Ghidra vs Ollydbg: Which Vulnerability Research tool is Best in 2025?

Ghidra, an open-source software reverse engineering (SRE) framework, developed by the National Security Agency (NSA) Research Directorate, is pre-installed on Kali Linux at /usr/bin/ghidra. Ghidra provides a comprehensive suite of tools for analyzing compiled code across platforms like Windows, macOS, and Linux. Supporting disassembly, decompilation, graphing, and scripting, it’s a powerful tool for malware analysis, vulnerability research, and ethical hacking. With a Java-based GUI and extensible plugin architecture, Ghidra rivals commercial tools like IDA Pro, making it a go-to solution for cybersecurity professionals and forensic analysts.

Ollydbg is a 32-bit assembler-level debugger for Microsoft Windows applications, available on Kali Linux at /usr/bin/ollydbg via Wine, designed for analyzing and debugging binary code without access to source code. Developed by Oleh Yuschuk, Ollydbg excels in dynamic analysis, offering an intuitive graphical interface for tracing registers, setting breakpoints, and inspecting memory. Widely used for malware analysis, software cracking, and vulnerability research, it supports a robust plugin architecture for extended functionality. As a shareware tool requiring free registration for commercial use, Ollydbg is a cornerstone for cybersecurity professionals and ethical hackers.