add file-based toolchain detection

Signed-off-by: Alex Goodman <wagoodman@users.noreply.github.com>

cmd/syft/internal/options/catalog.go

@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging/filecataloging"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/cataloging/pkgcataloging"
-	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/file/cataloger/executable"
-	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/file/cataloger/filecontent"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg/cataloger/binary"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg/cataloger/dotnet"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg/cataloger/golang"
@@ -144,18 +142,14 @@ func (cfg Catalog) ToFilesConfig() filecataloging.Config {
 		log.WithFields("error", err).Warn("unable to configure file hashers")
 	}
 
-	return filecataloging.Config{
-		Selection: cfg.File.Metadata.Selection,
-		Hashers:   hashers,
-		Content: filecontent.Config{
-			Globs:              cfg.File.Content.Globs,
-			SkipFilesAboveSize: cfg.File.Content.SkipFilesAboveSize,
-		},
-		Executable: executable.Config{
-			MIMETypes: executable.DefaultConfig().MIMETypes,
-			Globs:     cfg.File.Executable.Globs,
-		},
-	}
+	c := filecataloging.DefaultConfig()
+	c.Selection = cfg.File.Metadata.Selection
+	c.Hashers = hashers
+	c.Content.Globs = cfg.File.Content.Globs
+	c.Content.SkipFilesAboveSize = cfg.File.Content.SkipFilesAboveSize
+	c.Executable.Globs = cfg.File.Executable.Globs
+
+	return c
 }
 
 func (cfg Catalog) ToLicenseConfig() cataloging.LicenseConfig {

cmd/syft/internal/options/file.go

@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ func (c *fileConfig) PostLoad() error {
 }
 
 func (c *fileConfig) DescribeFields(descriptions clio.FieldDescriptionSet) {
-	descriptions.Add(&c.Metadata.Selection, `select which files should be captured by the file-metadata cataloger and included in the SBOM. 
+	descriptions.Add(&c.Metadata.Selection, `select which files should be captured by the file-metadata cataloger and included in the SBOM.
 Options include:
  - "all": capture all files from the search space
  - "owned-by-package": capture only files owned by packages

internal/constants.go

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ package internal
 const (
 	// JSONSchemaVersion is the current schema version output by the JSON encoder
 	// This is roughly following the "SchemaVer" guidelines for versioning the JSON schema. Please see schema/json/README.md for details on how to increment.
-	JSONSchemaVersion = "16.1.4"
+	JSONSchemaVersion = "16.1.5"
 
 	// Changelog
 	// 16.1.0 - reformulated the python pdm fields (added "URL" and removed the unused "path" field).
@@ -11,5 +11,6 @@ const (
 	// 16.1.2 - placeholder for 16.1.2 changelog
 	// 16.1.3 - add GGUFFileParts to GGUFFileHeader metadata
 	// 16.1.4 - add BunLockEntry metadata type for bun.lock support
+	// 16.1.5 - add file executable toolchain information
 
 )

schema/json/schema-latest.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
-  "$id": "anchore.io/schema/syft/json/16.1.4/document",
+  "$id": "anchore.io/schema/syft/json/16.1.5/document",
   "$ref": "#/$defs/Document",
   "$defs": {
     "AlpmDbEntry": {
@@ -1291,6 +1291,13 @@
         "elfSecurityFeatures": {
           "$ref": "#/$defs/ELFSecurityFeatures",
           "description": "ELFSecurityFeatures contains ELF-specific security hardening information when Format is ELF."
+        },
+        "toolchains": {
+          "items": {
+            "$ref": "#/$defs/Toolchain"
+          },
+          "type": "array",
+          "description": "Toolchains captures information about the compiler, linker, runtime, or other toolchains used to build (or otherwise exist within) the executable."
         }
       },
       "type": "object",
@@ -4269,6 +4276,27 @@
       ],
       "description": "TerraformLockProviderEntry represents a single provider entry in a Terraform dependency lock file (.terraform.lock.hcl)."
     },
+    "Toolchain": {
+      "properties": {
+        "name": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "description": "Name is the name of the toolchain (e.g., \"gcc\", \"clang\", \"rust\", \"lld\", \"GNU AS\", etc.)."
+        },
+        "version": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "description": "Version is the version of the toolchain."
+        },
+        "component": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "description": "Component indicates which part of the toolchain this represents (e.g., compiler, linker, assembler)."
+        }
+      },
+      "type": "object",
+      "required": [
+        "name",
+        "component"
+      ]
+    },
     "WordpressPluginEntry": {
       "properties": {
         "pluginInstallDirectory": {

syft/file/cataloger/executable/cataloger.go

@@ -25,8 +25,11 @@ import (
 )
 
 type Config struct {
+	// MIMETypes are the MIME types that will be considered for executable cataloging.
 	MIMETypes []string `json:"mime-types" yaml:"mime-types" mapstructure:"mime-types"`
-	Globs     []string `json:"globs" yaml:"globs" mapstructure:"globs"`
+
+	// Globs are the glob patterns that will be used to filter which files are cataloged.
+	Globs []string `json:"globs" yaml:"globs" mapstructure:"globs"`
 }
 
 type Cataloger struct {
@@ -106,6 +109,51 @@ func processExecutableLocation(loc file.Location, resolver file.Resolver) (*file
 	return processExecutable(loc, uReader)
 }
 
+func processExecutable(loc file.Location, reader unionreader.UnionReader) (*file.Executable, error) {
+	data := file.Executable{}
+
+	// determine the executable format
+
+	format, err := findExecutableFormat(reader)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Debugf("unable to determine executable kind for %v: %v", loc.RealPath, err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to determine executable kind: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if format == "" {
+		// this is not an "unknown", so just log -- this binary does not have parseable data in it
+		log.Debugf("unable to determine executable format for %q", loc.RealPath)
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+
+	data.Format = format
+
+	switch format {
+	case file.ELF:
+		if err = findELFFeatures(&data, reader); err != nil {
+			log.WithFields("error", err, "path", loc.RealPath).Trace("unable to determine ELF features")
+			err = fmt.Errorf("unable to determine ELF features: %w", err)
+		}
+	case file.PE:
+		if err = findPEFeatures(&data, reader); err != nil {
+			log.WithFields("error", err, "path", loc.RealPath).Trace("unable to determine PE features")
+			err = fmt.Errorf("unable to determine PE features: %w", err)
+		}
+	case file.MachO:
+		if err = findMachoFeatures(&data, reader); err != nil {
+			log.WithFields("error", err, "path", loc.RealPath).Trace("unable to determine Macho features")
+			err = fmt.Errorf("unable to determine Macho features: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// always allocate collections for presentation
+	if data.ImportedLibraries == nil {
+		data.ImportedLibraries = []string{}
+	}
+
+	return &data, err
+}
+
 func catalogingProgress(locations int64) *monitor.TaskProgress {
 	info := monitor.GenericTask{
 		Title: monitor.Title{
@@ -152,51 +200,6 @@ func locationMatchesGlob(loc file.Location, globs []string) (bool, error) {
 	return false, nil
 }
 
-func processExecutable(loc file.Location, reader unionreader.UnionReader) (*file.Executable, error) {
-	data := file.Executable{}
-
-	// determine the executable format
-
-	format, err := findExecutableFormat(reader)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Debugf("unable to determine executable kind for %v: %v", loc.RealPath, err)
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to determine executable kind: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	if format == "" {
-		// this is not an "unknown", so just log -- this binary does not have parseable data in it
-		log.Debugf("unable to determine executable format for %q", loc.RealPath)
-		return nil, nil
-	}
-
-	data.Format = format
-
-	switch format {
-	case file.ELF:
-		if err = findELFFeatures(&data, reader); err != nil {
-			log.WithFields("error", err, "path", loc.RealPath).Trace("unable to determine ELF features")
-			err = fmt.Errorf("unable to determine ELF features: %w", err)
-		}
-	case file.PE:
-		if err = findPEFeatures(&data, reader); err != nil {
-			log.WithFields("error", err, "path", loc.RealPath).Trace("unable to determine PE features")
-			err = fmt.Errorf("unable to determine PE features: %w", err)
-		}
-	case file.MachO:
-		if err = findMachoFeatures(&data, reader); err != nil {
-			log.WithFields("error", err, "path", loc.RealPath).Trace("unable to determine Macho features")
-			err = fmt.Errorf("unable to determine Macho features: %w", err)
-		}
-	}
-
-	// always allocate collections for presentation
-	if data.ImportedLibraries == nil {
-		data.ImportedLibraries = []string{}
-	}
-
-	return &data, err
-}
-
 func findExecutableFormat(reader unionreader.UnionReader) (file.ExecutableFormat, error) {
 	// read the first sector of the file
 	buf := make([]byte, 512)

syft/file/cataloger/executable/elf.go

@@ -34,10 +34,33 @@ func findELFFeatures(data *file.Executable, reader unionreader.UnionReader) erro
 	data.ELFSecurityFeatures = findELFSecurityFeatures(f)
 	data.HasEntrypoint = elfHasEntrypoint(f)
 	data.HasExports = elfHasExports(f)
+	data.Toolchains = elfToolchains(reader, f)
 
 	return err
 }
 
+func elfToolchains(reader unionreader.UnionReader, f *elf.File) []file.Toolchain {
+	// parse the .comment section and symbol tables once and share them across the detectors
+	comments := elfComments(f)
+	symbols := elfSymbolSet(f)
+	return includeNoneNil(
+		golangToolchainEvidence(reader),
+		cToolchainEvidence(comments, symbols),
+		rustToolchainEvidence(comments),
+		linkerToolchainEvidence(f, comments),
+	)
+}
+
+func includeNoneNil(evidence ...*file.Toolchain) []file.Toolchain {
+	var toolchains []file.Toolchain
+	for _, e := range evidence {
+		if e != nil {
+			toolchains = append(toolchains, *e)
+		}
+	}
+	return toolchains
+}
+
 func findELFSecurityFeatures(f *elf.File) *file.ELFSecurityFeatures {
 	return &file.ELFSecurityFeatures{
 		SymbolTableStripped:           isElfSymbolTableStripped(f),
@@ -81,6 +104,28 @@ func boolRef(b bool) *bool {
 	return &b
 }
 
+// elfSymbolSet collects the names from the static and dynamic symbol tables into a single set, so
+// detectors can test for runtime markers without re-reading and re-iterating the symbol tables each
+// time. It covers both tables since some evidence (e.g. the Fortran MAIN__ entry) lives only in the
+// static symbol table.
+func elfSymbolSet(f *elf.File) *strset.Set {
+	set := strset.New()
+
+	if syms, err := f.Symbols(); err == nil {
+		for _, sym := range syms {
+			set.Add(sym.Name)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if dynSyms, err := f.DynamicSymbols(); err == nil {
+		for _, sym := range dynSyms {
+			set.Add(sym.Name)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return set
+}
+
 func checkElfNXProtection(file *elf.File) bool {
 	// find the program headers until you find the GNU_STACK segment
 	for _, prog := range file.Progs {

syft/file/cataloger/executable/elf_test.go

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp"
+	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp/cmpopts"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
@@ -226,3 +227,73 @@ func Test_elfHasExports(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func Test_elfGoToolchainDetection(t *testing.T) {
+	readerForFixture := func(t *testing.T, fixture string) unionreader.UnionReader {
+		t.Helper()
+		f, err := os.Open(filepath.Join("testdata/golang", fixture))
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		return f
+	}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		fixture     string
+		wantPresent bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:        "go binary has toolchain",
+			fixture:     "bin/hello_linux",
+			wantPresent: true,
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			reader := readerForFixture(t, tt.fixture)
+			f, err := elf.NewFile(reader)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			toolchains := elfToolchains(reader, f)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantPresent, hasGoToolchain(toolchains))
+
+			if tt.wantPresent {
+				require.NotEmpty(t, toolchains)
+				assert.Equal(t, "go", toolchains[0].Name)
+				assert.NotEmpty(t, toolchains[0].Version)
+				assert.Equal(t, file.ToolchainComponentCompiler, toolchains[0].Component)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func Test_elfCgoToolchainDetection(t *testing.T) {
+	readerForFixture := func(t *testing.T, fixture string) unionreader.UnionReader {
+		t.Helper()
+		f, err := os.Open(filepath.Join("testdata/golang", fixture))
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		return f
+	}
+
+	t.Run("cgo binary has both go and c toolchains", func(t *testing.T) {
+		reader := readerForFixture(t, "bin/hello_linux_cgo")
+		f, err := elf.NewFile(reader)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		toolchains := elfToolchains(reader, f)
+
+		// versions are dynamic based on Docker image, so we ignore them in comparison
+		want := []file.Toolchain{
+			{Name: "go", Component: file.ToolchainComponentCompiler},
+			{Name: "gcc", Component: file.ToolchainComponentCompiler},
+		}
+
+		if d := cmp.Diff(want, toolchains, cmpopts.IgnoreFields(file.Toolchain{}, "Version")); d != "" {
+			t.Errorf("elfToolchains() mismatch (-want +got):\n%s", d)
+		}
+
+		// verify versions are populated
+		for _, tc := range toolchains {
+			assert.NotEmpty(t, tc.Version, "expected version to be set for %s toolchain", tc.Name)
+		}
+	})
+}

syft/file/cataloger/executable/macho.go

@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ func findMachoFeatures(data *file.Executable, reader unionreader.UnionReader) er
 		if !data.HasExports {
 			data.HasExports = machoHasExports(f)
 		}
+
+		data.Toolchains = machoToolchains(reader)
 	}
 
 	// de-duplicate libraries
@@ -56,6 +58,12 @@ func findMachoFeatures(data *file.Executable, reader unionreader.UnionReader) er
 	return nil
 }
 
+func machoToolchains(reader unionreader.UnionReader) []file.Toolchain {
+	return includeNoneNil(
+		golangToolchainEvidence(reader),
+	)
+}
+
 func machoHasEntrypoint(f *macho.File) bool {
 	// derived from struct entry_point_command found from which explicitly calls out LC_MAIN:
 	// https://opensource.apple.com/source/xnu/xnu-2050.18.24/EXTERNAL_HEADERS/mach-o/loader.h

syft/file/cataloger/executable/macho_test.go

@@ -120,3 +120,39 @@ func Test_machoUniversal(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func Test_machoGoToolchainDetection(t *testing.T) {
+	readerForFixture := func(t *testing.T, fixture string) unionreader.UnionReader {
+		t.Helper()
+		f, err := os.Open(filepath.Join("testdata/golang", fixture))
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		return f
+	}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		fixture     string
+		wantPresent bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:        "go binary has toolchain",
+			fixture:     "bin/hello_mac",
+			wantPresent: true,
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			reader := readerForFixture(t, tt.fixture)
+
+			toolchains := machoToolchains(reader)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantPresent, hasGoToolchain(toolchains))
+
+			if tt.wantPresent {
+				require.NotEmpty(t, toolchains)
+				assert.Equal(t, "go", toolchains[0].Name)
+				assert.NotEmpty(t, toolchains[0].Version)
+				assert.Equal(t, file.ToolchainComponentCompiler, toolchains[0].Component)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

syft/file/cataloger/executable/pe.go

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ func findPEFeatures(data *file.Executable, reader unionreader.UnionReader) error
 	data.ImportedLibraries = libs
 	data.HasEntrypoint = peHasEntrypoint(f)
 	data.HasExports = peHasExports(f)
+	data.Toolchains = peToolchains(reader)
 
 	return nil
 }
@@ -82,3 +83,9 @@ func peHasExports(f *pe.File) bool {
 
 	return false
 }
+
+func peToolchains(reader unionreader.UnionReader) []file.Toolchain {
+	return includeNoneNil(
+		golangToolchainEvidence(reader),
+	)
+}

syft/file/cataloger/executable/pe_test.go

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/file"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/internal/unionreader"
 )
 
@@ -78,3 +79,39 @@ func Test_peHasExports(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func Test_peGoToolchainDetection(t *testing.T) {
+	readerForFixture := func(t *testing.T, fixture string) unionreader.UnionReader {
+		t.Helper()
+		f, err := os.Open(filepath.Join("testdata/golang", fixture))
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		return f
+	}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		fixture     string
+		wantPresent bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:        "go binary has toolchain",
+			fixture:     "bin/hello.exe",
+			wantPresent: true,
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			reader := readerForFixture(t, tt.fixture)
+
+			toolchains := peToolchains(reader)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantPresent, hasGoToolchain(toolchains))
+
+			if tt.wantPresent {
+				require.NotEmpty(t, toolchains)
+				assert.Equal(t, "go", toolchains[0].Name)
+				assert.NotEmpty(t, toolchains[0].Version)
+				assert.Equal(t, file.ToolchainComponentCompiler, toolchains[0].Component)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/.gitignore

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 bin
 actual_verify
-Dockerfile.sha256
+Dockerfile.sha256
+*.fingerprint

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/golang/Dockerfile

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+FROM golang:1.24
+
+WORKDIR /app
+
+COPY go.mod go.sum ./
+RUN go mod download
+
+COPY main.go cgo_main.go ./
+
+# pure Go builds (no CGO)
+RUN CGO_ENABLED=0 GOOS=linux GOARCH=amd64 go build -o /hello_linux .
+
+RUN CGO_ENABLED=0 GOOS=darwin GOARCH=amd64 go build -o /hello_mac .
+
+RUN CGO_ENABLED=0 GOOS=windows GOARCH=amd64 go build -o /hello.exe .
+
+# CGO-enabled build (Linux only, uses gcc)
+RUN CGO_ENABLED=1 GOOS=linux GOARCH=amd64 go build -o /hello_linux_cgo ./cgo_main.go

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/golang/Makefile

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+BIN=./bin
+TOOL_IMAGE=localhost/syft-golang-build-tools:latest
+FINGERPRINT_FILE=$(BIN).fingerprint
+
+ifndef BIN
+    $(error BIN is not set)
+endif
+
+.DEFAULT_GOAL := fixtures
+
+# requirement 1: 'fixtures' goal to generate any and all test fixtures
+fixtures: build
+
+# requirement 2: 'fingerprint' goal to determine if the fixture input that indicates any existing cache should be busted
+fingerprint: $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+tools-check:
+	@sha256sum -c Dockerfile.sha256 || (echo "Tools Dockerfile has changed" && exit 1)
+
+tools:
+	@(docker inspect $(TOOL_IMAGE) > /dev/null && make tools-check) || \
+		(docker build --platform=linux/amd64 -t $(TOOL_IMAGE) . && sha256sum Dockerfile > Dockerfile.sha256)
+
+build: tools
+	@mkdir -p $(BIN)
+	docker run -i -v $(shell pwd)/$(BIN):/out $(TOOL_IMAGE) sh -c \
+		"cp /hello_linux /hello_mac /hello.exe /hello_linux_cgo /out/"
+
+debug:
+	docker run -it --rm -v $(shell pwd):/mount -w /mount $(TOOL_IMAGE) sh
+
+# requirement 3: we always need to recalculate the fingerprint based on source regardless of any existing fingerprint
+.PHONY: $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+$(FINGERPRINT_FILE):
+	@find . -maxdepth 1 -type f \( -name "*.go" -o -name "go.*" -o -name "Dockerfile" -o -name "Makefile" \) \
+		-exec sha256sum {} \; | sort -k2 > $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+# requirement 4: 'clean' goal to remove all generated test fixtures
+clean:
+	rm -rf $(BIN) Dockerfile.sha256 $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+.PHONY: tools tools-check build debug clean fixtures fingerprint

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/golang/cgo_main.go

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+package main
+
+/*
+#include <string.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+int get_length(const char* s) {
+    return strlen(s);
+}
+*/
+import "C"
+import "fmt"
+
+func main() {
+	msg := C.CString("Hello from CGO!")
+	length := C.get_length(msg)
+	fmt.Printf("String length: %d\n", int(length))
+}

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/golang/go.mod

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+module x
+
+go 1.24.4
+
+require (
+	github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1
+	golang.org/x/text v0.21.0
+)

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/golang/go.sum

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1 h1:vj9j/u1bqnvCEfJOwUhtlOARqs3+rkHYY13jYWTU97c=
+github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1/go.mod h1:J7Y8YcW2NihsgmVo/mv3lAwl/skON4iLHjSsI+c5H38=
+golang.org/x/text v0.21.0 h1:zyQAAkrwaneQ066sspRyJaG9VNi/YJ1NfzcGB3hZ/qo=
+golang.org/x/text v0.21.0/go.mod h1:4IBbMaMmOPCJ8SecivzSH54+73PCFmPWxNTLm+vZkEQ=

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/golang/main.go

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/davecgh/go-spew/spew"
+	"golang.org/x/text/language"
+)
+
+func main() {
+	// use stdlib packages
+	fmt.Println("Hello from Go!")
+	fmt.Println(strings.ToUpper("test"))
+
+	// use golang.org/x package
+	tag := language.English
+	fmt.Println(tag.String())
+
+	// use third-party package
+	spew.Dump(os.Args)
+
+	// use encoding/json
+	data, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]string{"hello": "world"})
+	fmt.Println(string(data))
+}

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/.gitignore

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+bin/
+Dockerfile.sha256
+*.fingerprint

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/Makefile

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# invoke all make files in subdirectories
+.PHONY: all gcc clang lld mold gold rust fortran
+
+all: gcc clang lld mold gold rust fortran
+
+gcc:
+	$(MAKE) -C gcc
+
+clang:
+	$(MAKE) -C clang
+
+lld:
+	$(MAKE) -C lld
+
+mold:
+	$(MAKE) -C mold
+
+gold:
+	$(MAKE) -C gold
+
+rust:
+	$(MAKE) -C rust
+
+fortran:
+	$(MAKE) -C fortran
+
+%:
+	@for dir in gcc clang lld mold gold rust fortran; do \
+		$(MAKE) -C $$dir $@; \
+	done

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/clang/Dockerfile

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+FROM alpine:3.21
+
+RUN apk add --no-cache clang18 musl-dev make
+
+# create symlink so 'clang' command works (Alpine installs as clang-18)
+RUN ln -s /usr/bin/clang-18 /usr/bin/clang

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/clang/Makefile

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+BIN=./bin
+TOOL_IMAGE=localhost/syft-toolchain-clang-build-tools:latest
+FINGERPRINT_FILE=$(BIN).fingerprint
+
+ifndef BIN
+    $(error BIN is not set)
+endif
+
+.DEFAULT_GOAL := fixtures
+
+# requirement 1: 'fixtures' goal to generate any and all test fixtures
+fixtures: build
+
+# requirement 2: 'fingerprint' goal to determine if the fixture input that indicates any existing cache should be busted
+fingerprint: $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+tools-check:
+	@sha256sum -c Dockerfile.sha256 || (echo "Tools Dockerfile has changed" && exit 1)
+
+tools:
+	@(docker inspect $(TOOL_IMAGE) > /dev/null && make tools-check) || (docker build --platform linux/amd64 -t $(TOOL_IMAGE) . && sha256sum Dockerfile > Dockerfile.sha256)
+
+build: tools
+	@mkdir -p $(BIN)
+	docker run --platform linux/amd64 -i -v $(shell pwd):/mount -w /mount/project $(TOOL_IMAGE) make
+
+debug:
+	docker run --platform linux/amd64 -i --rm -v $(shell pwd):/mount -w /mount/project $(TOOL_IMAGE) bash
+
+# requirement 3: we always need to recalculate the fingerprint based on source regardless of any existing fingerprint
+.PHONY: $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+$(FINGERPRINT_FILE):
+	@find project Dockerfile Makefile -type f -exec sha256sum {} \; | sort -k2 > $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+# requirement 4: 'clean' goal to remove all generated test fixtures
+clean:
+	rm -rf $(BIN) Dockerfile.sha256 $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+.PHONY: tools tools-check build debug clean

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/clang/project/Makefile

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+BIN=../bin
+
+all: $(BIN)/hello_clang
+
+$(BIN)/hello_clang: hello.c
+	clang hello.c -o $(BIN)/hello_clang
+
+clean:
+	rm -f $(BIN)/hello_clang

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/clang/project/hello.c

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+int main() {
+    printf("Hello, World!\n");
+    return 0;
+}

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/fortran/Dockerfile

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+FROM gcc:13.4.0

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/fortran/Makefile

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+BIN=./bin
+TOOL_IMAGE=localhost/syft-toolchain-fortran-build-tools:latest
+FINGERPRINT_FILE=$(BIN).fingerprint
+
+ifndef BIN
+    $(error BIN is not set)
+endif
+
+.DEFAULT_GOAL := fixtures
+
+# requirement 1: 'fixtures' goal to generate any and all test fixtures
+fixtures: build
+
+# requirement 2: 'fingerprint' goal to determine if the fixture input that indicates any existing cache should be busted
+fingerprint: $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+tools-check:
+	@sha256sum -c Dockerfile.sha256 || (echo "Tools Dockerfile has changed" && exit 1)
+
+tools:
+	@(docker inspect $(TOOL_IMAGE) > /dev/null && make tools-check) || (docker build --platform linux/amd64 -t $(TOOL_IMAGE) . && sha256sum Dockerfile > Dockerfile.sha256)
+
+build: tools
+	@mkdir -p $(BIN)
+	docker run --platform linux/amd64 -i -v $(shell pwd):/mount -w /mount/project $(TOOL_IMAGE) make
+
+debug:
+	docker run --platform linux/amd64 -i --rm -v $(shell pwd):/mount -w /mount/project $(TOOL_IMAGE) bash
+
+# requirement 3: we always need to recalculate the fingerprint based on source regardless of any existing fingerprint
+.PHONY: $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+$(FINGERPRINT_FILE):
+	@find project Dockerfile Makefile -type f -exec sha256sum {} \; | sort -k2 > $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+# requirement 4: 'clean' goal to remove all generated test fixtures
+clean:
+	rm -rf $(BIN) Dockerfile.sha256 $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+.PHONY: tools tools-check build debug clean

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/fortran/project/Makefile

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+BIN=../bin
+
+all: $(BIN)/hello_fortran
+
+$(BIN)/hello_fortran: hello.f90
+	gfortran hello.f90 -o $(BIN)/hello_fortran
+
+clean:
+	rm -f $(BIN)/hello_fortran

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/fortran/project/hello.f90

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+program hello
+    print *, "Hello, World!"
+end program hello

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/gcc/Dockerfile

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+FROM gcc:13.4.0

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/gcc/Makefile

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+BIN=./bin
+TOOL_IMAGE=localhost/syft-toolchain-gcc-build-tools:latest
+FINGERPRINT_FILE=$(BIN).fingerprint
+
+ifndef BIN
+    $(error BIN is not set)
+endif
+
+.DEFAULT_GOAL := fixtures
+
+# requirement 1: 'fixtures' goal to generate any and all test fixtures
+fixtures: build
+
+# requirement 2: 'fingerprint' goal to determine if the fixture input that indicates any existing cache should be busted
+fingerprint: $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+tools-check:
+	@sha256sum -c Dockerfile.sha256 || (echo "Tools Dockerfile has changed" && exit 1)
+
+tools:
+	@(docker inspect $(TOOL_IMAGE) > /dev/null && make tools-check) || (docker build --platform linux/amd64 -t $(TOOL_IMAGE) . && sha256sum Dockerfile > Dockerfile.sha256)
+
+build: tools
+	@mkdir -p $(BIN)
+	docker run --platform linux/amd64 -i -v $(shell pwd):/mount -w /mount/project $(TOOL_IMAGE) make
+
+debug:
+	docker run --platform linux/amd64 -i --rm -v $(shell pwd):/mount -w /mount/project $(TOOL_IMAGE) bash
+
+# requirement 3: we always need to recalculate the fingerprint based on source regardless of any existing fingerprint
+.PHONY: $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+$(FINGERPRINT_FILE):
+	@find project Dockerfile Makefile -type f -exec sha256sum {} \; | sort -k2 > $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+# requirement 4: 'clean' goal to remove all generated test fixtures
+clean:
+	rm -rf $(BIN) Dockerfile.sha256 $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+.PHONY: tools tools-check build debug clean

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/gcc/project/Makefile

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+BIN=../bin
+
+all: $(BIN)/hello_gcc
+
+$(BIN)/hello_gcc: hello.c
+	gcc hello.c -o $(BIN)/hello_gcc
+
+clean:
+	rm -f $(BIN)/hello_gcc

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/gcc/project/hello.c

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+int main() {
+    printf("Hello, World!\n");
+    return 0;
+}

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/gold/Dockerfile

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+FROM alpine:3.21
+
+RUN apk add --no-cache gcc binutils-gold musl-dev make

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/gold/Makefile

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+BIN=./bin
+TOOL_IMAGE=localhost/syft-toolchain-gold-build-tools:latest
+FINGERPRINT_FILE=$(BIN).fingerprint
+
+ifndef BIN
+    $(error BIN is not set)
+endif
+
+.DEFAULT_GOAL := fixtures
+
+# requirement 1: 'fixtures' goal to generate any and all test fixtures
+fixtures: build
+
+# requirement 2: 'fingerprint' goal to determine if the fixture input that indicates any existing cache should be busted
+fingerprint: $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+tools-check:
+	@sha256sum -c Dockerfile.sha256 || (echo "Tools Dockerfile has changed" && exit 1)
+
+tools:
+	@(docker inspect $(TOOL_IMAGE) > /dev/null && make tools-check) || (docker build --platform linux/amd64 -t $(TOOL_IMAGE) . && sha256sum Dockerfile > Dockerfile.sha256)
+
+build: tools
+	@mkdir -p $(BIN)
+	docker run --platform linux/amd64 -i -v $(shell pwd):/mount -w /mount/project $(TOOL_IMAGE) make
+
+debug:
+	docker run --platform linux/amd64 -i --rm -v $(shell pwd):/mount -w /mount/project $(TOOL_IMAGE) bash
+
+# requirement 3: we always need to recalculate the fingerprint based on source regardless of any existing fingerprint
+.PHONY: $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+$(FINGERPRINT_FILE):
+	@find project Dockerfile Makefile -type f -exec sha256sum {} \; | sort -k2 > $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+# requirement 4: 'clean' goal to remove all generated test fixtures
+clean:
+	rm -rf $(BIN) Dockerfile.sha256 $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+.PHONY: tools tools-check build debug clean

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/gold/project/Makefile

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+BIN=../bin
+
+all: $(BIN)/hello_gold
+
+$(BIN)/hello_gold: hello.c
+	gcc hello.c -fuse-ld=gold -o $(BIN)/hello_gold
+
+clean:
+	rm -f $(BIN)/hello_gold

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/gold/project/hello.c

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+int main() {
+    printf("Hello, World!\n");
+    return 0;
+}

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/lld/Dockerfile

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+FROM alpine:3.21
+
+RUN apk add --no-cache clang18 lld musl-dev make
+
+# create symlink so 'clang' command works (Alpine installs as clang-18)
+RUN ln -s /usr/bin/clang-18 /usr/bin/clang

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/lld/Makefile

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+BIN=./bin
+TOOL_IMAGE=localhost/syft-toolchain-lld-build-tools:latest
+FINGERPRINT_FILE=$(BIN).fingerprint
+
+ifndef BIN
+    $(error BIN is not set)
+endif
+
+.DEFAULT_GOAL := fixtures
+
+# requirement 1: 'fixtures' goal to generate any and all test fixtures
+fixtures: build
+
+# requirement 2: 'fingerprint' goal to determine if the fixture input that indicates any existing cache should be busted
+fingerprint: $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+tools-check:
+	@sha256sum -c Dockerfile.sha256 || (echo "Tools Dockerfile has changed" && exit 1)
+
+tools:
+	@(docker inspect $(TOOL_IMAGE) > /dev/null && make tools-check) || (docker build --platform linux/amd64 -t $(TOOL_IMAGE) . && sha256sum Dockerfile > Dockerfile.sha256)
+
+build: tools
+	@mkdir -p $(BIN)
+	docker run --platform linux/amd64 -i -v $(shell pwd):/mount -w /mount/project $(TOOL_IMAGE) make
+
+debug:
+	docker run --platform linux/amd64 -i --rm -v $(shell pwd):/mount -w /mount/project $(TOOL_IMAGE) bash
+
+# requirement 3: we always need to recalculate the fingerprint based on source regardless of any existing fingerprint
+.PHONY: $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+$(FINGERPRINT_FILE):
+	@find project Dockerfile Makefile -type f -exec sha256sum {} \; | sort -k2 > $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+# requirement 4: 'clean' goal to remove all generated test fixtures
+clean:
+	rm -rf $(BIN) Dockerfile.sha256 $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+.PHONY: tools tools-check build debug clean

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/lld/project/Makefile

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+BIN=../bin
+
+all: $(BIN)/hello_lld
+
+$(BIN)/hello_lld: hello.c
+	clang hello.c -fuse-ld=lld -o $(BIN)/hello_lld
+
+clean:
+	rm -f $(BIN)/hello_lld

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/lld/project/hello.c

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+int main() {
+    printf("Hello, World!\n");
+    return 0;
+}

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/mold/Dockerfile

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+FROM alpine:3.21
+
+RUN apk add --no-cache gcc mold musl-dev make

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/mold/Makefile

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+BIN=./bin
+TOOL_IMAGE=localhost/syft-toolchain-mold-build-tools:latest
+FINGERPRINT_FILE=$(BIN).fingerprint
+
+ifndef BIN
+    $(error BIN is not set)
+endif
+
+.DEFAULT_GOAL := fixtures
+
+# requirement 1: 'fixtures' goal to generate any and all test fixtures
+fixtures: build
+
+# requirement 2: 'fingerprint' goal to determine if the fixture input that indicates any existing cache should be busted
+fingerprint: $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+tools-check:
+	@sha256sum -c Dockerfile.sha256 || (echo "Tools Dockerfile has changed" && exit 1)
+
+tools:
+	@(docker inspect $(TOOL_IMAGE) > /dev/null && make tools-check) || (docker build --platform linux/amd64 -t $(TOOL_IMAGE) . && sha256sum Dockerfile > Dockerfile.sha256)
+
+build: tools
+	@mkdir -p $(BIN)
+	docker run --platform linux/amd64 -i -v $(shell pwd):/mount -w /mount/project $(TOOL_IMAGE) make
+
+debug:
+	docker run --platform linux/amd64 -i --rm -v $(shell pwd):/mount -w /mount/project $(TOOL_IMAGE) bash
+
+# requirement 3: we always need to recalculate the fingerprint based on source regardless of any existing fingerprint
+.PHONY: $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+$(FINGERPRINT_FILE):
+	@find project Dockerfile Makefile -type f -exec sha256sum {} \; | sort -k2 > $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+# requirement 4: 'clean' goal to remove all generated test fixtures
+clean:
+	rm -rf $(BIN) Dockerfile.sha256 $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+.PHONY: tools tools-check build debug clean

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/mold/project/Makefile

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+BIN=../bin
+
+all: $(BIN)/hello_mold
+
+$(BIN)/hello_mold: hello.c
+	gcc hello.c -fuse-ld=mold -o $(BIN)/hello_mold
+
+clean:
+	rm -f $(BIN)/hello_mold

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/mold/project/hello.c

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+int main() {
+    printf("Hello, World!\n");
+    return 0;
+}

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/rust/Dockerfile

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+FROM rust:1.83.0

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/rust/Makefile

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+BIN=./bin
+TOOL_IMAGE=localhost/syft-toolchain-rust-build-tools:latest
+FINGERPRINT_FILE=$(BIN).fingerprint
+
+ifndef BIN
+    $(error BIN is not set)
+endif
+
+.DEFAULT_GOAL := fixtures
+
+# requirement 1: 'fixtures' goal to generate any and all test fixtures
+fixtures: build
+
+# requirement 2: 'fingerprint' goal to determine if the fixture input that indicates any existing cache should be busted
+fingerprint: $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+tools-check:
+	@sha256sum -c Dockerfile.sha256 || (echo "Tools Dockerfile has changed" && exit 1)
+
+tools:
+	@(docker inspect $(TOOL_IMAGE) > /dev/null && make tools-check) || (docker build --platform linux/amd64 -t $(TOOL_IMAGE) . && sha256sum Dockerfile > Dockerfile.sha256)
+
+build: tools
+	@mkdir -p $(BIN)
+	docker run --platform linux/amd64 -i -v $(shell pwd):/mount -w /mount/project $(TOOL_IMAGE) make
+
+debug:
+	docker run --platform linux/amd64 -i --rm -v $(shell pwd):/mount -w /mount/project $(TOOL_IMAGE) bash
+
+# requirement 3: we always need to recalculate the fingerprint based on source regardless of any existing fingerprint
+.PHONY: $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+$(FINGERPRINT_FILE):
+	@find project Dockerfile Makefile -type f -exec sha256sum {} \; | sort -k2 > $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+# requirement 4: 'clean' goal to remove all generated test fixtures
+clean:
+	rm -rf $(BIN) Dockerfile.sha256 $(FINGERPRINT_FILE)
+
+.PHONY: tools tools-check build debug clean

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/rust/project/Makefile

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+BIN=../bin
+
+all: $(BIN)/hello_rust
+
+$(BIN)/hello_rust: hello.rs
+	rustc hello.rs -o $(BIN)/hello_rust
+
+clean:
+	rm -f $(BIN)/hello_rust

syft/file/cataloger/executable/testdata/toolchains/rust/project/hello.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+fn main() {
+    println!("Hello, World!");
+}

syft/file/cataloger/executable/toolchains.go

@@ -0,0 +1,180 @@
+package executable
+
+import (
+	"debug/buildinfo"
+	"debug/elf"
+	"io"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/scylladb/go-set/strset"
+
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/file"
+)
+
+// TODO: additional toolchain detectors we'd like to add. Each entry notes the signal location and the
+// component it yields.
+//
+// ELF (.comment / notes / symbols — same mechanism as the detectors below):
+//   1. rustc commit hash: scan rodata for "/rustc/<40-hex>/library/" panic paths; resolves rust provenance
+//      for stripped or pre-1.73 binaries (where the .comment producer string is absent). needs a
+//      commit->version lookup table to turn the hash into a semver. component: compiler.
+//   2. gdc (GNU D): "GNU D" marker alongside the GCC version in .comment. component: compiler.
+//   3. Swift (Linux): presence of "swift5_*" sections marks Swift; version only when a "swiftlang-"
+//      producer string is present (debug builds). component: compiler.
+//   4. Haskell GHC: RTS symbols (hs_init, stg_*) for identity; derive an approximate version from the
+//      embedded "base_<x.y.z>" package symbol. component: compiler.
+//   5. identity-only (no reliable version) via runtime symbol prefixes: OCaml (caml_*), Nim (NimMain),
+//      Crystal (__crystal_main), FreePascal (FPC_*), ldc/dmd D (_Dmain). component: compiler.
+//   6. GNU assembler (GNU AS): only present in DWARF .debug_info producer strings, NOT .comment, so it
+//      requires DWARF parsing and is absent in stripped builds. component: assembler.
+//   7. GNU ld (BFD): leaves no self-identifying marker; can only be inferred by elimination (ELF with a
+//      compiler .comment but no lld/mold/gold evidence) at low confidence and with no version.
+//
+// PE (Windows — needs debug/pe, not covered by this ELF-only file):
+//   8. MSVC link.exe + cl.exe: parse the Rich Header (the "DanS".."Rich" block, XOR-decoded into
+//      ProdID/build pairs); map build numbers to Visual Studio/linker versions. components: linker + compiler.
+//   9. .NET / CLR: COR20 header (optional-header DataDirectory[14]) marks a managed assembly; read the
+//      "TargetFrameworkAttribute" string (e.g. ".NETCoreApp,Version=v8.0") for the runtime version.
+//      component: runtime. (NativeAOT .NET is a native binary with runtime symbols only and no clean version.)
+//
+// Mach-O (macOS — needs debug/macho):
+//   10. Swift: presence of "__swift5_*" sections; version via the "swiftlang-" producer when present.
+//       component: compiler.
+
+var (
+	clangVersionPattern = regexp.MustCompile(`clang version (\d+\.\d+\.\d+)`)
+	gccVersionPattern   = regexp.MustCompile(`GCC: \([^)]+\) (\d+\.\d+\.\d+)`)
+	// rustc embeds its own producer string in .comment for binaries built with rust >= 1.73 (e.g.
+	// "rustc version 1.83.0 (90b35a623 2024-11-26)"). The shipped libstd objects instead carry the
+	// "clang LLVM (rustc version ...)" form, so accept both.
+	rustcVersionPattern = regexp.MustCompile(`rustc version (\d+\.\d+\.\d+)`)
+	// LLVM lld writes "Linker: LLD <version>" into .comment (see https://lld.llvm.org/).
+	lldVersionPattern = regexp.MustCompile(`Linker: LLD (\d+\.\d+\.\d+)`)
+	// mold writes "mold <version> (...; compatible with GNU ld)" into .comment.
+	moldVersionPattern = regexp.MustCompile(`mold (\d+\.\d+\.\d+)`)
+	// GNU gold writes a "gold <version>" descriptor into the .note.gnu.gold-version note section.
+	goldVersionPattern = regexp.MustCompile(`gold (\d+\.\d+)`)
+)
+
+// golangToolchainEvidence attempts to extract Go toolchain information from the binary build info.
+func golangToolchainEvidence(reader io.ReaderAt) *file.Toolchain {
+	bi, err := buildinfo.Read(reader)
+	if err != nil || bi == nil {
+		// not a golang binary
+		return nil
+	}
+	return &file.Toolchain{
+		Name:      "go",
+		Version:   bi.GoVersion,
+		Component: file.ToolchainComponentCompiler,
+	}
+}
+
+// cToolchainEvidence attempts to extract C/C++/Fortran compiler information from the ELF .comment section.
+// This detects GCC, Clang, and gfortran compilers based on their version strings.
+func cToolchainEvidence(comments []string, symbols *strset.Set) *file.Toolchain {
+	for _, comment := range comments {
+		// check for clang first since clang binaries often have both GCC and clang entries
+		// (clang includes GCC compatibility info)
+		if match := clangVersionPattern.FindStringSubmatch(comment); match != nil {
+			return &file.Toolchain{
+				Name:      "clang",
+				Version:   match[1],
+				Component: file.ToolchainComponentCompiler,
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	for _, comment := range comments {
+		if match := gccVersionPattern.FindStringSubmatch(comment); match != nil {
+			// gfortran is a GCC frontend and shares the GCC version string in .comment, so the only way
+			// to distinguish a Fortran build from a C build is by the presence of libgfortran runtime symbols.
+			name := "gcc"
+			if hasFortranEvidence(symbols) {
+				name = "gfortran"
+			}
+			return &file.Toolchain{
+				Name:      name,
+				Version:   match[1],
+				Component: file.ToolchainComponentCompiler,
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// rustToolchainEvidence attempts to extract Rust compiler information from the ELF .comment section.
+func rustToolchainEvidence(comments []string) *file.Toolchain {
+	for _, comment := range comments {
+		if match := rustcVersionPattern.FindStringSubmatch(comment); match != nil {
+			return &file.Toolchain{
+				Name:      "rust",
+				Version:   match[1],
+				Component: file.ToolchainComponentCompiler,
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// linkerToolchainEvidence attempts to extract linker information from the binary. lld and mold leave a
+// version string in the ELF .comment section, while gold writes a dedicated .note.gnu.gold-version note.
+// GNU ld (BFD) leaves no self-identifying marker, so it cannot be detected here.
+func linkerToolchainEvidence(f *elf.File, comments []string) *file.Toolchain {
+	for _, comment := range comments {
+		if match := lldVersionPattern.FindStringSubmatch(comment); match != nil {
+			return &file.Toolchain{
+				Name:      "lld",
+				Version:   match[1],
+				Component: file.ToolchainComponentLinker,
+			}
+		}
+		if match := moldVersionPattern.FindStringSubmatch(comment); match != nil {
+			return &file.Toolchain{
+				Name:      "mold",
+				Version:   match[1],
+				Component: file.ToolchainComponentLinker,
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if section := f.Section(".note.gnu.gold-version"); section != nil {
+		data, err := section.Data()
+		if err == nil {
+			if match := goldVersionPattern.FindStringSubmatch(string(data)); match != nil {
+				return &file.Toolchain{
+					Name:      "gold",
+					Version:   match[1],
+					Component: file.ToolchainComponentLinker,
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// elfComments returns the null-delimited strings within the ELF .comment section, which may contain
+// multiple producer entries (compiler, assembler, linker, etc.).
+func elfComments(f *elf.File) []string {
+	section := f.Section(".comment")
+	if section == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	data, err := section.Data()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// the .comment section contains null-terminated strings
+	return strings.Split(string(data), "\x00")
+}
+
+// hasFortranEvidence reports whether the binary references the libgfortran runtime, which indicates a
+// gfortran build (MAIN__ is the real Fortran program entry, and _gfortran_* are runtime calls).
+func hasFortranEvidence(symbols *strset.Set) bool {
+	return symbols.HasAny("MAIN__", "_gfortran_set_args", "_gfortran_set_options", "_gfortran_st_write")
+}

syft/file/cataloger/executable/toolchains_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+package executable
+
+import (
+	"debug/elf"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/file"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/internal/unionreader"
+)
+
+// hasGoToolchain is a test helper to check whether the go toolchain was detected.
+func hasGoToolchain(toolchains []file.Toolchain) bool {
+	for _, tc := range toolchains {
+		if tc.Name == "go" {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func Test_elfToolchains(t *testing.T) {
+	readerForFixture := func(t *testing.T, fixture string) unionreader.UnionReader {
+		t.Helper()
+		f, err := os.Open(filepath.Join("testdata/toolchains", fixture))
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		return f
+	}
+
+	compiler := file.ToolchainComponentCompiler
+	linker := file.ToolchainComponentLinker
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		fixture string
+		want    []file.Toolchain
+	}{
+		{
+			name:    "gcc: compiler only",
+			fixture: "gcc/bin/hello_gcc",
+			want: []file.Toolchain{
+				{Name: "gcc", Version: "13.4.0", Component: compiler},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "clang: compiler only",
+			fixture: "clang/bin/hello_clang",
+			want: []file.Toolchain{
+				{Name: "clang", Version: "18.1.8", Component: compiler},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "lld: clang compiler + lld linker",
+			fixture: "lld/bin/hello_lld",
+			want: []file.Toolchain{
+				{Name: "clang", Version: "18.1.8", Component: compiler},
+				{Name: "lld", Version: "19.1.4", Component: linker},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "mold: gcc compiler + mold linker",
+			fixture: "mold/bin/hello_mold",
+			want: []file.Toolchain{
+				{Name: "gcc", Version: "14.2.0", Component: compiler},
+				{Name: "mold", Version: "2.34.1", Component: linker},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "gold: gcc compiler + gold linker",
+			fixture: "gold/bin/hello_gold",
+			want: []file.Toolchain{
+				{Name: "gcc", Version: "14.2.0", Component: compiler},
+				{Name: "gold", Version: "1.16", Component: linker},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			// rust binaries also carry a GCC producer string from the gcc-compiled C runtime glue that is
+			// linked in, so both compilers are reported (akin to how cgo binaries report go and gcc).
+			name:    "rust: gcc glue + rustc",
+			fixture: "rust/bin/hello_rust",
+			want: []file.Toolchain{
+				{Name: "gcc", Version: "12.2.0", Component: compiler},
+				{Name: "rust", Version: "1.83.0", Component: compiler},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			// gfortran shares the GCC version string in .comment, so it is only distinguishable from a
+			// C build by the presence of libgfortran runtime symbols (gcc gets relabeled to gfortran).
+			name:    "fortran: gfortran compiler only",
+			fixture: "fortran/bin/hello_fortran",
+			want: []file.Toolchain{
+				{Name: "gfortran", Version: "13.4.0", Component: compiler},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			reader := readerForFixture(t, tt.fixture)
+			f, err := elf.NewFile(reader)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			got := elfToolchains(reader, f)
+
+			if d := cmp.Diff(tt.want, got); d != "" {
+				t.Errorf("elfToolchains() mismatch (-want +got):\n%s", d)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

syft/file/executable.go

@@ -6,9 +6,16 @@ type (
 
 	// RelocationReadOnly indicates the RELRO security protection level applied to an ELF binary.
 	RelocationReadOnly string
+
+	// ToolchainComponent represents which part of the toolchain an entry describes (e.g. compiler, linker).
+	// This can be expanded in the future to include assemblers, runtimes, and other toolchain components.
+	ToolchainComponent string
 )
 
 const (
+	ToolchainComponentCompiler ToolchainComponent = "compiler"
+	ToolchainComponentLinker   ToolchainComponent = "linker"
+
 	ELF   ExecutableFormat = "elf"   // Executable and Linkable Format used on Unix-like systems
 	MachO ExecutableFormat = "macho" // Mach object file format used on macOS and iOS
 	PE    ExecutableFormat = "pe"    // Portable Executable format used on Windows
@@ -34,6 +41,20 @@ type Executable struct {
 
 	// ELFSecurityFeatures contains ELF-specific security hardening information when Format is ELF.
 	ELFSecurityFeatures *ELFSecurityFeatures `json:"elfSecurityFeatures,omitempty" yaml:"elfSecurityFeatures" mapstructure:"elfSecurityFeatures"`
+
+	// Toolchains captures information about the compiler, linker, runtime, or other toolchains used to build (or otherwise exist within) the executable.
+	Toolchains []Toolchain `json:"toolchains,omitempty" yaml:"toolchains" mapstructure:"toolchains"`
+}
+
+type Toolchain struct {
+	// Name is the name of the toolchain (e.g., "gcc", "clang", "rust", "lld", "GNU AS", etc.).
+	Name string `json:"name" yaml:"name" mapstructure:"name"`
+
+	// Version is the version of the toolchain.
+	Version string `json:"version,omitempty" yaml:"version,omitempty" mapstructure:"version"`
+
+	// Component indicates which part of the toolchain this represents (e.g., compiler, linker, assembler).
+	Component ToolchainComponent `json:"component" yaml:"component" mapstructure:"component"`
 }
 
 // ELFSecurityFeatures captures security hardening and protection mechanisms in ELF binaries.