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readelf – For Displaying Information About ELF Format Files

The readelf command is used to display information about ELF (Executable and Linkable Format) format files. It can be used to extract information about the headers, sections, and segments of an ELF file. This command is very useful for debugging and analyzing ELF format files.

Overview

The basic syntax of the readelf command is:

readelf [options] file...

Where file is the name of the ELF format file that you want to analyze.

Here are some examples of how to use the readelf command:

readelf -h /bin/ls

This command will display the ELF header information of the /bin/ls file.

readelf -S /bin/ls

This command will display the section header information of the /bin/ls file.

readelf -l /bin/ls

This command will display the program header information of the /bin/ls file.

readelf -s /bin/ls

This command will display the symbol table information of the /bin/ls file.

Options

Here is a list of the available options for the readelf command:

Option Description
-a Equivalent to -h -l -S -s -r -d -V -A -I
-h Display the ELF file header
-l Display the program header table
-S Display the sections’ header table
-s Display the symbol table
-r Display the relocation entries
-d Display the dynamic section
-V Display version information
-A Display the notes found in the file
-I Display the dynamic section tags’ values

Troubleshooting Tips

Here are some tips for troubleshooting common issues with the readelf command:

  • If you receive an error message that states “readelf: command not found”, this means that the readelf command is not installed on your system. You can install it using your distribution’s package manager.
  • If you receive an error message that states “readelf: file not found”, this means that the file you are trying to analyze does not exist or you do not have permission to access it.

Notes

  • The readelf command is only used for analyzing ELF format files. It cannot be used for analyzing other types of binary files.
  • The information displayed by the readelf command can be overwhelming. It is important to understand the structure of an ELF file before attempting to analyze it using this command.
  • The readelf command is a powerful tool that can be used for debugging and analyzing ELF format files. However, it should be used with caution as it can also be used for malicious purposes.

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