Function ID Debug Plug-in

The Function ID Debug Plug-in allows users to inspect the individual records in a Function ID database. This functionality is generally only useful to users building their own databases. Users can look up individual records based on name or hash, but currently the plug-in is not capable of modifying records. The only exceptions are the “Specialized Mitigation” strategies, which can be modified using the “Debug Search Window”.

Enabling the Plug-in

The Debug Plug-in adds options to the Function ID menu, under the Code Browser's main Tools menu. These options are in addition to those introduced by the Function ID Plug-in, which uses the same menu. In order to access the Debug options, the plug-in must be enabled. To do this, from the Code Browser select

File -> Configure

Then click on Configure link under the Developer section and check the box next to "FidDebugPlugin".

Plug-in Functionality

The Function ID Debug Plug-in introduces the following actions to the Tools -> Function ID menu.

Create Read-only Database

Users can convert the read/write (.fidb) database into the a read-only (.fidbf) form. This is the more efficient final form used directly by the Function ID analyzer. The .fidbf form is uncompressed on disk and the analyzer can use it directly, where the .fidb form must be converted before use.

Debug Search Window

This action brings up a Search dialog for the currently active Function ID databases. The text entry fields correspond to the individual fields in a function record that can be searched. If the variant Debug Search Window (Current Function) is invoked, the same dialog is brought up, but the Full Hash and the Specific Hash fields are pre-populated with hashes corresponding to the function at the current address.

A search is initiated for a specific search field by entering a value and then hitting the RETURN key, with the cursor and focus still in the desired field.

Search Fields

Function ID

This is the internal row ID for function records in the database.

Name

This searches through function names. Searches here will match any record whose name contains the search string.

Domain Path

This searches through domain paths. A domain path is the file path, relative to the project root, of a program containing the function described by a particular record. Searches here will match any record whose domain path contains the search string.

FH

This searches for records matching the full hash. The text field expects a 64-bit value. The hash can be entered as a hexadecimal string by prepending with "0x".

XH

This searches for records matching the specific hash. The text field expects a 64-bit value. The hash can be entered as a hexadecimal string by prepending with "0x".

Result Window

Invoking a search will bring up the Result Window, presenting a row for each matching function record. Columns list properties of the function and correspond to the search fields described above. In addition to these, each record/row lists a few other columns:

Library

This is the library containing the function

Code Unit Size

This is the number of (scoring) instructions in the function's body. See “Scoring and Disambiguation”.

Spec. + Size

This is the number of distinct constant operands fed into the specific hash.

Warn

This lists any special properties that have been toggled for the particular record. The column is presented as a string of single character codes, corresponding to each possible property. Properties include the mitigation strategies described in “Specialized Mitigation”.

  • F - Auto Pass: The record automatically fails.
  • P - Auto Fail: The record automatically passes.
  • S - Force Specific: Specific hash must match for record to be considered.
  • R - Force Relation: A parent or child must match for record to be considered.
  • U - The function body was unterminated (analysis error).

Edit Menu

The Result Window supports a small number of actions under the Edit menu that allow the user to change the mitigation strategies for a read/write database. Strategies are described in “Specialized Mitigation”. When a menu action is invoked, all records displayed in the current Result Window are affected. Currently there is no way to select a subset of records to effect. The actions all set or clear a specific strategy.

Set/Clear auto-fail

Toggle the Auto Fail strategy.

Set/Clear auto-pass

Toggle the Auto Pass strategy.

Set/Clear force-specific

Toggle the Force Specific strategy.

Set/Clear force-relation

Toggle the Force Relation strategy.

Save changes

Changes made using the Edit menu are not immediately saved back to the underlying database until this action is invoked.

Table Viewer

This invokes an extremely low-level view into the underlying tables that back a Function ID database. It can be invoked on any attached database. A window is brought up that lists individual records in one table. A drop-down menu allows the user to switch between the different underlying tables. Most of the columns contain row keys and don't present readable values. The only meaningful table is likely to be the Libraries Table which will list each library making up the database.