What techniques do malware authors use to evade detection? (2024)

Key takeaways from this article

• Behavior-based detection:

  To counter fileless malware, security experts are turning to systems that monitor behavior rather than just scan for known issues. This means keeping an eye out for unusual activity that could indicate a threat.

• Software composition analysis:

  By examining the components of your software, you can spot vulnerabilities early. This includes checking third-party libraries that might be the weak link in your security chain.

This summary is powered by AI and these experts

• Alex Longe MBA Student at WGU

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  Malware authors employ encryption and obfuscation to evade detection. Encryption transforms malware into a format decipherable only with a specific key, while obfuscation complicates the code to hinder understanding and reverse engineering. These techniques prevent antivirus programs from identifying malware through signatures or patterns and challenge analysts to dissect and comprehend the malware's behavior. Additionally, malware authors use polymorphism to alter the malware's code with each infection, and they leverage trusted platforms or stolen digital certificates to appear legitimate. Employing sandbox evasion tactics, the malware detects virtual environments to avoid analysis.

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• Eduardo Brenes 🔥🧱 I help companies reduce their exposure to cybersecurity risk 🔸 LinkedIn Top Cybersecurity Voice 🔸Cybersecurity Evangelist SonicWall 🔸 CiberEvolution 🔸 CISOVERSO

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  Más del 74% del tráfico mundial el Internet es https (es decir, está cifrado con el protocolo SSL, que garantiza las comunicaciones seguras entre dos extremos en Internet). Esta es una de las vías de infección de malware más habitual (por ej es una de las principales autopistas por las que discurre el ransomware). Por ello es instrumental disponer de soluciones que permitan analizar y desencriptar ese tráfico cifrado, para evitar que una ciberamenaza se pueda tunelizar a través de esos canales cifrados, ya que en caso contrario estamos completamente expuestos. Los firewalls de SonicWall permiten realizar ese DPI SSL (Deep Packet Inspection de tráfico SSL), desde el usuario (Client DPI-SSL) o desde el servidor (Server DPI-SSL).

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  As a malware author, encryption is a crucial technique to evade detection. By encrypting malicious payloads and communication channels, we can bypass traditional security measures and remain undetected by antivirus software. Employing sophisticated encryption algorithms and techniques such as polymorphism or obfuscation further complicates detection efforts, making it challenging for security analysts to identify and mitigate our malware. Additionally, utilizing encryption can also enable us to conceal command and control (C2) communications, allowing for covert communication with compromised systems without raising suspicion.

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  *Code Encryption: Malicious code is encrypted to hide its true purpose. Decryption occurs dynamically during execution, making it difficult for security solutions to identify the threat.*Code Obfuscation: Malware authors modify their code to make it harder to analyze. Obfuscated code confuses security tools and makes detection more challenging.

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• Umang Mehta 25x LinkedIn Top Voice 🏆| Winner of 2024 GRA | Winner of 2024 CyberSecurity Excellence Award | Global Top 10 IT Leadership | Top 25 Predictive Analysis | Top 50 CyberSecurity | Writer | Researcher

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  Unmasking the tactics employed by malware authors reveals their use of encryption and obfuscation to stay hidden in the shadows. Encryption serves as a shield for malware, transforming its code into an unreadable format that can only be decoded with a specific key. This technique enables malware to evade detection by antivirus software that relies on scanning for known signatures or patterns. It becomes a "Tom & Jerry Show" between defenders and attackers.Obfuscation takes the complexity of malware to another level. By making code difficult to understand, malware authors hinder reverse engineering and analysis.

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• Umang Mehta 25x LinkedIn Top Voice 🏆| Winner of 2024 GRA | Winner of 2024 CyberSecurity Excellence Award | Global Top 10 IT Leadership | Top 25 Predictive Analysis | Top 50 CyberSecurity | Writer | Researcher

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  Malware authors are adept at concealing their malicious intentions, employing packing and compression techniques to cloak their code.Packing involves wrapping malware code within a legitimate executable file, allowing it to unpack and execute in memory. This technique not only reduces the visibility of the malware on disk but also evades static analysis and detection based on file hashes. It's a clever disguise that masks the true nature of the malware.Compression, on the other hand, compresses the malware code, reducing its file size by removing unnecessary or redundant data. By doing so, malware authors can make their malware stealthier and minimize its footprint.

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  *Code Packing: It is a tool used to mask a malicious file. It compresses, encrypts, or alters the format of the malware, making it appear as something innocuous.*Code Compression: Malware compresses its files, concealing the malicious code within. This technique aims to bypass signature-based detection mechanisms.

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• Alex Longe MBA Student at WGU

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  Unpacking and decompression require sandbox environments that simulate end-user operating systems and execute malware in a controlled manner. Security professionals should focus on developing and using unpacking tools that can reverse the compression and reveal the underlying code.

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  See Also

  How Hackers Evade DetectionHacker Detection Avoidance TechniquesMALWARE DETECTION : EVASION TECHNIQUES - CYFIRMAAdvance Evasion Techniques
• Hitansh Kataria Product Security Lead @ Stryker | OSCP | CEH | Comptia Pentest+

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  1. Malware is often packed or compressed using tools like UPX, Themida, or ASPack to reduce its size and complexity.2. Packed or compressed malware can evade detection by antivirus engines and sandbox environments, as it appears as a single binary blob rather than recognizable code.

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• Umang Mehta 25x LinkedIn Top Voice 🏆| Winner of 2024 GRA | Winner of 2024 CyberSecurity Excellence Award | Global Top 10 IT Leadership | Top 25 Predictive Analysis | Top 50 CyberSecurity | Writer | Researcher

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  That's correct! Malware authors often incorporate anti-debugging and anti-virtualization techniques to impede analysis and avoid detection. These techniques aim to detect the presence of debugging tools or virtual machine environments, and take actions to thwart their usage. By doing so, malware authors make it more challenging for security analysts to analyze the malware's behavior and identify its malicious intent. It highlights the "Tom & Jerry" game between malware authors and security researchers as they continuously adapt their techniques to evade detection and analysis.

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  *Anti-debugging Techniques: By changing the names of identifiers to random values, malware confuses code readers. Malware uses also tactics like executables with decrypted sections and code instructions that are hard to read, nonsensical, or intentionally confusing code that hides the actual purpose of the program. Also, Malware checks whether it is patched or not and disables debugging.*Anti-Virtualization Techniques: To thwart researchers, malware authors prevent their code from executing in virtualized environments. These techniques hinder dynamic analysis and prevent the inspection of malicious actions.

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• Hitansh Kataria Product Security Lead @ Stryker | OSCP | CEH | Comptia Pentest+

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  - Malware incorporates anti-debugging and anti-virtualization techniques to thwart analysis attempts by security researchers.- These techniques detect and resist debugging tools, virtual machine environments, and sandboxing technologies commonly used for malware analysis.

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• Rivaldo Oliveira Head of Cyber Security Incident Response Team na Tempest Security Intelligence

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  Técnica antiga, no entanto, ainda bem utilizada, nos dias de hoje ferramentas de EDR conceituadas do mercado possuem recursos conhecidos como análise híbrida, uma abordagem de análise que combina dados de tempo de execução com análise de dump de memória, detectando esse cenário de tentativa de evasão.

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• Juan Pablo Castro Director @ Trend Micro | Cybersecurity Strategist, LATAM

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  Malware authors use anti-debugging and anti-virtualization techniques to prevent analysis and detection in controlled environments. These techniques allow malware to detect if it's running in a virtual machine or if a debugger is attached, and then alter its behavior to avoid detection or analysis. This is particularly challenging for security researchers who rely on these environments to safely analyze malware behavior. Furthermore, polymorphism and metamorphism add another layer of complexity. Polymorphic malware changes its code with each iteration, while metamorphic malware rewrites its own code entirely, making signature-based detection nearly impossible.

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  *Polymorphism: Polymorphic malware is a type of malicious software that constantly changes its code structure while maintaining its core functionality. It does this by altering its appearance, making it difficult for traditional signature-based detection methods to recognize it.*Metamorphism: Metamorphic malware takes the concept of polymorphism to the next level. It not only changes its appearance but also modifies its internal structure, making it even more elusive.

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• Charwin Vanryck deGroot Senior II Security Engineer @Success Academy | Cybersecurity | AWS | Cloud Security

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  Malware creators often employ polymorphism and metamorphism to slip past detection mechanisms. Polymorphic malware alters its appearance with each execution, while metamorphic malware changes its underlying structure or logic. This ability to generate numerous variants makes it challenging for antivirus systems, which typically depend on recognizing specific signatures or behaviors, to identify and block these threats effectively.

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• Alex Longe MBA Student at WGU

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  The detection of such malware necessitates using advanced machine-learning algorithms that can detect patterns in malware behavior rather than static attributes. Security teams should invest in artificial intelligence that adapts to evolving malware.

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• Brian Gibbs Cybersecurity Enabler, Saving Companies Daily from Cybersecurity Threats | Lead Cybersecurity Instructor | CvCISO | CISSP | QTE | Fun-loving Dad

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  Malware authors employ various sophisticated techniques to evade detection. Polymorphism involves malware that can alter its code or signature with each infection, making it difficult for signature-based detection systems to identify it. Encryption techniques often achieve this where the malware's core functionality remains unchanged, but its external appearance changes. Metamorphism takes this further by allowing the malware to completely rewrite its code without changing its original function, making it even harder to detect through static analysis. Both techniques aim to avoid pattern recognition, ensuring the malware remains undetected for extended periods, complicating cybersecurity efforts to track and eliminate these threats.

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• Hitansh Kataria Product Security Lead @ Stryker | OSCP | CEH | Comptia Pentest+

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  - Polymorphic malware generates unique variants of itself with each infection, using techniques such as code mutation, encryption, and randomization.- Metamorphic malware goes a step further by completely rewriting its code while preserving its functionality, making detection and analysis more challenging.

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  *Rootkits: Rootkits operate at the highest privilege level on a system, often with root or admin access. This elevated access allows them to control the entire system, including any anti-malware software running on it. Anti-detection tactics such as Hiding in Plain Sight, Kernel Manipulation, and Firmware Embedding.*Bootkits: A specific type of rootkit, bootkits infect the boot sector (e.g., the master boot record or MBR). By doing this, they ensure that their malicious code runs before the operating system starts. Bootkits are undetectable by standard OS processes, making remediation challenging. Not all Bootkits are boot sector viruses; some merely reside in the boot sector to evade detection.

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• Umang Mehta 25x LinkedIn Top Voice 🏆| Winner of 2024 GRA | Winner of 2024 CyberSecurity Excellence Award | Global Top 10 IT Leadership | Top 25 Predictive Analysis | Top 50 CyberSecurity | Writer | Researcher

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  Rootkits and bootkits, the covert weapons of choice for evading detection and gaining unparalleled access to compromised systems. Rootkits, the masters of disguise, possess the ability to conceal or manipulate critical programs, files, processes, and even registry entries. Bootkits, on the other hand, infiltrate the boot sector or firmware, enabling malware authors to establish persistent and privileged control over targeted systems. As cybersecurity professionals, it's crucial we understand these malicious tactics and stay one step ahead in the battle against cyber threats. By gaining insights into rootkits and bootkits, we fortify our defenses and protect our digital landscapes.

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• Juan Pablo Castro Director @ Trend Micro | Cybersecurity Strategist, LATAM

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  Rootkits and bootkits represent a severe threat as they operate at a low level in the system, often at the kernel level, making them particularly stealthy and difficult to detect. Rootkits can intercept and alter standard system functions to hide their presence, while bootkits infect the system's boot process, gaining control even before the OS fully loads. This level of control makes them highly resistant to many detection and removal methods.

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• Hitansh Kataria Product Security Lead @ Stryker | OSCP | CEH | Comptia Pentest+

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  - Rootkits and bootkits are types of malware that manipulate the operating system's kernel or boot process to gain persistence and hide their presence.- Rootkits modify system functions and data structures to conceal malicious activities, while bootkits infect the boot process to control system execution before the operating system loads.

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• (edited)

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  Bootkits are the most nefarious of them all.The bootkits install themselves in unpartitioned spaces on the disk and use proprietary network protocols to further increase their evasiveness.The bootkit installs by changing the boot sequence, pointing the boot process to it before the OS boot. They are a tiny OS running the "real" OS, often virtualizing the entire "real" OS. This vantage point allows the bootkits to evade most of the known detection techniques.Firmware rootkits are not bootkits. They are a different class of rootkits, even stealthier than bootkits. However, the process of infecting a server with firmware rootkits is more complex than bootkits and often requires direct access to the host machine.

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• Umang Mehta 25x LinkedIn Top Voice 🏆| Winner of 2024 GRA | Winner of 2024 CyberSecurity Excellence Award | Global Top 10 IT Leadership | Top 25 Predictive Analysis | Top 50 CyberSecurity | Writer | Researcher

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  Social engineering, a crafty manipulation tactic, exploits human vulnerabilities to deceive individuals into divulging confidential data or performing actions that benefit attackers. It's crucial to be vigilant and educate ourselves on recognizing these tactics, empowering us to stay one step ahead of potential threats. Phishing, on the other hand, capitalizes on deceptive emails or messages masquerading as legitimate sources. These malicious communications often contain harmful links or attachments, tricking unsuspecting individuals into unknowingly downloading malware or revealing sensitive information. By being aware of the telltale signs and employing caution, we can thwart these attempts and safeguard our digital assets.

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• Ranjit Sawant Cybersecurity Technology Specialist at Microsoft

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  While there are may techniques in Social Engineering & Phishing used by Threat Actors, the primary target is to compromise a Identity which is another vector of attack observed, in my recent digital combat, came across an legit email domain used to send an "forms" link crafted to look like genuine password reset page, missed by all the scanning filters including URL scanning. Once the identity is compromised the attacker can further move laterally and become domain dominant.Hence its important for organizations to enforce MFA, enable Geo-fencing capabilities, monitor Identities (on-prem/ cloud) Always Authenticate, authorize on available data points, including user identity, location, anomalies etc... with Zero Trust.

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• Hitansh Kataria Product Security Lead @ Stryker | OSCP | CEH | Comptia Pentest+

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  - Malware authors exploit social engineering techniques to trick users into downloading and executing malicious payloads.- Phishing emails, fake websites, malicious ads, and other social engineering tactics are used to lure victims into clicking on links or downloading attachments containing malware.

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• Tyler J. Stafford Executive Director I CyberRisk Alliance

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  Social engineering and phishing techniques prey on human vulnerabilities, empowering malware authors to evade technical defenses. To counter these threats, prioritize empowering your team with thorough cybersecurity awareness training to recognize and resist manipulation. Additionally, bolster your defenses with advanced email filtering and authentication systems while fostering a culture of cautious skepticism towards unsolicited communications.

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• Alex Longe MBA Student at WGU

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  Security professionals should consider the rise of fileless malware and implement behavior-based detection strategies. They should also be aware of the risks associated with third-party libraries and the supply chain and accordingly employ software composition analysis tools.

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• Juan Pablo Castro Director @ Trend Micro | Cybersecurity Strategist, LATAM

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  Living Off The Land (LOTL) techniques have become a favored method among malware authors to evade detection. This approach involves the use of legitimate, built-in system tools and processes to conduct malicious activities, making it incredibly challenging to distinguish between benign and harmful actions. Commonly exploited tools include PowerShell, WMI, and native scripting languages. The stealthiness of LOTL lies in its ability to blend in with normal system behavior, often leaving no unusual files or traces behind. The importance of detection engineering in combating LOTL attacks is paramount. It requires a shift from traditional signature-based detection to more behavior-based and anomaly detection strategies.

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• Rivaldo Oliveira Head of Cyber Security Incident Response Team na Tempest Security Intelligence

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  Quase todos os pontos citados nesse artigo se referem a técnicas utilizadas por malwares tradicionais, quando falamos em malwares avançados, o cenário é diferente, estamos falando de malwares que utilizam recursos como injeção de código em serviços e DLL`s do sistema (Process Injection), estamos falando de malwares que efetuam chamadas diretas ao Kernel do SO, passando silenciosamente pelos ganchos das ferramentas de Endpoint (Direct SysCalls), esse cenário vem sendo cada vez mais utilizado em tentativas de evasão.

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• M. Javad Rahmanpour Cybersecurity Architect | DevSecOps

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  ✳ Some key points to consider :🔰 Anti-emulation: Malware authors may implement techniques to detect if they are running in a virtual environment or sandbox, which could indicate analysis is being performed, leading to altered behavior.🔰 Anti-sandbox Techniques: Malware can have mechanisms to detect when it's being run in a sandbox environment for analysis, allowing it to remain dormant or exhibit benign behavior to avoid detection.

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• André Vasques Senior Cybersecurity Analyst @ Hotmart, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Detection Engineer and Use Cases, Incident Response, Blue Team, B2 English

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  There is one concept that is called Living of the Land. And the premisse is use a legitm binary from the operational system to avoid detection from security tools. And if the commandline was detected by EDR for example, the security analyst don't think it is malicious because is a legitm binary, with hash signed by the vendor of the operational system. Attackers discover that a legitm binary created to some operate an especific thing on operational system can be used to make other things. Like bitsadmin.exe is used for managing background intelligent transfer, but someone discover that you can use this binary to download, to copy, to execute, to alternate data streams.

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