Forensic memory dumping intricacies - PhysicalMemory, DD, and caching issues

[Arne Vidstrom <arne.vidstrom () ntsecurity nu>]

Summary:

Memory dumping tools that use the PhysicalMemory device in Windows XP 
can be blocked by allocating memory buffers with special memory types. 
In older versions of Windows the tools instead could possibly cause 
cache incoherence with some processor types, or other adverse side 
effects. The problem can also occur on a system that has not been 
manipulated at all by any attacker. One *example* of an affected tool is 
DD from the Forensic Acquisition Utilities.

Full text:

http://ntsecurity.nu/onmymind/2006/2006-06-01.html

Regards /Arne Vidstrom

http://ntsecurity.nu
http://vidstrom.net