GhidraMCP

A Ghidra plugin that implements the Model Context Protocol (MCP) for AI-assisted binary analysis.

Overview

GhidraMCP bridges the gap between Ghidra's powerful reverse engineering capabilities and AI assistants through the Model Context Protocol (MCP). This plugin enables AI models to connect to Ghidra and assist with binary analysis tasks, making reverse engineering more efficient and accessible.

Features

AI-Powered Binary Analysis: Connect AI assistants to Ghidra via the Model Context Protocol
Natural Language Interface: Ask questions about binaries in plain English
Deep Code Insights: Retrieve detailed function information and decompiled code
Binary Structure Analysis: Explore imports, exports, and memory layouts
Automated Security Analysis: Get AI-assisted insights about potential security vulnerabilities
Socket-Based Architecture: High-performance communication between Ghidra and AI assistants
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works on all platforms supported by Ghidra

Installation

Prerequisites

Ghidra 11.2.1+
Java 17 or newer
Python 3.8+ (for the bridge script)

Steps

Download the latest release ZIP file from the Releases page
Open Ghidra
Navigate to File > Install Extensions
Click the "+" button and select the downloaded ZIP file
Restart Ghidra to complete the installation
Enable the extension by going to File > Configure > Miscellaneous and checking the box next to "MCPServerPlugin"

Usage

Starting the MCP Server

The server automatically starts when you open a Ghidra project after enabling the plugin. By default, it runs on:

Host: localhost
Port: 8765

You can verify the server is running by checking the Ghidra console for messages like:

MCP Server started on port 8765

Connecting with AI Assistants

Connecting with Claude

To connect Claude to the GhidraMCP plugin:

Install the MCP bridge script:
```
pip install FastMCP
```

Add the following configuration to your Claude MCP setup:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ghidra": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["PATH-TO-REPO/GhidraMCP/ghidra_server.py"]
    }
  }
}

The bridge script creates a connection between Ghidra and Claude, enabling real-time binary analysis through natural language.

Available Tools

The plugin exposes several powerful functions through the MCP interface:

Tool	Description
`get_function(address, decompile=False)`	Retrieve detailed information about a function at a specific address
`analyze_binary(question)`	Ask natural language questions about the loaded binary
`get_imports()`	List all imported functions in the binary
`get_exports()`	List all exported functions in the binary
`get_memory_map()`	Get the memory layout of the binary
`connect_to_ghidra(host, port)`	Connect to a specific Ghidra instance
`rename_function(current_name, new_name)`	Rename a function by its current name
`rename_data(address, new_name)`	Rename a data label at a specific address
`extract_api_call_sequences(address)`	Extract API calls from a function for security analysis
`identify_user_input_sources()`	Find potential sources of user input in the binary
`generate_call_graph(address, max_depth=3)`	Generate a hierarchical representation of function calls
`identify_crypto_patterns()`	Detect cryptographic implementations in the binary
`find_obfuscated_strings()`	Locate potentially obfuscated strings

Example Queries

Here are examples of questions you can ask through an MCP-compatible AI client:

"What encryption algorithms are used in this binary?"
"Can you show me the decompiled code for the function at 0x401000?"
"What suspicious API calls does this malware make?"
"Explain the purpose of this binary based on its imports and exports."
"How does the authentication mechanism in this program work?"
"Are there any potential buffer overflow vulnerabilities in this code?"
"What network connections does this binary establish?"
"Can you rename this function to something more descriptive?"
"Show me all potential user input sources that could be exploited."
"Generate a call graph for the main function."

Advanced Usage

Security Analysis Capabilities

GhidraMCP provides specialized tools for security-focused analysis:

API Call Sequence Analysis

Extract and categorize external API calls from a function for security analysis. This helps identify potentially dangerous functions and understand their interactions.

User Input Sources

Identify entry points where external data enters the program, crucial for vulnerability assessment and understanding attack surfaces.

Call Graph Generation

Create structured call graphs to understand execution flow, track data propagation, and identify potential attack paths.

Cryptographic Pattern Detection

Identify cryptographic implementations including standard algorithms (AES, RSA, etc.) and custom implementations based on code patterns.

Obfuscated String Detection

Find strings that may be obfuscated through techniques like XOR encoding or character-by-character construction.

Custom Configurations

You can modify the server port by editing the MCPServerPlugin.java file:

server.setPort(YOUR_CUSTOM_PORT);

Integration with Analysis Workflows

GhidraMCP can be integrated into your existing analysis workflows:

Use Ghidra's standard analysis features to identify areas of interest
Leverage AI assistance through GhidraMCP for deeper understanding
Combine the AI insights with your manual analysis
Rename functions and data based on AI insights for better readability

Building from Source

To build the plugin from source:

Clone this repository

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/GhidraMCP.git

Set up a Ghidra development environment as described in the Ghidra Developer Guide
Set the GHIDRA_INSTALL_DIR environment variable:
```
export GHIDRA_INSTALL_DIR=/path/to/ghidra
```
Build with Gradle:
```
./gradlew buildExtension
```
The extension ZIP will be created in the dist directory

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Connection Issues: Make sure the Ghidra instance is running and the plugin is enabled
Port Conflicts: If port 8765 is already in use, modify the port in the plugin configuration
Bridge Script Errors: Check if all required Python packages are installed with pip install FastMCP
Null Results for Analysis Functions: Some security analysis functions may return null results if the binary doesn't contain relevant patterns

Logs

Check the following logs for troubleshooting:

Ghidra console for server-side messages
ghidra_mcp_bridge.log for bridge script issues

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit issues or pull requests.

Fork the repository
Create your feature branch: git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature
Commit your changes: git commit -m 'Add some amazing feature'
Push to the branch: git push origin feature/amazing-feature
Open a Pull Request

Acknowledgments

National Security Agency (NSA) for developing Ghidra
Model Context Protocol community
All contributors to this project

GhidraMCP is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NSA or the Ghidra project.

Ghidra Binary Analysis