This is a full-color transcript of a lecture which introduces a pattern language for memory forensics - investigation of past software behaviour in memory snapshots. It provides a unified language for discussing and communicating detection and analysis results despite the proliferation of operating systems and tools, a base language for checklists, and an aid in accelerated learning. The lecture has a short theoretical part and then illustrates various patterns seen in crash dumps by using WinDbg debugger from Microsoft Debugging Tools for Windows.
Learn how to navigate process, kernel and physical spaces and diagnose various malware patterns in Windows memory dump files. We use a unique and innovative pattern-driven analysis approach to speed up the learning curve. The training consists of practical step-by-step hands-on exercises using WinDbg, process, kernel and complete memory dumps. Covered more than 20 malware analysis patterns. The main audience are software technical support and escalation engineers who analyze memory dumps from complex software environments and need to check for possible malware presence in cases of abnormal software behavior. The course will also be useful for software engineers, quality assurance and software maintenance engineers, security researchers and malware analysts who have never used WinDbg for analysis of computer memory.
This short book is a fully revised transcript of a lecture introducing a pattern language for memory forensics - an investigation of past software behavior in memory snapshots. It provides a unified language for discussing and communicating detection and analysis results despite the proliferation of operating systems and tools, a base language for checklists, and aid in accelerated learning. The lecture has a short theoretical part and then illustrates various patterns seen in crash dumps by using WinDbg debugger from Microsoft Debugging Tools for Windows.
This revised, cross-referenced, and thematically organized volume of selected DumpAnalysis.org blog posts targets software engineers developing and maintaining products on Windows platforms, technical support, and escalation engineers.
Memory forensics provides cutting edge technology to help investigate digital attacks Memory forensics is the art of analyzing computer memory (RAM) to solve digital crimes. As a follow-up to the best seller Malware Analyst's Cookbook, experts in the fields of malware, security, and digital forensics bring you a step-by-step guide to memory forensics—now the most sought after skill in the digital forensics and incident response fields. Beginning with introductory concepts and moving toward the advanced, The Art of Memory Forensics: Detecting Malware and Threats in Windows, Linux, and Mac Memory is based on a five day training course that the authors have presented to hundreds of students. It is the only book on the market that focuses exclusively on memory forensics and how to deploy such techniques properly. Discover memory forensics techniques: How volatile memory analysis improves digital investigations Proper investigative steps for detecting stealth malware and advanced threats How to use free, open source tools for conducting thorough memory forensics Ways to acquire memory from suspect systems in a forensically sound manner The next era of malware and security breaches are more sophisticated and targeted, and the volatile memory of a computer is often overlooked or destroyed as part of the incident response process. The Art of Memory Forensics explains the latest technological innovations in digital forensics to help bridge this gap. It covers the most popular and recently released versions of Windows, Linux, and Mac, including both the 32 and 64-bit editions.
The full transcript of Memory Dump Analysis Services Training with 10 step-by-step exercises, notes, and selected questions and answers. Learn how to navigate through memory dump space and Windows data structures to troubleshoot and debug complex software incidents. The training uses a unique and innovative pattern-driven analysis approach to speed up the learning curve. It consists of practical step-by-step exercises using WinDbg to diagnose structural and behavioural patterns in 64-bit kernel and complete (physical) memory dumps. Additional topics include memory search, kernel linked list navigation, practical WinDbg scripting, registry, system variables and objects, device drivers and I/O. Prerequisites are basic and intermediate level Windows memory dump analysis: ability to list processors, processes, threads, modules, apply symbols, walk through stack traces and raw stack data, diagnose patterns such as heap corruption, CPU spike, memory and handle leaks, access violation, stack overflow, critical section and resource wait chains and deadlocks. If you don't feel comfortable with prerequisites then Accelerated Windows Memory Dump Analysis training book is recommended before purchasing and reading this book course. Audience: Software developers, software technical support and escalation engineers, reverse and security research engineers. The 2nd edition contains updated exercises for the latest WinDbg version from Windows SDK 8.1.
Malware Forensics: Investigating and Analyzing Malicious Code covers the complete process of responding to a malicious code incident. Written by authors who have investigated and prosecuted federal malware cases, this book deals with the emerging and evolving field of live forensics, where investigators examine a computer system to collect and preserve critical live data that may be lost if the system is shut down. Unlike other forensic texts that discuss live forensics on a particular operating system, or in a generic context, this book emphasizes a live forensics and evidence collection methodology on both Windows and Linux operating systems in the context of identifying and capturing malicious code and evidence of its effect on the compromised system. It is the first book detailing how to perform live forensic techniques on malicious code. The book gives deep coverage on the tools and techniques of conducting runtime behavioral malware analysis (such as file, registry, network and port monitoring) and static code analysis (such as file identification and profiling, strings discovery, armoring/packing detection, disassembling, debugging), and more. It explores over 150 different tools for malware incident response and analysis, including forensic tools for preserving and analyzing computer memory. Readers from all educational and technical backgrounds will benefit from the clear and concise explanations of the applicable legal case law and statutes covered in every chapter. In addition to the technical topics discussed, this book also offers critical legal considerations addressing the legal ramifications and requirements governing the subject matter. This book is intended for system administrators, information security professionals, network personnel, forensic examiners, attorneys, and law enforcement working with the inner-workings of computer memory and malicious code. - Winner of Best Book Bejtlich read in 2008! - http://taosecurity.blogspot.com/2008/12/best-book-bejtlich-read-in-2008.html - Authors have investigated and prosecuted federal malware cases, which allows them to provide unparalleled insight to the reader - First book to detail how to perform "live forensic" techniques on malicous code - In addition to the technical topics discussed, this book also offers critical legal considerations addressing the legal ramifications and requirements governing the subject matter
Scores of talented and dedicated people serve the forensic science community, performing vitally important work. However, they are often constrained by lack of adequate resources, sound policies, and national support. It is clear that change and advancements, both systematic and scientific, are needed in a number of forensic science disciplines to ensure the reliability of work, establish enforceable standards, and promote best practices with consistent application. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward provides a detailed plan for addressing these needs and suggests the creation of a new government entity, the National Institute of Forensic Science, to establish and enforce standards within the forensic science community. The benefits of improving and regulating the forensic science disciplines are clear: assisting law enforcement officials, enhancing homeland security, and reducing the risk of wrongful conviction and exoneration. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States gives a full account of what is needed to advance the forensic science disciplines, including upgrading of systems and organizational structures, better training, widespread adoption of uniform and enforceable best practices, and mandatory certification and accreditation programs. While this book provides an essential call-to-action for congress and policy makers, it also serves as a vital tool for law enforcement agencies, criminal prosecutors and attorneys, and forensic science educators.
This resource helps technical support, escalation engineers, and Windows software testers master necessary prerequisites to understand and start debugging and crash dump analysis on Windows platforms.
A reference book for technical support and escalation engineers troubleshooting and debugging complex software issues. The book is also invaluable for software maintenance and development engineers debugging Windows applications and services.
