How can malware analysis tools identify the source of a malware infection?

Malware, or malicious software, is a common threat to network security that can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and systems. Malware can infect networks through various vectors, such as email attachments, web downloads, removable media, or network vulnerabilities. To protect networks from malware attacks, network security professionals need to analyze the malware samples and identify their source, behavior, and impact. Malware analysis tools are software applications that can help with this task by providing different methods and techniques to examine and dissect malware code. In this article, you will learn how malware analysis tools can identify the source of a malware infection and what are the benefits and challenges of using them.

1 Static analysis

Static analysis is a malware analysis technique that involves examining the malware code without executing it. Static analysis tools can extract information from the malware file, such as its size, format, metadata, strings, signatures, and dependencies. Static analysis tools can also perform disassembly and decompilation to convert the binary code into human-readable assembly or high-level language code. Static analysis can help identify the source of a malware infection by revealing clues about the malware author, origin, purpose, and target. For example, static analysis can show the malware's name, version, language, compiler, encryption, obfuscation, or packing methods, which can indicate the level of sophistication and skill of the malware developer. Static analysis can also show the malware's intended functionality, such as what files, registry keys, or network resources it tries to access, modify, or create, which can indicate the malware's goal and impact.

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Brandy Gordon MS, PhD(c), MCFE, CSO

CSO||Certified Digital Forensic Examiner|Doctoral Researcher|Founder|Keynote Speaker|DFIR Investigator🧩Malware/Reverse Engineer|Expert Witness|Assisting in IT Audits, Litigations and Breach Recovery◉Let's Talk Security
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There are many static analysis tools that can help in detecting the source of malware. For example, the "strings" command in Linux and "pestudio" in Windows will allow you to extract strings from the malware sample. These strings are embedded character sequences found in the malware file. They are useful as they can reveal IP addresses, URLs, attack commands, filenames, and registry keys. Additionally, if the malware resolves a domain name controlled by an attacker to an IP address, the domain name may also be revealed in the extracted strings. If the attacker obfuscates the strings to avoid detection, there are decoding tools that can reveal the obfuscated strings.

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2 Dynamic analysis

Dynamic analysis is a malware analysis technique that involves executing the malware code in a controlled and isolated environment, such as a virtual machine or a sandbox. Dynamic analysis tools can monitor and record the malware's behavior and activity, such as its system calls, network traffic, file operations, registry changes, and memory dumps. Dynamic analysis can help identify the source of a malware infection by showing the malware's actual execution and interaction with the network. For example, dynamic analysis can show the malware's network communication, such as what domains, IP addresses, ports, protocols, or payloads it uses, which can indicate the malware's command and control servers, distribution channels, or infection vectors. Dynamic analysis can also show the malware's evasion or anti-analysis techniques, such as checking for virtualization, debugging, or analysis tools, which can indicate the malware's awareness and resilience to detection and analysis.

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Brandy Gordon MS, PhD(c), MCFE, CSO

CSO||Certified Digital Forensic Examiner|Doctoral Researcher|Founder|Keynote Speaker|DFIR Investigator🧩Malware/Reverse Engineer|Expert Witness|Assisting in IT Audits, Litigations and Breach Recovery◉Let's Talk Security
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During dynamic analysis, make sure the malware stays within your VM. For example, configure your VM to Host-only. This will keep the malware from connecting to the internet and keep network traffic contained. If you want to see how the malware interacts with internet protocols, use simulation tools such as "FakeNet" or "INetSim". Overall, executing the malware code will allow you to gain useful information from its network traffic. For example, you may observe the malware resolved the attackers C2 domain. Then, make a HTTP connection (on port 80) to download a malicious file. In some cases, to avoid detection, attackers may not use the HTTP protocol but a custom protocol or encryption. However, there are tools available to overcome this.

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3 Hybrid analysis

Hybrid analysis is a malware analysis technique that combines static and dynamic analysis methods to provide a more comprehensive and accurate view of the malware. Hybrid analysis tools can leverage both the code and the behavior of the malware to provide more information and context about the malware's source, functionality, and impact. Hybrid analysis tools can also correlate and compare the results of static and dynamic analysis to identify any discrepancies or inconsistencies that might indicate hidden or malicious features of the malware. Hybrid analysis can help identify the source of a malware infection by providing a deeper and broader understanding of the malware's characteristics and capabilities. For example, hybrid analysis can show the malware's code structure, logic, and flow, as well as its runtime behavior, state, and output, which can indicate the malware's complexity, variability, and adaptability.

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4 Benefits and challenges

Malware analysis tools can provide several benefits for network security professionals, such as improving detection and prevention of malware attacks, enhancing response and recovery of malware incidents, and increasing knowledge and awareness of malware threats. However, these tools also pose some challenges, including requiring a high level of skill and expertise to use, demanding a significant amount of time and resources to perform, and exposing a potential risk of infection or damage to the network or the analysis environment. By identifying the malware's indicators of compromise, scope, impact, and remediation steps, as well as its trends, techniques, and tactics, malware analysis tools can help improve security posture and awareness.

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5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can malware analysis tools identify the source of a malware infection?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Static analysis

2 Dynamic analysis

3 Hybrid analysis

4 Benefits and challenges

5 Here’s what else to consider

Network Security

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How can malware analysis tools identify the source of a malware infection?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Static analysis

2 Dynamic analysis

3 Hybrid analysis

4 Benefits and challenges

5 Here’s what else to consider

Network Security

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