pwndbg
pwndbg is a GDB plug-in that adds a clearer context display and helpers for exploit development and reverse engineering.
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
- Make GDB easier to read when solving pwn challenges
- Inspect stack, heap and registers at each step
Key features
- Context view of registers/stack/code
- Heap inspection commands
- Helpers for exploit development
Installation
Follow the pwndbg installation instructions at pwndbg.re.
Beginner usage guide
Install it, then debug a practice binary and watch the context panel update on each step.
Example commands
Run these only against your own lab or authorised targets. Placeholder addresses such as 192.0.2.x are documentation ranges.
Use inside GDB
pwndbg> contextRedisplays the registers, stack and disassembly panels.
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.