Binary Ninja Headless MCP

A headless Binary Ninja server that speaks MCP (Model Context Protocol), giving AI agents full access to deep reverse-engineering workflows — disassembly, IL, patching, types, xrefs, and more — without a GUI.

Designed to run in the same Docker container as the agent runtime. No sidecars, no extra services.

This entire project---code, tests, and documentation---is 100% vibe coded.

Why

Existing Binary Ninja MCP servers are either GUI-bound or expose a limited tool surface. This server is headless-only and designed for agent-driven workflows in sandboxed VM/container environments: the agent gets full control over the analysis system, automating large parts of reverse engineering while you interactively discuss and steer the process.

The goal is an interface where agents can inspect, refine, and extend an analysis over time — updating types, symbols, and metadata, improving the analysis database incrementally, applying patches and iterating safely with undo/redo, and running custom scripts when a workflow needs something bespoke.

Features

• 181 tools across 36 feature groups: analysis, disassembly, IL, patching, undo/redo, types, workflows, memory, search, xrefs, scripting, and more.
• Read-only by default with safe mutation workflows (undo/redo, transactions).
• Scripting access via binja.eval and binja.call for anything the tool catalog doesn't cover.
• Stdio and TCP transports.
• Zero runtime dependencies beyond Binary Ninja itself.
• Fake backend mode for CI and development without a Binary Ninja license.

Prerequisites

• Python 3.11+
• A Binary Ninja installation with a headless-capable license and the binaryninja Python module importable in your runtime (for real analysis)
• For CI/development without Binary Ninja, use fake backend mode

Installation

git clone https://github.com/mrphrazer/binary-ninja-headless-mcp.git
cd binary-ninja-headless-mcp
pip install .

Or install directly from the repo root without cloning:

pip install git+https://github.com/mrphrazer/binary-ninja-headless-mcp.git

Quick Start

Stdio transport (default):

python3 binary_ninja_headless_mcp.py

TCP transport:

python3 binary_ninja_headless_mcp.py --transport tcp --host 127.0.0.1 --port 8765

Fake backend mode (no Binary Ninja required):

python3 binary_ninja_headless_mcp.py --fake-backend

Use With AI Agents

This server speaks standard MCP over stdio (default) or tcp, so any MCP-capable agent host can use it.

Claude Code

claude mcp add binary_ninja_headless_mcp -- python3 /path/to/binary-ninja-headless-mcp/binary_ninja_headless_mcp.py

Or add it to your project's .mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "binary_ninja_headless_mcp": {
      "command": "python3",
      "args": ["binary_ninja_headless_mcp.py"],
      "cwd": "/path/to/binary-ninja-headless-mcp"
    }
  }
}

Codex

codex mcp add binary_ninja_headless_mcp -- python3 binary_ninja_headless_mcp.py

Generic MCP Host

• Register a server named binary_ninja_headless_mcp.
• Use command python3 with args ["binary_ninja_headless_mcp.py"] when cwd is the repo root, or use an absolute script path in args.
• Set cwd to the repo path if you want relative paths like samples/ls to resolve correctly.
• Use stdio transport unless your host requires TCP.
• For fake mode (no Binary Ninja installed), append --fake-backend.
• Verify connectivity by calling health.ping, then session.open.

Docker Co-Location Pattern

Recommended deployment model: run the agent process and this MCP server in the same container image.

Example baseline:

FROM python:3.11-slim
WORKDIR /app
COPY . /app
RUN python -m pip install --upgrade pip && pip install ruff pytest
CMD ["python3", "binary_ninja_headless_mcp.py"]

If you need real Binary Ninja analysis in-container, add your Binary Ninja runtime + license setup in this same image and start the agent with this MCP server configured.

MCP Methods

• initialize
• ping
• tools/list
• tools/call
• shutdown

tools/list behavior:

• Without explicit pagination params, returns the full tool catalog.
• If offset or limit is provided, uses paginated output (offset=0, limit=50 default in paged mode).
• Supports filtering via:
  • prefix (for example binary.)
  • query (substring match against tool name/description)
• Returns pagination metadata: offset, limit, total, has_more.
• When a page is truncated (has_more=true), includes next_offset and a notice hint.

Tool call response behavior:

• structuredContent is the canonical full payload.
• content[0].text is a compact summary string (not full JSON duplication).
• This split is intentional to keep context usage smaller while still exposing full machine-readable data.

Quality And Testing

This repository is well tested and has enforced quality gates.

• Test suite: run pytest --collect-only -q for the current collected test count.
• CI workflow enforces:
  • ruff format --check .
  • ruff check .
  • pytest
• CI uses BINARY_NINJA_HEADLESS_MCP_FAKE_BACKEND=1 so checks run without requiring Binary Ninja installation.
• Additional structural tests verify tool registry consistency and backend reachability.

Context Controls

• Read-only mode is the default for opened sessions (read_only=true).
• binary.basic_blocks_at and function.basic_blocks are paginated (offset/limit).
• memory.read has a hard response cap: length <= 65536.

Limitations

• Enterprise APIs are currently not covered.
• Debugger APIs are currently not covered.

Security Model

• MCP communication (stdio/tcp) is unauthenticated by default.
• The server exposes arbitrary scripting via binja.eval and broad API access via binja.call.
• This is by design for trusted, containerized agent environments.
• Do not expose this server directly to untrusted users or networks.

Local Dev Workflow

ruff format --check .
ruff check .
BINARY_NINJA_HEADLESS_MCP_FAKE_BACKEND=1 pytest -q

Feature Fuzzer

Use the built-in MCP feature fuzzer to exercise a broad tool surface against samples/ls.

Real Binary Ninja backend:

python3 -m binary_ninja_headless_mcp.fuzzer --binary samples/ls --iterations 120 --seed 1337

Fake backend smoke run:

python3 -m binary_ninja_headless_mcp.fuzzer --binary samples/ls --fake-backend --iterations 20

Write a JSON coverage report:

python3 -m binary_ninja_headless_mcp.fuzzer --binary samples/ls --report-json /tmp/mcp-fuzzer-report.json

Useful flags:

• --min-success-tools N: exits non-zero if fewer than N tools succeeded.
• --verbose: print each tool call while fuzzing.
• --update-analysis: open the seed session with update_analysis=true.

Feature Catalog

The server currently exposes 181 tools across 36 feature groups.

analysis

• analysis.status: Get analysis status.
• analysis.progress: Get analysis progress snapshot.
• analysis.update: Trigger async analysis update.
• analysis.update_and_wait: Run analysis update and wait for completion.
• analysis.abort: Abort analysis.
• analysis.set_hold: Hold/release analysis queue.

annotation

• annotation.rename_function: Rename a function.
• annotation.rename_symbol: Rename symbol at address.
• annotation.undefine_symbol: Undefine user symbol at address.
• annotation.define_symbol: Define symbol at address.
• annotation.rename_data_var: Rename data variable.
• annotation.define_data_var: Define data variable.
• annotation.undefine_data_var: Undefine data variable.
• annotation.set_comment: Set comment at address.
• annotation.get_comment: Get comment at address.
• annotation.add_tag: Add user data tag at address.
• annotation.get_tags: Get tags at address.

arch

• arch.info: Get architecture and platform metadata.
• arch.disasm_bytes: Disassemble bytes with selected architecture.
• arch.assemble: Assemble instruction text with selected architecture.

baseaddr

• baseaddr.detect: Run base-address detection.
• baseaddr.reasons: Get base-address detection reasons.
• baseaddr.abort: Abort base-address detection.

binary

• binary.summary: Get binary/session summary.
• binary.save: Save the current binary view to a file path.
• binary.functions: List functions with pagination.
• binary.strings: List discovered strings with pagination.
• binary.search_text: Search raw text/bytes in a session.
• binary.sections: List sections with pagination.
• binary.segments: List segments with pagination.
• binary.symbols: List symbols with pagination.
• binary.data_vars: List data variables with pagination.
• binary.get_function_at: Find function by address.
• binary.get_function_disassembly_at: Get full disassembly for function containing an address.
• binary.get_function_il_at: Get full IL for function containing an address.
• binary.functions_at: List functions at an address.
• binary.basic_blocks_at: List basic blocks at an address with pagination.

binja

• binja.info: Return Binary Ninja version/install info.
• binja.call: Generic API bridge: call bn.* or bv.* target path.
• binja.eval: Evaluate Python code with bn, sessions, and optional bv.

data

• data.typed_at: Get typed data variable at an address.

database

• database.create_bndb: Create .bndb from session.
• database.save_auto_snapshot: Save auto snapshot.
• database.info: Get database status for session.
• database.snapshots: List database snapshots.
• database.read_global: Read database global string key.
• database.write_global: Write database global string key.

debug

• debug.parsers: List debug info parsers valid for this view.
• debug.parse_and_apply: Parse debug info and apply it to the view.

disasm

• disasm.linear: Get linear disassembly lines.
• disasm.function: Get full disassembly for function containing an address.
• disasm.range: Address-range disassembly lines.

external

• external.library_add: Add external library.
• external.library_list: List external libraries.
• external.library_remove: Remove external library.
• external.location_add: Add external location mapping.
• external.location_get: Get external location mapping.
• external.location_remove: Remove external location mapping.

function

• function.basic_blocks: List basic blocks in a function with pagination.
• function.callers: Callers of a function.
• function.callees: Callees of a function.
• function.variables: List function variables.
• function.var_refs: List variable references in MLIL/HLIL.
• function.var_refs_from: List variable references originating from an address.
• function.ssa_var_def_use: Get SSA variable definition and uses.
• function.ssa_memory_def_use: Get SSA memory definition and uses by memory version.
• function.metadata_store: Store function metadata by key.
• function.metadata_query: Query function metadata by key.
• function.metadata_remove: Remove function metadata by key.

health

• health.ping: Health check.

il

• il.function: IL function listing.
• il.instruction_by_addr: Get IL instruction by source address.
• il.address_to_index: Map address to IL index/indices.
• il.index_to_address: Map IL index to source address.
• il.rewrite.capabilities: List IL rewrite support for one function and IL level.
• il.rewrite.noop_replace: Perform no-op IL expression replacement.
• il.rewrite.translate_identity: Translate IL with identity mapping callback.

loader

• loader.rebase: Rebase BinaryView.
• loader.load_settings_types: List loader settings type names.
• loader.load_settings_get: Get loader settings values.
• loader.load_settings_set: Set one loader setting value.

memory

• memory.read: Read bytes from the view (length <= 65536).
• memory.write: Write bytes (hex) to the view.
• memory.insert: Insert bytes (hex) into the view.
• memory.remove: Remove bytes from the view.
• memory.reader_read: Read integer values via BinaryReader.
• memory.writer_write: Write integer values via BinaryWriter.

mcp

• mcp.response_format: Explain tool result fields (structuredContent full payload, content[0].text summary).

metadata

• metadata.store: Store metadata by key.
• metadata.query: Query metadata by key.
• metadata.remove: Remove metadata by key.

patch

• patch.assemble: Assemble and patch instruction bytes at address.
• patch.status: Inspect patch availability at address.
• patch.convert_to_nop: Patch instruction to NOP when supported.
• patch.always_branch: Patch conditional branch to always branch when supported.
• patch.never_branch: Patch conditional branch to never branch when supported.
• patch.invert_branch: Patch conditional branch by inversion when supported.
• patch.skip_and_return_value: Patch instruction to skip and return value when supported.

plugin

• plugin.valid_commands: List context-valid plugin commands.
• plugin.execute: Execute a context-valid plugin command.

plugin_repo

• plugin_repo.status: List plugin repositories and plugin states.
• plugin_repo.check_updates: Check plugin repository updates.
• plugin_repo.plugin_action: Run install/uninstall/enable/disable action on repository plugin.

project

• project.create: Create project.
• project.open: Open project.
• project.close: Close tracked project.
• project.list: List project folders/files.
• project.create_folder: Create project folder.
• project.create_file: Create project file from base64 data.
• project.metadata_store: Store project metadata.
• project.metadata_query: Query project metadata.
• project.metadata_remove: Remove project metadata.

search

• search.data: Search for raw byte patterns (hex string).
• search.next_text: Find next text match.
• search.all_text: Find all text matches in range (regex optional).
• search.next_data: Find next data/byte-pattern match.
• search.all_data: Find all data/byte-pattern matches in range.
• search.next_constant: Find next constant occurrence.
• search.all_constant: Find all constant occurrences in range.

section

• section.add_user: Add user section.
• section.remove_user: Remove user section.

segment

• segment.add_user: Add user segment.
• segment.remove_user: Remove user segment.

session

• session.open: Open a binary and create a session.
• session.open_bytes: Open a binary session from base64-encoded bytes.
• session.open_existing: Open another session from an existing session's file.
• session.close: Close one open session.
• session.list: List open sessions.
• session.mode: Get session safety/determinism mode.
• session.set_mode: Update session safety/determinism mode.

task

• task.analysis_update: Start async analysis update task.
• task.search_text: Start async search task.
• task.status: Get task status.
• task.result: Get task result.
• task.cancel: Cancel task (best-effort).

transform

• transform.inspect: Inspect/process transform extraction pipeline.

type

• type.parse_string: Parse a single type string.
• type.parse_declarations: Parse C declarations for types/variables/functions.
• type.define_user: Define user type from type source.
• type.rename: Rename a type.
• type.undefine_user: Undefine a user type.
• type.import_library_type: Import type from type library.
• type.import_library_object: Import object type from type library.
• type.export_to_library: Export type into a type library.

type_archive

• type_archive.create: Create and optionally attach a type archive.
• type_archive.open: Open and optionally attach a type archive.
• type_archive.list: List attached type archives.
• type_archive.get: Get one tracked type archive.
• type_archive.pull: Pull types from a type archive.
• type_archive.push: Push types to a type archive.
• type_archive.references: Query archive incoming/outgoing references for one type.

type_library

• type_library.create: Create and optionally attach a type library.
• type_library.load: Load and optionally attach a type library.
• type_library.list: List type libraries attached to the view.
• type_library.get: Get one tracked type library.

uidf

• uidf.parse_possible_value: Parse user-informed possible value set string.
• uidf.set_user_var_value: Set function user variable value.
• uidf.clear_user_var_value: Clear function user variable value.
• uidf.list_user_var_values: List all user variable values for a function.

undo

• undo.begin: Begin undo transaction.
• undo.commit: Commit undo transaction.
• undo.revert: Revert undo transaction.
• undo.undo: Perform undo.
• undo.redo: Perform redo.

value

• value.reg: Get register value at/after an address.
• value.stack: Get stack contents at/after an address.
• value.possible: Get IL possible value set at an address.
• value.flags_at: Get lifted IL flag read/write state at an address.

workflow

• workflow.list: List registered workflows.
• workflow.describe: Describe workflow topology and settings.
• workflow.clone: Clone workflow.
• workflow.insert: Insert activities before an activity.
• workflow.insert_after: Insert activities after an activity.
• workflow.remove: Remove workflow activity.
• workflow.graph: Summarize workflow graph.
• workflow.machine.status: Get workflow machine status.
• workflow.machine.control: Control workflow machine runtime.

xref

• xref.code_refs_to: Code references to an address.
• xref.code_refs_from: Code references from an address.
• xref.data_refs_to: Data references to an address.
• xref.data_refs_from: Data references from an address.

Contact

For more information, contact Tim Blazytko (@mr_phrazer).