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Malware Forensics Field Guide for Linux Systems
Digital Forensics Field Guides
- 1st Edition - December 7, 2013
- Authors: Eoghan Casey, Cameron H. Malin, James M. Aquilina
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 1 - 5 9 7 4 9 - 4 7 0 - 0
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 1 - 5 9 7 4 9 - 4 7 1 - 7
Malware Forensics Field Guide for Linux Systems is a handy reference that shows students the essential tools needed to do computer forensics analysis at the crime scene. It is par… Read more
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Request a sales quoteMalware Forensics Field Guide for Linux Systems is a handy reference that shows students the essential tools needed to do computer forensics analysis at the crime scene. It is part of Syngress Digital Forensics Field Guides, a series of companions for any digital and computer forensic student, investigator or analyst. Each Guide is a toolkit, with checklists for specific tasks, case studies of difficult situations, and expert analyst tips that will aid in recovering data from digital media that will be used in criminal prosecution.
This book collects data from all methods of electronic data storage and transfer devices, including computers, laptops, PDAs and the images, spreadsheets and other types of files stored on these devices. It is specific for Linux-based systems, where new malware is developed every day. The authors are world-renowned leaders in investigating and analyzing malicious code. Chapters cover malware incident response - volatile data collection and examination on a live Linux system; analysis of physical and process memory dumps for malware artifacts; post-mortem forensics - discovering and extracting malware and associated artifacts from Linux systems; legal considerations; file identification and profiling initial analysis of a suspect file on a Linux system; and analysis of a suspect program.
This book will appeal to computer forensic investigators, analysts, and specialists.
- A compendium of on-the-job tasks and checklists
- Specific for Linux-based systems in which new malware is developed every day
- Authors are world-renowned leaders in investigating and analyzing malicious code
Computer forensic investigators, analysts, and specialists
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Special Thanks to the Technical Editor
Biography
About the Authors
About the Technical Editor
Introduction
Introduction to Malware Forensics
Class Versus Individuating Characteristics
Chapter 1. Malware Incident Response: Volatile Data Collection and Examination on a Live Linux System
Solutions in this chapter:
Introduction
Volatile Data Collection Methodology
Nonvolatile Data Collection from a Live Linux System
Conclusion
Pitfalls to Avoid
Incident Tool Suites
Remote Collection Tools
Volatile Data Collection and Analysis Tools
Collecting Subject System Details
Identifying Users Logged into the System
Network Connections and Activity
Process Analysis
Loaded Modules
Open Files
Command History
Selected Readings
Chapter 2. Linux Memory Forensics: Analyzing Physical and Process Memory Dumps for Malware Artifacts
Solutions in this Chapter:
Introduction
Memory Forensics Overview
“Old School” Memory Analysis
How Linux Memory Forensics Tools Work
Linux Memory Forensics Tools
Interpreting Various Data Structures in Linux Memory
Dumping Linux Process Memory
Dissecting Linux Process Memory
Conclusions
Pitfalls to Avoid
Field Notes: Memory Forensics
Selected Readings
Chapter 3. Postmortem Forensics: Discovering and Extracting Malware and Associated Artifacts from Linux Systems
Solutions in this Chapter
Introduction
Linux Forensic Analysis Overview
Malware Discovery and Extraction from a Linux System
Examine Linux File System
Examine Application Traces
Keyword Searching
Forensic Reconstruction of Compromised Linux Systems
Advanced Malware Discovery and Extraction from a Linux System
Conclusions
Pitfalls to Avoid
Field Notes: Linux System Examinations
Forensic Tool Suites
Timeline Generation
Selected Readings
Chapter 4. Legal Considerations
Solutions in this Chapter:
Framing the Issues
General Considerations
Sources of Investigative Authority
Statutory Limits on Authority
Tools for Acquiring Data
Acquiring Data Across Borders
Involving Law Enforcement
Improving Chances for Admissibility
State Private Investigator and Breach Notification Statutes
International Resources:
The Federal Rules: Evidence for Digital Investigators
Chapter 5. File Identification and Profiling: Initial Analysis of a Suspect File on a Linux System
Solutions in this Chapter:
Introduction
Overview of the File Profiling Process
Working With Linux Executables
File Similarity Indexing
File Visualization
Symbolic and Debug Information
Embedded File Metadata
File Obfuscation: Packing and Encryption Identification
Embedded Artifact Extraction Revisited
Executable and Linkable Format (ELF)
Profiling Suspect Document Files
Profiling Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) Files
Profiling Microsoft (MS) Office Files
Conclusion
Pitfalls to Avoid
Conducting an incomplete file profile
Relying upon file icons and extensions without further CONTEXT or deeper examination
Solely relying upon anti-virus signatures or third-party analysis of a “similar” file specimen
Examining a suspect file in a forensically unsound laboratory environment
Basing conclusions upon a file profile without additional context or correlation
Navigating to malicious URLS and IP addresses
Selected Readings
Technical Specifications
Chapter 6. Analysis of a Malware Specimen
Solutions in this Chapter
Introduction
Goals
Guidelines for Examining a Malicious File Specimen
Establishing the Environment Baseline
Pre-Execution Preparation: System and Network Monitoring
Execution Artifact Capture: Digital Impression and Trace Evidence
Executing the Malicious Code Specimen
Execution Trajectory Analysis: Observing Network, Process, System Calls, and File System Activity
Automated Malware Analysis Frameworks
Embedded Artifact Extraction Revisited
Interacting with and Manipulating the Malware Specimen: Exploring and Verifying Functionality and Purpose
Event Reconstruction and Artifact Review: Post-Run Data Analysis
Digital Virology: Advanced Profiling Through Malware Taxonomy and Phylogeny
Conclusion
Pitfalls to Avoid
Incomplete Evidence Reconstruction
Incorrect Execution of a Malware Specimen
Solely Relying upon Automated Frameworks or Online Sandbox Analysis of a Malware Specimen
Submitting Sensitive Files to Online Analysis Sandboxes
Failure to Adjust the Laboratory Environment to Ensure Full Execution Trajectory
Failure to Examine Evidence Dynamics During and After the Execution of Malware Specimen
Failure to Examine the Embedded Artifacts of a Target Malware Specimen After it is Executed and Extracted from Obfuscation Code
Selected Readings
Index
- No. of pages: 616
- Language: English
- Edition: 1
- Published: December 7, 2013
- Imprint: Syngress
- Paperback ISBN: 9781597494700
- eBook ISBN: 9781597494717
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Eoghan Casey
Eoghan Casey is an internationally recognized expert in data breach investigations and information security forensics. He is founding partner of CASEITE.com, and co-manages the Risk Prevention and Response business unit at DFLabs. Over the past decade, he has consulted with many attorneys, agencies, and police departments in the United States, South America, and Europe on a wide range of digital investigations, including fraud, violent crimes, identity theft, and on-line criminal activity. Eoghan has helped organizations investigate and manage security breaches, including network intrusions with international scope. He has delivered expert testimony in civil and criminal cases, and has submitted expert reports and prepared trial exhibits for computer forensic and cyber-crime cases.
In addition to his casework and writing the foundational book Digital Evidence and Computer Crime, Eoghan has worked as R&D Team Lead in the Defense Cyber Crime Institute (DCCI) at the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3) helping enhance their operational capabilities and develop new techniques and tools. He also teaches graduate students at Johns Hopkins University Information Security Institute and created the Mobile Device Forensics course taught worldwide through the SANS Institute. He has delivered keynotes and taught workshops around the globe on various topics related to data breach investigation, digital forensics and cyber security.
Eoghan has performed thousands of forensic acquisitions and examinations, including Windows and UNIX systems, Enterprise servers, smart phones, cell phones, network logs, backup tapes, and database systems. He also has information security experience, as an Information Security Officer at Yale University and in subsequent consulting work. He has performed vulnerability assessments, deployed and maintained intrusion detection systems, firewalls and public key infrastructures, and developed policies, procedures, and educational programs for a variety of organizations. Eoghan has authored advanced technical books in his areas of expertise that are used by practitioners and universities around the world, and he is Editor-in-Chief of Elsevier's International Journal of Digital Investigation.
Affiliations and expertise
Eoghan Casey, cmdLabs, Baltimore, MD, USACM
Cameron H. Malin
Cameron H. Malin is a Behavioral Profiler with over 20 years of experience investigating, analyzing and profiling cyber adversaries across the spectrum of criminal to national security. He is the founder of the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit’s (BAU) Cyber Behavioral Analysis Center (CBAC) and the longest serving FBI Cyber Profiler. He is a co-author of the authoritative cyber deception book, Deception in the Digital Age: Exploiting and Defending Human Targets Through Computer-Mediated Communications (published by Academic Press, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc.) and co-author of the Malware Forensics book series: Malware Forensics: Investigating and Analyzing Malicious Code, Malware Forensics Field Guide for Windows Systems, and Malware Forensics Field Guide for Linux Systems (all published by Syngress, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc.). Cameron is the creator of Digital Behavioral Criminalistics – a combined application of numerous forensic disciplines—digital forensics, criminalistics, and behavioral sciences—to meaningfully uncovering offender thoughts and actions in digital artifacts—as well as the Cyber Pathway to Intended Violence (CPIV)—a model for assessing violent offenders who have engaged computer systems, devices, and/or online resources before, during, and/or after a premeditated, violent act. These important emerging topics were published in his book chapter Digital Behavioral Criminalistics to Elucidate the Cyber Pathway to Intended Violence in the International Handbook of Threat Assessment, 2nd Edition (Oxford University Press, 2021). Prior to working for the FBI, Cameron was an Assistant State Attorney (ASA) and Special Assistant United States Attorney in Miami, Florida, where he specialized in computer crime prosecutions. During his tenure as an ASA, he was also an Assistant Professorial Lecturer in the Computer Fraud Investigations Master’s Program at George Washington University.
Affiliations and expertise
Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation assigned to Cyber Crime Squad, Los Angeles, CA, USAJA
James M. Aquilina
James M. Aquilina, Esq. is the Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel of Stroz Friedberg, LLC, a consulting and technical services firm specializing in computer forensics; cyber-crime response; private investigations; and the preservation, analysis and production of electronic data from single hard drives to complex corporate networks. As the head of the Los Angeles Office, Mr. Aquilina supervises and conducts digital forensics and cyber-crime investigations and oversees large digital evidence projects. Mr. Aquilina also consults on the technical and strategic aspects of anti-piracy, antispyware, and digital rights management (DRM) initiatives for the media and entertainment industries, providing strategic thinking, software assurance, testing of beta products, investigative assistance, and advice on whether the technical components of the initiatives implicate the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and anti-spyware and consumer fraud legislation. His deep knowledge of botnets, distributed denial of service attacks, and other automated cyber-intrusions enables him to provide companies with advice to bolster their infrastructure protection.
Affiliations and expertise
Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel of Stroz Friedberg, LLCRead Malware Forensics Field Guide for Linux Systems on ScienceDirect