Debuggers

Category: Tools

Debuggers are essential tools for reverse engineering. They allow you to execute programs step-by-step, set breakpoints, inspect memory, and modify register values in real-time.

Popular Debuggers

  • x64dbg - Open-source x64/x32 debugger for Windows. Modern interface with plugin support.
  • OllyDbg - Classic 32-bit assembler level debugger. Still widely used despite being discontinued.
  • WinDbg - Microsoft's powerful debugger for Windows kernel and user-mode debugging.
  • GDB - The GNU Debugger, standard on Linux systems.
  • Immunity Debugger - Python-scriptable debugger focused on malware analysis.

What Debuggers Do

Debuggers provide the following capabilities:

  • Breakpoints - Pause execution at specific addresses or conditions
  • Step execution - Execute one instruction at a time
  • Memory inspection - View and modify memory contents
  • Register monitoring - Watch CPU registers change in real-time
  • Call stack - See the execution path that led to current location

Choosing a Debugger

For Windows reverse engineering, x64dbg is the modern choice. It's actively maintained and supports both 32-bit and 64-bit applications. OllyDbg is still popular for legacy 32-bit work, while WinDbg is essential for kernel debugging.