Show HN: Ghidra MCP Server – 110 tools for AI-assisted reverse engineering
This Show HN unveils a production-grade Ghidra MCP Server boasting 110 tools for AI-assisted reverse engineering, a massive leap from existing solutions. Its innovative normalized function hashing system allows documentation to persist across binary versions, solving a major pain point for reverse engineers. This project captivates the HN audience by merging powerful RE capabilities with AI, hinting at a future where tedious binary analysis becomes automated and scalable.
The Lowdown
The Ghidra MCP Server, a new project shared on Hacker News, offers a robust framework for integrating Ghidra's powerful reverse engineering capabilities with modern AI and automation tools. It aims to streamline complex binary analysis tasks, particularly addressing the challenge of maintaining documentation across multiple software versions.<ul><li>AI Integration: Provides a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that connects Ghidra to AI tools like Claude, enabling AI-powered analysis.</li><li>Extensive Toolset: Offers 110 MCP tools for a wide range of binary analysis functions, significantly more than comparable existing solutions.</li><li>Cross-Version Documentation: Features a unique normalized function hashing system that identifies functions by logical structure, allowing documentation, names, and types to automatically transfer even when binaries are recompiled or rebased.</li><li>Production-Grade Features: Includes batch operations, atomic transactions, headless mode for CI/CD integration, Docker deployment, and multi-program support.</li><li>Performance & Efficiency: Designed for sub-second response times and boasts a 93% reduction in API calls through batch processing.</li><li>Validated: The author validated the hashing system against Diablo II patch versions, successfully propagating over 1,300 function annotations.</li></ul>This project presents a significant advancement in the field of reverse engineering, promising to enhance productivity and enable new workflows by leveraging AI and advanced automation within the Ghidra ecosystem.
The Gossip
AI's Analytical Advancement
Commenters enthusiastically discuss the transformative potential of AI in reverse engineering, envisioning "superhuman capabilities" that can overcome the field's traditionally tedious nature. They anticipate AI making binary analysis mainstream for proactive security and supply-chain audits, though one comment subtly hints at potential ethical considerations or "refusals" from AI models.
Versioning Victory
The author's primary motivation—solving the pain of maintaining annotations across shifting binary versions—resonates strongly. The innovative normalized function hashing system, which preserves documentation across recompilations, is highlighted as a major productivity booster. The community acknowledges the significant effort behind this solution and its potential to alleviate a long-standing RE headache.
Comprehensive Capabilities & Querying
The project stands out for its extensive suite of 110 tools, a substantial increase over other Ghidra MCP servers. This comprehensive coverage prompts inquiries into specific functionalities, such as support for Android binary decompilation, showcasing interest in the breadth and depth of its technical offerings.