Binary Analysis

What is Binary Analysis?

Binary analysis is the process of examining compiled software (binaries) to understand its structure, functionality, and security risks—without requiring access to the source code. This technique is essential for reverse engineering, malware analysis, and vulnerability discovery, especially when dealing with proprietary, closed-source, or third-party software.

Binary analysis helps security teams inspect firmware, executables, libraries, and embedded system code to identify hidden vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and potential backdoors that traditional security tools often miss.

Why is Binary Analysis Important?

Modern organizations rely on precompiled software, firmware, and third-party applications, making binary analysis crucial for uncovering security risks that would otherwise go undetected. Without it, companies face:

• Undiscovered vulnerabilities – Many software security flaws exist only at the binary level and are not present in the source code.

• Inability to verify software trustworthiness – Enterprises must assess proprietary and third-party software without access to its source.

• Supply chain risks – Attackers increasingly target precompiled software and firmware, embedding malware and backdoors into legitimate applications.

• Regulatory compliance challenges – Cybersecurity frameworks like NIST, EO 14028, and the Cyber Resilience Act emphasize the need for greater visibility into compiled software risks.

How Binary Analysis Works

Binary analysis can be performed using several techniques, including:

• Static Analysis – Examining binary code without executing it, identifying hardcoded secrets, unsafe function calls, and vulnerabilities.

• Dynamic Analysis – Running the binary in a controlled environment (sandboxing) to observe runtime behavior, network communications, and exploitability.

• Reverse Engineering – Decompiling and disassembling the binary to reconstruct high-level logic, detect malicious functions, and understand dependencies.

By analyzing binaries, organizations gain deeper visibility into software risks, improving their ability to detect threats, ensure compliance, and secure their software supply chain.