CODEWITHSUNDEEP
binaryfilesidentification
Rob Wells
Rob Wells

Reputation: 37159

Can you find out which compiler was used to compile a program?

Given an executable that is compiled from C to run on Solaris, is it possible to determine which compiler was used to compile the associated incomplete executable?

I can't see anything when using either the strings or the file command, and magic doesn't seem to contain anything specific.

Do compilers generally put a fingerprint in their executable output files?

Upvotes: 19

Views: 12833

Answers (7)

Jeff Taylor
Jeff Taylor

Reputation: 486

Not stripped:

$ cc -O hello.c

$ file a.out

a.out: ELF 32-bit MSB executable SPARC32PLUS Version 1, V8+ Required, dynamically linked, not stripped

$ strings -a a.out | grep cc

/opt/solarisstudio12.3/prod/bin/cc -O hello.c

$ dwarfdump -i a.out | grep compile_o

DW_AT_SUN_compile_options Xa;O;R=Sun C 5.12 SunOS_sparc Patch 148917-07 2013/10/18;backend;raw;cd;

Stripped:

$ strip a.out

$ file a.out

a.out: ELF 32-bit MSB executable SPARC32PLUS Version 1, V8+ Required, dynamically linked, stripped

$ strings -a a.out | grep cc

(none)

Upvotes: 1

DaveS
DaveS

Reputation: 46

If the executable isn't stripped, try /usr/ccs/bin mcs-p This will usually show the compiler, linker and all the header files used

Upvotes: 3

Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams
Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams

Reputation: 799300

Compilers usually add their own personal "signature" as plaintext in the compiled files. You can use a tool such as strings to suss the plaintext out.

Upvotes: 0

zildjohn01
zildjohn01

Reputation: 11515

Build small test apps with each compiler you're trying to identify. Then look at the results in a hex editor, and try to find patterns. It might turn out to be really obvious -- for example the "Rich" signatures from Microsoft's linker.

Upvotes: 2

dr. evil
dr. evil

Reputation: 27275

PEID will do the trick. It generally works just great. Obviously PEID is a windows tool but it shouldn't matter and should show you to compiler (sometimes even specific version information)

Upvotes: 4

Tim Matthews
Tim Matthews

Reputation: 5121

Yes IDA is great for this. It uses a technology called FLIRT.

Upvotes: 6

dirkgently
dirkgently

Reputation: 111278

Visual Studio and GCC typically follow different startup routines (which call main). That maybe a hint. I don't know about others though. For dlls, can't think of something similar off the top of my head.

Upvotes: 0

Related Questions