RE: Exploit package analysis

["Todd Towles" <toddtowles () brookshires com>]

Agreed, but those as internal malware findings. You can very quickly get
a sense of where and what is doing external in a sandbox. If it is a
botnet, you can find where it is going and have it shutdown by the time
you find your way thru all the functions. You can have it running on a
VMWare network running ethereal, when you are using IDA against it on
another box. Maximize your time and get the most information.

For sure, RCE using IDA is at the core of analyzing malware and you have
a very good point. I am pretty sure anti-virus companies run malware in
sandboxes...safer that way.

I once infected myself while attempt RCE, tried to unpack a sample with
a UPX unpacker, it loaded the file into memory and ran it. I cleared it
off without a problem, so no harm done. Stuff happens...

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Justin Ferguson [mailto:jnferguson () gmail com] 
> Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2005 7:45 PM
> To: Todd Towles
> Cc: Erin Carroll; pen-test () securityfocus com
> Subject: Re: Exploit package analysis
>
> If you are using windows, then IDA, if you are using unix, 
> then objdump. You do not need a sandbox, just need to know 
> how to read assembly.
>
>
>
> On 7/28/05, Todd Towles <toddtowles () brookshires com> wrote:
> > A bit off-topic, but I would look into VMWare. There are 
> several Linux 
> > tools that will work the same as well. A separate OS 
> environment would 
> > be very helpful in your new interest. Plus, it is very easy 
> to go back 
> > to a fresh OS  state after a malware analyzing session.
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Erin Carroll [mailto:amoeba () amoebazone com]
> > > Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2005 11:45 AM
> > > To: pen-test () securityfocus com
> > > Subject: Exploit package analysis
> > >
> > > All,
> > >
> > > Some of the fun of moderating this list is getting a wide 
> exposure 
> > > to aspects of pen-testing I have yet to tackle. One thing 
> managing 
> > > the list has prompted me to explore is exploit/code package 
> > > analysis... thanks to all the spam I get to sift through :)
> > >
> > > In addition to worrying about my poker game, manly endowment & 
> > > performance, and Rolex collection (once I get money from 
> my friends 
> > > in Nigeria), I get a lot of spams with attachments, usually .zip, 
> > > that are obviously malware that I'd like to open up 
> safely and see 
> > > how they tick. I'm hoping to pick up some interesting pen-test 
> > > techniques by looking at the current state of malware exploits to 
> > > see how they work/reproduce/hide at the system level. 
> While most of 
> > > them I assume will be run-of-the-mill spambot or zombie 
> generators, 
> > > there's always a chance of running across a 0-day in the wild.
> > >
> > > My question to all of you is what are some basic sandbox 
> tools you 
> > > would recommend to pursue this? Does anyone work in a 
> similar vein 
> > > and has the experience been helpful in your pen-testing work?
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Erin Carroll
> > > "Do Not Taunt Happy-Fun Ball"