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PowerShell Special Characters Obfuscation
PowerShell scripts can be obfuscated using methods that encode commands exclusively with special characters. This technique aims to complicate analysis and potentially evade detection mechanisms.
Attackers frequently employ these tactics to hide the true functionalities of the script, making the analysis more challenging.
Read morePyArmor
Pyarmor is a command-line tool primarily used for the obfuscation of Python scripts. While its original design aims to protect Python code from unauthorized access and reverse engineering, its capabilities also make it a tool of interest for malware obfuscation. Pyarmor achieves this through several key features, each with potential applications in both legitimate protection and malicious exploitation:
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VBA Purging
VBA Purging is an obfuscation technique designed to evade detection mechanisms used in malware analysis. When a VBA macro is added to a Microsoft Office document, it is stored in two sections: the PerformanceCache (compiled VBA code) and the CompressedSourceCode (compressed VBA source code). In VBA Purging, the PerformanceCache (compiled code) is completely removed from the module stream, along with …
Read moreExfiltration via SMTP
Exfiltration via SMTP is a technique where attackers leverage the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) to exfiltrate data. This method involves sending stolen data, such as sensitive files or system information, via email to an attacker-controlled email account. By using email traffic, attackers can often bypass traditional network monitoring solutions since SMTP traffic is usually deemed legitimate.
To execute …
Read morekernel flag inspection via sysctl
The sysctl anti-debugging technique can be abused by malware to detect and evade debugging tools on macOS or BSD-like systems. By querying the kernel for process information, malware checks flags (e.g., 0x800) to see if a debugger is attached. If detected, the malware can terminate, alter behavior, or enter a dormant state to avoid analysis.
This technique blends …
Read moreXProtect Encryption Abuse
Malware can abuse Apple's macOS XProtect string encryption algorithm to hide critical strings, including commands, browser paths, extension IDs, cryptocurrency wallet locations, and command-and-control (C2) details.
This technique leverages the same XOR-based encryption logic implemented in macOS’s XProtect antivirus engine, this encryption is used for “encrypted YARA rules stored within the XProtect Remediator binaries”.
The encryption process involves …
Read moreManipulating Debug Logs
Using the sed -i command, specific entries in debug logs, such as errors (segfault, SystemError) or trace information (e.g., filenames like main.cc), are surgically removed. This allows attackers to target only incriminating evidence without erasing the entire log file. The process preserves the structure and authenticity of the log while removing key evidence of exploitation or system errors.
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Read moreRemoving Commands from SELinux Audit Logs
SELinux audit logs record all executed commands and policy enforcement actions, including commands like /bin/web, setenforce, mount, and /bin/rm. Using sed -i, attackers delete specific entries from these logs that could reveal the commands they executed. This manipulation ensures that traces of their activity, such as disabling security policies or deleting evidence, are erased from …
WMI Event Subscriptions
Adversaries may leverage WMI event subscriptions to evade detection by triggering malicious actions only under specific conditions that are unlikely to occur in a sandboxed environment. For instance, a threat actor might configure an event subscription to monitor file system, network, or logon activity, ensuring that their second-stage payload is only downloaded and executed when a particular event suggests real …
Read moreIndirect Memory Writing
In local memory movement scenarios, for example, when a loader places a payload into memory for execution, antimalware can detect malicious activity at the moment the payload bytes are written into the newly allocated executable memory region. Attackers may try to evade such detection by avoiding direct writes to new memory region and instead relying on other, legitimate Windows APIs …
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