Ryan Cornateanu

About Ryan Cornateanu

I’m a software and hardware security researcher specializing in computer applications, operating systems, and embedded systems. Over the past 10+ years, I’ve worked across the full security stack—from silicon and ASIC design to kernel drivers, user-mode applications, and large-scale malware analysis automation.My work spans reverse engineering, vulnerability research, and security automation across both software and hardware domains. I’ve analyzed and developed projects ranging from fabricated silicon tape-out efforts to custom OS drivers, exploit-driven tooling, and advanced malware research. I regularly operate deep within OS internals and low-level execution environments using tools such as IDA Pro, WinDbg, and x64Dbg.On the hardware side, I have extensive hands-on experience with IC-level reverse engineering, including decapsulation, delayering, side-channel analysis, fault injection, and micro-architectural attack research. One of my proudest accomplishments involved extracting bit-level data directly from a semiconductor using optical microscopy, followed by the development of a custom architecture disassembler—an effort that required a year of in-depth circuit-level reverse engineering.My integrated circuit experience also includes ASIC design and verification from RTL to GDS using Verilog and open-source toolchains such as OpenLane and Magic, alongside extensive lab work involving probing, SEM analysis, radiation hardening studies, and hardware security validation.In parallel, I bring several years of software engineering experience in C/C++, Python, Go, and Ruby, applied directly to malware analysis, application security, exploit development, and detection engineering. My approach is deeply hands-on and rooted in practical adversarial tradecraft.I enjoy bridging the gap between hardware, software, and security research—turning low-level technical insight into actionable security outcomes.Publications: https://medium.com/@ryancorCore Focus Areas:Reverse Engineering • Malware Analysis • Application & Systems Security • Vulnerability Research • FPGA / ASIC Design • Hardware & Firmware Security • Side-Channel & Fault Attacks • Detection & Response • Secure SDLC

Experience

1. Senior Security Researcher

   CrowdStrike

   Sep 2021 — Present · US

   Analyzed and performed reverse engineering tasks on modern threats and malware- Researched new threat actor groups, malware, vulnerabilities, tools, and techniques by interpreting endpoint data, network traffic, and log data- In-depth exploit research on both kernel and user mode level- Using Golang, Python, and C++ to write internal tools that help automate tasks in reverse engineering and data collection- Providing actionable intelligence from malware research by either blog posting or writing internal reports- Threat hunting with knowledge of TTPs used by advanced threat actors by utilizing various tools such as Splunk to identify threats within organizations.

Education

• UCLA

  Computer Hardware Engineering

  2010 — 2014

Skills

• Adobe Design Programs
• Wireframes
• Start-Ups
• Balsamiq
• User Interface Design
• Stock Trading
• Sketch 3
• Ruby on Rails
• Management
• UX/UI Design
• Web Applications
• Software Development
• Usability
• Cyber-Security
• Ios Development
• Social Media
• Social Networking
• Encryption
• Android
• Entrepreneurship
• Security Engineering
• Web Development
• Business Analysis
• Business Development
• Saas
• User Experience
• Ios
• User Interface
• Solution
• Video
• Account Management
• E-Commerce