Analyzer Development

What is an Analyzer?

Analyzers perform automatic program analysis when a binary is loaded or when specific events occur. They can:

Disassemble code and identify functions
Parse binary format structures (ELF, PE, Mach-O)
Detect and apply calling conventions
Identify library functions
Create data types and structures
Apply markup and comments

Analyzer Interface

All analyzers must implement the Analyzer interface and follow naming conventions:

Critical: Analyzer class names must end with Analyzer for automatic discovery.

package ghidra.app.services;

public interface Analyzer extends ExtensionPoint {
    String getName();
    AnalyzerType getAnalysisType();
    boolean getDefaultEnablement(Program program);
    boolean supportsOneTimeAnalysis();
    String getDescription();
    AnalysisPriority getPriority();
    boolean canAnalyze(Program program);
    boolean added(Program program, AddressSetView set, 
                  TaskMonitor monitor, MessageLog log) 
                  throws CancelledException;
    boolean removed(Program program, AddressSetView set, 
                   TaskMonitor monitor, MessageLog log) 
                   throws CancelledException;
    void registerOptions(Options options, Program program);
    void optionsChanged(Options options, Program program);
    void analysisEnded(Program program);
    boolean isPrototype();
}

Creating an Analyzer

Extend AbstractAnalyzer

Most analyzers extend AbstractAnalyzer for common functionality:

package com.example.analyzers;

import ghidra.app.services.AbstractAnalyzer;
import ghidra.app.services.AnalyzerType;
import ghidra.app.util.importer.MessageLog;
import ghidra.framework.options.Options;
import ghidra.program.model.address.AddressSetView;
import ghidra.program.model.listing.Program;
import ghidra.util.exception.CancelledException;
import ghidra.util.task.TaskMonitor;

public class MyCustomAnalyzer extends AbstractAnalyzer {
    
    public MyCustomAnalyzer() {
        super("My Custom Analyzer", 
              "Analyzes custom binary features", 
              AnalyzerType.BYTE_ANALYZER);
    }
    
    @Override
    public boolean getDefaultEnablement(Program program) {
        return true;  // Enabled by default
    }
    
    @Override
    public boolean canAnalyze(Program program) {
        // Check if this program should be analyzed
        return true;
    }
    
    @Override
    public boolean added(Program program, AddressSetView set, 
                        TaskMonitor monitor, MessageLog log)
                        throws CancelledException {
        // Perform analysis
        monitor.setMessage("Running My Custom Analyzer");
        // ... analysis logic ...
        return true;
    }
}

Analyzer Types

Defined in AnalyzerType:

BYTE_ANALYZER - Analyzes bytes (default)
INSTRUCTION_ANALYZER - Analyzes instructions
FUNCTION_ANALYZER - Analyzes functions
FUNCTION_MODIFIERS_ANALYZER - Modifies function properties
FUNCTION_SIGNATURES_ANALYZER - Analyzes function signatures
DATA_ANALYZER - Analyzes data

Analysis Priorities

Defined in AnalysisPriority:

public enum AnalysisPriority {
    FORMAT_ANALYSIS,              // -100: Parse binary format
    BLOCK_ANALYSIS,               //  -50: Identify code blocks
    DISASSEMBLY,                  //    0: Disassemble instructions
    FUNCTION_ID_ANALYSIS,         //  100: Identify functions
    FUNCTION_SIGNATURES,          //  200: Determine signatures
    REFERENCE_ANALYSIS,           //  300: Find references
    DATA_TYPE_PROPOGATION,        //  400: Propagate types
    DATA_ANALYSIS,                //  500: Identify data
    CODE_ANALYSIS                 // 1000: General code analysis
}

Set priority in constructor:

public MyAnalyzer() {
    super("My Analyzer", "Description", AnalyzerType.BYTE_ANALYZER);
    setPriority(AnalysisPriority.DATA_ANALYSIS);
}

Analysis Workflow

Basic Analysis

@Override
public boolean added(Program program, AddressSetView set, 
                    TaskMonitor monitor, MessageLog log)
                    throws CancelledException {
    
    monitor.setMessage("Analyzing " + getName());
    monitor.initialize(set.getNumAddresses());
    
    int transactionID = program.startTransaction(getName());
    boolean success = false;
    
    try {
        // Iterate over addresses
        for (AddressRange range : set) {
            for (Address addr = range.getMinAddress(); 
                 addr.compareTo(range.getMaxAddress()) <= 0;
                 addr = addr.next()) {
                
                // Check for cancellation
                monitor.checkCancelled();
                monitor.incrementProgress(1);
                
                // Analyze at this address
                analyzeLocation(program, addr, log);
            }
        }
        success = true;
    }
    catch (Exception e) {
        log.appendException(e);
    }
    finally {
        program.endTransaction(transactionID, success);
    }
    
    return success;
}

private void analyzeLocation(Program program, Address addr, MessageLog log) {
    // Your analysis logic here
}

Using Program APIs

import ghidra.program.model.listing.*;
import ghidra.program.model.symbol.*;
import ghidra.program.model.mem.*;
import ghidra.program.model.data.*;

private void analyzeData(Program program, Address addr, MessageLog log) {
    Listing listing = program.getListing();
    Memory memory = program.getMemory();
    SymbolTable symbolTable = program.getSymbolTable();
    DataTypeManager dtm = program.getDataTypeManager();
    
    try {
        // Read bytes
        byte[] bytes = new byte[4];
        memory.getBytes(addr, bytes);
        
        // Create data
        Data data = listing.createData(addr, DWordDataType.dataType);
        
        // Add label
        symbolTable.createLabel(addr, "DATA_" + addr, 
                               SourceType.ANALYSIS);
        
        // Add comment
        listing.setComment(addr, CodeUnit.EOL_COMMENT, 
                          "Found by MyAnalyzer");
    }
    catch (Exception e) {
        log.appendMsg("Failed to analyze at " + addr + ": " + e.getMessage());
    }
}

Register Options

Provide user-configurable options:

private static final String OPTION_THRESHOLD = "Threshold";
private static final String OPTION_ENABLED = "Enable Feature";

private int threshold = 10;
private boolean featureEnabled = true;

@Override
public void registerOptions(Options options, Program program) {
    options.registerOption(OPTION_THRESHOLD, threshold, null,
        "Minimum value threshold for detection");
    options.registerOption(OPTION_ENABLED, featureEnabled, null,
        "Enable the custom feature");
}

@Override
public void optionsChanged(Options options, Program program) {
    threshold = options.getInt(OPTION_THRESHOLD, threshold);
    featureEnabled = options.getBoolean(OPTION_ENABLED, featureEnabled);
}

Binary Format Analyzer

For format-specific analysis (ELF, PE, etc.):

import ghidra.app.analyzers.AbstractBinaryFormatAnalyzer;
import ghidra.framework.cmd.BinaryAnalysisCommand;

public class MyFormatAnalyzer extends AbstractBinaryFormatAnalyzer {
    
    public MyFormatAnalyzer() {
        super(new MyFormatAnalysisCommand());
    }
    
    private static class MyFormatAnalysisCommand extends BinaryAnalysisCommand {
        
        public MyFormatAnalysisCommand() {
            super("My Format Analysis", false);
        }
        
        @Override
        public boolean canApply(Program program) {
            // Check if program is correct format
            String format = program.getExecutableFormat();
            return "My Binary Format".equals(format);
        }
        
        @Override
        public boolean applyTo(DomainObject obj, TaskMonitor monitor) {
            Program program = (Program) obj;
            
            try {
                // Get binary format object
                Options props = program.getOptions(Program.PROGRAM_INFO);
                // Parse and analyze format
                return true;
            }
            catch (Exception e) {
                messages.appendException(e);
                return false;
            }
        }
    }
}

Real-World Example: ELF Analyzer

Based on Ghidra’s ElfAnalyzer:

package ghidra.app.analyzers;

import ghidra.app.cmd.formats.ElfBinaryAnalysisCommand;

public class ElfAnalyzer extends AbstractBinaryFormatAnalyzer {
    
    public ElfAnalyzer() {
        super(new ElfBinaryAnalysisCommand());
    }
}

The command implementation:

public class ElfBinaryAnalysisCommand extends BinaryAnalysisCommand {
    
    @Override
    public boolean canApply(Program program) {
        return ElfLoader.ELF_NAME.equals(program.getExecutableFormat());
    }
    
    @Override
    public boolean applyTo(DomainObject obj, TaskMonitor monitor) {
        Program program = (Program) obj;
        
        try {
            ByteProvider provider = getProvider(program);
            ElfHeader elf = ElfHeader.createElfHeader(
                RethrowContinuesFactory.INSTANCE, provider);
            elf.parse();
            
            // Process ELF sections
            processSections(program, elf, monitor);
            
            // Process program headers
            processProgramHeaders(program, elf, monitor);
            
            // Process dynamic table
            processDynamicTable(program, elf, monitor);
            
            return true;
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            messages.appendException(e);
            return false;
        }
    }
}

One-Time Analysis

Allow manual analyzer invocation:

@Override
public boolean supportsOneTimeAnalysis() {
    return true;  // Allow right-click "Analyze" on selection
}

Users can then:

Select addresses/functions
Right-click → Auto Analyze…
Select specific analyzers to run

Conditional Enablement

Enable analyzer based on program properties:

@Override
public boolean canAnalyze(Program program) {
    // Only analyze x86 programs
    String arch = program.getLanguage().getProcessor().toString();
    return arch.equals("x86");
}

@Override
public boolean getDefaultEnablement(Program program) {
    // Enable by default only for specific format
    String format = program.getExecutableFormat();
    return "PE".equals(format);
}

Working with Memory

import ghidra.program.model.mem.*;

private void scanMemory(Program program, AddressSetView set, 
                       TaskMonitor monitor) throws CancelledException {
    Memory memory = program.getMemory();
    
    for (MemoryBlock block : memory.getBlocks()) {
        monitor.checkCancelled();
        
        if (!block.isInitialized()) {
            continue;  // Skip uninitialized blocks
        }
        
        Address start = block.getStart();
        long size = block.getSize();
        
        byte[] bytes = new byte[(int) size];
        try {
            memory.getBytes(start, bytes);
            // Analyze bytes
        }
        catch (MemoryAccessException e) {
            // Handle error
        }
    }
}

Function Analysis

import ghidra.program.model.listing.Function;
import ghidra.program.model.listing.FunctionManager;
import ghidra.program.model.listing.Parameter;

private void analyzeFunctions(Program program, TaskMonitor monitor) 
                             throws CancelledException {
    FunctionManager funcMgr = program.getFunctionManager();
    
    for (Function func : funcMgr.getFunctions(true)) {
        monitor.checkCancelled();
        
        Address entry = func.getEntryPoint();
        String name = func.getName();
        
        // Analyze parameters
        for (Parameter param : func.getParameters()) {
            DataType type = param.getDataType();
            // Process parameter
        }
        
        // Analyze function body
        AddressSetView body = func.getBody();
        // ...
    }
}

Progress Reporting

@Override
public boolean added(Program program, AddressSetView set,
                    TaskMonitor monitor, MessageLog log)
                    throws CancelledException {
    
    long totalCount = set.getNumAddresses();
    monitor.initialize(totalCount);
    monitor.setMessage("Analyzing custom features");
    
    int count = 0;
    for (AddressRange range : set) {
        for (Address addr = range.getMinAddress();
             addr.compareTo(range.getMaxAddress()) <= 0;
             addr = addr.next()) {
            
            monitor.checkCancelled();
            monitor.setProgress(count++);
            
            if (count % 1000 == 0) {
                monitor.setMessage("Processed " + count + " of " + totalCount);
            }
        }
    }
    
    return true;
}

Error Handling

@Override
public boolean added(Program program, AddressSetView set,
                    TaskMonitor monitor, MessageLog log)
                    throws CancelledException {
    
    int transactionID = program.startTransaction(getName());
    boolean success = false;
    
    try {
        // Analysis logic
        performAnalysis(program, set, monitor, log);
        success = true;
    }
    catch (CancelledException e) {
        log.appendMsg("Analysis cancelled by user");
        throw e;
    }
    catch (Exception e) {
        log.appendException(e);
        log.setStatus("Analysis failed: " + e.getMessage());
    }
    finally {
        program.endTransaction(transactionID, success);
    }
    
    return success;
}

Cleanup

private Map<Program, AnalysisState> stateMap = new HashMap<>();

@Override
public boolean added(Program program, AddressSetView set,
                    TaskMonitor monitor, MessageLog log)
                    throws CancelledException {
    
    // Get or create state for this program
    AnalysisState state = stateMap.computeIfAbsent(
        program, p -> new AnalysisState());
    
    // Use state during analysis
    // ...
    
    return true;
}

@Override
public void analysisEnded(Program program) {
    // Clean up state when analysis session ends
    stateMap.remove(program);
}

Testing Analyzers

From Eclipse

Launch Ghidra in debug mode
Import a test binary
Analysis → Auto Analyze…
Enable your analyzer
Click Analyze
Check results and debug as needed

Headless Testing

./analyzeHeadless <project_path> <project_name> \
  -import <binary> \
  -postScript TestAnalyzer.java

Complete Example

package com.example.analyzers;

import ghidra.app.services.AbstractAnalyzer;
import ghidra.app.services.AnalyzerType;
import ghidra.app.util.importer.MessageLog;
import ghidra.framework.options.Options;
import ghidra.program.model.address.*;
import ghidra.program.model.listing.*;
import ghidra.program.model.mem.*;
import ghidra.program.model.symbol.*;
import ghidra.util.exception.CancelledException;
import ghidra.util.task.TaskMonitor;

public class StringFinderAnalyzer extends AbstractAnalyzer {
    
    private static final String OPTION_MIN_LENGTH = "Minimum String Length";
    private int minLength = 4;
    
    public StringFinderAnalyzer() {
        super("String Finder", 
              "Finds ASCII strings in memory", 
              AnalyzerType.BYTE_ANALYZER);
        setPriority(AnalysisPriority.DATA_ANALYSIS);
    }
    
    @Override
    public boolean getDefaultEnablement(Program program) {
        return true;
    }
    
    @Override
    public boolean canAnalyze(Program program) {
        return true;
    }
    
    @Override
    public void registerOptions(Options options, Program program) {
        options.registerOption(OPTION_MIN_LENGTH, minLength, null,
            "Minimum length for string detection");
    }
    
    @Override
    public void optionsChanged(Options options, Program program) {
        minLength = options.getInt(OPTION_MIN_LENGTH, minLength);
    }
    
    @Override
    public boolean added(Program program, AddressSetView set,
                        TaskMonitor monitor, MessageLog log)
                        throws CancelledException {
        
        monitor.setMessage("Finding strings");
        int transactionID = program.startTransaction("String Finder");
        boolean success = false;
        
        try {
            Memory memory = program.getMemory();
            Listing listing = program.getListing();
            SymbolTable symbolTable = program.getSymbolTable();
            int count = 0;
            
            for (MemoryBlock block : memory.getBlocks()) {
                if (!block.isInitialized() || !block.isLoaded()) {
                    continue;
                }
                
                Address addr = block.getStart();
                long size = block.getSize();
                byte[] bytes = new byte[(int) size];
                
                memory.getBytes(addr, bytes);
                
                // Simple string detection
                StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
                Address stringStart = null;
                
                for (int i = 0; i < bytes.length; i++) {
                    monitor.checkCancelled();
                    
                    byte b = bytes[i];
                    if (b >= 32 && b <= 126) {  // Printable ASCII
                        if (stringStart == null) {
                            stringStart = addr.add(i);
                        }
                        sb.append((char) b);
                    }
                    else if (stringStart != null && sb.length() >= minLength) {
                        // Found string
                        String str = sb.toString();
                        createString(program, listing, symbolTable, 
                                   stringStart, str, log);
                        count++;
                        stringStart = null;
                        sb = new StringBuilder();
                    }
                    else {
                        stringStart = null;
                        sb = new StringBuilder();
                    }
                }
            }
            
            log.appendMsg("Found " + count + " strings");
            success = true;
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            log.appendException(e);
        }
        finally {
            program.endTransaction(transactionID, success);
        }
        
        return success;
    }
    
    private void createString(Program program, Listing listing, 
                             SymbolTable symbolTable, Address addr, 
                             String str, MessageLog log) {
        try {
            // Create string data
            StringDataType stringType = new StringDataType();
            listing.createData(addr, stringType, str.length());
            
            // Add label
            String label = "STR_" + addr.toString();
            symbolTable.createLabel(addr, label, SourceType.ANALYSIS);
            
            // Add comment
            listing.setComment(addr, CodeUnit.EOL_COMMENT, 
                             "String: \"" + str + "\"");
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            log.appendMsg("Failed to create string at " + addr);
        }
    }
}

Best Practices

Do:

Always use transactions for modifications
Check monitor.checkCancelled() frequently
Provide meaningful progress updates
Log errors to MessageLog
Make analyzers configurable with options
Document what your analyzer does

Don’t:

Modify program without transactions
Ignore cancellation requests
Assume memory is always accessible
Hardcode thresholds (use options)
Forget to clean up resources

Resources

Analyzer examples: Ghidra/Features/Base/src/main/java/ghidra/app/analyzers/
Skeleton template: GhidraBuild/Skeleton/src/main/java/skeleton/SkeletonAnalyzer.java
API docs: Analyzer

Get Started

Core Concepts

User Guide

Advanced Features

Scripting & Automation

Extension Development

Processors & Formats

Analyzer Development

What is an Analyzer?

Analyzer Interface

Creating an Analyzer

Extend AbstractAnalyzer

Analyzer Types

Analysis Priorities

Analysis Workflow

Basic Analysis

Using Program APIs

Register Options

Binary Format Analyzer

Real-World Example: ELF Analyzer

One-Time Analysis

Conditional Enablement

Working with Memory

Function Analysis

Progress Reporting

Error Handling

Cleanup

Testing Analyzers

From Eclipse

Headless Testing

Complete Example

Best Practices

Resources

Next Steps

Loader Development

Sleigh Language

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get Started

Core Concepts

User Guide

Advanced Features

Scripting & Automation

Extension Development

Processors & Formats

​What is an Analyzer?

​Analyzer Interface

​Creating an Analyzer

​Extend AbstractAnalyzer

​Analyzer Types

​Analysis Priorities

​Analysis Workflow

​Basic Analysis

​Using Program APIs

​Register Options

​Binary Format Analyzer

​Real-World Example: ELF Analyzer

​One-Time Analysis

​Conditional Enablement

​Working with Memory

​Function Analysis

​Progress Reporting

​Error Handling

​Cleanup

​Testing Analyzers

​From Eclipse

​Headless Testing

​Complete Example

​Best Practices

​Resources

​Next Steps

Loader Development

Sleigh Language

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

What is an Analyzer?

Analyzer Interface

Creating an Analyzer

Extend AbstractAnalyzer

Analyzer Types

Analysis Priorities

Analysis Workflow

Basic Analysis

Using Program APIs

Register Options

Binary Format Analyzer

Real-World Example: ELF Analyzer

One-Time Analysis

Conditional Enablement

Working with Memory

Function Analysis

Progress Reporting

Error Handling

Cleanup

Testing Analyzers

From Eclipse

Headless Testing

Complete Example

Best Practices

Resources

Next Steps