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MCP Servers · mrexodia

ida-pro-mcp

IDA Pro MCP is a Python-based bridge that connects IDA Pro reverse engineering tool with language models via the Model Context Protocol, enabling AI-assisted binary analysis. It supports multiple MCP clients and can operate in GUI or headless modes for automated reverse engineering workflows.

Source: GitHub — github.com/mrexodia/ida-pro-mcp
10k
GitHub stars
1.2k
Forks
Python
Primary language
MIT
License (OSI-approved)

Key facts

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FieldValue
Repositorymrexodia/ida-pro-mcp
Ownermrexodia
Primary languagePython
LicenseMIT — OSI-approved
Stars10k
Forks1.2k
Open issues41
Latest release1.4.0 (2025-10-06)
Last updated2026-06-22
Sourcehttps://github.com/mrexodia/ida-pro-mcp

What ida-pro-mcp is

Exposes IDA Pro's disassembly, decompilation, and analysis capabilities as MCP tools callable by LLM clients. Implemented in Python 3.11+, requires IDA Pro 8.3+ (not Free edition), and can run via stdio transport, HTTP SSE server, or through idalib worker processes for persistent headless sessions.

Quickstart

Get the ida-pro-mcp source

Clone the repository and explore it locally.

terminalbash
git clone https://github.com/mrexodia/ida-pro-mcp.gitcd ida-pro-mcp# follow the project's README for install & configuration

Need it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.

Best use cases

Interactive malware analysis with LLM assistance

Pair IDA Pro with Claude, Cursor, or VS Code to interactively reverse engineer malware, with the LLM reading decompilation, suggesting renames, and guiding analysis workflow.

Automated crackme and CTF challenge solving

Use headless idalib-mcp with LLM agents to systematically analyze binaries, identify logic, rename variables, and derive solutions without manual GUI interaction.

Batch binary analysis at scale

Deploy idalib-mcp on a server, spawn persistent workers for multiple binaries, and orchestrate LLM-driven analysis jobs across a fleet of analysis sessions.

Implementation considerations

  • Requires Python 3.11+ and IDA Pro installation with idalib activated globally (via uv-based activation script); deployment tooling must handle binary-specific paths.
  • MCP client selection is critical: Claude Code, Cline, VS Code, Cursor, and others have different transport modes (stdio, HTTP SSE); test integration thoroughly before scaling.
  • LLM accuracy depends on prompt engineering; README provides two detailed prompts but users should iterate and may need supplementary tools (math-mcp) for number conversion.
  • Headless idalib workers are persistent and self-managed with configurable idle TTL; requires monitoring to prevent resource exhaustion on long-running analysis farms.
  • IDA GUI and headless modes can coexist; mode parameter (prefer_headless, force_gui, etc.) controls adoption of running GUI or spawning new workers—clarify expectations per workflow.

When to avoid it — and what to weigh

  • You need to work with IDA Free edition — IDA Free is explicitly unsupported; requires paid IDA Pro 8.3 or higher, which is a significant cost barrier for some teams.
  • Your LLM lacks strong reverse engineering domain knowledge — The tool amplifies LLM capabilities but does not replace expertise. The README warns about hallucinations; poor prompting or weak LLM RE reasoning will degrade output quality.
  • You require air-gapped or offline-only analysis — Most supported MCP clients (Claude, Copilot, Gemini CLI) require internet connectivity to cloud LLM endpoints; on-premises setups require LM Studio or similar local alternatives.
  • Your binary uses advanced obfuscation without preprocessing — README explicitly states LLMs perform poorly on obfuscated code; requires manual deobfuscation, string decryption, and FLIRT/Lumina resolution first—negating convenience benefits.

License & commercial use

MIT License (permissive OSI-approved). Allows unrestricted use, modification, and distribution for any purpose (commercial or proprietary) with only attribution required.

MIT License permits commercial use without restriction. However, this tool is a bridge; you must separately license IDA Pro (paid, not free), which has its own commercial terms. Verify IDA Pro's license for your intended use case. MCP client integration may also require separate licensing (e.g., Claude API, GitHub Copilot, Cursor Pro).

DEV.co evaluation signals

Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.

SignalAssessment
MaintenanceActive
DocumentationAdequate
License clarityClear
Deployment complexityModerate
DEV.co fitGood
Assessment confidenceHigh
Security considerations

IDA Pro MCP acts as a local RPC gateway to IDA Pro internals. Key considerations: (1) No authentication/authorization on stdio or HTTP transports by default—restrict network exposure to trusted networks only. (2) LLM clients can invoke arbitrary MCP tools on the IDA database; audit prompt injection risks if receiving user-supplied binaries. (3) Headless workers are persistent processes; ensure proper access controls and monitoring to prevent unauthorized database access. (4) HTTPS/TLS recommended if HTTP transport used across networks. (5) IDA Pro's own security posture (plugin loading, binary parsing) is inherited. No claims made about code security audit.

Alternatives to consider

Ghidra + custom LLM integration

Ghidra is free, open-source, and scriptable; can build custom MCP server or API layer without commercial IDA Pro license. Trade-off: less mature decompilation, requires more integration work.

Binary Ninja + custom MCP/API

Commercial but cheaper than IDA Pro; has Python plugin API and active development. Can build similar LLM bridge. Trade-off: smaller ecosystem, fewer IDA-specific tools and Lumina/FLIRT integrations.

Automated malware analysis platforms (VirusTotal, ANY.RUN, Hybrid Analysis)

Pre-built sandboxes and analysis workflows without requiring local binary tooling setup. Trade-off: cloud-only, limited customization, not suitable for proprietary/sensitive binaries.

Software development agency

Build on ida-pro-mcp with DEV.co software developers

Integrate IDA Pro MCP with your workflow today. Choose an MCP client, set up Python 3.11+, and start analyzing binaries with LLM guidance. For enterprise-scale headless analysis, contact us to discuss deployment architecture.

Talk to DEV.co

Related open-source tools

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ida-pro-mcp FAQ

Can I use IDA Free with this tool?
No. IDA Free is explicitly unsupported. You must use IDA Pro 8.3 or higher (9.0 recommended).
Which MCP client should I start with?
Claude Code is easiest via plugin marketplace. For local IDE workflows, Cline or VS Code are solid choices. LM Studio is ideal for on-premises / offline LLM scenarios.
How do I run analysis on multiple binaries in parallel?
Use headless idalib-mcp with separate workers per binary. The supervisor auto-manages worker lifecycle; each worker is a detached process. Monitor resource usage and configure idle TTL appropriately.
Why does the LLM produce hallucinated solutions?
LLMs struggle with base conversions, obfuscation, and complex logic. The README strongly recommends: (1) use int_convert MCP tool for number conversion, (2) preprocess binaries (deobfuscate, FLIRT resolve), (3) craft detailed, specific prompts with examples.

Custom software development services

From first prototype to production, DEV.co delivers software development services around tools like ida-pro-mcp. Our software development agency staffs experienced software developers and web developers for custom software development, web development, integrations, and ongoing support across mcp servers and beyond.

Ready to supercharge your reverse engineering?

Integrate IDA Pro MCP with your workflow today. Choose an MCP client, set up Python 3.11+, and start analyzing binaries with LLM guidance. For enterprise-scale headless analysis, contact us to discuss deployment architecture.