diff --git a/parser/pe/PEFile.cpp b/parser/pe/PEFile.cpp
index b37194b9..a3f71d77 100644
--- a/parser/pe/PEFile.cpp
+++ b/parser/pe/PEFile.cpp
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ bool PEFile::moveDataDirEntry(pe::dir_entry id, offset_t newOffset, Executable::
 }
 
 
-SectionHdrWrapper* PEFile::addNewSection(QString name, bufsize_t size, DWORD characteristics)
+SectionHdrWrapper* PEFile::addNewSection(QString name, bufsize_t size)
 {
     ExeNodeWrapper* sec = dynamic_cast<ExeNodeWrapper*>(getWrapper(PEFile::WR_SECTIONS));
     if (sec == NULL || sec->canAddEntry() == false) {
@@ -344,7 +344,6 @@ SectionHdrWrapper* PEFile::addNewSection(QString name, bufsize_t size, DWORD cha
     secHdr.VirtualAddress = static_cast<DWORD>(roundedVirtualEnd);
     secHdr.SizeOfRawData = size;
     secHdr.Misc.VirtualSize = size;
-    secHdr.Characteristics = characteristics;
 
     SectionHdrWrapper wr(this, &secHdr);
     SectionHdrWrapper* secHdrWr = dynamic_cast<SectionHdrWrapper*>(sec->addEntry(&wr));
diff --git a/parser/pe/PEFile.h b/parser/pe/PEFile.h
index 1efbec34..7bd391fa 100644
--- a/parser/pe/PEFile.h
+++ b/parser/pe/PEFile.h
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ public:
     bool moveDataDirEntry(pe::dir_entry id, offset_t newOffset, Executable::addr_type addType = Executable::RAW); //throws CustomException
 
     SectionHdrWrapper* getLastSection();
-    SectionHdrWrapper* addNewSection(QString name, bufsize_t size, DWORD characteristics = 0xE0000000);
+    SectionHdrWrapper* addNewSection(QString name, bufsize_t size);
     SectionHdrWrapper* extendLastSection(bufsize_t addedSize);
 
 
diff --git a/parser/pe/SectHdrsWrapper.h b/parser/pe/SectHdrsWrapper.h
index 5d65b5a6..d9ab0c48 100644
--- a/parser/pe/SectHdrsWrapper.h
+++ b/parser/pe/SectHdrsWrapper.h
@@ -47,8 +47,24 @@ public:
     offset_t getContentEndOffset(Executable::addr_type aType, bool roundup); //always useMapped startOFfset
 
     bufsize_t getContentSize(Executable::addr_type aType, bool roundup);
-    
-protected: 
+
+    DWORD getCharacteristics()
+    {
+        if (header == NULL) return 0;
+        return header->Characteristics;
+    }
+
+//modifications:
+    bool setCharacteristics(DWORD newCharacteristics)
+    {
+        if (header == NULL) return false;
+        //TODO: validate newCharacteristics
+
+        header->Characteristics = newCharacteristics;
+        return true;
+    }
+
+protected:
     SectionHdrWrapper(PEFile *pe, pe::IMAGE_SECTION_HEADER *v_header) //standalone entry
         : PENodeWrapper(pe), sectNum(INVALID_ENTRYNUM), name(NULL), header(v_header)
     {