Memory Analysis Procedures
Memory Analysis Procedures
Memory analysis is a crucial technique in digital forensics and incident response, focusing on volatile data to uncover malicious activities within a system. The following outlines essential areas of focus and methods for effective memory dump analysis:
1. Identifying Malicious Processes
Key Indicators:
Suspicious Process Names:
Look for processes with random or uncommon names.
Malicious processes often disguise as legitimate ones (e.g.,
svchost.exe,explorer.exe) but operate from abnormal locations.
Process Relationships:
Parent-Child Analysis:
Investigate unexpected parent-child relationships.
Example:
winword.exespawningpowershell.exesuggests potential macro-based exploitation.
Legitimate Process Anomalies:
Example:
lsass.exeshould be spawned only bywininit.exe. Deviations indicate possible credential theft or process injection.
Defense Evasion Techniques:
Process Injection: Malicious code injected into legitimate processes.
Process Hollowing: Legitimate processes are hollowed out and replaced with malicious code.
DLL Injection: Loading malicious DLLs into a legitimate process.
2. Identifying Malicious Network Connections
Key Steps:
Examine Active Connections:
Use tools like Volatility’s
netscanorconnscanto list active or recently closed network connections.Look for uncommon ports (e.g.,
4444,8081) or protocols.
IP and Domain Analysis:
Use threat intelligence platforms (e.g., VirusTotal, AbuseIPDB) to verify the legitimacy of IP addresses and domains.
Red Flags:
Newly registered domains.
Rarely accessed or external IPs linked to C2 servers.
Practical Example:
A legitimate process such as
notepad.exewith an outbound connection to an untrusted IP can indicate a compromised system.
3. Detecting Memory Injections
Attackers inject malicious code into legitimate processes to avoid detection.
Detection Methods:
Virtual Address Descriptors (VADs):
Examine regions of memory with
EXECUTE_READWRITEpermissions.These permissions are uncommon for legitimate processes and could indicate injected malicious code.
Volatility Plugins:
Use the
malfindplugin:Identifies processes with suspicious memory regions.
Provides hex dumps of injected code.
Example Output:
4. Analyzing Associated Files (DLLs and Executables)
Processes depend on DLLs and executables for functionality.
Steps:
Identify DLLs loaded by suspicious processes.
Look for signs of DLL hijacking or DLL injection:
Malicious DLLs masquerading as legitimate ones.
Loaded from unusual directories.
Tools:
Volatility’s
dlllistorldrmodulesto list loaded modules and detect hidden DLLs.
5. Investigating Registry Keys
The Windows Registry contains essential data on system and user behavior, often leveraged by malware for persistence.
Key Locations:
Startup Items:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunTracks applications configured to start at boot.
Look for: Unknown or suspicious entries.
User Activity:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RecentDocsReveals recently accessed files.
Persistence Mechanisms:
Analyze entries under:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\ServicesHKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
Key Points
By systematically analyzing memory dumps, investigators can uncover a wealth of information regarding malicious activity, often hidden in volatile data. The critical focus areas include:
Malicious Processes: Spotting suspicious names, behaviors, and parent-child relationships.
Network Connections: Monitoring active and anomalous connections.
Memory Injections: Detecting injected code and unexpected memory regions.
Associated Files: Investigating linked DLLs and executables.
Registry Keys: Tracking persistence and identifying unauthorized modifications.
These procedures form the backbone of effective memory forensics, enabling rapid incident response and deep forensic investigations.
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