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Learning Path

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xwings edited this page Jul 6, 2025 · 3 revisions

Learning Path

A structured progression from beginner to expert in Qiling Framework. Follow this path to master binary emulation and analysis.

🗺️ Learning Journey Overview

🟢 Beginner (1-2 weeks)
   ↓
🟡 Intermediate (2-4 weeks)  
   ↓
🔴 Advanced (4-8 weeks)
   ↓
🚀 Expert (8+ weeks)

Total Time Investment: 3-6 months for complete mastery

🟢 Beginner Level (1-2 weeks)

Prerequisites

  • Basic Python programming
  • Understanding of binary executables
  • Familiarity with command line

Week 1: Foundation

Goals: Understand what Qiling is and run your first emulation

Day 1-2: Getting Started

  • Complete Installation
  • Read Quick Start Guide
  • Run first "Hello World" emulation
  • Understand basic concepts: binary emulation, rootfs, architectures

Day 3-4: Basic Operations

  • Learn core Qiling API: Qiling(), run(), mem.read(), mem.write()
  • Understand different verbosity levels
  • Practice with different binary formats (ELF, PE, Mach-O)
  • Complete Basic Usage guide

Day 5-7: Cross-Platform Basics

  • Emulate Linux binaries
  • Emulate Windows binaries
  • Understand rootfs structure
  • Practice with different architectures (x86, x64, ARM)

📚 Resources:

✅ Milestone Project: Create a script that emulates "Hello World" binaries across 3 different architectures

Week 2: Core Concepts

Goals: Master basic hooking and memory operations

Day 8-10: Memory Management

  • Learn memory mapping: mem.map(), mem.unmap()
  • Practice reading/writing memory
  • Understand memory permissions
  • Learn about heap operations

Day 11-12: Basic Hooking

  • Understand hook types: code, memory, address
  • Practice hook_code() and hook_address()
  • Learn callback function signatures
  • Implement simple logging hooks

Day 13-14: API Hooking

  • Learn set_api() for function hooking
  • Practice hooking system calls
  • Understand function parameters and return values
  • Complete basic malware analysis tutorial

📚 Resources:

✅ Milestone Project: Build a basic API monitor that logs all system calls made by a binary

🟡 Intermediate Level (2-4 weeks)

Prerequisites

  • Comfortable with basic Qiling operations
  • Understanding of operating system concepts
  • Basic reverse engineering knowledge

Week 3: Platform-Specific Emulation

Goals: Master platform-specific features and advanced hooking

Day 15-17: Windows Emulation

  • Learn Windows API emulation
  • Understand DLL loading and PE format
  • Practice with Windows-specific hooks
  • Learn registry emulation

Day 18-19: Linux Emulation

  • Master Linux system calls
  • Understand ELF format details
  • Practice with Linux-specific features
  • Learn process emulation

Day 20-21: Advanced Hooking

  • Learn memory access hooks
  • Understand interrupt hooking
  • Practice with block hooks
  • Master hook management

📚 Resources:

✅ Milestone Project: Create a Windows malware sandbox that monitors file operations, registry access, and network connections

Week 4: Analysis Techniques

Goals: Learn systematic binary analysis approaches

Day 22-24: Reverse Engineering

  • Learn systematic reverse engineering with Qiling
  • Practice with crackme challenges
  • Understand anti-analysis techniques
  • Learn dynamic analysis workflows

Day 25-26: Malware Analysis

  • Learn malware analysis techniques
  • Practice with real malware samples (safely)
  • Understand behavior analysis
  • Learn reporting and documentation

Day 27-28: Debugging Integration

  • Learn GDB integration
  • Practice with QDB debugger
  • Understand debugging workflows
  • Master breakpoint techniques

📚 Resources:

✅ Milestone Project: Solve a complex crackme challenge using Qiling's analysis capabilities

Week 5: Specialized Emulation

Goals: Master firmware and specialized platform emulation

Day 29-31: Firmware Analysis

  • Learn MCU emulation
  • Understand firmware formats
  • Practice with IoT firmware
  • Learn UEFI emulation

Day 32-33: Shellcode Analysis

  • Learn shellcode emulation
  • Practice with different shellcode types
  • Understand payload analysis
  • Learn anti-shellcode techniques

Day 34-35: Advanced Memory Techniques

  • Learn memory forensics
  • Practice with heap analysis
  • Understand memory corruption detection
  • Learn memory snapshot techniques

📚 Resources:

✅ Milestone Project: Analyze a router firmware and identify potential vulnerabilities

🔴 Advanced Level (4-8 weeks)

Prerequisites

  • Solid understanding of Qiling internals
  • Advanced reverse engineering skills
  • Knowledge of vulnerability research

Week 6-7: Performance and Optimization

Goals: Master performance optimization and large-scale analysis

Day 36-38: Performance Tuning

  • Learn performance profiling
  • Understand bottlenecks and optimization
  • Practice with large binaries
  • Learn scaling techniques

Day 39-42: Advanced Analysis

  • Learn code coverage techniques
  • Practice with fuzzing integration
  • Understand vulnerability research
  • Learn exploit development

Day 43-49: Automation and Integration

  • Learn CI/CD integration
  • Practice with automated analysis
  • Understand enterprise deployment
  • Learn monitoring and metrics

📚 Resources:

✅ Milestone Project: Build an automated malware analysis pipeline that processes samples at scale

Week 8-9: Extension Development

Goals: Learn to extend Qiling with custom functionality

Day 50-52: Custom Extensions

  • Understand Qiling architecture
  • Learn extension development
  • Practice with custom OS implementations
  • Learn plugin development

Day 53-56: Advanced Techniques

  • Learn kernel emulation
  • Practice with hypervisor analysis
  • Understand distributed emulation
  • Learn cloud integration

Day 57-63: Research and Development

  • Learn cutting-edge techniques
  • Practice with research papers
  • Understand academic applications
  • Learn contribution workflows

📚 Resources:

✅ Milestone Project: Develop a custom Qiling extension that adds new platform support or analysis capability

🚀 Expert Level (8+ weeks)

Prerequisites

  • Deep understanding of Qiling internals
  • Ability to contribute to open source
  • Advanced research capabilities

Specialization Tracks

🔬 Security Research Track

Focus: Vulnerability research and exploit development

Curriculum:

  • Zero-day discovery techniques
  • Exploit development workflows
  • Anti-analysis evasion
  • Advanced fuzzing strategies
  • Threat intelligence integration

Project: Discover and responsibly disclose a vulnerability using Qiling

🏭 Enterprise Track

Focus: Enterprise deployment and scaling

Curriculum:

  • Enterprise architecture design
  • Scalable analysis infrastructure
  • Integration with security tools
  • Compliance and governance
  • Team training and adoption

Project: Design and implement enterprise-grade analysis platform

🎓 Academic Track

Focus: Research and academic applications

Curriculum:

  • Academic paper writing
  • Research methodology
  • Novel technique development
  • Publication process
  • Conference presentations

Project: Publish research paper using Qiling

💻 Core Development Track

Focus: Contributing to Qiling framework

Curriculum:

  • Qiling internals deep dive
  • Core development practices
  • Code review and testing
  • Community engagement
  • Feature development

Project: Contribute significant feature to Qiling framework

📊 Progress Tracking

Beginner Checklist

  • Complete 5 basic emulation exercises
  • Understand all core API functions
  • Successfully analyze 3 different binary formats
  • Complete API monitoring project
  • Pass beginner quiz (if available)

Intermediate Checklist

  • Master platform-specific emulation
  • Complete malware analysis project
  • Solve crackme challenges
  • Analyze firmware samples
  • Contribute to community discussions

Advanced Checklist

  • Optimize performance for large-scale analysis
  • Develop automation workflows
  • Create custom extensions
  • Mentor other learners
  • Contribute bug fixes or features

Expert Checklist

  • Specialize in chosen track
  • Lead significant projects
  • Publish research or tools
  • Mentor advanced learners
  • Shape framework development

🎯 Learning Resources by Level

🟢 Beginner Resources

🟡 Intermediate Resources

🔴 Advanced Resources

🚀 Expert Resources

📚 Recommended Reading

Books

  • "Practical Malware Analysis" by Sikorski & Honig
  • "The IDA Pro Book" by Eagle
  • "Gray Hat Hacking" by Harris et al.
  • "Reversing: Secrets of Reverse Engineering" by Eilam

Papers

  • "Qiling: A Framework for Transparent Cross-Platform Binary Emulation"
  • "Dynamic Binary Analysis and Instrumentation"
  • "Scalable Malware Analysis with Emulation"

Online Resources

  • Qiling Framework Official Documentation
  • Reverse Engineering Community Forums
  • Malware Analysis Blogs and Tutorials
  • Security Research Publications

🤝 Community Engagement

Ways to Engage

  • Telegram Chat: Daily discussions and quick help
  • GitHub Issues: Bug reports and feature requests
  • GitHub Discussions: In-depth technical discussions
  • Conferences: Present your work and learn from others

Mentorship Program

  • Beginner → Intermediate: Structured guidance for first month
  • Intermediate → Advanced: Project-based mentoring
  • Advanced → Expert: Research collaboration opportunities

Contributing Back

  • Documentation: Improve tutorials and guides
  • Code: Bug fixes and feature development
  • Community: Help other learners
  • Research: Share novel techniques and findings

🏆 Recognition and Certification

Achievement Levels

  • Certified Qiling User: Complete beginner level
  • Certified Qiling Analyst: Complete intermediate level
  • Certified Qiling Expert: Complete advanced level
  • Qiling Master: Make significant contributions

Community Recognition

  • Contributor Hall of Fame: Recognized contributors
  • Research Spotlight: Published research using Qiling
  • Teaching Excellence: Outstanding mentors and educators
  • Innovation Award: Novel techniques and tools

Ready to start your journey? Begin with our Quick Start Guide and join the Community to connect with other learners!

Questions about the learning path? Join our Telegram chat or check the FAQ for common questions.

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