CPUID Sandbox Evasion

The CPUID instruction is a low-level command that allows you to retrieve information about the CPU that is currently running. This instruction, which is executed at the CPU level (using the bytecode 0FA2), is available on all processors that are based on the Pentium architecture or newer.

You can use the CPUID instruction to retrieve various pieces of information …

IN Sandbox Evasion

The IN instruction is a type of machine code instruction that is used to read data from an input port. This instruction can only be executed in privileged mode, such as in kernel mode, and an attempt to execute it in user mode will generate an exception.

However, some virtual machine monitors, such as VMWare, use a special port …

Hide Artifacts: Run Virtual Instance Defense Evasion [Mitre]

Adversaries may carry out malicious operations using a virtual instance to avoid detection. A wide variety of virtualization technologies exist that allow for the emulation of a computer or computing environment. By running malicious code inside of a virtual instance, adversaries can hide artifacts associated with their behavior from security tools that are unable to monitor activity inside the virtual …

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 …

Detecting Active Services Sandbox Evasion

VMwareService.exe runs the VMware Tools Service as a child of services.exe. It can be identified by listing services.

Querying the I/O Communication Port Sandbox Evasion

VMware uses virtual I/O ports for communication between the virtual machine and the host operating system to support functionality like copy and paste between the two systems. The port can be queried and compared with a magic number VMXh to identify the use of VMware.

Detecting Mac Address Sandbox Evasion

Virtualbox and VMware use specific virtual Mac address that can be detected by Malware.

The usual mac address used by Virtualbox starts with the following number: 08:00:27.
The usual mac address used by VMware starts with the following numbers: 00:0C:29, 00:1C:14, 00:50:56, 00:05:69.

Malware can use this simple trick to detect if it is running …

Detecting Virtual Environment Process Sandbox Evasion

Process related to Virtualbox can be detected by malware by query the process list.

The VMware Tools use processes like VMwareServices.exe or VMwareTray.exe, to perform actions on the virtual environment. A malware can list the process and searches for the VMware string. Process: VMwareService.exe, VMwareTray.exe, TPAutoConnSvc.exe, VMtoolsd.exe, VMwareuser.exe.

Detecting Virtual Environment Files Sandbox Evasion

Some files are created by Virtualbox and VMware on the system.

Malware can check the different folders to find Virtualbox artifacts like VBoxMouse.sys.

Malware can check the different folders to find VMware artifacts like vmmouse.sys, vmhgfs.sys.

Some Files Example

Below is a list of files that can be detected on virtual machines:

"C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp\agent.pyw",

Detecting Virtual Environment Artefacts Sandbox Evasion

Qemu registers some artifacts into the registry. A malware can detect the Qemu installation with a look at the registry key HARDWARE\\DEVICEMAP\\Scsi\\Scsi Port 0\\Scsi Bus 0\\Target Id 0\\Logical Unit Id 0 with the value of Identifier and the data of QEMU or HARDWARE\\Description\\System with a value of SystemBiosVersion and data of QEMU.

The VirtualBox Guest addition leaves many …

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