BinAssistMCP

Comprehensive Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Binary Ninja with AI-powered reverse engineering capabilities

Summary

BinAssistMCP is a powerful bridge between Binary Ninja and Large Language Models (LLMs) like Claude, providing comprehensive reverse engineering tools through the Model Context Protocol (MCP). It enables AI-assisted binary analysis by exposing Binary Ninja's advanced capabilities through Server-Sent Events (SSE) and Streamable HTTP transports.

Key Features

• MCP 2025-11-25 Compliant: Full support for tool annotations, resources, and prompts
• Dual Transport Support: SSE (Server-Sent Events) and Streamable HTTP transports
• 45 Consolidated Tools: Streamlined Binary Ninja API wrapper with unified tool design
• 8 MCP Resources: Browsable, cacheable binary metadata
• 7 Guided Prompts: Pre-built workflows for common reverse engineering tasks
• Multi-Binary Sessions: Concurrent analysis of multiple binaries with intelligent context management
• Context-Rich Code Output: Function signatures and Binary Ninja comments are embedded in code results
• Analysis-Safe Queries: Code retrieval uses already-loaded IL and never forces global reanalysis
• Session-Independent Discovery: Direct tool calls discover open Binary Ninja views without requiring a prior listing call
• Nonblocking Binary Opens: Large binaries and .bndb databases open asynchronously with pollable operation status
• Thread-Safe: RLock-based synchronization for concurrent access
• Auto-Integration: Seamless Binary Ninja plugin with automatic startup capabilities

Use Cases

• AI-Assisted Reverse Engineering: Leverage LLMs for intelligent code analysis and documentation
• Protocol Analysis: Trace network data flows and reconstruct protocol structures
• Vulnerability Research: Systematic security audits with guided workflows
• Automated Binary Analysis: Script complex analysis workflows with natural language
• Code Understanding: Generate comprehensive documentation and explanations

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Architecture

src/binassist_mcp/
├── server.py        # FastMCP server - SSE/Streamable HTTP transport, tool registration
├── tools.py         # Binary Ninja API wrapper - 45 MCP tools
├── plugin.py        # Binary Ninja plugin integration
├── context.py       # Thread-safe multi-binary session management
├── config.py        # Pydantic configuration with Binary Ninja settings
├── prompts.py       # 7 guided workflow prompts
├── resources.py     # 8 MCP resource definitions
├── cache.py         # Cache primitives (not currently connected to MCP tools)
├── tasks.py         # Task lifecycle support (tool dispatch is not yet implemented)
├── logging.py       # Binary Ninja logging integration
└── utils.py         # Utility functions

__init__.py          # Plugin entry point (root level)

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Tools (45 Total)

BinAssistMCP provides 45 tools organized into functional categories. Tools include MCP annotations (readOnlyHint, idempotentHint) to help clients make informed decisions.

Binary Management

Tool	Description
list_binaries	Synchronize with Binary Ninja and list all loaded binary files
get_binary_info	Check analysis status and metadata
get_binary_status	Poll a queued open by operation ID, path, or name and report analysis progress
open_binary	Queue a nonblocking binary or .bndb open; raw binaries require a destination bndb_path
update_analysis_and_wait	Force analysis update and wait for completion
export_program	Export the patched binary or Binary Ninja database to disk

By default, open_binary validates its paths, schedules the Binary Ninja open, and immediately returns an operation_id with status="opening". Poll get_binary_status(operation_id) until it reports ready or failed. When ready, its name field is the final context name to pass to analysis tools. Concurrent requests for the same path reuse the active operation. Set wait_for_analysis=true only when legacy blocking behavior is explicitly required.

Code Analysis (Consolidated)

Tool	Description
get_code	Read analysis-safe code with signatures and comments; supports decompile, hlil, mlil, llil, disasm, and pseudo_c
get_function_low_level_il	Get Low-Level IL for a function
get_function_signature	Generate the native masked byte signature for a function
analyze_function	Comprehensive function analysis with control flow and complexity metrics
get_basic_blocks	Get basic block information for control flow analysis
get_function_stack_layout	Get stack frame layout with variable offsets

get_code behavior

get_code is a read-only query. It does not clear analysis_skipped, request IL generation, or run global analysis. For format="decompile", it returns already-loaded HLIL when available, then falls back through MLIL and LLIL to instruction-aligned disassembly. Use update_analysis_and_wait explicitly when fresh analysis is desired.

The code string starts with the current function signature and includes function-level and instruction-level Binary Ninja comments. The response contains:

• function and address: resolved function identity
• format: requested format
• actual_format: representation actually returned, or null when an explicitly requested IL is unavailable
• fallback_used: whether decompile used a lower-level representation
• code: rendered code, signature, and comments
• note: present when a fallback explains why and what was returned

Cross-References (Consolidated)

Tool	Description
xrefs	Unified cross-references with direction set to to, from, or both; optionally includes call relationships

Comments (Consolidated)

Tool	Description
comments	Unified comment management - actions: get, set, list, remove, set_function

Variables (Consolidated)

Tool	Description
variables	Unified variable management - actions: list, create, rename, set_type; rename supports local/global via scope

Types (Consolidated)

Tool	Description
types	Unified type management - actions: create, create_enum, create_typedef, create_class, add_member, info, list
get_classes	List all classes and structures

Function Discovery

Tool	Description
get_functions	List all functions with metadata
search_functions_by_name	Find functions by name pattern
get_functions_advanced	Advanced filtering by size, complexity, parameters
search_functions_advanced	Multi-target search (name, comments, calls, variables)
get_function_statistics	Comprehensive statistics for all functions

Symbol Management

Tool	Description
rename_symbol	Rename functions and data variables
batch_rename	Rename multiple symbols in one operation
get_namespaces	List namespaces and symbol organization

Binary Information

Tool	Description
get_imports	Import table grouped by module
get_exports	Export table with symbol information
get_strings	Paginated string extraction
search_strings	Search strings by pattern
get_segments	Memory segment layout
get_sections	Binary section information
get_entry_points	List all binary entry points

Data Analysis

Tool	Description
create_data_var	Define data variables at addresses
get_data_vars	List all defined data variables
get_data_at	Read and analyze raw data
search_bytes	Search for byte patterns in binary

Patching

Tool	Description
patch_bytes	Patch raw bytes in the binary at an address
assemble_code	Assemble instruction text at an address and optionally patch it

Navigation & Bookmarks

Tool	Description
get_current_address	Get current cursor position with context
get_current_function	Identify function at current address
bookmarks	Unified bookmark management - actions: list, set, remove

Task Management (Experimental)

Tool	Description
start_task	Create a placeholder background task record; tool_name dispatch is not implemented yet
get_task_status	Check status of async operations
list_tasks	List all pending/running tasks
cancel_task	Cancel a running task

These APIs currently exercise task lifecycle management only. They do not execute the named MCP tool in the background.

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MCP Resources (8 Total)

Resources provide browsable, cacheable data that clients can access without tool calls.

URI Pattern	Description
binassist://{filename}/triage_summary	Complete binary overview
binassist://{filename}/functions	All functions with metadata
binassist://{filename}/imports	Import table
binassist://{filename}/exports	Export table
binassist://{filename}/strings	String table
binja://{filename}/info	Binary metadata (arch, platform, entry point)
binja://{filename}/segments	Memory segments with permissions
binja://{filename}/sections	Binary sections

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MCP Prompts (7 Total)

Pre-built prompts guide LLMs through structured analysis workflows.

Prompt	Arguments	Description
analyze_function	function_name, filename	Comprehensive function analysis workflow
identify_vulnerability	function_name, filename	Security audit checklist (memory safety, input validation, crypto)
document_function	function_name, filename	Generate Doxygen-style documentation
trace_data_flow	address, filename	Track data dependencies and taint propagation
compare_functions	func1, func2, filename	Diff two functions for similarity analysis
reverse_engineer_struct	address, filename	Recover structure definitions from usage patterns
trace_network_data	filename	Trace POSIX/Winsock send/recv for protocol analysis

Example: Network Protocol Analysis

The trace_network_data prompt guides analysis of network communication:

1. Identify Network Functions: Finds POSIX (send/recv/sendto/recvfrom) and Winsock (WSASend/WSARecv) calls
2. Trace Call Stacks: Maps application handlers down to network I/O
3. Analyze Buffers: Identifies protocol structures (headers, length fields, TLV encoding)
4. Reconstruct Protocols: Generates C struct definitions for message formats
5. Security Assessment: Checks for buffer overflows, integer issues, information disclosure

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Installation

Prerequisites

• Binary Ninja: Version 5000 or higher
• Python: 3.10+ (typically bundled with Binary Ninja and required by the pinned MCP SDK)
• Platform: Windows, macOS, or Linux

NOTE: Windows users should start with: BinAssistMCP on Windows

Option 1: Binary Ninja Plugin Manager (Recommended)

1. Open Binary Ninja
2. Navigate to Tools → Manage Plugins
3. Search for "BinAssistMCP"
4. Click Install
5. Restart Binary Ninja

Option 2: Manual Installation

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/symgraph/BinAssistMCP.git
cd BinAssistMCP

# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

Copy to your Binary Ninja plugins directory:

Platform	Path
Windows	%APPDATA%\Binary Ninja\plugins\
macOS	~/Library/Application Support/Binary Ninja/plugins/
Linux	~/.binaryninja/plugins/

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Configuration

Binary Ninja Settings

Open Edit → Preferences → binassistmcp:

Setting	Default	Description
server.host	localhost	Server bind address
server.port	8000	Server port
server.transport	streamablehttp	Transport: streamablehttp or sse
binary.max_binaries	10	Maximum concurrent binaries
plugin.auto_startup	true	Auto-start server on file load

Environment Variables

export BINASSISTMCP_SERVER__HOST=localhost
export BINASSISTMCP_SERVER__PORT=8000
export BINASSISTMCP_SERVER__TRANSPORT=streamablehttp
export BINASSISTMCP_BINARY__MAX_BINARIES=10

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Usage

Starting the Server

Via Binary Ninja Menu:

1. Tools → BinAssistMCP → Start Server
2. Check log panel for: BinAssistMCP server started on http://localhost:8000

Auto-Startup: Server starts automatically when Binary Ninja loads a file (configurable).

Connecting MCP Clients

Streamable HTTP (Default):

http://localhost:8000/mcp

Server-Sent Events:

http://localhost:8000/sse

Claude Desktop Configuration

Add to your Claude Desktop MCP configuration (claude_desktop_config.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "binassist": {
      "url": "http://localhost:8000/mcp"
    }
  }
}

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Integration Examples

Most binary-specific tools require the context name in filename. list_binaries returns these names, but it is not an initialization requirement: direct filename-based calls refresh the context from Binary Ninja automatically when necessary.

Basic Function Analysis

User: "Analyze the main function and explain what it does"

Claude uses:
1. list_binaries() - obtain the context filename
2. get_functions(filename='sample.bndb') - find main
3. get_code(filename='sample.bndb', function_name_or_address='main', format='decompile')
4. xrefs(filename='sample.bndb', address_or_name='main', direction='from')
5. analyze_function(filename='sample.bndb', function_name_or_address='main')

Vulnerability Research

User: "Find buffer overflow vulnerabilities in input handling functions"

Claude uses:
1. search_functions_advanced(filename='sample.bndb', search_term='strcpy', search_in='calls')
2. get_code(filename='sample.bndb', function_name_or_address='handler', format='decompile')
3. variables(filename='sample.bndb', action='list', function_name_or_address='handler')
4. comments(filename='sample.bndb', action='set', address='0x401000', text='Unchecked copy')

Protocol Reverse Engineering

User: "Analyze the network protocol used by this binary"

Claude uses the trace_network_data prompt:
1. Identifies send/recv call sites
2. Traces data flow from handlers to network I/O
3. Reconstructs message structures
4. Checks for network vulnerabilities

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Troubleshooting

Server Issues

Problem	Solution
Server won't start	Check port 8000 availability, verify dependencies
Connection refused	Ensure server is running, check firewall settings
A requested IL is unavailable	Run update_analysis_and_wait, then retry get_code
Binary name is rejected	Call list_binaries and use the returned context name

Performance

• Memory usage: Reduce max_binaries setting
• Code retrieval: get_code returns loaded analysis immediately and falls back rather than triggering analysis

Logs

Check Binary Ninja's Log panel for detailed error messages.

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Contributing

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Follow existing code patterns (Pydantic models, type hints, docstrings)
4. Test with multiple binary types
5. Submit a pull request

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License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.