diff --git a/internal/mimetype_helper.go b/internal/mimetype_helper.go
index 3dbc36098..8ddf29fb3 100644
--- a/internal/mimetype_helper.go
+++ b/internal/mimetype_helper.go
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ var (
 			"application/x-elf",
 			"application/x-sharedlib",
 			"application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable",
+			"application/x-executable",
 		}...,
 	)
 )
diff --git a/syft/file/classification_cataloger_test.go b/syft/file/classification_cataloger_test.go
index 90cca7642..405166225 100644
--- a/syft/file/classification_cataloger_test.go
+++ b/syft/file/classification_cataloger_test.go
@@ -93,7 +93,8 @@ func TestClassifierCataloger_DefaultClassifiers_PositiveCases(t *testing.T) {
 			location:   "[", // note: busybox is a link to [
 			expected: []Classification{
 				{
-					Class: "busybox-binary",
+					Class:       "busybox-binary",
+					VirtualPath: "busybox",
 					Metadata: map[string]string{
 						"version": "3.33.3",
 					},
@@ -148,7 +149,8 @@ func TestClassifierCataloger_DefaultClassifiers_PositiveCases_Image(t *testing.T
 			location:     "/bin/[",
 			expected: []Classification{
 				{
-					Class: "busybox-binary",
+					Class:       "busybox-binary",
+					VirtualPath: "/bin/busybox",
 					Metadata: map[string]string{
 						"version": "1.35.0",
 					},
diff --git a/syft/file/classifier.go b/syft/file/classifier.go
index 9b35b5110..e71a5fa02 100644
--- a/syft/file/classifier.go
+++ b/syft/file/classifier.go
@@ -40,6 +40,16 @@ var DefaultClassifiers = []Classifier{
 			`(?m)go(?P<version>[0-9]+\.[0-9]+(\.[0-9]+|beta[0-9]+|alpha[0-9]+|rc[0-9]+)?)`,
 		},
 	},
+	{
+		Class: "nodejs-binary",
+		FilepathPatterns: []*regexp.Regexp{
+			regexp.MustCompile(`(.*/|^)node$`),
+		},
+		EvidencePatternTemplates: []string{
+			// regex that matches node.js/vx.y.z
+			`(?m)node\.js\/v(?P<version>[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+)`,
+		},
+	},
 	{
 		Class: "go-binary-hint",
 		FilepathPatterns: []*regexp.Regexp{
@@ -67,12 +77,13 @@ type Classifier struct {
 }
 
 type Classification struct {
-	Class    string            `json:"class"`
-	Metadata map[string]string `json:"metadata"`
+	Class       string            `json:"class"`
+	VirtualPath string            `json:"virtual_path"`
+	Metadata    map[string]string `json:"metadata"`
 }
 
 func (c Classifier) Classify(resolver source.FileResolver, location source.Location) (*Classification, error) {
-	doesFilepathMatch, filepathNamedGroupValues := filepathMatches(c.FilepathPatterns, location)
+	doesFilepathMatch, filepathNamedGroupValues := FilepathMatches(c.FilepathPatterns, location)
 	if !doesFilepathMatch {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
@@ -114,8 +125,9 @@ func (c Classifier) Classify(resolver source.FileResolver, location source.Locat
 		matchMetadata := internal.MatchNamedCaptureGroups(pattern, string(contents))
 		if result == nil {
 			result = &Classification{
-				Class:    c.Class,
-				Metadata: matchMetadata,
+				Class:       c.Class,
+				VirtualPath: location.VirtualPath,
+				Metadata:    matchMetadata,
 			}
 		} else {
 			for key, value := range matchMetadata {
@@ -126,7 +138,7 @@ func (c Classifier) Classify(resolver source.FileResolver, location source.Locat
 	return result, nil
 }
 
-func filepathMatches(patterns []*regexp.Regexp, location source.Location) (bool, map[string]string) {
+func FilepathMatches(patterns []*regexp.Regexp, location source.Location) (bool, map[string]string) {
 	for _, path := range []string{location.RealPath, location.VirtualPath} {
 		if path == "" {
 			continue
diff --git a/syft/file/classifier_test.go b/syft/file/classifier_test.go
index ddfa50a2b..4421bc349 100644
--- a/syft/file/classifier_test.go
+++ b/syft/file/classifier_test.go
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func TestFilepathMatches(t *testing.T) {
 			for _, p := range test.patterns {
 				patterns = append(patterns, regexp.MustCompile(p))
 			}
-			actualMatches, actualNamedGroups := filepathMatches(patterns, test.location)
+			actualMatches, actualNamedGroups := FilepathMatches(patterns, test.location)
 			assert.Equal(t, test.expectedMatches, actualMatches)
 			assert.Equal(t, test.expectedNamedGroups, actualNamedGroups)
 		})
diff --git a/syft/formats/common/spdxhelpers/source_info_test.go b/syft/formats/common/spdxhelpers/source_info_test.go
index 75f3987ba..6de1f461a 100644
--- a/syft/formats/common/spdxhelpers/source_info_test.go
+++ b/syft/formats/common/spdxhelpers/source_info_test.go
@@ -183,6 +183,14 @@ func Test_SourceInfo(t *testing.T) {
 				"from cabal or stack manifest files",
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			input: pkg.Package{
+				Type: pkg.BinaryPkg,
+			},
+			expected: []string{
+				"acquired package info from the following paths",
+			},
+		},
 	}
 	var pkgTypes []pkg.Type
 	for _, test := range tests {
diff --git a/syft/pkg/binary_metadata.go b/syft/pkg/binary_metadata.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0fd1413c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syft/pkg/binary_metadata.go
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+package pkg
+
+type BinaryMetadata struct {
+	Classifier  string
+	RealPath    string
+	VirtualPath string
+}
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/catalog.go b/syft/pkg/cataloger/catalog.go
index 1e14ef86a..79d7dc0bb 100644
--- a/syft/pkg/cataloger/catalog.go
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/catalog.go
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ func Catalog(resolver source.FileResolver, release *linux.Release, catalogers ..
 
 		for _, p := range packages {
 			// generate CPEs (note: this is excluded from package ID, so is safe to mutate)
-			p.CPEs = cpe.Generate(p)
+			// we might have binary classified CPE already with the package so we want to append here
+			p.CPEs = append(p.CPEs, cpe.Generate(p)...)
 
 			// generate PURL (note: this is excluded from package ID, so is safe to mutate)
 			p.PURL = pkg.URL(p, release)
@@ -85,7 +86,6 @@ func Catalog(resolver source.FileResolver, release *linux.Release, catalogers ..
 			} else {
 				allRelationships = append(allRelationships, owningRelationships...)
 			}
-
 			// add to catalog
 			catalog.Add(p)
 		}
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/cataloger.go b/syft/pkg/cataloger/cataloger.go
index dd704695f..452b326eb 100644
--- a/syft/pkg/cataloger/cataloger.go
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/cataloger.go
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ func ImageCatalogers(cfg Config) []pkg.Cataloger {
 		python.NewPythonPackageCataloger(),
 		php.NewPHPComposerInstalledCataloger(),
 		javascript.NewJavascriptPackageCataloger(),
+		javascript.NewNodeBinaryCataloger(),
 		deb.NewDpkgdbCataloger(),
 		rpm.NewRpmdbCataloger(),
 		java.NewJavaCataloger(cfg.Java()),
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ func DirectoryCatalogers(cfg Config) []pkg.Cataloger {
 		python.NewPythonPackageCataloger(),
 		php.NewPHPComposerLockCataloger(),
 		javascript.NewJavascriptLockCataloger(),
+		javascript.NewNodeBinaryCataloger(),
 		deb.NewDpkgdbCataloger(),
 		rpm.NewRpmdbCataloger(),
 		rpm.NewFileCataloger(),
@@ -86,6 +88,7 @@ func AllCatalogers(cfg Config) []pkg.Cataloger {
 		python.NewPythonPackageCataloger(),
 		javascript.NewJavascriptLockCataloger(),
 		javascript.NewJavascriptPackageCataloger(),
+		javascript.NewNodeBinaryCataloger(),
 		deb.NewDpkgdbCataloger(),
 		rpm.NewRpmdbCataloger(),
 		rpm.NewFileCataloger(),
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/common/cpe/generate.go b/syft/pkg/cataloger/common/cpe/generate.go
index 5de119b54..afce232da 100644
--- a/syft/pkg/cataloger/common/cpe/generate.go
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/common/cpe/generate.go
@@ -70,6 +70,11 @@ func candidateVendors(p pkg.Package) []string {
 	vendors := newFieldCandidateSet(candidateProducts(p)...)
 
 	switch p.Language {
+	case pkg.JavaScript:
+		// for JavaScript if we find node.js as a package then the vendor is "nodejs"
+		if p.Name == "node.js" {
+			vendors.addValue("nodejs")
+		}
 	case pkg.Ruby:
 		vendors.addValue("ruby-lang")
 	case pkg.Go:
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/generic/classifier.go b/syft/pkg/cataloger/generic/classifier.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8a557fff8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/generic/classifier.go
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+package generic
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"path"
+	"regexp"
+
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/internal"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/artifact"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/file"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg/cataloger/internal/unionreader"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/source"
+)
+
+// Classifier is a generic package classifier that can be used to match a package definition
+// to a file that meets the given content criteria of the EvidencePatternTemplates.
+type Classifier struct {
+	Package string
+	// FilepathPatterns is a list of regular expressions that will be used to match against the file path of a given
+	// source location. If any of the patterns match, the file will be considered a candidate for parsing.
+	// If no patterns are provided, the reader is automatically considered a candidate.
+	FilepathPatterns []*regexp.Regexp
+	// EvidencePattern is a list of regular expressions that will be used to match against the file contents of a
+	// given file in the source location. If any of the patterns match, the file will be considered a candidate for parsing.
+	EvidencePatterns []*regexp.Regexp
+	// CPE is the CPE we want to match against
+	CPEs []pkg.CPE
+}
+
+func (c Classifier) Examine(reader source.LocationReadCloser) (p *pkg.Package, r *artifact.Relationship, err error) {
+	doesFilepathMatch := true
+	if len(c.FilepathPatterns) > 0 {
+		doesFilepathMatch, _ = file.FilepathMatches(c.FilepathPatterns, reader.Location)
+	}
+
+	if !doesFilepathMatch {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("location: %s did not match any patterns for package=%q", reader.Location, c.Package)
+	}
+
+	contents, err := getContents(reader)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to get read contents for file: %+v", err)
+	}
+
+	var classifiedPackage *pkg.Package
+	for _, patternTemplate := range c.EvidencePatterns {
+		if !patternTemplate.Match(contents) {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		matchMetadata := internal.MatchNamedCaptureGroups(patternTemplate, string(contents))
+		if classifiedPackage == nil {
+			classifiedPackage = &pkg.Package{
+				Name:         path.Base(reader.VirtualPath),
+				Version:      matchMetadata["version"],
+				Language:     pkg.Binary,
+				Locations:    source.NewLocationSet(reader.Location),
+				Type:         pkg.BinaryPkg,
+				CPEs:         c.CPEs,
+				MetadataType: pkg.BinaryMetadataType,
+				Metadata: pkg.BinaryMetadata{
+					Classifier:  c.Package,
+					RealPath:    reader.RealPath,
+					VirtualPath: reader.VirtualPath,
+				},
+			}
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	return classifiedPackage, nil, nil
+}
+
+func getContents(reader source.LocationReadCloser) ([]byte, error) {
+	unionReader, err := unionreader.GetUnionReader(reader.ReadCloser)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to get union reader for file: %+v", err)
+	}
+
+	contents, err := io.ReadAll(unionReader)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to get contents for file: %+v", err)
+	}
+
+	return contents, nil
+}
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/javascript/cataloger.go b/syft/pkg/cataloger/javascript/cataloger.go
index cefbaccb5..150a537f2 100644
--- a/syft/pkg/cataloger/javascript/cataloger.go
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/javascript/cataloger.go
@@ -9,9 +9,11 @@ import (
 	"path"
 	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/internal"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/internal/log"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg/cataloger/common"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg/cataloger/generic"
 	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/source"
 )
 
@@ -35,6 +37,11 @@ func NewJavascriptLockCataloger() *common.GenericCataloger {
 	return common.NewGenericCataloger(nil, globParsers, "javascript-lock-cataloger", addLicenses)
 }
 
+func NewNodeBinaryCataloger() *generic.Cataloger {
+	return generic.NewCataloger("node-binary-cataloger").
+		WithParserByMimeTypes(parseNodeBinary, internal.ExecutableMIMETypeSet.List()...)
+}
+
 func addLicenses(resolver source.FileResolver, location source.Location, p *pkg.Package) error {
 	dir := path.Dir(location.RealPath)
 	pkgPath := []string{dir, "node_modules"}
diff --git a/syft/pkg/cataloger/javascript/parse_node_binary.go b/syft/pkg/cataloger/javascript/parse_node_binary.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e7933fcbd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/syft/pkg/cataloger/javascript/parse_node_binary.go
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+package javascript
+
+import (
+	"regexp"
+
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/internal/log"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/artifact"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/pkg/cataloger/generic"
+	"github.com/anchore/syft/syft/source"
+)
+
+var nodeClassifier = generic.Classifier{
+	Package: "node.js", // Note: this purposely matches the "node.js" string to aid nvd vuln matching
+	FilepathPatterns: []*regexp.Regexp{
+		// note: should we just parse all files resolved with executable mimetypes
+		// regexp that matches node binary
+		regexp.MustCompile(`(.*/|^)node$`),
+	},
+	EvidencePatterns: []*regexp.Regexp{
+		// regex that matches node.js/vx.y.z
+		regexp.MustCompile(`(?m)node\.js\/v(?P<version>[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+)`),
+	},
+	CPEs: []pkg.CPE{
+		pkg.MustCPE("cpe:2.3:a:nodejs:node.js:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*"),
+	},
+}
+
+func parseNodeBinary(_ source.FileResolver, _ *generic.Environment, reader source.LocationReadCloser) ([]pkg.Package, []artifact.Relationship, error) {
+	p, _, err := nodeClassifier.Examine(reader)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Trace("failed to find node.js package: %+v", err)
+		return nil, nil, nil // we can silently fail here to reduce warning noise
+	}
+
+	// TODO add node specific metadata to the packages to help with vulnerability matching
+	if p != nil {
+		p.Language = pkg.JavaScript
+		return []pkg.Package{*p}, nil, nil
+	}
+	p.SetID()
+	return nil, nil, nil
+}
diff --git a/syft/pkg/language.go b/syft/pkg/language.go
index 8e3d6193c..9e8054d60 100644
--- a/syft/pkg/language.go
+++ b/syft/pkg/language.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ const (
 	Swift           Language = "swift"
 	CPP             Language = "c++"
 	Haskell         Language = "haskell"
+	Binary          Language = "binary"
 )
 
 // AllLanguages is a set of all programming languages detected by syft.
diff --git a/syft/pkg/metadata.go b/syft/pkg/metadata.go
index 6a93f7872..dcf2c7c6a 100644
--- a/syft/pkg/metadata.go
+++ b/syft/pkg/metadata.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ const (
 	UnknownMetadataType          MetadataType = "UnknownMetadata"
 	ApkMetadataType              MetadataType = "ApkMetadata"
 	AlpmMetadataType             MetadataType = "AlpmMetadata"
+	BinaryMetadataType           MetadataType = "BinaryMetadata"
 	DpkgMetadataType             MetadataType = "DpkgMetadata"
 	GemMetadataType              MetadataType = "GemMetadata"
 	JavaMetadataType             MetadataType = "JavaMetadata"
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ const (
 var AllMetadataTypes = []MetadataType{
 	ApkMetadataType,
 	AlpmMetadataType,
+	BinaryMetadataType,
 	DpkgMetadataType,
 	GemMetadataType,
 	JavaMetadataType,
@@ -57,6 +59,7 @@ var AllMetadataTypes = []MetadataType{
 var MetadataTypeByName = map[MetadataType]reflect.Type{
 	ApkMetadataType:              reflect.TypeOf(ApkMetadata{}),
 	AlpmMetadataType:             reflect.TypeOf(AlpmMetadata{}),
+	BinaryMetadataType:           reflect.TypeOf(BinaryMetadata{}),
 	DpkgMetadataType:             reflect.TypeOf(DpkgMetadata{}),
 	GemMetadataType:              reflect.TypeOf(GemMetadata{}),
 	JavaMetadataType:             reflect.TypeOf(JavaMetadata{}),
diff --git a/syft/pkg/type.go b/syft/pkg/type.go
index 6dafed472..bedb6c85c 100644
--- a/syft/pkg/type.go
+++ b/syft/pkg/type.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ type Type string
 const (
 	// the full set of supported packages
 	UnknownPkg       Type = "UnknownPackage"
+	BinaryPkg        Type = "binary"
 	ApkPkg           Type = "apk"
 	AlpmPkg          Type = "alpm"
 	GemPkg           Type = "gem"
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ const (
 var AllPkgs = []Type{
 	ApkPkg,
 	AlpmPkg,
+	BinaryPkg,
 	GemPkg,
 	DebPkg,
 	RpmPkg,
diff --git a/syft/pkg/type_test.go b/syft/pkg/type_test.go
index 5902185dc..e196ac508 100644
--- a/syft/pkg/type_test.go
+++ b/syft/pkg/type_test.go
@@ -87,10 +87,12 @@ func TestTypeFromPURL(t *testing.T) {
 		expectedTypes.Add(string(ty))
 	}
 
-	// testing microsoft packages and jenkins-plugins is not valid for purl at this time
+	// testing microsoft packages and jenkins-plugins and custom binary type
+	// is not valid for purl at this time
 	expectedTypes.Remove(string(KbPkg))
 	expectedTypes.Remove(string(JenkinsPluginPkg))
 	expectedTypes.Remove(string(PortagePkg))
+	expectedTypes.Remove(string(BinaryPkg))
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		t.Run(string(test.expected), func(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/syft/pkg/url_test.go b/syft/pkg/url_test.go
index 551b6b944..f3b98e854 100644
--- a/syft/pkg/url_test.go
+++ b/syft/pkg/url_test.go
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ func TestPackageURL(t *testing.T) {
 	expectedTypes.Remove(string(DebPkg))
 	expectedTypes.Remove(string(GoModulePkg))
 	expectedTypes.Remove(string(HackagePkg))
+	expectedTypes.Remove(string(BinaryPkg))
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/test/cli/packages_cmd_test.go b/test/cli/packages_cmd_test.go
index 2170c6bc5..a3428ac33 100644
--- a/test/cli/packages_cmd_test.go
+++ b/test/cli/packages_cmd_test.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 func TestPackagesCmdFlags(t *testing.T) {
 	hiddenPackagesImage := "docker-archive:" + getFixtureImage(t, "image-hidden-packages")
 	coverageImage := "docker-archive:" + getFixtureImage(t, "image-pkg-coverage")
+	nodeBinaryImage := "docker-archive:" + getFixtureImage(t, "image-node-binary")
 	//badBinariesImage := "docker-archive:" + getFixtureImage(t, "image-bad-binaries")
 	tmp := t.TempDir() + "/"
 
@@ -142,6 +143,15 @@ func TestPackagesCmdFlags(t *testing.T) {
 				assertSuccessfulReturnCode,
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			name: "catalog-node-js-binary",
+			args: []string{"packages", "-o", "json", nodeBinaryImage},
+			assertions: []traitAssertion{
+				assertJsonReport,
+				assertInOutput("node.js"),
+				assertSuccessfulReturnCode,
+			},
+		},
 		{
 			name: "responds-to-package-cataloger-search-options",
 			args: []string{"packages", "-vv"},
diff --git a/test/cli/test-fixtures/image-node-binary/Dockerfile b/test/cli/test-fixtures/image-node-binary/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6bda80cab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/cli/test-fixtures/image-node-binary/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+FROM node:19-alpine3.15
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/integration/catalog_packages_test.go b/test/integration/catalog_packages_test.go
index 71f5e0c8e..8a54b1b03 100644
--- a/test/integration/catalog_packages_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/catalog_packages_test.go
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ func TestPkgCoverageImage(t *testing.T) {
 	definedPkgs.Remove(string(pkg.CocoapodsPkg))
 	definedPkgs.Remove(string(pkg.ConanPkg))
 	definedPkgs.Remove(string(pkg.HackagePkg))
+	definedPkgs.Remove(string(pkg.BinaryPkg))
 
 	var cases []testCase
 	cases = append(cases, commonTestCases...)
@@ -206,6 +207,7 @@ func TestPkgCoverageDirectory(t *testing.T) {
 	observedLanguages.Remove(pkg.UnknownLanguage.String())
 	definedLanguages.Remove(pkg.UnknownLanguage.String())
 	observedPkgs.Remove(string(pkg.UnknownPkg))
+	definedPkgs.Remove(string(pkg.BinaryPkg))
 	definedPkgs.Remove(string(pkg.UnknownPkg))
 
 	// for directory scans we should not expect to see any of the following package types