capa
capa detects capabilities in executable files, such as "encrypts data" or "creates a service", and maps them to MITRE ATT&CK techniques.
Legal & ethical use. Use this tool only on systems, networks and data that you own or have explicit written permission to test. Unauthorised access or scanning can break computer-misuse laws (for example Pakistan's Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, and equivalents elsewhere). Practise in your own lab or in authorised environments such as CTFs.
What it is used for
- Get a quick behavioural summary of an unknown binary in a lab
- Map findings to ATT&CK for reporting
Key features
- Rule-based capability detection
- ATT&CK and MBC mapping
- Works on PE, ELF and shellcode
Installation
Download a release binary or install via pip.
Beginner usage guide
Run it on a sample, read the matched rules and use them to decide where to look in a disassembler.
Example commands
Run these only against your own lab or authorised targets. Placeholder addresses such as 192.0.2.x are documentation ranges.
Analyse a sample
capa sample.exeLists detected capabilities with ATT&CK mappings.
References
Source verification
Last reviewed: 2026-10-27
Links checked over HTTP: 2026-10-27 07:51 UTC — official: 200, docs: 200, repo: 200
Commands were written from the official documentation and have not been executed on this site; test them in your lab.