments: X0-X7
; Return: X0 (and X1 for 128-bit)
; Frame pointer: X29
; Link register: X30
; Function prologue
stp x29, x30, [sp, #-16]! ; Save FP and LR
mov x29, sp ; Set frame pointer
; Function epilogue
ldp x29, x30, [sp], #16 ; Restore FP and LR
ret
ARM32 Calling Convention
; Arguments: R0-R3, then stack
; Return: R0 (and R1 for 64-bit)
; Link register: LR (R14)
; Function prologue
push {fp, lr}
add fp, sp, #4
; Function epilogue
pop {fp, pc} ; Return by popping PC
Control Flow Patterns
Conditional Branches
; if (a == b)
cmp eax, ebx
jne skip_block
; ... if body ...
skip_block:
; if (a < b) - signed
cmp eax, ebx
jge skip_block ; Jump if greater or equal
; ... if body ...
skip_block:
; if (a < b) - unsigned
cmp eax, ebx
jae skip_block ; Jump if above or equal
; ... if body ...
skip_block:
Loop Patterns
; for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
xor ecx, ecx ; i = 0
loop_start:
cmp ecx, [n] ; i < n
jge loop_end
; ... loop body ...
inc ecx ; i++
jmp loop_start
loop_end:
; while (condition)
jmp loop_check
loop_body:
; ... body ...
loop_check:
cmp eax, ebx
jl loop_body
; do-while
loop_body:
; ... body ...
cmp eax, ebx
jl loop_body
Switch Statement Patterns
; Jump table pattern
mov eax, [switch_var]
cmp eax, max_case
ja default_case
jmp [jump_table + eax*8]
; Sequential comparison (small switch)
cmp eax, 1
je case_1
cmp eax, 2
je case_2
cmp eax, 3
je case_3
jmp default_case
; Multiplication by constant
; x * 3
lea eax, [rax + rax*2]
; x * 5
lea eax, [rax + rax*4]
; x * 10
lea eax, [rax + rax*4] ; x * 5
add eax, eax ; * 2
; Division by power of 2 (signed)
mov eax, [x]
cdq ; Sign extend to EDX:EAX
and edx, 7 ; For divide by 8
add eax, edx ; Adjust for negative
sar eax, 3 ; Arithmetic shift right
; Modulo power of 2
and eax, 7 ; x % 8
Bit Manipulation
; Test specific bit
test eax, 0x80 ; Test bit 7
jnz bit_set
; Set bit
or eax, 0x10 ; Set bit 4
; Clear bit
and eax, ~0x10 ; Clear bit 4
; Toggle bit
xor eax, 0x10 ; Toggle bit 4
; Count leading zeros
bsr eax, ecx ; Bit scan reverse
xor eax, 31 ; Convert to leading zeros
; Population count (popcnt)
popcnt eax, ecx ; Count set bits
Decompilation Patterns
Variable Recovery
; Local variable at rbp-8
mov qword [rbp-8], rax ; Store to local
mov rax, [rbp-8] ; Load from local
; Stack-allocated array
lea rax, [rbp-0x40] ; Array starts at rbp-0x40
mov [rax], edx ; array[0] = value
mov [rax+4], ecx ; array[1] = value
Function Signature Recovery
; Identify parameters by register usage
func:
; rdi used as first param (System V)
mov [rbp-8], rdi ; Save param to local
; rsi used as second param
mov [rbp-16], rsi
; Identify return by RAX at end
mov rax, [result]
ret
// In Ghidra scripting
// Fix function signature
Function func = getFunctionAt(toAddr(0x401000));
func.setReturnType(IntegerDataType.dataType, SourceType.USER_DEFINED);
// Create structure type
StructureDataType struct = new StructureDataType("MyStruct", 0);
struct.add(IntegerDataType.dataType, "field_a", null);
struct.add(PointerDataType.dataType, "next", null);
// Apply to memory
createData(toAddr(0x601000), struct);
Pattern Matching Scripts
# Find all calls to dangerous functions
for func in currentProgram.getFunctionManager().getFunctions(True):
for ref in getReferencesTo(func.getEntryPoint()):
if func.getName() in ["strcpy", "sprintf", "gets"]:
print(f"Dangerous call at {ref.getFromAddress()}")
IDA Pro Patterns
IDAPython Analysis
import idaapi
import idautils
import idc
# Find all function calls
def find_calls(func_name):
for func_ea in idautils.Functions():
for head in idautils.Heads(func_ea, idc.find_func_end(func_ea)):
if idc.print_insn_mnem(head) == "call":
target = idc.get_operand_value(head, 0)
if idc.get_func_name(target) == func_name:
print(f"Call to {func_name} at {hex(head)}")
# Rename functions based on strings
def auto_rename():
for s in idautils.Strings():
for xref in idautils.XrefsTo(s.ea):
func = idaapi.get_func(xref.frm)
if func and "sub_" in idc.get_func_name(func.start_ea):
# Use string as hint for naming
pass