# PE File Format Internals

> Master the Windows Portable Executable (PE) file format. Learn to parse headers, sections, imports, and exports for malware analysis and reverse engineering.

Canonical: https://codelivly.com/rooms/pe-file-format-internals
Last updated: 2026-09-18

| | |
|---|---|
| Level | Intermediate |
| Category | Malware Analysis |
| Lessons | 4 |
| Estimated time | 30 min |
| XP | 100 |

This intermediate module dives deep into the Windows Portable Executable (PE) file format, the standard structure for executables, DLLs, and drivers. You will learn to parse the DOS header, PE signature, COFF header, Optional header, and Section headers. You will also analyze the Import Address Table (IAT) and Export Directory to understand how malware resolves APIs, loads dependencies, and hides its capabilities. By mastering PE internals, you will be able to manually inspect, patch, and reconstruct malicious binaries using tools like PE-bear and CFF Explorer.

## Lessons

1. What Is the PE Format and Why Does It Matter (30 min)
2. PE Headers, Sections and Imports (30 min)
3. Analyzing PE Structure with PE-bear/CFF Explorer (30 min)
4. Guided Lab: Mapping a Malicious PE's Import Table (30 min)

## Related

- [Learning path: Reverse Engineering Fundamentals](https://codelivly.com/learning-paths/reverse-engineering-fundamentals)
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