Dirty Vanity is a process injection technique that exploits the Windows forking (process reflection and snapshotting) feature to inject code into a new process.

It uses the RtlCreateProcessReflection or NtCreateProcess[Ex] primitives, along with the PROCESS_VM_OPERATION, PROCESS_CREATE_THREAD, and PROCESS_DUP_HANDLE flags to reflect and execute code in a new process.

The technique also makes use of various methods, such as …

Attackers can leverage native Windows API calls to install malicious services without generating correlating entries in the event log. Using native APIs to install services instead of the standard API calls allow attackers to bypass security controls and event logging. This technique was utilised by Stuxnet.

Services are typically created through a standard Windows API call CreateServiceA or CreateService. …

Event logging is a process that records important software and hardware events from various sources and stores them in a centralized location called an event log. This service is commonly used by applications and operating systems to track and troubleshoot issues, and can be a valuable tool for forensic investigations.

Event logs can provide valuable information about the actions taken …

Adversaries may use hidden windows to conceal malicious activity from the plain sight of users. In some cases, windows that would typically be displayed when an application carries out an operation can be hidden. This may be utilized by system administrators to avoid disrupting user work environments when carrying out administrative tasks.

On Windows, there are a variety of features …

Bad string format is a technique used by malware to evade detection and analysis by OllyDbg, a popular debugger used by security researchers and analysts. This technique involves using malformed strings that exploit a known bug in OllyDbg, causing the debugger to crash or behave unexpectedly.

For example, the malware may use a string with multiple %s inputs, which OllyDbg …