🦠 Malware Analysis Lab
Advanced malware analysis techniques - From static analysis to dynamic behavior assessment
Expert Level LabLab Overview
This comprehensive lab provides hands-on experience with advanced malware analysis techniques. You'll analyze various types of malware including trojans, ransomware, rootkits, and advanced persistent threats (APTs). The lab covers both static and dynamic analysis methods, reverse engineering, and malware detection development.
Learning Objectives
- Perform static and dynamic malware analysis
- Reverse engineer malware using disassemblers and debuggers
- Analyze malware network communications and C2 infrastructure
- Develop malware detection signatures and rules
- Understand malware evasion techniques and countermeasures
- Create automated malware analysis workflows
Prerequisites
- Strong understanding of assembly language and x86/x64 architecture
- Experience with reverse engineering tools (IDA Pro, Ghidra, x64dbg)
- Knowledge of Windows internals and API functions
- Understanding of network protocols and traffic analysis
- Familiarity with malware analysis methodologies
🏗️ Lab Environment Setup
Analysis Environment
Secure isolated environment for safe malware analysis.
- VMware Workstation with isolated networks
- Windows 10/11 analysis VMs (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Linux analysis VMs with analysis tools
- Network isolation and traffic monitoring
- Snapshot management for quick recovery
- Air-gapped analysis environment
Static Analysis Tools
Tools for analyzing malware without execution.
- IDA Pro and Ghidra disassemblers
- PEiD and Detect It Easy (DIE) for file identification
- Strings and FLOSS for string extraction
- YARA for pattern matching
- PEview and CFF Explorer for PE analysis
- Hex editors (HxD, 010 Editor)
Dynamic Analysis Tools
Tools for analyzing malware behavior during execution.
- Process Monitor and Process Hacker
- API Monitor and API Spy
- Wireshark and Fiddler for network analysis
- Regshot for registry monitoring
- x64dbg and OllyDbg debuggers
- Sysinternals Suite
🎯 Lab Exercises
Exercise 1: Basic Static Analysis
Objective: Perform comprehensive static analysis of malware samples without execution.
Duration: 3-4 hours
Scenario: You've received a suspicious executable file. Perform static analysis to determine its nature and capabilities without running it.
Tasks:
- File identification and basic information gathering
- PE header analysis and section examination
- Import/Export table analysis
- String extraction and analysis
- YARA rule development for detection
- Packer detection and unpacking attempts
Expected Outcomes:
- Complete static analysis report
- Identified malware family and capabilities
- Custom YARA detection rules
Exercise 2: Advanced Static Analysis
Objective: Perform deep static analysis using disassemblers and reverse engineering tools.
Duration: 4-5 hours
Scenario: Analyze a packed malware sample using advanced static analysis techniques to understand its obfuscation and core functionality.
Tasks:
- Disassembly and code analysis in IDA Pro/Ghidra
- Control flow graph analysis
- Function identification and analysis
- Obfuscation detection and deobfuscation
- Anti-analysis technique identification
- Core functionality reconstruction
Expected Outcomes:
- Detailed reverse engineering documentation
- Deobfuscated code and algorithms
- Malware functionality analysis
Exercise 3: Dynamic Analysis - File System & Registry
Objective: Analyze malware behavior related to file system and registry modifications.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Scenario: Execute malware in a controlled environment and monitor its file system and registry activities.
Tasks:
- Baseline system state documentation
- Malware execution in monitored environment
- File system activity monitoring
- Registry modification analysis
- Persistence mechanism identification
- Data exfiltration attempt analysis
Expected Outcomes:
- Complete file system and registry analysis
- Identified persistence mechanisms
- Data access and modification patterns
Exercise 4: Network Behavior Analysis
Objective: Analyze malware network communications and command & control infrastructure.
Duration: 3-4 hours
Scenario: Analyze malware that establishes network connections to external servers for command and control.
Tasks:
- Network traffic capture and analysis
- Protocol identification and analysis
- Command and control communication analysis
- Domain and IP address investigation
- Data exfiltration attempt identification
- Network signature development
Expected Outcomes:
- Network behavior analysis report
- Command and control infrastructure mapping
- Network detection signatures
Exercise 5: Process and Memory Analysis
Objective: Analyze malware process behavior and memory artifacts.
Duration: 3-4 hours
Scenario: Analyze malware that uses process injection and memory manipulation techniques.
Tasks:
- Process monitoring and analysis
- Memory dump analysis
- Process injection technique identification
- API hooking and DLL injection analysis
- Memory artifacts extraction
- Anti-debugging technique analysis
Expected Outcomes:
- Process behavior analysis report
- Memory artifact documentation
- Injection technique analysis
Exercise 6: Ransomware Analysis
Objective: Analyze ransomware behavior including encryption algorithms and ransom note analysis.
Duration: 4-5 hours
Scenario: Analyze a ransomware sample to understand its encryption mechanism and develop potential recovery methods.
Tasks:
- Ransomware execution in isolated environment
- File encryption algorithm analysis
- Key generation and management analysis
- Ransom note analysis and payment tracking
- Recovery possibility assessment
- Detection and prevention strategy development
Expected Outcomes:
- Ransomware analysis report
- Encryption algorithm documentation
- Recovery and prevention recommendations
Exercise 7: Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) Analysis
Objective: Analyze sophisticated APT malware with advanced evasion techniques.
Duration: 6-8 hours
Scenario: Analyze a multi-stage APT malware sample with advanced evasion and persistence techniques.
Tasks:
- Multi-stage malware analysis
- Advanced evasion technique identification
- Lateral movement capability analysis
- Data exfiltration mechanism analysis
- Timeline reconstruction
- Threat actor attribution analysis
Expected Outcomes:
- Comprehensive APT analysis report
- Attack timeline reconstruction
- Threat intelligence generation
🛠️ Lab Tools & Resources
Disassemblers & Decompilers
- IDA Pro: Industry-standard disassembler
- Ghidra: Free NSA disassembler
- Radare2: Open-source reverse engineering framework
- Hex-Rays Decompiler: IDA Pro decompiler plugin
- Ghidra Decompiler: Built-in Ghidra decompiler
- RetDec: Retargetable decompiler
Debuggers & Analysis Tools
- x64dbg: Open-source Windows debugger
- OllyDbg: 32-bit Windows debugger
- WinDbg: Microsoft kernel and user debugger
- Process Hacker: Advanced process monitor
- API Monitor: API call monitoring
- Dependency Walker: DLL dependency analysis
Specialized Tools
- YARA: Pattern matching engine
- FLOSS: Advanced string extraction
- PEiD: PE file identification
- Detect It Easy: File type identification
- Volatility: Memory forensics framework
- CAPE Sandbox: Automated malware analysis
📊 Lab Assessment
Analysis Quality Metrics
Evaluating the thoroughness and accuracy of malware analysis.
- Completeness of static analysis
- Accuracy of dynamic behavior analysis
- Quality of reverse engineering work
- Effectiveness of detection signatures
- Threat intelligence value
Technical Skills Assessment
Measuring technical proficiency in malware analysis techniques.
- Tool usage and proficiency
- Assembly language understanding
- Windows internals knowledge
- Network protocol analysis
- Evasion technique identification
Documentation & Reporting
Assessing the quality of analysis documentation and reporting.
- Technical report quality
- Evidence documentation
- Recommendation clarity
- Timeline accuracy
- Stakeholder communication
🎯 Advanced Challenges
Challenge 1: Polymorphic Malware
Analyze polymorphic malware that changes its code structure with each infection.
- Polymorphic engine identification
- Code mutation analysis
- Signature development for polymorphic variants
Challenge 2: Rootkit Analysis
Analyze kernel-level rootkits and develop detection mechanisms.
- Kernel driver analysis
- System call hooking identification
- Rootkit detection tool development
Challenge 3: Mobile Malware
Analyze Android and iOS malware samples using mobile-specific tools.
- Mobile application analysis
- Android/iOS specific techniques
- Mobile threat landscape understanding
📋 Lab Deliverables
- Malware Analysis Reports: Comprehensive analysis documentation
- Detection Signatures: YARA rules and network signatures
- IOC Database: Indicators of compromise
- Threat Intelligence: TTPs and attribution analysis
- Recovery Procedures: Malware removal and system recovery
📚 Additional Resources
- Practical Malware Analysis - Comprehensive malware analysis guide
- The IDA Pro Book - IDA Pro disassembler guide
- Windows Internals - Deep dive into Windows architecture
- YARA Documentation - Pattern matching engine guide
- Malware Analysis Techniques - Advanced analysis methodologies