Binary Composition Analysis (BCA)

What is Binary Composition Analysis?

Binary Composition Analysis (BCA) is the process of examining compiled software to identify its internal components, dependencies, and security risks—without requiring access to the source code. This technique is critical for understanding what’s inside third-party, proprietary, and open-source binaries, ensuring that organizations can assess software risk, compliance, and provenance even when the source code is unavailable.

BCA provides security teams with deep visibility into firmware, executables, libraries, and embedded system code, helping them uncover hidden vulnerabilities, undocumented dependencies, and potential supply chain threats.

Why is Binary Composition Analysis Important?

Modern applications and devices are built using precompiled components from multiple sources, making it difficult to determine what’s actually inside a piece of software. Without BCA, organizations face:

• Unverified software trustworthiness – Proprietary and third-party software components cannot be properly assessed without analyzing their composition.

• Undetected vulnerabilities and dependencies – Security flaws and outdated libraries may be hidden deep inside compiled code.

• Increased supply chain risks – Attackers embed malicious code, backdoors, and unverified dependencies into third-party software.

• Compliance and regulatory challenges – Standards like NIST 800-53, Executive Order 14028, and the Cyber Resilience Act emphasize the need for greater visibility into software components.

How Binary Composition Analysis Works

BCA employs several techniques to decompose and analyze binaries, including:

• Binary Decomposition – Breaking down compiled software into its individual components to identify third-party libraries, open-source dependencies, and proprietary code.

• Static Analysis – Scanning binary code without execution to detect hardcoded credentials, unsafe function calls, and security flaws.

• Dependency Mapping – Identifying linked libraries, API calls, and embedded components to understand how software components interact.

• Reverse Engineering – Using disassembly and decompilation techniques to reconstruct software logic and detect unauthorized modifications.

By leveraging Binary Composition Analysis, organizations gain a complete picture of their software stack, enabling them to identify risks, ensure compliance, and secure their software supply chain against emerging threats.