AnalysisPublished 18 Jun 2026

Scripting the disassembler: Local agentic reverse engineering through vbdec’s live COM object model

Source Cisco Talos

local

Description

Cisco Talos detailed a new approach to reverse engineering that pairs local AI agents with traditional analysis tools like the VB6 disassembler vbdec. Instead of awkwardly bolting AI onto the software, vbdec exposes its parsed data through a live COM interface.

Impact

The impact is limited to local environments where an attacker or user has access to the machine running vbdec with remote scripting enabled. The exposure of the live COM object model could allow unauthorized local processes to query and manipulate the disassembler's internal data, potentially leaking sensitive reverse engineering information or enabling automation of analysis without user consent. There is no indication of remote exploitation or widespread active exploitation in the wild. The threat is primarily a local security consideration related to the exposure of internal application data through COM interfaces.

Defensive guidance

In the meantime, users should consider disabling remote scripting in vbdec if not required (Help → Options → Disable Remote Scripting) to prevent exposure of the live COM object model. Restrict local access to trusted users and processes to reduce risk. Monitor vendor advisories for any official fixes or guidance regarding secure configuration of vbdec's COM interface. Since this is a local exposure, standard endpoint security controls limiting unauthorized local code execution will help mitigate risk.

Summary

The threat involves the exposure of the internal parsed data of the VB6 disassembler vbdec through a live COM interface registered in the Windows Running Object Table (ROT). This interface allows any local process to access and script the disassembler's internal object model, including forms, classes, modules, and P-code bodies. Cisco Talos demonstrates how local AI agents can leverage this interface to automate complex reverse engineering tasks such as source reconstruction, call graph generation, and opcode database creation. The approach does not require modifying vbdec or uploading binaries externally, preserving local data confidentiality. While this technique is presented as a capability for analysts, it also represents a potential local attack surface if an adversary gains local access and can script the COM objects to extract sensitive information or automate analysis.

References

blog.talosintelligence.com/scripting-the-disassembler/ (opens in a new tab)

Community reviews

Loading reviews…

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 18 Jun 2026, 10:05 UTC

References

Community reviews

Related threats