Docker containers

Docker is a software that use OS-level virtualization to deliver software in packages called images and containers when running them. Containers bundle their own software and are isolated from the host system, this prevents conflicts with other installed software.

There are several implamentations to run Docker images but radare2 images only have been tested with docker, podman and nerdctl.

Available images

There are 2 mantained docker images, one for the official releases and one targeted to be build locally from GIT. Both can be used similarly.

Stable version

This docker image can be found in Docker Hub and contain the latest radare2 stable version. This image is based on Ubuntu and the same radare2 snap build. The Dockerfile used to build it can be found in this dedicated repository.

The resulting build includes the following projects:

To use this docker image you can use either:

docker run -ti radare/radare2
podman run -ti docker.io/radare/radare2
nerdctl run -ti radare/radare2

To use the docker image as one shot so it removes everything inside the container on exit just add --rm as follows:

docker run --rm -ti radare/radare2

Another example to use for debugging inside the docker:

docker run --tty --interactive --privileged --cap-add=SYS_PTRACE --security-opt seccomp=unconfined --security-opt apparmor=unconfined radare/radare2

GIT version

Alternatively there is a version from radare2 GIT aimed to be build locally, also called r2docker. This will build an image using Debian with radare2 from GIT with latest changes. The Dockerfile to build can be found inside the dist/docker directory in the radare2 source tree.

To build this other image run the following lines:

git clone https://github.com/radareorg/radare2.git
cd radare2
make -C dist/docker

This will build an image with the following plugins by default:

It is possible to specify more packages using the R2PM make variable:

make -C dist/docker R2PM=radius2

Also, you can select the architecture (amd64 / arm64) to compile the image by using the ARCH make variable.

This Dockerfile also used by Remnux distribution from SANS, and is available on the Docker Hub, but it might not contain latest changes.

Run a container as r2web server

By default both images are intended to be used in a interactive terminal.

But both can also be launched directly to use the radare2 web UI.

The do so it can be launched using the following command:

docker run -p 9090:9090 radare/radare2 r2 -c '=h' -

Or the following docker-compose structure:

version: "3.8"
services:
  radare2:
    image: radare/radare2
    command: r2 -c '=h' -
    network_mode: bridge
    ports:
      - "9090:9090"

Or if debugging functionality is required:

version: "3.8"
services:
  radare2:
    image: radare/radare2
    command: r2 -c '=h' -
    network_mode: bridge
    ports:
      - "9090:9090"
    privileged: true
    cap_add:
      - SYS_PTRACE
    security_opt:
      - "seccomp=unconfined"
      - "apparmor=unconfined"

Run a container as MCP server

Claude Desktop Integration

In the Claude Desktop app, press CMD + , to open the Developer settings. Edit the configuration file and restart the client after editing the JSON file as explained below:

  1. Locate your Claude Desktop configuration file:

    • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
    • Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

  2. Add the following to your configuration file:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "radare2": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": ["run", "--rm", "-i", "-v", "/tmp/data:/data", "--entrypoint", "r2mcp", "radare/radare2"]
    }
  }
}

VS Code Integration

To use r2mcp with GitHub Copilot Chat in Visual Studio Code by adding it to your user configuration (see also add an mcp server to vscode):

  1. Open the Command Palette with CMD + Shift + P (macOS) or Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows/Linux).
  2. Search for and select Copilot: Open User Configuration (typically found in ~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/mcp.json in macOS).
  3. Add the following to your configuration file:
{
  "servers": {
    "radare2": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "docker",
      "args": ["run", "--rm", "-i", "-v", "/tmp/data:/data", "--entrypoint", "r2mcp", "radare/radare2"]
    }
  },
  "inputs": []
}

Zed Integration

You can use r2mcp with Zed as well by adding it to your configuration:

  1. Open the command palette: CMD + Shift + P (macOS) or Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows/Linux).1ยบ
  2. Search of agent: open configuration or search of settings.
  3. Add your server as such:
  "context_servers": {
    "r2-mcp-server": {
      "source": "custom",
      "command": "docker",
      "args": ["run", "--rm", "-i", "-v", "/tmp/data:/data", "--entrypoint", "r2mcp", "radare/radare2"],
      "env": {}
    }
  }

Note: you will need another LLM agent, such as Claude, Gemini or else to be able to use it.