Detecting Online Sandbox Sandbox Evasion

Online sandbox has become very popular for malware analysis. Several malware authors employ such techniques to avoid detection and analysis. Some of these techniques will be summarized here.

Any.Run uses a fake root certificate to spy on sandbox traffic. The first information about the system can be obtained by querying the information of the root certificate. In …

Virtualization/Sandbox Evasion: System Checks Defense Evasion [Mitre]

Adversaries may employ various system checks to detect and avoid virtualization and analysis environments. This may include changing behaviors based on the results of checks for the presence of artifacts indicative of a virtual machine environment (VME) or sandbox. If the adversary detects a VME, they may alter their malware to disengage from the victim or conceal the core functions …

Virtualization/Sandbox Evasion: User Activity Based Checks Defense Evasion [Mitre]

Adversaries may employ various user activity checks to detect and avoid virtualization and analysis environments. This may include changing behaviors based on the results of checks for the presence of artifacts indicative of a virtual machine environment (VME) or sandbox. If the adversary detects a VME, they may alter their malware to disengage from the victim or conceal the core …

Virtualization/Sandbox Evasion: Time Based Evasion Defense Evasion [Mitre]

Adversaries may employ various time-based methods to detect and avoid virtualization and analysis environments. This may include enumerating time-based properties, such as uptime or the system clock, as well as the use of timers or other triggers to avoid a virtual machine environment (VME) or sandbox, specifically those that are automated or only operate for a limited amount of time.

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Checking Specific Folder Name Sandbox Evasion

Specific directories, such as "C:\Cuckoo", can serve as indicators of a sandboxed or virtualized environment when present on a guest system. Consequently, a savvy piece of malware could potentially use the detection of this particular directory as a means of evading analysis. This would allow the malicious software to alter its behavior or even halt its execution altogether when it …

Checking Pipe Sandbox Evasion

Cuckoo is a malware analysis system that uses a named pipe, called \.\pipe\cuckoo, for communication between the host system (where the malware is being analyzed) and the guest system (where the malware is running).

A malware that is running on the guest system can detect the presence of a virtual environment by attempting to access the \.\pipe\cuckoo named pipe. …

Checking Screen Resolution Sandbox Evasion

Sandbox environments typically do not function as standard user workspaces; as a result, they often maintain a minimum screen resolution of 800x600 or even lower. In practice, users seldom work with such limited screen dimensions. Malware may leverage this information, detecting the screen resolution to ascertain whether it is operating on a genuine user machine or within a sandbox environment.

Checking Installed Software Sandbox Evasion

By detecting the presence of certain software and tools commonly used in sandbox environments, such as Python interpreters, tracing utilities, debugging tools, and virtual machine software like VMware, it is possible to infer the existence of a sandbox.

This inference is based on the premise that such tools are often found in sandbox setups used for dynamic malware analysis …

Checking Memory Size Sandbox Evasion

Most modern user machines have at least 4GB of memory. Malware programs can detect whether they are running in a sandbox environment by checking the available memory size. If the available memory size is less than 4GB, it is likely that the program is running in a sandbox.

Checking Hard Drive Size Sandbox Evasion

Many user machines have hard drives that are larger than 80GB. A malware program can detect whether it is running in a virtual environment by checking the size of the hard drive. If the size is less than 80GB, it is likely that the program is running in a sandbox or virtual environment.

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