Introduction to Malware Analysis
- Introduction to Malware Analysis
- Preliminary Analysis Techniques
- Environment for Malware Analysis
- Static Malware Analysis
- Dynamic Malware Analysis
- Understanding Malware Behaviour
- Reverse Engineering
- Advanced Static Analysis
- Advanced Dynamic Analysis
- Anti-Reverse Engineering
- Malware Attribution
- Malware Mitigation and Prevention
Understanding Malware Behaviour
Analyzing Malware Network Communication Patterns
Software that is intentionally hostile, intrusive, or damaging to a computer or network.
Introduction
Network analysis is a critical aspect of malware analysis. It involves studying the communication patterns between a malware-infected system and external entities. This unit will provide an understanding of network protocols commonly abused by malware, tools for network analysis, and techniques to identify malware network communication patterns.
Understanding Network Protocols Commonly Abused by Malware
Malware often uses standard network protocols to communicate with command and control (C2) servers, exfiltrate data, or propagate to other systems. Some of the most commonly abused protocols include HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, and SMTP. Understanding these protocols and how they can be manipulated by malware is crucial for effective network analysis.
Tools for Network Analysis
Several tools can aid in the analysis of network traffic. Here are a few:
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Wireshark: This is a widely used network protocol analyzer. It allows you to capture and interactively browse the traffic running on a computer network.
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Network Miner: This is a network forensic analysis tool for Windows that can detect the hosts, protocols, ports, and sessions on a network.
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Tcpdump: This powerful command-line packet analyzer allows you to intercept and display TCP/IP and other packets being transmitted or received over a network.
Identifying Malware Network Communication Patterns
Malware often exhibits unique network communication patterns. These can include:
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Beaconing: This involves regular, automated communication between the infected host and the C2 server, often used to maintain a connection and receive commands.
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Data Exfiltration: This is the unauthorized transfer of data from the infected host to the C2 server. It can occur at any time and may involve large amounts of data.
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Fast Flux: This is a DNS technique used by botnets to hide phishing and malware delivery sites behind an ever-changing network of compromised hosts acting as proxies.
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Domain Generation Algorithms (DGAs): These are used by malware to periodically generate a large number of domain names that the malware can use to communicate with the C2 server.
Extracting Network-based Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)
Network-based IoCs are artifacts observed on a network that indicate a potential security incident. They can include IP addresses, domain names, URLs, or any network traffic that exhibits signs of malicious activity. Tools like Wireshark and Network Miner can be used to extract these IoCs from network traffic.
Analyzing Malware Command and Control (C2) Traffic
C2 traffic involves communication between the infected host and the C2 server. Analyzing this traffic can provide valuable information about the malware's capabilities, its objectives, and the identity of the threat actor.
In conclusion, network analysis is a vital part of malware analysis. It provides insights into the malware's communication patterns, which can help in its identification and mitigation. By understanding these patterns and using the right tools, you can effectively analyze network traffic and contribute to the fight against malicious software.