Обход отладчиков
Adversaries may employ various means to detect and avoid debuggers. Debuggers are typically used by defenders to trace and/or analyze the execution of potential malware payloads.(Citation: ProcessHacker Github)
Debugger evasion may include changing behaviors based on the results of the checks for the presence of artifacts indicative of a debugged environment. Similar to Virtualization/Sandbox Evasion, if the adversary detects a debugger, they may alter their malware to disengage from the victim or conceal the core functions of the implant. They may also search for debugger artifacts before dropping secondary or additional payloads.
Specific checks will vary based on the target and/or adversary. On Windows, this may involve Native API function calls such as IsDebuggerPresent() and NtQueryInformationProcess(), or manually checking the BeingDebugged flag of the Process Environment Block (PEB). On Linux, this may involve querying `/proc/self/status` for the `TracerPID` field, which indicates whether or not the process is being traced by dynamic analysis tools.(Citation: Cado Security P2PInfect 2023)(Citation: Positive Technologies Hellhounds 2023) Other checks for debugging artifacts may also seek to enumerate hardware breakpoints, interrupt assembly opcodes, time checks, or measurements if exceptions are raised in the current process (assuming a present debugger would “swallow” or handle the potential error).(Citation: hasherezade debug)(Citation: AlKhaser Debug)(Citation: vxunderground debug)
Malware may also leverage Structured Exception Handling (SEH) to detect debuggers by throwing an exception and detecting whether the process is suspended. SEH handles both hardware and software expectations, providing control over the exceptions including support for debugging. If a debugger is present, the program’s control will be transferred to the debugger, and the execution of the code will be suspended. If the debugger is not present, control will be transferred to the SEH handler, which will automatically handle the exception and allow the program’s execution to continue.(Citation: Apriorit)
Adversaries may use the information learned from these debugger checks during automated discovery to shape follow-on behaviors. Debuggers can also be evaded by detaching the process or flooding debug logs with meaningless data via messages produced by looping Native API function calls such as OutputDebugStringW().(Citation: wardle evilquest partii)(Citation: Checkpoint Dridex Jan 2021)
Примеры процедур |
|
| Название | Описание |
|---|---|
| Lumma Stealer |
Lumma Stealer has checked for debugger strings by invoking `GetForegroundWindow` and looks for strings containing “x32dbg”, “x64dbg”, “windbg”, “ollydbg”, “dnspy”, “immunity debugger”, “hyperdbg”, “debug”, “debugger”, “cheat engine”, “cheatengine” and “ida”.(Citation: Fortinet LummaStealer 2024) |
| AsyncRAT |
AsyncRAT can use the `CheckRemoteDebuggerPresent` function to detect the presence of a debugger.(Citation: Telefonica Snip3 December 2021) |
| StealBit |
StealBit can detect it is being run in the context of a debugger.(Citation: Cybereason StealBit Exfiltration Tool) |
| StrelaStealer |
StrelaStealer variants include functionality to identify and evade debuggers.(Citation: Fortgale StrelaStealer 2023) |
| DarkGate |
DarkGate checks the |
| Pikabot |
Pikabot features several methods to evade debugging by analysts, including checks for active debuggers, the use of breakpoints during execution, and checking various system information items such as system memory and the number of processors.(Citation: Zscaler Pikabot 2023)(Citation: Elastic Pikabot 2024)(Citation: Logpoint Pikabot 2024) |
| ROKRAT |
ROKRAT can check for debugging tools.(Citation: Talos Group123)(Citation: NCCGroup RokRat Nov 2018)(Citation: Malwarebytes RokRAT VBA January 2021) |
| DRATzarus |
DRATzarus can use `IsDebuggerPresent` to detect whether a debugger is present on a victim.(Citation: ClearSky Lazarus Aug 2020) |
| Black Basta |
The Black Basta dropper can check system flags, CPU registers, CPU instructions, process timing, system libraries, and APIs to determine if a debugger is present.(Citation: Check Point Black Basta October 2022) |
| Saint Bot |
Saint Bot has used `is_debugger_present` as part of its environmental checks.(Citation: Malwarebytes Saint Bot April 2021) |
| XLoader |
XLoader uses anti-debugging mechanisms such as calling `NtQueryInformationProcess` with `InfoClass=7`, referencing `ProcessDebugPort`, to determine if it is being analyzed.(Citation: Google XLoader 2017) |
| Raspberry Robin |
Raspberry Robin leverages anti-debugging mechanisms through the use of |
| LockBit 3.0 |
LockBit 3.0 can check heap memory parameters for indications of a debugger and stop the flow of events to the attached debugger in order to hinder dynamic analysis.(Citation: Sentinel Labs LockBit 3.0 JUL 2022) |
|
During Operation Dream Job, Lazarus Group used tools that used the `IsDebuggerPresent` call to detect debuggers.(Citation: ClearSky Lazarus Aug 2020) |
|
| DarkTortilla |
DarkTortilla can detect debuggers by using functions such as `DebuggerIsAttached` and `DebuggerIsLogging`. DarkTortilla can also detect profilers by verifying the `COR_ENABLE_PROFILING` environment variable is present and active.(Citation: Secureworks DarkTortilla Aug 2022) |
| Mafalda |
Mafalda can search for debugging tools on a compromised host.(Citation: SentinelLabs Metador Technical Appendix Sept 2022) |
| ThiefQuest |
ThiefQuest uses a function named |
| Latrodectus |
Latrodectus has the ability to check for the presence of debuggers.(Citation: Latrodectus APR 2024) |
| Bumblebee |
Bumblebee can search for tools used in static analysis.(Citation: Medium Ali Salem Bumblebee April 2022) |
Обнаружение
Debugger related system checks will likely occur in the first steps of an operation but may also occur throughout as an adversary learns the environment. Data and events should not be viewed in isolation, but as part of a chain of behavior that could lead to other activities, such as lateral movement, based on the information obtained. Detecting actions related to debugger identification may be difficult depending on the adversary's implementation and monitoring required. Monitoring for suspicious Native API function calls as well as processes being spawned that gather a variety of system information or perform other forms of Discovery, especially in a short period of time, may aid in detection. Monitor debugger logs for signs of abnormal and potentially malicious activity.
Ссылки
- vxunderground. (2021, June 30). VX-API. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- PT Expert Security Center. (2023, November 29). Hellhounds: operation Lahat. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
- ProcessHacker. (2009, October 27). Process Hacker. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
- Patrick Wardle. (2020, July 3). OSX.EvilQuest Uncovered part ii: insidious capabilities. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
- Noteworthy. (2019, January 6). Al-Khaser. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- jbowen. (2023, December 4). P2Pinfect - New Variant Targets MIPS Devices. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
- hasherezade. (2021, June 30). Module 3 - Understanding and countering malware's evasion and self-defence. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- Check Point Research. (2021, January 4). Stopping Serial Killer: Catching the Next Strike. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- Apriorit. (2024, June 4). Anti Debugging Protection Techniques with Examples. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
- Cara Lin, Fortinet. (2024, January 8). Deceptive Cracked Software Spreads Lumma Variant on YouTube. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- Jornet, A. (2021, December 23). Snip3, an investigation into malware. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- Cybereason Global SOC Team. (n.d.). THREAT ANALYSIS REPORT: Inside the LockBit Arsenal - The StealBit Exfiltration Tool. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
- Fortgale. (2023, September 18). StrelaStealer Malware Analysis. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
- Ernesto Fernández Provecho, Pham Duy Phuc, Ciana Driscoll & Vinoo Thomas. (2023, November 21). The Continued Evolution of the DarkGate Malware-as-a-Service. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel. (2024, February). Pikabot: A Sophisticated and Modular Backdoor Trojan with Advanced Evasion Techniques. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- Daniel Stepanic & Salim Bitam. (2024, February 23). PIKABOT, I choose you!. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- Brett Stone-Gross & Nikolaos Pantazopoulos. (2023, May 24). Technical Analysis of Pikabot. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- Pantazopoulos, N.. (2018, November 8). RokRat Analysis. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
- Mercer, W., Rascagneres, P. (2018, January 16). Korea In The Crosshairs. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
- Jazi, Hossein. (2021, January 6). Retrohunting APT37: North Korean APT used VBA self decode technique to inject RokRat. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ClearSky Research Team. (2020, August 13). Operation 'Dream Job' Widespread North Korean Espionage Campaign. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- Check Point. (2022, October 20). BLACK BASTA AND THE UNNOTICED DELIVERY. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- Hasherezade. (2021, April 6). A deep dive into Saint Bot, a new downloader. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
- Nart Villeneuve, Randi Eitzman, Sandor Nemes & Tyler Dean, Google Cloud. (2017, October 5). Significant FormBook Distribution Campaigns Impacting the U.S. and South Korea. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
- Christopher So. (2022, December 20). Raspberry Robin Malware Targets Telecom, Governments. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- Walter, J. (2022, July 21). LockBit 3.0 Update | Unpicking the Ransomware’s Latest Anti-Analysis and Evasion Techniques. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
- Secureworks Counter Threat Unit Research Team. (2022, August 17). DarkTortilla Malware Analysis. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- SentinelLabs. (2022, September 22). Metador Technical Appendix. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
- Proofpoint Threat Research and Team Cymru S2 Threat Research. (2024, April 4). Latrodectus: This Spider Bytes Like Ice . Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- Salem, A. (2022, April 27). The chronicles of Bumblebee: The Hook, the Bee, and the Trickbot connection. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
Связанные риски
Каталоги
Мы используем cookie-файлы, чтобы получить статистику, которая помогает нам улучшить сервис для вас с целью персонализации сервисов и предложений. Вы может прочитать подробнее о cookie-файлах или изменить настройки браузера. Продолжая пользоваться сайтом, вы даёте согласие на использование ваших cookie-файлов и соглашаетесь с Политикой обработки персональных данных.