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REA: Reverse Engineer Anything

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Overview

An MCP server and CLI by morluto that lets your coding agent study binaries, desktop and Android apps, websites and firmware on your own computer, and back each finding with evidence.

REA: Reverse Engineer Anything is an MCP server for AI apps in the Developer category, listed by Mindket. It is free. This is version 1, last updated on . Add it to Claude Code with the line on this page, or put its JSON in Claude Desktop, Cursor or another app. Nothing runs until you add it.

At a glance

Runs in
  • Agents its setup configures: Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Grok Build and about twenty more
  • Any other MCP client: register it by hand as a local MCP server
  • A terminal: the rea command runs the same workflows
Start with
npx rea-agents setup

Platform

Claude CodeCoding agent
CodexCoding agent
CursorCode editor
Gemini CLICoding agent
AndroidOperating system

About

What it is

REA is morluto’s MCP server and command-line tool for reverse engineering. Your coding agent calls it to inspect an app without its source code, trace how a feature works and show the evidence. Every finding comes back with the limits of what REA could see. Analysis runs on your computer.

  1. Your agent asks about a target on your computer
  2. REA inspects it and traces the code with its tools
  3. It returns code, references and what stays unknown
  4. The agent explains it, then builds and tests

Who it suits

People who have a program but not its source, and need to know how it works with proof they can check. Most of them work in security or build software. The README also names preservation work and CTF practice among its lawful uses.

Who uses it, and how
IndustryWho uses itHow they use itExample
SecuritySecurity researchers, malware and incident analystsOpen a suspicious binary or app, follow what it does and keep the evidence for a reportAn incident analyst has the agent find where a sample builds the addresses it contacts, then exports the evidence bundle for the case file.
Software developmentDevelopers who saw a feature in another appTrace how the feature works, then have the agent build their own version and test itThe README’s Notion case follows the clipboard API from the renderer through preload and IPC into the main process.
Games and preservationPeople who keep old software runningRebuild a routine from an old binary in a modern language and test it against the originalThe README’s DX-Ball case rebuilds the game’s sound-pan routine in C, and the rebuild passes 3,205 original-x86 cases.
Education and CTFStudents, teachers and CTF playersRead compiled code as pseudo code, with the agent showing its proof for each claimA CTF player opens a challenge binary and asks the agent to find the function that checks the flag.
Mobile and devicesAndroid and firmware engineers working on interoperabilityInspect an APK, a phone over adb or a firmware image their own product has to work withAn engineer studies how a vendor’s Android app talks to its device, so their own app can pair with it too.

If you only work on your own source code, you do not need it.

Where to use it

Any agent that runs local MCP servers can call it.

  • Agents its setup configures: Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Grok Build and about twenty more
  • Any other MCP client: register it by hand as a local MCP server
  • A terminal: the rea command runs the same workflows

You can point it at any of these:

  • Native binaries, read through Hopper, Ghidra, IDA or Kuna
  • JavaScript and Electron apps
  • .NET assemblies and websites
  • Android APKs, and Android phones over adb
  • Firmware images and HAR captures
  • SQLite files

How to set it up

One npx line sets it up for the agents you pick.

What you need first
NeedDetail
Node.js and npmNode.js 22 (22.23.4 or later), 24 (24.22.1 or later) or 26.12.1 and up
A trusted folderOne outside the project you will study, to run setup from
A decompiler, for native binariesHopper, Ghidra, IDA or Kuna. Setup can install Hopper once you approve it.
  1. Open a terminal in that trusted folder, then run the setup line below.
  2. Choose your agents, review the proposed changes and approve them. Setup backs up the configuration it changes.
  3. Restart your agent.
  4. For native binaries, point REA at your decompiler.
npx rea-agents setup

For the rea command on its own, install it globally:

npm install --global rea-agents
rea --help

REA changes quickly, so update often. A global install updates with rea update, and an npx setup with the latest tag:

npx rea-agents@latest setup

How to use it

Ask your agent in plain words and give the path or address of the target. It picks the tools and keeps the target open across turns. REA has more than 200 tools. This page lists the main ones, at least one for each kind of target.

The main tools
ToolWhat it does
open_binaryOpens a native binary and keeps it open for the next question
procedure_pseudo_codeShows one function as pseudo code you can read
search_stringsFinds the text stored in a target, such as messages and paths
trace_featureFollows a feature through the code that makes it work
analyze_javascript_applicationMaps a JavaScript or Electron app’s modules, imports and Electron boundaries
inspect_desktop_applicationLooks inside an installed desktop app
inspect_managed_artifactReads managed code, such as a .NET assembly
inspect_android_packageReads an Android APK
inspect_web_pageReads a website’s page
inspect_firmware_regionsLooks at the regions of a firmware image
capture_process_scenarioRuns the target and captures what it does, with your user permissions
export_evidence_bundlePacks the findings and their evidence into one bundle

The terminal runs the same workflows:

npx -y rea-agents@latest analyze-javascript-application /absolute/path/to/app --json

Replace the path with your target, such as "D:/apps/example" on Windows. The result lists modules, imports and Electron boundaries with their evidence.

Example

The README’s own prompt. Swap Notes for your target app and the feature you want.

Understand how search works in the Notes app, show me the evidence, and build a
similar feature for my project.

The agent opens the app with REA and follows search through its code. Its answer walks the code paths with evidence for each step, then says what REA could not confirm. Then it builds the feature for your project and tests it.

For newcomers and experts

If you are new. Reverse engineering means working out how a program works when you have the program but not its source. REA gives your coding agent the tools for that and asks it to show proof for each finding. Start with an app you built yourself and ask the agent to explain one feature.

For experts. It puts engines such as Ghidra, IDA, Hopper and JADX behind MCP tools and keeps a target open across turns, so the agent can follow references. Findings carry evidence and stated gaps, which makes a wrong claim easier to catch. Depth depends on the engines you have installed. Objdump and Rizin work too, for offline native inspection, when you supply them.

Four settings in the registration tune it:

Settings worth knowing
SettingWhen to use it
REA_MCP_INPUT_SCHEMA_PROFILE=fullTool schemas are compact by default to save context. This gives the full field guidance.
REA_MCP_OUTPUT_SCHEMA_PROFILE=compact or offYour client caps the tool list, so the output schemas need trimming
REA_GHIDRA_STARTUP_TIMEOUT_MSA large binary needs a longer start in Ghidra
REA_HOPPER_STARTUP_TIMEOUT_MSA large binary needs a longer start in Hopper

Good to know

  • Lawful use only: research, education, interoperability, preservation, and software you own or may examine
  • Ruled out: its disclaimer excludes DRM and license-check bypass, game cheats and getting past access controls you may not test
  • Other tools: REA licenses none of them. Get IDA Pro, Hopper or JEB legally, never cracked.
  • Runtime capture: it runs the target with your user permissions
  • Your data: analysis stays local, but your agent’s model provider sees the tool results
  • Where to install it from: morluto’s repository, rea.tools or the npm package rea-agents, nowhere else
  • License: REA’s own code is MIT licensed

Add it to your AI app

Runs on your computer: your app starts it.

Run this once in a terminal:

claude mcp add rea -- npx -y rea-agents@latest mcp

In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Developer → Edit Config, and add this to claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rea": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "rea-agents@latest",
        "mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Add this to .cursor/mcp.json in your project, or to ~/.cursor/mcp.json for every project:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rea": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "rea-agents@latest",
        "mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Add this to .vscode/mcp.json in your project; Copilot in agent mode then has its tools:

{
  "servers": {
    "rea": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "rea-agents@latest",
        "mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Add this to ~/.codex/config.toml; the Codex CLI and its IDE extension both read it:

[mcp_servers.rea]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "rea-agents@latest", "mcp"]

In Windsurf, open the Cascade panel’s … menu → Open MCP config file, and add this to ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rea": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "rea-agents@latest",
        "mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Toolsopen_binaryprocedure_pseudo_codesearch_stringstrace_featureanalyze_javascript_applicationinspect_desktop_applicationinspect_managed_artifactinspect_android_packageinspect_web_pageinspect_firmware_regionscapture_process_scenarioexport_evidence_bundle

What’s new

  • Version 1 · 2026-11-03

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Numbers as Mindket last read them, from 2026-11-08 to 2026-11-13. Activity is read from each project’s last change on GitHub: Active within 30 days, Quiet within 180, Stale after that.

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What people say

Posts and comments that name this project on Hacker News, Bluesky, X, Reddit, Facebook and YouTube, found by a weekly search and on Trendshift. Mindket doesn’t write or check them. Open one to read it where it was posted.

vivzkestrelAsk HN: What's your current AI agentic setup?here is my production grade setup for agentic ai on windows 11 - setup windows 11 with Rufus boot to disable online MS account creation https://rufus.ie/en/ - [download window 11 x64 iso from here ](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11) - then download vmware workstation pro…🚀 olud.aimorluto/rea gained 6,982 stars in 24h—agents that reverse engineer anything from app behavior to binaries. This is the top open-source gainer. See what’s behind the surge. https://olud.ai/project/morluto-rea.html #OpenSource #AI #GitHub24 likes · 3 repliesvivzkestrelMicrosoft fixes a Windows 11 annoyance as PC revenue declines- slghtly offtopic but also covers how to run windows 11 super duper optimally - here is my production grade setup for agentic ai on windows 11 - setup windows 11 with Rufus boot to disable online MS account creation https://rufus.ie/en/ - [download window 11 x64 iso from here…iterativeguyrea: Reverse Engineer Apps and Binaries with AI Agents https://osrepos.com/repo/morluto-rea?utm_source=bluesky REA is a TypeScript MCP server and CLI that helps AI agents investigate application behavior, native binaries, and runtime activity. #opensource5 likestoomuchtodoCan light be used to cyberattack?Threat modeling exercise for educational and discussion purposes only. You would need to understand the exploit chain needed within an ALPR to determine where a potential weakness would be possible, from camera CCD to the onboard code engine that processes the imagery and ships back to the control…GitHub Trending JS/TS💎 Hidden Gem! 💎 (1000+ new stars) 📦 morluto / rea ⭐ 439,469 (+3,308) 🗒 TypeScript Reverse engineer anything with agents, from app behavior down to native binaries.2 likes · 1 replytchanukvadzePlay Cyberpunk 2077 in the BrowserI am not the author but I assume it’s https://github.com/morluto/rea Author https://x.com/omonkeyzz/status/2113802909385179318🚀 olud.ai⬆️ Another riser: morluto/rea +4,553 stars (total 412.2k). Agents that reverse engineer anything, from app behavior to native binaries. 412k stars is a huge bet - see how it works: https://olud.ai/project/morluto-rea.html #OpenSource #AI #GitHub2 likes · 1 replypheglerEverythingThings went out of hand incredibly quickly after we got REA... https://github.com/morluto/rea🚀 olud.ai🔥 Today's top mover in open-source AI: ⭐ morluto/rea +7,168 stars in 24h (total 437.9k) « Reverse engineer anything with agents, from app behavior down to native binaries. » https://olud.ai/project/morluto-rea.html #OpenSource #AI #GitHub2 likestoomuchtodoNew Withings Users Must Pay $99/Year for Apple Health SyncingReverse engineer anything with agents, from app behavior down to native binaries - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50058850 - October 2026 https://github.com/morluto/rea https://rea.toolsChiefGyk3DJust starred rea. It uses agents to reverse engineer everything from app behavior down to native binaries. It's an interesting way to automate the analysis of complex systems. https://github.com/morluto/rea2 likes

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