Roadmaps 🗺️

Beginner roadmap for understanding and practicing binary file format analysis, reverse engineering, binary injection and hijacking, firmware hijacking, and fuzzing with a focus on fundamental security, Linux, and memory concepts. Beginner 80h binary-analysis reverse-engineering fuzzing security

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Topic Milestone Task Note Decision Project Grouped

AI Assist
Progress

Proof of Competence 0%

0 / 30 checkpoints declared

0/15 evidence needed for 100% — max 50% without proof

Foundations of Binary File Formats

You can identify and explain key components of common binary executable formats Milestone

Inspect binary headers with tools like `readelf` or `objdump` (headers and sections visible) Checkpoint

Analyze a simple ELF file’s segments and sections using readelf or objdump outputs Project

You can use basic tools to dissect and inspect binary files on Linux Milestone

Use `objdump` to list symbols and disassemble a simple binary (successful symbol listing) Checkpoint

Introduction to Binary Reverse Engineering

You can outline the reverse engineering process with an emphasis on ethical guidelines Milestone

Document ethical considerations and reverse engineering goals in a short write-up Checkpoint

You can read simple disassembled functions and recognize basic patterns Milestone

Disassemble a simple C binary and identify main function, loops, and calls (annotated disassembly) Checkpoint

Reverse engineer a simple cracked program binary to understand its license check logic Project

Binary Injection & Hijacking Techniques

You can explain and demonstrate basic injection vectors and payloads in a controlled environment Milestone

Write and inject a simple shellcode payload into a test binary (payload executes correctly) Checkpoint

You can hijack a binary's behavior by replacing or injecting library code Milestone

Demonstrate DLL or shared library hijacking on a test program (modified behavior confirmed) Checkpoint

Create a hijacked binary scenario that redirects a function call to injected code Project

Firmware Hijacking Fundamentals

You can extract and examine basic firmware files for embedded devices Milestone

Extract a UEFI or embedded device firmware image and identify key components (firmware dumped and sections identified) Checkpoint

You can modify firmware code and reflash a device or emulator safely Milestone

Modify a firmware binary to change behavior and reflash to an emulator or test device (effect visible) Checkpoint

Inject a simple persistent backdoor into firmware and validate reflash success Project

Introduction to Fuzzing for Binary Security

You can explain different fuzzing strategies and set up a basic fuzzing campaign Milestone

Configure and run a mutation-based fuzzer on a sample binary (crash or unexpected behavior found) Checkpoint

You can write and run fuzzing harnesses on simple binaries, interpreting results Milestone

Build and run a fuzz harness with AFL on a target binary and analyze crash reports (known crashes reproducible) Checkpoint

Set up continuous fuzzing with automated triage for a small binary project Project

Integrating and Advancing Skills

You can use reverse engineering results to refine fuzzing and analyze bugs Milestone

Analyze a fuzz crash dump and trace it back in disassembly (root cause found) Checkpoint

Improve a simple fuzz campaign with crafted inputs based on RE insights Project

You can demonstrate complex binary manipulation workflows with ethical responsibility Milestone

Complete a combined injection, fuzzing, and firmware patching exercise documented with ethical guidelines Checkpoint

Binary File Format Analysis, Reverse Engineering, Injection & Hijacking, Firmware, and Fuzzing AI