pefile
Python PE parsing module
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. pefile is a mature, actively maintained, zero-dependency library with a permissive license and no known vulnerabilities. It solves a specific and well-defined problem—PE file parsing—with proven robustness against edge cases and malware-crafted binaries. Install it if you need to analyze or inspect Windows executables programmatically.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Low friction: pure Python wheel with no runtime dependencies.
- Actively maintained with recent commits and a stable release history since 2016.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution in both open-source and commercial contexts.
last release 2024-08-26 (718 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-14 · 2,061 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 8,372,690 downloads/mo, #1,629 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
import pefile
pe = pefile.PE('/path/to/binary.exe')
print(pe.DOS_HEADER)
print(pe.sections)- Whether the package handles all modern PE variants (e.g., ARM64 executables, signed binaries with complex certificates).
- Performance characteristics when parsing very large PE files or processing many files in sequence.
What it is and what it does
pefile is a pure-Python library for reading and analyzing Portable Executable (PE) files, the binary format underlying Windows executables, DLLs, and system libraries. It exposes PE internal structures—headers, sections, import/export tables, resources—as object attributes with both uppercase names for raw structures and lowercase names for processed elements like the import table. The library is designed to handle real-world edge cases including corrupted, malformed, and malware-obfuscated PE files that may violate the standard format.
The package has no runtime dependencies and installs as a pure Python wheel, making it lightweight and portable. It supports Python 3.6 and later, is actively maintained with recent commits, and has been battle-tested against malware and unusual PE variants since its initial release in 2016.
Use it for
- Analyze Windows executables and DLLs to extract metadata, imports, exports, and resource sections for security or compatibility audits.
- Parse PE files in malware analysis workflows to inspect suspicious binaries for obfuscation, packing, or anomalous structures.
- Automate binary inspection in build pipelines to validate executable structure, detect tampering, or extract version information.
- Reverse-engineer or debug Windows binaries by examining their sections, entry points, and import tables programmatically.
- Inspect PE files in forensic or incident-response contexts to understand binary composition and detect signs of compromise.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
pefile is a mature, actively maintained, zero-dependency library with a permissive license and no known vulnerabilities. It solves a specific and well-defined problem—PE file parsing—with proven robustness against edge cases and malware-crafted binaries. Install it if you need to analyze or inspect Windows executables programmatically.
Install
pefile on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction: pure Python wheel with no runtime dependencies. Actively maintained with recent commits and a stable release history since 2016.
License in practice
MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution in both open-source and commercial contexts.
Quickstart
import pefile
pe = pefile.PE('/path/to/binary.exe')
print(pe.DOS_HEADER)
print(pe.sections)Verify before relying
- Whether the package handles all modern PE variants (e.g., ARM64 executables, signed binaries with complex certificates).
- Performance characteristics when parsing very large PE files or processing many files in sequence.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.6.0 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 718 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 8,372,690 / month, #1,629 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchNatural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: pefile-2024.8.26-py3-none-any.whl
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