# manticore

> Symbolic execution tool

**Wikidata**: [Q127485783](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127485783)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/manticore-q127485783

## Summary
Manticore is a symbolic execution tool classified as software, designed to analyze binaries and smart contracts. It functions as a user-friendly framework for security testing and research. The tool is actively maintained on GitHub, with a history of stable releases documented between 2017 and 2019.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Software; specifically a symbolic execution tool.
- **Primary Function:** Acts as a user-friendly framework for analyzing binaries and smart contracts.
- **Source Repository:** Hosted on GitHub at `https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore`.
- **Initial Stable Release (Recorded):** Version 0.1.6 was released on December 22, 2017.
- **Latest Stable Release (Recorded):** Version 0.2.4 was released on January 11, 2019.
- **Associated Organization:** Trail of Bits (based on repository URL and blog link).
- **Academic Source:** Described by the source "Manticore: A User-Friendly Symbolic Execution Framework for Binaries and Smart Contracts."

## FAQs
### Q: What is Manticore used for?
A: Manticore is a symbolic execution tool used to analyze and test software, specifically binaries and smart contracts. It provides a framework for automating security research tasks.

### Q: Where is Manticore's source code hosted?
A: The source code for Manticore is publicly available in a GitHub repository owned by the organization Trail of Bits.

### Q: When was version 0.2.0 of Manticore released?
A: The stable version 0.2.0 of Manticore was released on August 10, 2018.

## Why It Matters
Manticore holds significance in the field of cybersecurity and software reliability as a "user-friendly" interface for symbolic execution, a technique often criticized for its complexity. By supporting the analysis of both traditional binaries and smart contracts, it addresses security needs in two critical areas of modern computing.

The tool bridges the gap between academic symbolic execution theory and practical application, allowing researchers to hunt for bugs and vulnerabilities more efficiently. Its development by Trail of Bits, a recognized security consultancy, and its grounding in peer-reviewed research (as indicated by its cited source title) make it a relevant asset for vulnerability researchers and auditors. The consistent release cycle observed in 2017 and 2018 demonstrates a period of active maintenance and responsiveness to user needs.

## Notable For
- **Dual Utility:** Distinguished by its capability to analyze both standard executable binaries and smart contracts within a single framework.
- **User-Friendly Design:** Explicitly cited in academic descriptions as a "User-Friendly Symbolic Execution Framework," aiming to make complex analysis accessible.
- **Open Source Availability:** Fully accessible via its GitHub repository, allowing for community contribution and transparency.
- **Structured Development:** Features a documented history of stable versioning, indicating a structured software development lifecycle.

## Body
### Overview and Functionality
Manticore is a software tool utilized for symbolic execution. It is defined in academic sources as a "User-Friendly Symbolic Execution Framework for Binaries and Smart Contracts." As a non-tangible executable component, it falls under the broad class of software. It is designed to facilitate complex analysis tasks that would otherwise be difficult to perform manually.

### Development and Release History
The tool has a documented history of stable releases, primarily occurring between late 2017 and early 2019.

**Key Release Timeline:**
- **2017:** The earliest recorded stable release in the provided data is version **0.1.6**, published on December 22, 2017.
- **2018:** This year saw frequent updates, including version **0.1.7** (Feb 23), **0.1.8** (Mar 30), **0.1.9** (May 04), **0.1.10** (Jun 23), **0.2.0** (Aug 10), **0.2.1.1** (Sep 01), **0.2.2** (Oct 31), and **0.2.3** (Dec 12).
- **2019:** The last version listed in the provided records is **0.2.4**, released on January 11, 2019.

### Repository and Resources
The canonical source code repository is hosted on GitHub at `https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore`. Additional information and context regarding the tool's utility "for humans" are available via the Trail of Bits blog.

## References

1. [Release 0.1.6. 2017](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.1.6)
2. [Release 0.1.7. 2018](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.1.7)
3. [Release 0.1.8. 2018](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.1.8)
4. [Release 0.1.9. 2018](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.1.9)
5. [Release 0.1.10. 2018](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.1.10)
6. [Release 0.2.0. 2018](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.2.0)
7. [Release 0.2.1.1. 2018](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.2.1.1)
8. [Release 0.2.2. 2018](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.2.2)
9. [Release 0.2.3. 2018](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.2.3)
10. [Release 0.2.4. 2019](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.2.4)
11. [Release 0.2.5. 2019](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.2.5)
12. [Release 0.3.0. 2019](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.3.0)
13. [Release 0.3.1. 2019](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.3.1)
14. [Release 0.3.2. 2019](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.3.2)
15. [Release 0.3.3. 2020](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.3.3)
16. [Release 0.3.4. 2020](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.3.4)
17. [Release 0.3.5. 2020](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.3.5)
18. [Release 0.3.6. 2021](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.3.6)
19. [Release 0.3.7. 2022](https://github.com/trailofbits/manticore/releases/tag/0.3.7)
20. [Source](https://api.github.com/repos/trailofbits/manticore)