Malware Analysis

Malware Analysis is the process of examining malicious software to understand its operation, identify its capabilities, determine its origin and develop effective countermeasures against cyber threats.

What is Malware Analysis?

Malware Analysis is the discipline that combines reverse engineering techniques, forensic analysis and computer science to study malicious software, understand its behavior and develop protections against cyber threats.

Malware Types

By Behavior

  • Virus: Computer virus
  • Worm: Computer worm
  • Trojan: Trojan horse
  • Ransomware: Ransomware
  • Spyware: Spyware
  • Adware: Adware

By Platform

  • Windows Malware: Windows malware
  • Linux Malware: Linux malware
  • macOS Malware: macOS malware
  • Mobile Malware: Mobile malware
  • Web Malware: Web malware
  • IoT Malware: IoT malware

By Functionality

  • Backdoor: Backdoor
  • Rootkit: Rootkit
  • Botnet: Botnet
  • Keylogger: Keylogger
  • Banking Trojan: Banking trojan
  • Cryptominer: Cryptocurrency miner

Analysis Methodologies

Static Analysis

  • Code Analysis: Code analysis
  • String Analysis: String analysis
  • Import Analysis: Import analysis
  • Packing Detection: Packing detection

Dynamic Analysis

  • Behavioral Analysis: Behavioral analysis
  • Network Analysis: Network analysis
  • File System Analysis: File system analysis
  • Registry Analysis: Registry analysis

Hybrid Analysis

  • Static + Dynamic: Static + Dynamic
  • Multi-stage Analysis: Multi-stage analysis
  • Automated Analysis: Automated analysis
  • Manual Analysis: Manual analysis

Analysis Tools

Static Tools

  • IDA Pro: Professional disassembler
  • Ghidra: Open source disassembler
  • Radare2: Analysis framework
  • x64dbg: Windows debugger

Dynamic Tools

  • Cuckoo Sandbox: Automated sandbox
  • VMware: Virtualization
  • Wireshark: Network analyzer
  • Process Monitor: Process monitor

Specialized Tools

  • YARA: Rule engine
  • Volatility: Memory analysis
  • PEiD: PE identifier
  • Detect It Easy: Packing detector

Analysis Process

Phase 1: Preparation

  • Environment Setup: Environment setup
  • Sample Acquisition: Sample acquisition
  • Initial Assessment: Initial assessment
  • Safety Measures: Safety measures

Phase 2: Static Analysis

  • File Type Identification: File type identification
  • Hash Calculation: Hash calculation
  • String Extraction: String extraction
  • Import Analysis: Import analysis

Phase 3: Dynamic Analysis

  • Sandbox Execution: Sandbox execution
  • Behavior Monitoring: Behavior monitoring
  • Network Traffic Analysis: Network traffic analysis
  • System Changes: System changes

Phase 4: Advanced Analysis

  • Reverse Engineering: Reverse engineering
  • Code Deobfuscation: Code deobfuscation
  • API Analysis: API analysis
  • Malware Family Classification: Malware family classification

Phase 5: Reporting

  • Findings Documentation: Findings documentation
  • IOC Extraction: IOC extraction
  • Threat Assessment: Threat assessment
  • Recommendations: Recommendations

Analysis Techniques

Reverse Engineering

  • Disassembly: Disassembly
  • Decompilation: Decompilation
  • Control Flow Analysis: Control flow analysis
  • Data Flow Analysis: Data flow analysis

Behavior Analysis

  • API Monitoring: API monitoring
  • System Call Analysis: System call analysis
  • Network Behavior: Network behavior
  • File System Behavior: File system behavior

Memory Analysis

  • Memory Dump Analysis: Memory dump analysis
  • Process Memory Analysis: Process memory analysis
  • Kernel Memory Analysis: Kernel memory analysis
  • Malware Persistence: Malware persistence

Sandboxing

Sandbox Types

  • Hardware Sandbox: Hardware sandbox
  • Software Sandbox: Software sandbox
  • Cloud Sandbox: Cloud sandbox
  • Hybrid Sandbox: Hybrid sandbox

Sandbox Features

  • Isolation: Isolation
  • Monitoring: Monitoring
  • Analysis: Analysis
  • Reporting: Reporting

Sandbox Evasion

  • Sandbox Detection: Sandbox detection
  • Anti-Analysis: Anti-analysis
  • Environment Fingerprinting: Environment fingerprinting
  • Delayed Execution: Delayed execution

Network Analysis

Network Protocols

  • HTTP/HTTPS: Web protocols
  • DNS: Domain Name System
  • SMTP: Email protocol
  • FTP: File transfer protocol

Traffic Analysis

  • Packet Analysis: Packet analysis
  • Flow Analysis: Flow analysis
  • Protocol Analysis: Protocol analysis
  • Behavioral Analysis: Behavioral analysis

Use Cases

Incident Investigation

  • Incident Response: Incident response
  • Forensic Analysis: Forensic analysis
  • Threat Hunting: Threat hunting
  • Attribution: Attribution

Countermeasure Development

  • Signature Development: Signature development
  • Detection Rules: Detection rules
  • Prevention Measures: Prevention measures
  • Response Procedures: Response procedures

Best Practices

Security

  1. Isolated Environment: Isolated environment
  2. Access Control: Access control
  3. Data Protection: Data protection
  4. Incident Response: Incident response
  5. Documentation: Documentation

Analysis

  1. Systematic Approach: Systematic approach
  2. Multiple Tools: Multiple tools
  3. Verification: Verification
  4. Peer Review: Peer review
  5. Continuous Learning: Continuous learning

Standards and Frameworks

Analysis Standards

  • NIST SP 800-86: Guide for integrating forensic techniques
  • ISO/IEC 27037: Guidelines for identification, collection and acquisition of digital evidence
  • RFC 3227: Guidelines for Evidence Collection and Archiving
  • SWGDE: Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence

Frameworks

  • MITRE ATT&CK: Attacker tactics and techniques framework
  • Kill Chain: Kill chain
  • Diamond Model: Diamond model
  • VERIS: Vocabulary for Event Recording and Incident Sharing

Benefits of Malware Analysis

Operational

  • Threat Intelligence: Threat intelligence
  • Incident Response: Incident response
  • Risk Mitigation: Risk mitigation
  • Security Improvement: Security improvement

Technical

  • Detection Enhancement: Detection enhancement
  • Prevention Development: Prevention development
  • Forensic Capabilities: Forensic capabilities
  • Research Advancement: Research advancement

References

Glossary

  • Malware: Malicious software
  • IOC: Indicator of Compromise
  • YARA: Yet Another Recursive Acronym
  • PE: Portable Executable
  • API: Application Programming Interface
  • C&C: Command and Control
  • DLL: Dynamic Link Library
  • Mutex: Mutual Exclusion
  • Registry: Windows Registry
  • Sandbox: Isolated environment
  • VM: Virtual Machine
  • MITRE ATT&CK: MITRE Adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Common Knowledge