yara/docs/capi.rst

*********
The C API
*********

You can integrate YARA into your C/C++ project by using the API provided by the
*libyara* library. This API gives you access to every YARA feature and it's the
same API used by the command-line tools ``yara`` and ``yarac``.

Initializing and finalizing *libyara*
=====================================

The first thing your program must do when using *libyara* is initializing the
library. This is done by calling the :c:func:`yr_initialize` function. This
function allocates any resources needed by the library and initializes internal
data structures. Its counterpart is :c:func:`yr_finalize`, which must be called
when you are finished using the library.

In a multi-threaded program only the main thread must call
:c:func:`yr_initialize` and :c:func:`yr_finalize`.
No additional work is required from other threads using the library.


Compiling rules
===============

Before using your rules to scan any data you need to compile them into binary
form. For that purpose you'll need a YARA compiler, which can be created with
:c:func:`yr_compiler_create`. After being used, the compiler must be destroyed
with :c:func:`yr_compiler_destroy`.

You can use :c:func:`yr_compiler_add_file`, :c:func:`yr_compiler_add_fd`, or
:c:func:`yr_compiler_add_string` to add one or more input sources to be
compiled. Both of these functions receive an optional namespace. Rules added
under the same namespace behave as if they were contained within the same
source file or string, so, rule identifiers must be unique among all the sources
sharing a namespace. If the namespace argument is ``NULL`` the rules are put
in the *default* namespace.

The :c:func:`yr_compiler_add_file`, :c:func:`yr_compiler_add_fd`, and
:c:func:`yr_compiler_add_string` functions return the number of errors found in
the source code. If the rules are correct they will return 0. If any of these
functions return an error the compiler can't be used anymore, neither for adding
more rules nor getting the compiled rules.

For obtaining detailed error information you must set a callback function by
using :c:func:`yr_compiler_set_callback` before calling any of the compiling
functions. The callback function has the following prototype:

.. code-block:: c

  void callback_function(
      int error_level,
      const char* file_name,
      int line_number,
      const YR_RULE* rule,
      const char* message,
      void* user_data)

.. versionchanged:: 4.0.0

Possible values for ``error_level`` are ``YARA_ERROR_LEVEL_ERROR`` and
``YARA_ERROR_LEVEL_WARNING``. The arguments ``file_name`` and ``line_number``
contain the file name and line number where the error or warning occurred.
``file_name`` is the one passed to :c:func:`yr_compiler_add_file` or
:c:func:`yr_compiler_add_fd`. It can be ``NULL`` if you passed ``NULL`` or if
you're using :c:func:`yr_compiler_add_string`. `rule` is a pointer to the
`YR_RULE` structure representing the rule that contained the error, but it can
be `NULL` it the error is not contained in a specific rule. The ``user_data``
pointer is the same you passed to :c:func:`yr_compiler_set_callback`.

By default, for rules containing references to other files
(``include "filename.yara"``), YARA will try to find those files on disk.
However, if you want to fetch the imported rules from another source (eg: from a
database or remote service), a callback function can be set with
:c:func:`yr_compiler_set_include_callback`.

This callback receives the following parameters:
 * ``include_name``: name of the requested file.
 * ``calling_rule_filename``: the requesting file name (NULL if not a file).
 * ``calling_rule_namespace``: namespace (NULL if undefined).
 * ``user_data`` same pointer passed to :c:func:`yr_compiler_set_include_callback`.

It should return the requested file's content as a null-terminated string. The
memory for this string should be allocated by the callback function. Once it is
safe to free the memory used to return the callback's result, the include_free
function passed to :c:func:`yr_compiler_set_include_callback` will be called.
If the memory does not need to be freed, NULL can be passed as include_free
instead. You can completely disable support for includes by setting a NULL
callback function with :c:func:`yr_compiler_set_include_callback`.

The callback function has the following prototype:

.. code-block:: c

  const char* include_callback(
      const char* include_name,
      const char* calling_rule_filename,
      const char* calling_rule_namespace,
      void* user_data);

The free function has the following prototype:

.. code-block:: c

  void include_free(
      const char* callback_result_ptr,
      void* user_data);

After you successfully added some sources you can get the compiled rules
using the :c:func:`yr_compiler_get_rules` function. You'll get a pointer to
a :c:type:`YR_RULES` structure which can be used to scan your data as
described in :ref:`scanning-data`. Once :c:func:`yr_compiler_get_rules` is
invoked you can not add more sources to the compiler, but you can call
:c:func:`yr_compiler_get_rules` multiple times. Each time this function is called
it returns a pointer to the same :c:type:`YR_RULES` structure. Notice that this
behaviour is new in YARA 4.0.0, in YARA 3.X and 2.X :c:func:`yr_compiler_get_rules`
returned a new copy the :c:type:`YR_RULES` structure.

Instances of :c:type:`YR_RULES` must be destroyed with :c:func:`yr_rules_destroy`.

Defining external variables
===========================

If your rules make use of external variables (like in the example below), you
must define those variables by using any of the ``yr_compiler_define_XXXX_variable``
functions. Variables must be defined before rules are compiled with
``yr_compiler_add_XXXX`` and they must be defined with a type that matches the
context in which the variable is used in the rule, a variable that is used like
`my_var == 5` can't be defined as a string variable.

While defining external variables with ``yr_compiler_define_XXXX_variable`` you
must provide a value for each variable. That value is embedded in the compiled
rules and used whenever the variable appears in a rule. However, you can change
the value associated to an external variable after the rules has been compiled
by using any of the ``yr_rules_define_XXXX_variable`` functions.


Saving and retrieving compiled rules
====================================

Compiled rules can be saved to a file and retrieved later by using
:c:func:`yr_rules_save` and :c:func:`yr_rules_load`. Rules compiled and saved
in one machine can be loaded in another machine as long as they have the same
endianness, no matter the operating system or if they are 32-bit or 64-bit
systems. However files saved with older versions of YARA may not work with
newer versions due to changes in the file layout.

You can also save and retrieve your rules to and from generic data streams by
using functions :c:func:`yr_rules_save_stream` and
:c:func:`yr_rules_load_stream`. These functions receive a pointer to a
:c:type:`YR_STREAM` structure, defined as:

.. code-block:: c

  typedef struct _YR_STREAM
  {
    void* user_data;

    YR_STREAM_READ_FUNC read;
    YR_STREAM_WRITE_FUNC write;

  } YR_STREAM;

You must provide your own implementation for ``read`` and ``write`` functions.
The ``read`` function is used by :c:func:`yr_rules_load_stream` to read data
from your stream and the ``write`` function is used by
:c:func:`yr_rules_save_stream` to write data into your stream.

Your ``read`` and ``write`` functions must respond to these prototypes:

.. code-block:: c

  size_t read(
      void* ptr,
      size_t size,
      size_t count,
      void* user_data);

  size_t write(
      const void* ptr,
      size_t size,
      size_t count,
      void* user_data);

The ``ptr`` argument is a pointer to the buffer where the ``read`` function
should put the read data, or where the ``write`` function will find the data
that needs to be written to the stream. In both cases ``size`` is the size of
each element being read or written and ``count`` the number of elements. The
total size of the data being read or written is ``size`` * ``count``. The
``read`` function must return the number of elements read, the ``write`` function
must return the total number of elements written.

The ``user_data`` pointer is the same you specified in the
:c:type:`YR_STREAM` structure. You can use it to pass arbitrary data to your
``read`` and ``write`` functions.


.. _scanning-data:

Scanning data
=============

Once you have an instance of :c:type:`YR_RULES` you can use it directly with one
of the ``yr_rules_scan_XXXX`` functions described below, or create a scanner with
:c:func:`yr_scanner_create`. Let's start by discussing the first approach.

The :c:type:`YR_RULES` you got from the compiler can be used with
:c:func:`yr_rules_scan_file`, :c:func:`yr_rules_scan_fd` or
:c:func:`yr_rules_scan_mem` for scanning a file, a file descriptor and a in-memory
buffer respectively. The results from the scan are returned to your program via
a callback function. The callback has the following prototype:

.. code-block:: c

  int callback_function(
      YR_SCAN_CONTEXT* context,
      int message,
      void* message_data,
      void* user_data);

Possible values for ``message`` are::

  CALLBACK_MSG_RULE_MATCHING
  CALLBACK_MSG_RULE_NOT_MATCHING
  CALLBACK_MSG_SCAN_FINISHED
  CALLBACK_MSG_IMPORT_MODULE
  CALLBACK_MSG_MODULE_IMPORTED
  CALLBACK_MSG_TOO_MANY_MATCHES
  CALLBACK_MSG_CONSOLE_LOG

Your callback function will be called once for each rule with either
a ``CALLBACK_MSG_RULE_MATCHING`` or ``CALLBACK_MSG_RULE_NOT_MATCHING`` message,
depending if the rule is matching or not. In both cases a pointer to the
:c:type:`YR_RULE` structure associated with the rule is passed in the
``message_data`` argument. You just need to perform a typecast from
``void*`` to ``YR_RULE*`` to access the structure. You can control whether or
not YARA calls your callback function with ``CALLBACK_MSG_RULE_MATCHING`` and
``CALLBACK_MSG_RULE_NOT_MATCHING`` messages by using the
``SCAN_FLAGS_REPORT_RULES_MATCHING`` and ``SCAN_FLAGS_REPORT_RULES_NOT_MATCHING``
as described later in this section.

This callback is also called with the ``CALLBACK_MSG_IMPORT_MODULE`` message.
All modules referenced by an ``import`` statement in the rules are imported
once for every file being scanned. In this case ``message_data`` points to a
:c:type:`YR_MODULE_IMPORT` structure. This structure contains a ``module_name``
field pointing to a null terminated string with the name of the module being
imported and two other fields ``module_data`` and ``module_data_size``. These
fields are initially set to ``NULL`` and ``0``, but your program can assign a
pointer to some arbitrary data to ``module_data`` while setting
``module_data_size`` to the size of the data. This way you can pass additional
data to those modules requiring it, like the :ref:`Cuckoo-module` for example.

Once a module is imported the callback is called again with the
CALLBACK_MSG_MODULE_IMPORTED. When this happens ``message_data`` points to a
:c:type:`YR_OBJECT_STRUCTURE` structure. This structure contains all the
information provided by the module about the currently scanned file.

If during the scan a string hits the maximum number of matches, your callback
will be called once with the ``CALLBACK_MSG_TOO_MANY_MATCHES``. When this happens,
``message_data`` is a ``YR_STRING*`` which points to the string which caused the
warning. If your callback returns ``CALLBACK_CONTINUE``, the string will be disabled
and scanning will continue, otherwise scanning will be halted.

Your callback will be called from the console module (:ref:`console-module`)
with the ``CALLBACK_MSG_CONSOLE_LOG`` message. When this happens, the
``message_data`` argument will be a ``char*`` that is the string generated
by the console module. Your callback can do whatever it wants with this string,
including logging it to an external logging source, or printing it to stdout.

Lastly, the callback function is also called with the
``CALLBACK_MSG_SCAN_FINISHED`` message when the scan is finished. In this case
``message_data`` is ``NULL``.

Notice that you shouldn't call any of the ``yr_rules_scan_XXXX`` functions from
within the callback as those functions are not re-entrant.

Your callback function must return one of the following values::

  CALLBACK_CONTINUE
  CALLBACK_ABORT
  CALLBACK_ERROR

If it returns ``CALLBACK_CONTINUE`` YARA will continue normally,
``CALLBACK_ABORT`` will abort the scan but the result from the
``yr_rules_scan_XXXX`` function will be ``ERROR_SUCCESS``. On the other hand
``CALLBACK_ERROR`` will abort the scanning too, but the result from
``yr_rules_scan_XXXX`` will be ``ERROR_CALLBACK_ERROR``.

The ``user_data`` argument passed to your callback function is the same you
passed ``yr_rules_scan_XXXX``. This pointer is not touched by YARA, it's just a
way for your program to pass arbitrary data to the callback function.

All ``yr_rules_scan_XXXX`` functions receive a ``flags`` argument that allows
to tweak some aspects of the scanning process. The supported flags are the following
ones:

 ``SCAN_FLAGS_FAST_MODE``
 ``SCAN_FLAGS_NO_TRYCATCH``
 ``SCAN_FLAGS_REPORT_RULES_MATCHING``
 ``SCAN_FLAGS_REPORT_RULES_NOT_MATCHING``


The ``SCAN_FLAGS_FAST_MODE`` flag makes the scanning a little faster by avoiding
multiple matches of the same string when not necessary. Once the string was
found in the file it's subsequently ignored, implying that you'll have a
single match for the string, even if it appears multiple times in the scanned
data. This flag has the same effect of the ``-f`` command-line option described
in :ref:`command-line`.

``SCAN_FLAGS_REPORT_RULES_MATCHING`` and ``SCAN_FLAGS_REPORT_RULES_NOT_MATCHING``
control whether the callback is invoked for rules that are matching or for rules
that are not matching respectively. If ``SCAN_FLAGS_REPORT_RULES_MATCHING`` is
specified alone, the callback will be called for matching rules with the
``CALLBACK_MSG_RULE_MATCHING`` message but it won't be called for non-matching
rules. If ``SCAN_FLAGS_REPORT_RULES_NOT_MATCHING`` is specified alone, the opposite
happens, the callback will be called with ``CALLBACK_MSG_RULE_NOT_MATCHING``
messages but not with ``CALLBACK_MSG_RULE_MATCHING`` messages. If both flags
are combined together (the default) the callback will be called for both matching
and non-matching rules. For backward compatibility, if none of these two flags
are specified, the scanner will follow the default behavior.

Additionally, ``yr_rules_scan_XXXX`` functions can receive a ``timeout`` argument
which forces the scan to abort after the specified number of seconds (approximately).
If ``timeout`` is 0 it means no timeout at all.


Using a scanner
---------------

The ``yr_rules_scan_XXXX`` functions are enough in most cases, but sometimes you
may need a fine-grained control over the scanning. In those cases you can create
a scanner with :c:func:`yr_scanner_create`. A scanner is simply a wrapper around
a :c:type:`YR_RULES` structure that holds additional configuration like external
variables without affecting other users of the :c:type:`YR_RULES` structure.

A scanner is particularly useful when you want to use the same :c:type:`YR_RULES`
with multiple workers (it could be a separate thread, a coroutine, etc) and each
worker needs to set different set of values for external variables. In that
case you can't use ``yr_rules_define_XXXX_variable`` for setting the values of your
external variables, as every worker using the :c:type:`YR_RULES` will be affected
by such changes. However each worker can have its own scanner, where the scanners
share the same :c:type:`YR_RULES`, and use ``yr_scanner_define_XXXX_variable`` for
setting external variables without affecting the rest of the workers.

This is a better solution than having a separate :c:type:`YR_RULES` for each
worker, as :c:type:`YR_RULES` structures have large memory footprint (specially
if you have a lot of rules) while scanners are very lightweight.


API reference
=============

Data structures
---------------

.. c:type:: YR_COMPILER

  Data structure representing a YARA compiler.

.. c:type:: YR_SCAN_CONTEXT

  Data structure that holds information about an on-going scan. A pointer to
  this structure is passed to the callback function that receives notifications
  about matches found. This structure is also used for iterating over the

.. c:type:: YR_MATCH

  Data structure representing a string match.

  .. c:member:: int64_t base

    Base offset/address for the match. While scanning a file this field is
    usually zero, while scanning a process memory space this field is the
    virtual address of the memory block where the match was found.

  .. c:member:: int64_t offset

    Offset of the match relative to *base*.

  .. c:member:: int32_t match_length

    Length of the matching string

  .. c:member:: const uint8_t* data

    Pointer to a buffer containing a portion of the matching string.

  .. c:member:: int32_t data_length

    Length of ``data`` buffer. ``data_length`` is the minimum of
    ``match_length`` and ``MAX_MATCH_DATA``.

  .. versionchanged:: 3.5.0

.. c:type:: YR_META

  Data structure representing a metadata value.

  .. c:member:: const char* identifier

    Meta identifier.

  .. c:member:: int32_t type

    One of the following metadata types:

      ``META_TYPE_INTEGER``
      ``META_TYPE_STRING``
      ``META_TYPE_BOOLEAN``

.. c:type:: YR_MODULE_IMPORT

  .. c:member:: const char* module_name

    Name of the module being imported.

  .. c:member:: void* module_data

    Pointer to additional data passed to the module. Initially set to
    ``NULL``, your program is responsible for setting this pointer while
    handling the CALLBACK_MSG_IMPORT_MODULE message.

  .. c:member:: size_t module_data_size

    Size of additional data passed to module. Your program must set the
    appropriate value if ``module_data`` is modified.

.. c:type:: YR_RULE

  Data structure representing a single rule.

  .. c:member:: const char* identifier

    Rule identifier.

  .. c:member:: const char* tags

    Pointer to a sequence of null terminated strings with tag names. An
    additional null character marks the end of the sequence. Example:
    ``tag1\0tag2\0tag3\0\0``. To iterate over the tags you can use
    :c:func:`yr_rule_tags_foreach`.

  .. c:member:: YR_META* metas

    Pointer to a sequence of :c:type:`YR_META` structures. To iterate over the
    structures use :c:func:`yr_rule_metas_foreach`.

  .. c:member:: YR_STRING* strings

    Pointer to a sequence of :c:type:`YR_STRING` structures. To iterate over the
    structures use :c:func:`yr_rule_strings_foreach`.

  .. c:member:: YR_NAMESPACE* ns

    Pointer to a :c:type:`YR_NAMESPACE` structure.

.. c:type:: YR_RULES

  Data structure representing a set of compiled rules.

.. c:type:: YR_STREAM

  .. versionadded:: 3.4.0

  Data structure representing a stream used with functions
  :c:func:`yr_rules_load_stream` and :c:func:`yr_rules_save_stream`.

  .. c:member:: void* user_data

    A user-defined pointer.

  .. c:member:: YR_STREAM_READ_FUNC read

    A pointer to the stream's read function provided by the user.

  .. c:member:: YR_STREAM_WRITE_FUNC write

    A pointer to the stream's write function provided by the user.

.. c:type:: YR_STRING

  Data structure representing a string declared in a rule.

  .. c:member:: const char* identifier

      String identifier.

.. c:type:: YR_NAMESPACE

  Data structure representing a rule namespace.

  .. c:member:: const char* name

    Rule namespace.

Functions
---------

.. c:function:: int yr_initialize(void)

  Initialize the library. Must be called by the main thread before using any
  other function. Return :c:macro:`ERROR_SUCCESS` on success another error
  code in case of error. The list of possible return codes vary according
  to the modules compiled into YARA.

.. c:function:: int yr_finalize(void)

  Finalize the library. Must be called by the main free to release any
  resource allocated by the library. Return :c:macro:`ERROR_SUCCESS` on
  success another error code in case of error. The list of possible return
  codes vary according to the modules compiled into YARA.

.. c:function:: void yr_get_version(int* major, int* minor, int* micro)

  Get the version of the library loaded at runtime. The
  :c:macro:`YR_MAJOR_VERSION`, :c:macro:`YR_MINOR_VERSION` and
  :c:macro:`YR_MICRO_VERSION` macros are fixed when your program is compiled,
  so a program linked against a shared ``libyara`` cannot use them to tell
  which version it actually got. This function reports that.

  Any argument may be ``NULL`` if you do not need that component. Unlike the
  rest of the API, this may be called before :c:func:`yr_initialize`.

  .. versionadded:: 4.6.0

.. c:function:: int yr_compiler_create(YR_COMPILER** compiler)

  Create a YARA compiler. You must pass the address of a pointer to a
  :c:type:`YR_COMPILER`, the function will set the pointer to the newly
  allocated compiler. Returns one of the following error codes:

    :c:macro:`ERROR_SUCCESS`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY`

.. c:function:: void yr_compiler_destroy(YR_COMPILER* compiler)

  Destroy a YARA compiler.

.. c:function:: void yr_compiler_set_callback(YR_COMPILER* compiler, YR_COMPILER_CALLBACK_FUNC callback, void* user_data)

  .. versionchanged:: 3.3.0

  Set a callback for receiving error and warning information. The *user_data*
  pointer is passed to the callback function.


.. c:function:: void yr_compiler_set_include_callback(YR_COMPILER* compiler, YR_COMPILER_INCLUDE_CALLBACK_FUNC callback, YR_COMPILER_INCLUDE_FREE_FUNC include_free, void* user_data)

 .. versionadded:: 3.7.0

  Set a callback to provide rules from a custom source when ``include``
  directive is invoked. The *user_data* pointer is untouched and passed back to
  the callback function and to the free function. Once the callback's result
  is no longer needed, the include_free function will be called. If the memory
  does not need to be freed, include_free can be set to NULL. If *callback* is
  set to ``NULL`` support for include directives is disabled.


.. c:function:: int yr_compiler_add_file(YR_COMPILER* compiler, FILE* file, const char* namespace, const char* file_name)

  Compile rules from a *file*. Rules are put into the specified *namespace*,
  if *namespace* is ``NULL`` they will be put into the default namespace.
  *file_name* is the name of the file for error reporting purposes and can be
  set to ``NULL``. Returns the number of errors found during compilation.


.. c:function:: int yr_compiler_add_fd(YR_COMPILER* compiler, YR_FILE_DESCRIPTOR rules_fd, const char* namespace, const char* file_name)

  .. versionadded:: 3.6.0

  Compile rules from a *file descriptor*. Rules are put into the specified *namespace*,
  if *namespace* is ``NULL`` they will be put into the default namespace.
  *file_name* is the name of the file for error reporting purposes and can be
  set to ``NULL``. Returns the number of errors found during compilation.


.. c:function:: int yr_compiler_add_string(YR_COMPILER* compiler, const char* string, const char* namespace_)

  Compile rules from a *string*. Rules are put into the specified *namespace*,
  if *namespace* is ``NULL`` they will be put into the default namespace.
  Returns the number of errors found during compilation.

.. c:function:: int yr_compiler_get_rules(YR_COMPILER* compiler, YR_RULES** rules)

  Get the compiled rules from the compiler. Returns one of the following error
  codes:

    :c:macro:`ERROR_SUCCESS`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY`

.. c:function:: int yr_compiler_define_integer_variable(YR_COMPILER* compiler, const char* identifier, int64_t value)

  Define an integer external variable.

.. c:function:: int yr_compiler_define_float_variable(YR_COMPILER* compiler, const char* identifier, double value)

  Define a float external variable.

.. c:function:: int yr_compiler_define_boolean_variable(YR_COMPILER* compiler, const char* identifier, int value)

  Define a boolean external variable.

.. c:function:: int yr_compiler_define_string_variable(YR_COMPILER* compiler, const char* identifier, const char* value)

  Define a string external variable.

.. c:function:: int yr_rules_define_integer_variable(YR_RULES* rules, const char* identifier, int64_t value)

  Define an integer external variable.

.. c:function:: int yr_rules_define_boolean_variable(YR_RULES* rules, const char* identifier, int value)

  Define a boolean external variable.

.. c:function:: int yr_rules_define_float_variable(YR_RULES* rules, const char* identifier, double value)

  Define a float external variable.

.. c:function:: int yr_rules_define_string_variable(YR_RULES* rules, const char* identifier, const char* value)

  Define a string external variable.

.. c:function:: void yr_rules_destroy(YR_RULES* rules)

  Destroy compiled rules.

.. c:function:: int yr_rules_save(YR_RULES* rules, const char* filename)

  Save compiled *rules* into the file specified by *filename*. Only rules
  obtained from :c:func:`yr_compiler_get_rules` can be saved. Those obtained
  from :c:func:`yr_rules_load` or :c:func:`yr_rules_load_stream` can not be
  saved. Returns one of the following error codes:

    :c:macro:`ERROR_SUCCESS`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_COULD_NOT_OPEN_FILE`

.. c:function:: int yr_rules_save_stream(YR_RULES* rules, YR_STREAM* stream)

  .. versionadded:: 3.4.0

  Save compiled *rules* into *stream*. Only rules obtained from
  :c:func:`yr_compiler_get_rules` can be saved. Those obtained from
  :c:func:`yr_rules_load` or :c:func:`yr_rules_load_stream` can not be saved.
  Returns one of the following error codes:

    :c:macro:`ERROR_SUCCESS`

.. c:function:: int yr_rules_load(const char* filename, YR_RULES** rules)

  Load compiled rules from the file specified by *filename*. Returns one of the
  following error codes:

    :c:macro:`ERROR_SUCCESS`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_COULD_NOT_OPEN_FILE`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_INVALID_FILE`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_CORRUPT_FILE`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_UNSUPPORTED_FILE_VERSION`

.. c:function:: int yr_rules_load_stream(YR_STREAM* stream, YR_RULES** rules)

  .. versionadded:: 3.4.0

  Load compiled rules from *stream*. Rules loaded this way can not be saved
  back using :c:func:`yr_rules_save_stream`. Returns one of the following error
  codes:

    :c:macro:`ERROR_SUCCESS`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_INVALID_FILE`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_CORRUPT_FILE`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_UNSUPPORTED_FILE_VERSION`

.. c:function:: int yr_rules_scan_mem(YR_RULES* rules, const uint8_t* buffer, size_t buffer_size, int flags, YR_CALLBACK_FUNC callback, void* user_data, int timeout)

    Scan a memory buffer. Returns one of the following error codes:

      :c:macro:`ERROR_SUCCESS`

      :c:macro:`ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY`

      :c:macro:`ERROR_SCAN_TIMEOUT`

      :c:macro:`ERROR_CALLBACK_ERROR`

      :c:macro:`ERROR_TOO_MANY_MATCHES`


.. c:function:: int yr_rules_scan_file(YR_RULES* rules, const char* filename, int flags, YR_CALLBACK_FUNC callback, void* user_data, int timeout)

  Scan a file. Returns one of the following error codes:

    :c:macro:`ERROR_SUCCESS`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_COULD_NOT_MAP_FILE`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_SCAN_TIMEOUT`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_CALLBACK_ERROR`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_TOO_MANY_MATCHES`

.. c:function:: int yr_rules_scan_fd(YR_RULES* rules, YR_FILE_DESCRIPTOR fd, int flags, YR_CALLBACK_FUNC callback, void* user_data, int timeout)

  Scan a file descriptor. In POSIX systems ``YR_FILE_DESCRIPTOR`` is an ``int``,
  as returned by the `open()` function. In Windows ``YR_FILE_DESCRIPTOR`` is a
  ``HANDLE`` as returned by `CreateFile()`.

  Returns one of the following error codes:

    :c:macro:`ERROR_SUCCESS`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_COULD_NOT_MAP_FILE`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_SCAN_TIMEOUT`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_CALLBACK_ERROR`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_TOO_MANY_MATCHES`

.. c:function:: yr_rule_tags_foreach(rule, tag)

  Iterate over the tags of a given rule running the block of code that follows
  each time with a different value for *tag* of type ``const char*``. Example:

  .. code-block:: c

    const char* tag;

    /* rule is a YR_RULE object */

    yr_rule_tags_foreach(rule, tag)
    {
      ..do something with tag
    }

.. c:function:: yr_rule_metas_foreach(rule, meta)

  Iterate over the :c:type:`YR_META` structures associated with a given rule
  running the block of code that follows each time with a different value for
  *meta*. Example:

  .. code-block:: c

    YR_META* meta;

    /* rule is a YR_RULE object */

    yr_rule_metas_foreach(rule, meta)
    {
      ..do something with meta
    }

.. c:function:: yr_rule_strings_foreach(rule, string)

  Iterate over the :c:type:`YR_STRING` structures associated with a given rule
  running the block of code that follows each time with a different value for
  *string*. Example:

  .. code-block:: c

    YR_STRING* string;

    /* rule is a YR_RULE object */

    yr_rule_strings_foreach(rule, string)
    {
      ..do something with string
    }

.. c:function:: yr_string_matches_foreach(context, string, match)

  Iterate over the :c:type:`YR_MATCH` structures that represent the matches
  found for a given string during a scan running the block of code that follows,
  each time with a different value for *match*. The `context` argument is a
  pointer to a :c:type:`YR_SCAN_CONTEXT` that is passed to the callback function
  and `string` is a pointer to a :c:type:`YR_STRING`. Example:

  .. code-block:: c

    YR_MATCH* match;

    /* context is a YR_SCAN_CONTEXT* and string is a YR_STRING*  */

    yr_string_matches_foreach(context, string, match)
    {
      ..do something with match
    }

.. c:function:: yr_rules_foreach(rules, rule)

  Iterate over each :c:type:`YR_RULE` in a :c:type:`YR_RULES` object running
  the block of code that follows each time with a different value for
  *rule*. Example:

  .. code-block:: c

    YR_RULE* rule;

    /* rules is a YR_RULES object */

    yr_rules_foreach(rules, rule)
    {
      ..do something with rule
    }

.. c:function:: void yr_rule_disable(YR_RULE* rule)

  .. versionadded:: 3.7.0

  Disable the specified rule. Disabled rules are completely ignored during
  the scanning process and they won't match. If the disabled rule is used in
  the condition of some other rule the value for the disabled rule is neither
  true nor false but undefined. For more information about undefined values
  see :ref:`undefined-values`.

.. c:function:: void yr_rule_enable(YR_RULE* rule)

  .. versionadded:: 3.7.0

  Enables the specified rule. After being disabled with :c:func:`yr_rule_disable`
  a rule can be enabled again by using this function.


.. c:function:: int yr_scanner_create(YR_RULES* rules, YR_SCANNER **scanner)

  .. versionadded:: 3.8.0

  Creates a new scanner that can be used for scanning data with the provided
  provided rules. `scanner` must be a pointer to a :c:type:`YR_SCANNER`, the
  function will set the pointer to the newly allocated scanner. Returns one of
  the following error codes:

    :c:macro:`ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY`

.. c:function:: void yr_scanner_destroy(YR_SCANNER *scanner)

  .. versionadded:: 3.8.0

  Destroy a scanner. After using a scanner it must be destroyed with this
  function.

.. c:function:: void yr_scanner_set_callback(YR_SCANNER *scanner, YR_CALLBACK_FUNC callback, void* user_data)

  .. versionadded:: 3.8.0

  Set a callback function that will be called for reporting any matches found by
  the scanner.

.. c:function:: void yr_scanner_set_timeout(YR_SCANNER* scanner, int timeout)

  .. versionadded:: 3.8.0

  Set the maximum number of seconds that the scanner will spend in any call to
  `yr_scanner_scan_xxx`.

.. c:function:: void yr_scanner_set_flags(YR_SCANNER* scanner, int flags)

  .. versionadded:: 3.8.0

  Set the flags that will be used by any call to `yr_scanner_scan_xxx`. The supported flags are:

 ``SCAN_FLAGS_FAST_MODE``: Enable fast scan mode.
 ``SCAN_FLAGS_NO_TRYCATCH``: Disable exception handling.
 ``SCAN_FLAGS_REPORT_RULES_MATCHING``: If this
 ``SCAN_FLAGS_REPORT_RULES_NOT_MATCHING``

.. c:function:: int yr_scanner_define_integer_variable(YR_SCANNER* scanner, const char* identifier, int64_t value)

  .. versionadded:: 3.8.0

  Define an integer external variable.

.. c:function:: int yr_scanner_define_boolean_variable(YR_SCANNER* scanner, const char* identifier, int value)

  .. versionadded:: 3.8.0

  Define a boolean external variable.

.. c:function:: int yr_scanner_define_float_variable(YR_SCANNER* scanner, const char* identifier, double value)

  .. versionadded:: 3.8.0

  Define a float external variable.

.. c:function:: int yr_scanner_define_string_variable(YR_SCANNER* scanner, const char* identifier, const char* value)

  .. versionadded:: 3.8.0

  Define a string external variable.

.. c:function:: int yr_scanner_scan_mem_blocks(YR_SCANNER* scanner, YR_MEMORY_BLOCK_ITERATOR* iterator)

  .. versionadded:: 3.8.0

  Scan a series of memory blocks that are provided by a :c:type:`YR_MEMORY_BLOCK_ITERATOR`.
  The iterator has a pair of `first` and `next` functions that must return
  the first and next blocks respectively. When these functions return `NULL` it
  indicates that there are not more blocks to scan.

  In YARA 4.1 and later the `first` and `next` functions can return `NULL` and
  set the `last_error` field in :c:type:`YR_MEMORY_BLOCK_ITERATOR` to
  :c:macro:`ERROR_BLOCK_NOT_READY`. This indicates that the iterator is not able
  to return the next block yet, but the operation may be retried. In such cases
  `yr_scanner_scan_mem_blocks` also returns :c:macro:`ERROR_BLOCK_NOT_READY` but
  the scanner maintains its state and this function can be called again for
  continuing the scanning where it was left. This can be done multiple times
  until the block is ready and the iterator is able to return it.

  Notice however that once the iterator completes a full iteration, any subsequent
  iteration should proceed without returning :c:macro:`ERROR_BLOCK_NOT_READY`.
  During the first iteration the iterator should store in memory any information
  that it needs about the blocks, so that it can be iterated again without
  relying on costly operations that may result in a :c:macro:`ERROR_BLOCK_NOT_READY`
  error.

  Returns one of the following error codes:

    :c:macro:`ERROR_SUCCESS`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_SCAN_TIMEOUT`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_CALLBACK_ERROR`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_TOO_MANY_MATCHES`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_BLOCK_NOT_READY`

.. c:function:: int yr_scanner_scan_mem(YR_SCANNER* scanner, const uint8_t* buffer, size_t buffer_size)

  .. versionadded:: 3.8.0

  Scan a memory buffer. Returns one of the following error codes:

    :c:macro:`ERROR_SUCCESS`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_SCAN_TIMEOUT`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_CALLBACK_ERROR`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_TOO_MANY_MATCHES`

.. c:function:: int yr_scanner_scan_file(YR_SCANNER* scanner, const char* filename)

  .. versionadded:: 3.8.0

  Scan a file. Returns one of the following error codes:

    :c:macro:`ERROR_SUCCESS`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_SCAN_TIMEOUT`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_CALLBACK_ERROR`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_TOO_MANY_MATCHES`

.. c:function:: int yr_scanner_scan_fd(YR_SCANNER* scanner, YR_FILE_DESCRIPTOR fd)

  .. versionadded:: 3.8.0

  Scan a file descriptor. In POSIX systems ``YR_FILE_DESCRIPTOR`` is an ``int``,
  as returned by the `open()` function. In Windows ``YR_FILE_DESCRIPTOR`` is a
  ``HANDLE`` as returned by `CreateFile()`.

  Returns one of the following error codes:

    :c:macro:`ERROR_SUCCESS`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_SCAN_TIMEOUT`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_CALLBACK_ERROR`

    :c:macro:`ERROR_TOO_MANY_MATCHES`

.. c:function:: YR_RULE* yr_scanner_last_error_rule(YR_SCANNER* scanner)

  .. versionadded:: 3.8.0

  Return a pointer to the ``YR_RULE`` which triggered a scanning error. In the
  case where the rule is unable to be determined, NULL is returned.

.. c:function:: YR_STRING* yr_scanner_last_error_string(YR_SCANNER* scanner)

  .. versionadded:: 3.8.0

  Return a pointer to the ``YR_STRING`` which triggered a scanning error.

Error codes
-----------

.. c:macro:: ERROR_SUCCESS

  Everything went fine.

.. c:macro:: ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY

  Insufficient memory to complete the operation.

.. c:macro:: ERROR_COULD_NOT_OPEN_FILE

  File could not be opened.

.. c:macro:: ERROR_COULD_NOT_MAP_FILE

  File could not be mapped into memory.

.. c:macro:: ERROR_INVALID_FILE

  File is not a valid rules file.

.. c:macro:: ERROR_CORRUPT_FILE

  Rules file is corrupt.

.. c:macro:: ERROR_UNSUPPORTED_FILE_VERSION

  File was generated by a different YARA and can't be loaded by this version.

.. c:macro:: ERROR_SCAN_TIMEOUT

  Scan timed out.

.. c:macro:: ERROR_CALLBACK_ERROR

  Callback returned an error.

.. c:macro:: ERROR_TOO_MANY_MATCHES

  Too many matches for some string in your rules. This usually happens when
  your rules contains very short or very common strings like ``01 02`` or
  ``FF FF FF FF``. The limit is defined by ``YR_MAX_STRING_MATCHES`` in
  *./include/yara/limits.h*

.. c:macro:: ERROR_BLOCK_NOT_READY

  Next memory block to scan is not ready; custom iterators may return this.