# Optional vendor: LIEF

Upstream: https://github.com/lief-project/LIEF
Pinned ref: `0.17.6`
Pinned commit observed: `6f3594f27056b85df51d6ad1c4ca944840ad3612`
License: Apache-2.0

## Fold role

Stable binary metadata parser for ELF, PE, Mach-O, and related executable
formats. LIEF is a candidate replacement for r2 JSON metadata queries for
sections, symbols, imports, exports, entry points, and format details.

LIEF does **not** replace Ghidra/SLEIGH. Ghidra remains Fold's semantic lifting
lane for P-Code and SSA-style binary analysis; LIEF would only feed metadata
facts and artifact structure.

## Initial integration posture

- Do not link into `fold-core` yet.
- Fetch to `third_party/lief/src` with `scripts/vendor/fetch_analysis_libs.sh`.
- First prototype should be a read-only metadata adapter that mirrors the current
  r2-backed fields used by `R2Backend` without changing finding semantics.
- Keep r2 as fallback until LIEF covers all formats and fields needed by Fold's
  binary reports.

## External docs

- C++ API overview: https://lief.re/doc/latest/api/cpp/index.html
- Binary abstraction parser: https://lief.re/doc/stable/api/binary_abstraction/cpp.html
- Format tutorial: https://lief.re/doc/stable/tutorials/01_play_with_formats.html

## Open checks

- Compare current `R2Session` metadata commands against LIEF C++ APIs.
- Validate ELF, Mach-O, and PE smoke fixtures before replacing any r2 metadata
  path.
- Preserve per-finding backend/lane provenance: `binary-r2-metadata` versus
  `binary-lief-metadata` versus `binary-ghidra-pcode`.