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radareorg/radare2

Free

UNIX-like reverse engineering framework and command-line toolset

FreeFree tier
Type
Open Source
Visit Website GitHub (38 stars)

About radareorg/radare2

Radare2 (r2) is a complete rewrite of the radare project, providing a set of libraries, tools, and plugins for reverse engineering tasks. It originated as a command-line hexadecimal editor focused on forensics and has evolved into a full-featured low-level command-line tool. r2 supports scripting via an embedded JavaScript interpreter or r2pipe, and can edit local files, view kernel memory, and debug programs locally or remotely over gdb/windbg. It offers wide architecture support for analyzing, emulating, debugging, modifying, and disassembling binaries. Distributed under LGPLv3, radare2 features a rich plugin ecosystem including r2frida, r2ghidra, iaito (Qt GUI), and more, all installable via r2pm.

Key Features

Hex editing and forensics capabilities
Embedded JavaScript scripting and r2pipe API
Local and remote debugging (gdb/windbg)
Binary disassembly, analysis, emulation, and modification
Wide architecture support (x86, ARM, MIPS, etc.)
Plugin ecosystem via r2pm (r2frida, r2ghidra, iaito, r2dec, etc.)
Command-line interface with low-level control

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Completely free and open source (LGPLv3)
  • Highly extensible with a large plugin ecosystem
  • Cross-platform (Windows, Linux, macOS, etc.)
  • Supports a wide range of CPU architectures
  • Lightweight command-line tool suitable for scripting and automation
Cons
  • Steep learning curve due to command-line interface and extensive command set
  • Limited graphical interface without plugins like iaito
  • Less beginner-friendly compared to GUI-centric tools

Best For

Reverse engineering binaries and executablesDigital forensics and file analysisMalware analysis and vulnerability researchDebugging programs locally or remotelyBinary patching and modificationEmulation and code execution analysis

FAQ

What is radare2?
Radare2 is a UNIX-like reverse engineering framework and command-line toolset for binary analysis, debugging, disassembly, and forensics. It provides libraries, tools, and plugins to ease reverse engineering tasks.
Is radare2 free?
Yes, radare2 is completely free and open source, distributed under the LGPLv3 license.
What architectures does radare2 support?
Radare2 supports a wide range of CPU architectures, including x86, ARM, MIPS, and many others, enabling analysis and disassembly of various binary formats.
Can I use radare2 for debugging?
Yes, radare2 supports local debugging and remote debugging via gdb and windbg servers.
Does radare2 have a graphical interface?
The core radare2 is command-line based, but a graphical interface named iaito is available as an official plugin.