CloseHandle, NtClose

When a process is debugged, calling NtClose or CloseHandle with an invalid handle will generate a STATUS_INVALID_HANDLE exception.

The exception can be cached by an exception handler. If the control is passed to the exception handler, it indicates that a debugger is present.

Technique Identifiers

U0114 B0001.003

Technique Tags

closehandle ntclose

Evasion Categories

Anti-Debugging

Code Snippets

Description

Original source code is available here: https://anti-debug.checkpoint.com/techniques/object-handles.html#closehandle

bool Check()
{
    __try
    {
        CloseHandle((HANDLE)0xDEADBEEF);
        return false;
    }
    __except (EXCEPTION_INVALID_HANDLE == GetExceptionCode()
                ? EXCEPTION_EXECUTE_HANDLER 
                : EXCEPTION_CONTINUE_SEARCH)
    {
        return true;
    }
}

About Author Open Snippet

Author: External / Target Platform: Windows

Detection Rules

rule Detect_CloseHandle: AntiDebug {
    meta: 
        description = "Detect CloseHandle as anti-debug"
        author = "Unprotect"
        comment = "Experimental rule"
    strings:
        $1 = "NtClose" fullword ascii
        $2 = "CloseHandle" fullword ascii
    condition:   
       uint16(0) == 0x5A4D and filesize < 1000KB and any of them
}

rule:
  meta:
    name: check for protected handle exception
    namespace: anti-analysis/anti-debugging/debugger-detection
    author: michael.hunhoff@fireeye.com
    scope: function
    mbc:
      - Anti-Behavioral Analysis::Debugger Detection::SetHandleInformation [B0001.024]
    references:
      - https://github.com/LordNoteworthy/al-khaser/blob/master/al-khaser/AntiDebug/SetHandleInformation_API.cpp
    examples:
      - al-khaser_x86.exe_:0x430D20
  features:
    - and:
      - basic block:
        - and:
          - count(number(2)): 2 or more
          - api: SetHandleInformation
      - api: CloseHandle

Additional Resources

External Links

The resources provided below are associated links that will give you even more detailed information and research on current evasion technique. It is important to note that, while these resources may be helpful, it is important to exercise caution when following external links. As always, be careful when clicking on links from unknown sources, as they may lead to malicious content.

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Activator.exe	10	2026-07-30	2 months, 2 weeks ago
30fb52e4bd3c4866a7b6ccedcfa7...3440ca022986a6781af669272639	8	2026-06-25	3 months, 3 weeks ago
merged.exe	6	2026-04-24	5 months, 3 weeks ago
USBWatcher.exe	7	2026-04-18	5 months, 4 weeks ago

View All

Created

March 18, 2019

Last Revised

March 24, 2026