Installing Ghidra on Kali Linux: Complete Tutorial

Video Tutorial

What is Ghidra?

Ghidra is a software reverse engineering (SRE) framework developed by the National Security Agency (NSA). It’s a powerful tool for analyzing compiled code and understanding how programs work.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

• Kali Linux (latest version recommended)
• OpenJDK installed (see our OpenJDK installation guide)
• Basic understanding of Linux commands

Installing Ghidra

Step 1: Download Ghidra

First, download the latest version of Ghidra from the official Github Releases page.

Step 2: Install Required Dependencies

Install the necessary dependencies:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install unzip default-jdk -y

Step 3: Extract Ghidra

Extract the downloaded zip file:

unzip ghidra_xxx.zip

Step 4: Run Ghidra

Navigate to the Ghidra directory and run the application:

cd ghidra_xxx_PUBLIC
./ghidraRun

First-Time Setup

When you first run Ghidra, you’ll need to:

1. Accept the license agreement
2. Create a new project
3. Import a file for analysis
4. Configure analysis options

Additional Information

• Ghidra Official Website
• Ghidra GitHub Repository
• Ghidra Documentation

Common Issues

1. Java Version Issues
   • Ensure you have the correct Java version installed
   • Check OpenJDK installation guide
2. Memory Issues
   • If Ghidra crashes due to memory issues, you can modify the memory allocation in ghidraRun:

     # Edit the file
     nano ghidraRun
     # Find the line with -Xmx and adjust the memory value
     

3. Display Issues
   • If you encounter display problems, ensure your graphics drivers are up to date
   • Try running with different Java options

Uninstalling Ghidra

To remove Ghidra:

rm -rf ghidra_xxx_PUBLIC
rm ghidra_xxx.zip