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Is there a open-source Linux tool / utility for Linux platform that would recursively search for binary files (executable, shared / static objects, etc), in a folder and display?

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  • What do you mean by binary file ? Is, for an instance, mp3 music file binary ?
    – w s
    Mar 25, 2014 at 7:35
  • I have mentioned in the parenthesis: executable, shared / static objects, etc. I am not interested in .mp3 or .ogg or .gif or .jpeg :). Mar 25, 2014 at 9:03
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    This question appears to be off-topic because it is about basic Unix shell commands. Not about reverse-engineering.
    – perror
    Mar 25, 2014 at 9:22
  • @perror, I believe, answer to the question helps to begin reverse-engineering a binary knowing that it belongs to 'a' architecture and one can process the binary alive on a compatible virtual or physical platform, the answer very much helps in disassembly or decompilation, it definitely helps to begin with, "...explore the principles of a system through analysis of its structure, function, and operation ...", so what if it is a basic Unix Shell Command?, requesting you to review your opinion, it is not necessary that only experts visit here. Apr 29, 2016 at 4:28
  • Your question is way to basic and weak compared to the scope of this website. It could have been covered in Unix & Linux or in SO with no problem.
    – perror
    Apr 29, 2016 at 7:37

1 Answer 1

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When looking for files containing executable code in a well known format, you could search using find and file:

find . -type f -print0 | xargs -0 file | grep -i "i386\|x86\|arm\|ar archive"

This will get you all files which file labeled with the processor name for i386, x86 or arm.

Note that there are many filetypes which file does not recognize. It will for instance not recognize java jar files, or android apk files as executable. Nor will it recognize raw firmware images.

What I actually usually do when researching an unknown system:

  • do find . | xargs file to get a large list of everything
  • then filter out known files, like audio, images, html, text, xml files.
  • then manually inspect what is left over.
  • file also makes lots of mistakes, i usually get quite some number of files labeled as DOS executable, which aren't, also i often see files mislabeled as DBase.
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  • This will not find static libraries. You should add "i386\|x86\|arm\|ar\ archive"
    – w s
    Mar 25, 2014 at 9:16

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