Re: how to modify string in binary files ?
Hello Chris ! Chris Jones wrote: On Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 08:08:50PM EDT, Jerome BENOIT wrote: Hello List, I would like to change the string of a file name in a (propriety) binary: if applicable, how can we do that ? Use vim's binary mode. $ vim -b binary-file And before you start editing: :h edit-binary I have just tried. It is claimed that When editing executable files the number of characters must not change. Use only the R or r command to change text. Do not delete characters with x or by backspacing. So a string cannot be made longer. Can we make a string shorter ? The first idea that comes is to put a '\n' at the desired end of the string and then fill the extra with '\0': is it safe. Otherwise, as no HEX code appears, is `bvi' a good alternative ? Jerome CJ -- Jerome BENOIT jgmbenoit_at_mailsnare_dot_net -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Re: how to modify string in binary files ?
On 2009-09-01 01:03, Jerome BENOIT wrote: Hello Chris ! Chris Jones wrote: On Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 08:08:50PM EDT, Jerome BENOIT wrote: Hello List, I would like to change the string of a file name in a (propriety) binary: if applicable, how can we do that ? Use vim's binary mode. $ vim -b binary-file And before you start editing: :h edit-binary I have just tried. It is claimed that When editing executable files the number of characters must not change. Use only the R or r command to change text. Do not delete characters with x or by backspacing. So a string cannot be made longer. Can we make a string shorter ? The program is going to expect certain stuff to be at certain places within the file. Adding or removing bytes is *definitely* A VERY BAD THING. The first idea that comes is to put a '\n' at the desired end of the string and then fill the extra with '\0': is it safe. IFF the app was written in a language that uses \0 as the string terminator... Otherwise, as no HEX code appears, is `bvi' a good alternative ? It's what I'd use... -- Brawndo's got what plants crave. It's got electrolytes! -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Re: how to modify string in binary files ?
In 4a9cd48b.6040...@cox.net, Ron Johnson wrote: On 2009-09-01 01:03, Jerome BENOIT wrote: Hello Chris ! Chris Jones wrote: On Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 08:08:50PM EDT, Jerome BENOIT wrote: Hello List, I would like to change the string of a file name in a (propriety) binary: if applicable, how can we do that ? Use vim's binary mode. $ vim -b binary-file And before you start editing: :h edit-binary It is claimed that When editing executable files the number of characters must not change. Use only the R or r command to change text. Do not delete characters with x or by backspacing. The first idea that comes is to put a '\n' at the desired end of the string and then fill the extra with '\0': is it safe. IFF the app was written in a language that uses \0 as the string terminator... Which you should be able to tell upon inspection. If there's no '\0' after your string, using them as terminators is probably useless. -- Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. ,= ,-_-. =. b...@iguanasuicide.net ((_/)o o(\_)) ICQ: 514984 YM/AIM: DaTwinkDaddy `-'(. .)`-' http://iguanasuicide.net/\_/ signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part.
Re: how to modify string in binary files ?
On Tue, Sep 01, 2009 at 02:03:02AM EDT, Jerome BENOIT wrote: Otherwise, as no HEX code appears, You need to use a vim add-on called xxd - it's in the vim-common package. Google for vim tips with vim xxd as the keywords. is `bvi' a good alternative ? I wasn't familiar with bvi, but one thing I like about vim is that you can undo/redo your changes and test the results in another window. Not sure bvi supports that? As Ron said, this does not dispense you with making a backup. Another thing - if the string you want to modify is not plain ASCII, UTF-8, etc. vim could make it easier to locate/edit your string depending on the circumstances. CJ -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
how to modify string in binary files ?
Hello List, I would like to change the string of a file name in a (propriety) binary: if applicable, how can we do that ? Thanks in advance, Jerome -- Jerome BENOIT jgmbenoit_at_mailsnare_dot_net -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Re: how to modify string in binary files ?
On 2009-08-31 19:08, Jerome BENOIT wrote: Hello List, I would like to change the string of a file name in a (propriety) binary: if applicable, how can we do that ? With a binary or hexadecimal editor. $ apt-cache search binary editor $ apt-cache search hex editor -- Brawndo's got what plants crave. It's got electrolytes! -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Re: how to modify string in binary files ?
On Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:08:50 +0800 Jerome BENOIT jgmben...@mailsnare.net wrote: Hello List, I would like to change the string of a file name in a (propriety) binary: if applicable, how can we do that ? Use a hex editor? Celejar -- mailmin.sourceforge.net - remote access via secure (OpenPGP) email ssuds.sourceforge.net - A Simple Sudoku Solver and Generator -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Re: how to modify string in binary files ?
[Please reply only to the list, and don't cc. me, as per the list CoC.] On Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:24:06 +0800 Jerome BENOIT jgmben...@mailsnare.net wrote: Celejar wrote: On Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:08:50 +0800 Jerome BENOIT jgmben...@mailsnare.net wrote: Hello List, I would like to change the string of a file name in a (propriety) binary: if applicable, how can we do that ? Use a hex editor? Let me specify. My binary file is an executable binary file, not a data file. Of course, I want to be able to run the modified version. So according to you, I have just to edit my binary, modify the string by hand, and the modified binary is fine: is there any side effect ? Since it's a binary file, you can't know for sure, but IIUC, there likely won't be any side effects. I'm no expert on this stuff, though, so please take my advice with a grain of salt. Celejar -- mailmin.sourceforge.net - remote access via secure (OpenPGP) email ssuds.sourceforge.net - A Simple Sudoku Solver and Generator -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Re: how to modify string in binary files ?
Celejar wrote: On Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:08:50 +0800 Jerome BENOIT jgmben...@mailsnare.net wrote: Hello List, I would like to change the string of a file name in a (propriety) binary: if applicable, how can we do that ? Use a hex editor? Let me specify. My binary file is an executable binary file, not a data file. Of course, I want to be able to run the modified version. So according to you, I have just to edit my binary, modify the string by hand, and the modified binary is fine: is there any side effect ? Jerome Celejar -- Jerome BENOIT jgmbenoit_at_mailsnare_dot_net -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Re: how to modify string in binary files ?
On Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 9:24 PM, Jerome BENOITjgmben...@mailsnare.net wrote: Celejar wrote: On Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:08:50 +0800 Jerome BENOIT jgmben...@mailsnare.net wrote: Hello List, I would like to change the string of a file name in a (propriety) binary: if applicable, how can we do that ? Use a hex editor? Let me specify. My binary file is an executable binary file, not a data file. Of course, I want to be able to run the modified version. So according to you, I have just to edit my binary, modify the string by hand, and the modified binary is fine: is there any side effect ? I am running a version of WordPerfect 8 (the UN*X version) on my amd64 testing system in which I have replaced, in all the binaries, references to 'ld-linux.so.1' with 'ld-linux.so.2'. It works. Patrick -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Re: how to modify string in binary files ?
On 2009-08-31 20:28, Celejar wrote: [Please reply only to the list, and don't cc. me, as per the list CoC.] On Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:24:06 +0800 Jerome BENOIT jgmben...@mailsnare.net wrote: Celejar wrote: On Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:08:50 +0800 Jerome BENOIT jgmben...@mailsnare.net wrote: Hello List, I would like to change the string of a file name in a (propriety) binary: if applicable, how can we do that ? Use a hex editor? Let me specify. My binary file is an executable binary file, not a data file. Of course, I want to be able to run the modified version. So according to you, I have just to edit my binary, modify the string by hand, and the modified binary is fine: is there any side effect ? Since it's a binary file, you can't know for sure, but IIUC, there likely won't be any side effects. I'm no expert on this stuff, though, so please take my advice with a grain of salt. There will be no side effects *if* you only *change* the existing text bytes. Unless... the binary does some sort of internal checksumming to detect (possibly malicious) changes or license modifications. Lastly: we don't need to tell an experienced guy like you to make a copy of the binary before you change it, right? ;) -- Brawndo's got what plants crave. It's got electrolytes! -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Re: how to modify string in binary files ?
On Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 08:08:50PM EDT, Jerome BENOIT wrote: Hello List, I would like to change the string of a file name in a (propriety) binary: if applicable, how can we do that ? Use vim's binary mode. $ vim -b binary-file And before you start editing: :h edit-binary CJ -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
