Binary Lifting

Concept

Binary lifting is the process of translating machine code from a binary executable into a higher-level intermediate representation (IR) such as LLVM IR, enabling program analysis, transformation, and translation. It is implemented by a range of tools—including BinRec, McSema, Remill, Dagger, LLVM-MCtoLL, reopt, and rev.ng—and typically relies on formal ISA semantics to accurately model instruction behavior.

First seen 7/3/2026

Last seen 7/3/2026

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Wiki v1

WIKI

Binary Lifting

Overview

Binary lifting is the process of translating instructions in a compiled binary (machine code) into a higher-level intermediate representation (IR), such as LLVM IR. The lifted IR exposes program structure—control flow, data flow, and individual instruction semantics—in a form that is easier to analyze, optimize, transform, or recompile than raw machine code. Binary lifting underpins a range of applications including decompilation, binary translation, reverse engineering, security analysis, and program verification.

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RELATIONSHIPS

8 connections

rev.ng Reverse Engineering Tool ← implements 93% 1e

rev.ng is a reverse engineering and binary lifting tool.

BinRec Binary Lifter ← implements 97% 1e

BinRec is a binary lifter tool.

McSema Binary Lifter ← implements 97% 1e

McSema is a binary lifter tool.

Remill Binary Lifting Library ← implements 97% 1e

Remill is a library for binary lifting.

Dagger Binary Lifter ← implements 97% 1e

Dagger is a binary lifter tool.

LLVM-MCtoLL Binary Lifter ← implements 97% 1e

LLVM-MCtoLL is a binary lifter tool.

reopt Binary Lifter ← implements 97% 1e

reopt is a binary lifter tool.

ISA Semantics uses → 92% 1e

Binary lifting relies on ISA semantics to lift binary code to higher-level representations.

LINKED ENTITIES

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BinRec Binary Lifter IMPLEMENTS Extracted graph relationship

McSema Binary Lifter IMPLEMENTS Extracted graph relationship

Remill Binary Lifting Library IMPLEMENTS Extracted graph relationship

Dagger Binary Lifter IMPLEMENTS Extracted graph relationship

LLVM-MCtoLL Binary Lifter IMPLEMENTS Extracted graph relationship

reopt Binary Lifter IMPLEMENTS Extracted graph relationship

rev.ng Reverse Engineering Tool IMPLEMENTS Extracted graph relationship

ISA Semantics USES Extracted graph relationship

CITATIONS

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3 citations — click to collapse

[1] Binary lifting translates machine code into a higher-level intermediate representation (IR) such as LLVM IR. Specifications of instruction set architectures

[2] BinRec, McSema, Remill, Dagger, LLVM-MCtoLL, reopt, and rev.ng are tools that implement binary lifting. Specifications of instruction set architectures

[3] Binary lifters rely on ISA semantics to faithfully model instruction behavior during translation. Specifications of instruction set architectures