HexPatch is a terminal-based binary patcher and editor aimed at low-level inspection and modification of executable files.
Rather than treating binaries solely as streams of bytes, the program brings architecture-aware analysis and patching tools into the same keyboard-driven interface. This makes it particularly relevant to reverse engineering, vulnerability research, binary modification and debugging, while remaining usable from a Linux terminal or remote shell session.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Disassembles machine instructions directly within the editing workflow.
- Assembles replacement instructions for creating binary patches.
- Supports COFF, ELF, Mach-O, PE and XCOFF executable formats.
- Handles architectures including x86, x86-64, ARM, AArch64, MIPS, PowerPC, RISC-V, S390x, SPARC64 and eBPF.
- Provides architecture-aware instruction highlighting.
- Lets users work with virtual addresses as well as raw file positions.
- Can edit files residing on remote systems through SSH and SFTP.
- Supports SSH public-key authentication as an alternative to passwords.
- Provides text and symbol searching to help locate relevant binary content.
- Offers a text-oriented view alongside its lower-level binary inspection facilities.
- Supports Lua plugins for extending file-format handling and other functionality.
- Allows a custom plugins directory to be selected from the command line.
- Provides configurable settings for adapting the interface and behaviour.
- Includes internationalisation support with multiple interface translations.
- Runs on Linux and other major desktop operating systems.
Website: github.com/Etto48/HexPatch
Support:
Developer: Ettore Ricci
License: GNU Affero General Public License v3.0
HexPatch is written in Rust. Learn Rust with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Console-Based Hex Editors | |
|---|---|
| hexyl | Colored command-line hex viewer |
| DHEX | ncurses-based hex editor with diff mode |
| hexedit | View and edit hexadecimal files |
| hyx | Minimalistic hex editor |
| hexer | Multi-buffer editor for binary files |
| hx | Hex editor using plain C and POSIX libs |
| Hextazy | Colorful hexadecimal editor |
| hexhog | Configurable hex viewer and editor |
| fileobj | ncurses based hex editor |
| HexMe | Written in C++ that uses the Curses library |
| hexcurse-ng | Written in C |
| ddhx | Simple multi-platform modal text UI hex editor |
| bvi | Based on the vi text editor |
| XVI | Hex editor using ncurses |
| Hexit | Minimalistic hex editor |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
| Alternatives to hexdump | |
|---|---|
| hexyl | Colored command-line hex viewer |
| DHEX | ncurses-based hex editor with diff mode |
| hexedit | View and edit hexadecimal files |
| hyx | Minimalistic but powerful hex editor |
| hexer | Multi-buffer editor for binary files |
| xxd | Make a hexdump or do the reverse |
| hx | Hex editor using plain C and POSIX libs |
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