Linchakin

Karta - Source Code Assisted Fast Binary Matching Plugin For IDA

 September 11, 2021     No comments   

"Karta" (Russian for "Map") is an IDA Python plugin that identifies and matches open-sourced libraries in a given binary. The plugin uses a unique technique that enables it to support huge binaries (>200,000 functions), with almost no impact on the overall performance.

The matching algorithm is location-driven. This means that it's main focus is to locate the different compiled files, and match each of the file's functions based on their original order within the file. This way, the matching depends on K (number of functions in the open source) instead of N (size of the binary), gaining a significant performance boost as usually N >> K.

We believe that there are 3 main use cases for this IDA plugin:

  1. Identifying a list of used open sources (and their versions) when searching for a useful 1-Day
  2. Matching the symbols of supported open sources to help reverse engineer a malware
  3. Matching the symbols of supported open sources to help reverse engineer a binary / firmware when searching for 0-Days in proprietary code
Read The Docs

https://karta.readthedocs.io/


Installation (Python 3 & IDA >= 7.4)

For the latest versions, using Python 3, simply git clone the repository and run the setup.py install script. Python 3 is supported since versions v2.0.0 and above.


Installation (Python 2 & IDA < 7.4)

As of the release of IDA 7.4, Karta is only actively developed for IDA 7.4 or newer, and Python 3. Python 2 and older IDA versions are still supported using the release version v1.2.0, which is most probably going to be the last supported version due to python 2.X end of life.


Identifier

Karta's identifier is a smaller plugin that identifies the existence, and fingerprints the versions, of the existing (supported) open source libraries within the binary. No more need to reverse engineer the same open-source library again-and-again, simply run the identifier plugin and get a detailed list of the used open sources. Karta currently supports more than 10 open source libraries, including:

  • OpenSSL
  • Libpng
  • Libjpeg
  • NetSNMP
  • zlib
  • Etc.

Matcher

After identifying the used open sources, one can compile a .JSON configuration file for a specific library (libpng version 1.2.29 for instance). Once compiled, Karta will automatically attempt to match the functions (symbols) of the open source in the loaded binary. In addition, in case your open source used external functions (memcpy, fread, or zlib_inflate), Karta will also attempt to match those external functions as well.


Folder Structure
  • src: source directory for the plugin
  • configs: pre-supplied *.JSON configuration files (hoping the community will contribute more)
  • compilations: compilation tips for generating the configuration files, and lessons from past open sources
  • docs: sphinx documentation directory

Additional Reading

Credits

This project was developed by me (see contact details below) with help and support from my research group at Check Point (Check Point Research).


Contact (Updated)

This repository was developed and maintained by me, Eyal Itkin, during my years at Check Point Research. Sadly, with my departure of the research group, I will no longer be able to maintain this repository. This is mainly because of the long list of requirements for running all of the regression tests, and the IDA Pro versions that are involved in the process.

Please accept my sincere apology.

@EyalItkin

Adblock test (Why?)


You may be interested in:
>> Is a Chromebook worth replacing a Windows laptop?
>> Find out in detail the outstanding features of Google Pixel 4a
>> Top 7 best earbuds you should not miss

Related Posts:
>> Recognizing 12 Basic Body Shapes To Choose Better Clothes
>>Ranking the 10 most used smart technology devices
>> Top 5+ Best E-readers: Compact & Convenient Pen
  • Share This:  
  •  Facebook
  •  Twitter
  •  Google+
  •  Stumble
  •  Digg
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to Facebook

Related Posts:

  • Brute Force Attacks are on the Rise as June sees a 671% increaseWith nearly one-third of all organizations targeted in a single week and just above one-quarter on the average, attempts to access externally facing r… Read More
  • New Phishing Attack on Microsoft 365 Users Leverages Open Redirects to Avoid DetectionThe use of open redirects from legitimate domains makes phishing emails that much more believable and credible, obfuscating the dangerous nature of th… Read More
  • Is There Really a Shortage in Cloud Security Skills?Is there a cloud security skills shortage? It depends on who you ask. Prior to the pandemic, the world was immersed in cloud technology – everyone, it… Read More
  • Summer 2021: Friday Night Funkin’, Måneskin and pop itThis summer, several events that were postponed from 2020 due to the pandemic took place. Some of them interested children, while others barely regist… Read More
  • That's Not the US Department of Transportation, It's a Phishing AttackA phishing campaign is impersonating the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), according to Roger Kay at INKY. The campaign is targeting infrastruc… Read More
Newer Post Older Post Home

0 Comments:

Post a Comment


Copyright © 2025 Linchakin | Powered by Blogger
Design by Hardeep Asrani | Blogger Theme by NewBloggerThemes.com | Distributed By Gooyaabi Templates