Portable Executable

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|formattype=electronic
 
|formattype=electronic
 
|subcat=Executables
 
|subcat=Executables
|extensions={{ext|exe}}, {{ext|dll}}, {{ext|cpl}}, {{ext|efi}}, {{ext|ocx}}, {{ext|scr}}, {{ext|sys}}, others
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|extensions={{ext|exe}}, {{ext|dll}}, {{ext|cpl}}, {{ext|efi}}, {{ext|ocx}}, {{ext|scr}}, {{ext|sys}}, {{ext|lib}}, others
 
|pronom={{PRONOM|x-fmt/411}}, {{PRONOM|fmt/899}}, {{PRONOM|fmt/900}}
 
|pronom={{PRONOM|x-fmt/411}}, {{PRONOM|fmt/899}}, {{PRONOM|fmt/900}}
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|kaitai struct=microsoft_pe
 
}}
 
}}
 
'''Portable Executable''' ('''PE''', '''PE/COFF''', '''PE32''', '''PE32+''') is a member of the [[EXE]] family of executable file formats. It is used by the Microsoft Windows family of operating systems (starting with Windows 95 and [[wikipedia:Win32s|Win32s]]), EFI and sometimes in other environments. It is an extension/hybrid of [[MS-DOS EXE]], and a successor to [[NE]]. Parts of it are derived from [[COFF]].  
 
'''Portable Executable''' ('''PE''', '''PE/COFF''', '''PE32''', '''PE32+''') is a member of the [[EXE]] family of executable file formats. It is used by the Microsoft Windows family of operating systems (starting with Windows 95 and [[wikipedia:Win32s|Win32s]]), EFI and sometimes in other environments. It is an extension/hybrid of [[MS-DOS EXE]], and a successor to [[NE]]. Parts of it are derived from [[COFF]].  
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* [https://github.com/katjahahn/PortEx/tree/master/progs PortEx Analyzer]
 
* [https://github.com/katjahahn/PortEx/tree/master/progs PortEx Analyzer]
 
* [http://bytepointer.com/tools/index.htm#pelook pelook]
 
* [http://bytepointer.com/tools/index.htm#pelook pelook]
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* [https://implib.sourceforge.io/ ImpLib SDK]
  
 
== Other links ==
 
== Other links ==
 
* [[Wikipedia:Portable Executable|Wikipedia article]]
 
* [[Wikipedia:Portable Executable|Wikipedia article]]
* [http://www.forensicswiki.org/wiki/Portable_Executable_Format Forensics Wiki: Portable Executable Format]
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* [{{ForensicsWikiURL|portable_executable_format}} Forensics Wiki: Portable Executable Format]
 
* [http://blog.didierstevens.com/2015/01/22/converting-peid-signatures-to-yara-rules/ Converting PEiD Signatures To YARA Rules]
 
* [http://blog.didierstevens.com/2015/01/22/converting-peid-signatures-to-yara-rules/ Converting PEiD Signatures To YARA Rules]
  
 
[[Category:Microsoft]]
 
[[Category:Microsoft]]
 
[[Category:Windows]]
 
[[Category:Windows]]

Latest revision as of 14:54, 3 September 2023

File Format
Name Portable Executable
Ontology
Extension(s) .exe, .dll, .cpl, .efi, .ocx, .scr, .sys, .lib, others
PRONOM x-fmt/411, fmt/899, fmt/900
Kaitai Struct Spec microsoft_pe.ksy

Portable Executable (PE, PE/COFF, PE32, PE32+) is a member of the EXE family of executable file formats. It is used by the Microsoft Windows family of operating systems (starting with Windows 95 and Win32s), EFI and sometimes in other environments. It is an extension/hybrid of MS-DOS EXE, and a successor to NE. Parts of it are derived from COFF.

Despite the name, not all PE files are executable. Some contain only icons, fonts, etc.

Contents

[edit] Formats

  • PE32 format is used by 32-bit Windows.
  • PE32+ format is used by 64-bit Windows.

[edit] Identification

A PE file begins with the ASCII signature "MZ". At offset 60 is a 4-byte integer pointing to an "extended" header that begins with 'P' 'E' 0x00 0x00. For more information, see MS-DOS EXE.

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[edit] Specifications and technical information

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