Volatile Memory Analysis: True or False Quiz & Flashcards Chapter 14

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Questions and Answers

What is a characteristic of volatile memories?

They are only used in hard drives

They are non-volatile and can be rewritten multiple times

They retain their contents even after power is shut off

They only hold their contents while power is applied (correct)

What is the fundamental building block of RAM?

Clusters

Sectors

Memory cells (correct)

Registers

What does a high voltage denote in a memory cell?

A 1 in binary (correct)

A damaged memory cell

A 0 in binary

An empty memory cell

What determines the number of memory cells per address in a RAM chip?

The number of bits in the RAM chip Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common type of memory used today?

DRAM Signup and view all the answers

Why is volatile memory critical in forensics?

Because it loses data when power is shut off Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the Memory Address Register (MAR)?

To hold the addresses in memory Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between the stack and the heap in memory allocation?

The stack is automatically managed, while the heap is manually managed Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB)?

To cache recently used mappings of virtual addresses to physical addresses Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of a program allocating memory from the heap but not deallocating it?

The program will consume more memory, potentially leading to a system crash Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of a page table?

To map virtual addresses to physical addresses Signup and view all the answers

What happens when a virtual address is not found in the Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB)?

The page table is searched Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary issue with volatile memory in terms of data retention?

It loses its contents when power is turned off Signup and view all the answers

What is the fundamental difference between a RAM chip and a traditional hard drive?

The way they organize data Signup and view all the answers

What determines the number of memory cells per address in a RAM chip?

The number of bits in the RAM chip Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a memory cell in a RAM chip?

To store a bit of binary information Signup and view all the answers

Why is it not necessarily true that a 64-bit computer has 64-bit RAM?

The RAM is a separate component from the computer Signup and view all the answers

What is a common application of SRAM?

CPU caches and registers Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the Memory Data Register (MDR)?

To store data being transferred to and from memory Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of a program allocating memory from the heap without deallocating it?

The system may crash due to memory consumption Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the page table?

To map virtual addresses to physical addresses Signup and view all the answers

What happens when a process uses virtual addresses?

The process gives the impression of working with contiguous sections of memory Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in translating a virtual address to a physical address?

Search the Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB) Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the stack in memory allocation?

It is automatically allocated and managed Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the Volatility tool?

To analyze memory dumps for specific data Signup and view all the answers

What does the profile in Volatility indicate?

The operating system of the machine the memory dump was taken from Signup and view all the answers

What is the format of the Volatility commands?

Plug-ins used to scan a memory dump for specific data Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the first Volatility command?

To get information about Volatility and ensure it is working properly Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical extension of a memory dump file?

.mem,.bin,.dump, or.raw Signup and view all the answers

What is required to use Volatility effectively?

A profile that matches the memory dump used Signup and view all the answers

What does the plist command display in a memory dump?

A list of processes with their IDs, threads, and handles Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the psscan command in malware investigations?

To find processes that previously terminated or were hidden Signup and view all the answers

What information does the svcscan command provide about services in a memory dump?

The process ID, offset, order, start method, and service type of each service Signup and view all the answers

What is SERVICE_WIN32_SHARE_PROCESS in the context of svcscan?

A service type flag that indicates a Win32 service that shares a process with other services Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between the plist and pstree commands?

plist lists processes in a flat list, while pstree lists them in a hierarchical tree Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the pstree command?

To display the processes in a hierarchical tree Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of using the psscan command in malware investigations?

It can find processes that previously terminated or were hidden Signup and view all the answers

What is the offset in the context of the svcscan command?

The actual location in memory of a service Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the svcscan command?

To list the details of all services that were in memory Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of using Volatility commands in digital forensics?

They can provide detailed information about processes and services in a memory dump Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of Volatility?

Analyzing memory dumps for specific data Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the first Volatility command?

To get information about Volatility to ensure it is working properly Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by the profile in Volatility?

The operating system of the machine the memory dump was taken from Signup and view all the answers

What is the format of Volatility commands?

Command-line interface with a specific format Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the plug-ins in Volatility?

To scan the memory dump for specific data Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical extension of a memory dump file?

.mem,.bin,.dump,.raw Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the psscan command in Volatility?

To find processes that previously terminated or were hidden by a rootkit Signup and view all the answers

What information does the plist command display in a memory dump?

The processes that were in the memory dump, including their PID, PPID, threads, and handles Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the svcscan command?

To display the services that were in memory when the memory dump was taken Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of using the hollowfind command in Volatility?

To detect hollowing techniques in a memory dump Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the pstree command in Volatility?

To display the processes in a hierarchical tree, showing their relationships Signup and view all the answers

What is the offset in the context of the svcscan command?

The actual location in memory of a service Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the psxview command in Volatility?

To display information about a specific process ID Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of using the psscan command in malware investigations?

It can find hidden processes in a memory dump Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the modscan command in Volatility?

To search for drives, including unlinked drivers Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the dlldump command in Volatility?

To provide dynamic link libraries (DLLs) associated with specific processes Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of viruses?

They are software that self-replicates Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of patch management in cybersecurity?

It ensures that vulnerabilities are addressed before they can be exploited Signup and view all the answers

What is ransomware?

A type of malware that encrypts files and demands payment Signup and view all the answers

Why is Wannacry a noteworthy virus?

It exploited a known vulnerability that had a patch available Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of categorizing malware?

To understand the characteristics of malware Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between malware categories?

They are not strict and often overlap Signup and view all the answers

What type of malware is Crypto Locker an example of?

Ransomware Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a logic bomb?

To execute malicious activity when a certain condition is met Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a Trojan Horse?

To deliver a virus Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of DLL injection?

To force a targeted program to load a malicious DLL Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of a worm?

It self-propagates Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of spyware?

To monitor the computer’s activities Signup and view all the answers

What is FinFisher?

Software made for the use of law enforcement Signup and view all the answers

What is Zwangi?

A type of malware that redirects URLs and takes periodic screenshots Signup and view all the answers

What is Crypto Wall?

A type of ransomware Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary issue with spyware?

It exfiltrates data Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of listing a DLL in the registry entry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWindowsAppInit_DLLs?

The DLL will be loaded into every process that loads User32.dll Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Volatility command printkey?

To view any particular registry key Signup and view all the answers

What is the technique of creating a process in a suspended state, and then resuming it with malicious code?

Process hollowing Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by the presence of calls such as VirtualAllocEx() and CreateRemoteThread() in a memory dump?

The presence of a process hollowing Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of memory sections marked as Page_Execute_ReadWrite and having no memory-mapped file present?

It is a sign of process hollowing or DLL injection Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSession ManagerAppCertDLLs?

To load a DLL into every process that calls the Win32 API functions Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of viruses?

They are any software that self-replicates Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the Wannacry virus in the context of malware investigations?

It highlights the importance of patch management in cybersecurity Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between malware categories?

They are flexible and often overlapping Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of dividing malware into categories?

To help in analysis and understanding of malware Signup and view all the answers

What is ransomware?

A type of malware that demands payment in exchange for restoring access to data Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between macro viruses and polymorphic viruses?

Macro viruses are created via macros in documents, while polymorphic viruses are created via executable files Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of listing a DLL in the registry entry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWindowsAppInit_DLLs?

It will be loaded into every process that loads User32.dll. Signup and view all the answers

What is process hollowing also known as?

Process replacement Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Volatility command printkey?

To view any particular registry key Signup and view all the answers

What can be a sign of process hollowing or injection in memory dumps?

Calls to VirtualAllocEx() and CreateRemoteThread(). Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of memory sections marked as Page_Execute_ReadWrite and having no memory-mapped file present?

It is a sign of process hollowing. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of creating a process in a suspended state in process hollowing?

To allow the malware to execute without being detected. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a worm?

To self-propagate and spread to other systems Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of DLL injection?

To execute code within the address space of another process Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of spyware?

It can monitor a computer's activities in some fashion Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a Trojan horse?

To deliver malware to a system while appearing legitimate Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a logic bomb?

To execute malicious code when a specific condition is met Signup and view all the answers

What is Crypto Wall?

A variant of Crypto Locker that encrypts files and communicates with a command-and-control server Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary issue with spyware in terms of data exfiltration?

The data must be sent to some outside party Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of FinFisher?

To monitor a computer's activities in some fashion Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of Zwangi?

To redirect URLs and take periodic screenshots of the computer Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of Crypto Locker?

It uses asymmetric encryption to lock a user's files Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Density Scout application?

To analyze file density and identify potential malware Signup and view all the answers

What does the -l option do in Density Scout?

Filters files with density lower than the given value Signup and view all the answers

What is the default mode of Density Scout?

ABS Signup and view all the answers

How can you specify the file type to ignore in Density Scout?

Using the -S option Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the -o option in Density Scout?

To specify the output file Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of using the -r option in Density Scout?

It walks recursively through directories Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of analyzing the density of files in the WindowsSystem32 directory?

To identify files with odd density values Signup and view all the answers

What type of files are mostly listed in the provided results.txt?

DLL files Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the DLL files listed in the results.txt?

They have a large range of density values Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of looking for files with odd density values?

To identify files that are substantially different from known good files Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about the DLL files listed in the results.txt?

They are not, for the most part, Windows System DLLs Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of analyzing the density of files in a memory dump?

To identify files with substantially different density values Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Density Scout Tool

Density Scout is a tool used to find malware, often used in conjunction with memory forensics
It has various options to output data, including:
- -a: Show errors and empties
- -d: Just output data (Format: density|path)
- -l: Files with density lower than the given value
- -g: Files with density greater than the given value
- -n: Maximum number of lines to print
- -m: Mode (ABS or CHI)
- -o: File to write output to
- -p: Immediately print if lower than the given density
- -P: Immediately print if greater than the given density
- -r: Walk recursively
- -s: File type(s)
- -S: File type(s) to ignore
- -pe: Include all portable executables by magic number
- -PE: Ignore all portable executables by magic number

Understanding Memory

Volatile memories only hold their contents while power is applied to the memory device
Examples of volatile memories include:
- Static RAM (SRAM)
- Synchronous static RAM (SSRAM)
- Synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM)
- Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) on-chip memory
The most common type of memory today is dynamic random access memory (DRAM)
SRAM is often used for CPU caches and registers
In RAM, the memory cell is the fundamental building block
A memory cell is an electronic circuit that stores a bit of binary information

Memory Components

Memory has various components, including:
- Memory cells
- Fetch/store controller
- Memory address register (MAR)
- Memory data register (MDR)

Stack vs. Heap

The stack is computer memory that is automatically allocated and managed as needed for temporary variables within functions inside programs
The heap is memory that programs can allocate as needed
The heap is the source of what are commonly called "memory leaks"

Paging

A page table is a data structure that maps virtual addresses to physical addresses
Processes use virtual addresses; hardware (RAM) uses physical addresses
The Memory Management Unit of the CPU stores recently used mappings in the translation lookaside buffer (TLB)
When a virtual address needs to be translated into a physical address, the first step is to search the TLB

Analyzing Memory with Volatility

Volatility is a command-line tool for memory analysis
The first Volatility command is to get information about Volatility to ensure it is working properly
The command format is: volatility [command] [options] [memory dump file]
Examples of commands include:
- volatility --info
- volatility imageinfo -f [memory dump file]
- volatility pslist -f [memory dump file]
The profile indicates the operating system of the machine the memory dump was taken from, not the machine you are running Volatility on### Volatility Commands
plist command: lists the processes that were in the memory dump, showing the process ID, parent process ID, number of threads, number of handles, and start date/time.
pstree command: shows the processes in a hierarchical tree, making it clear what process started a particular process.
psscan command: finds processes that previously terminated (inactive) and processes that have been hidden or unlinked by a rootkit, particularly useful in malware investigations.
svcscan command: lists details of all services that were in memory when the memory dump was taken, including the service name, type, and state.

Understanding svcscan

Offset: the actual location in memory.
Order: the order in which the DLL was loaded into the process.
Start: how the service starts.
Process ID: the standard PID.
Display Name and Service Name: the name of the service.
Service Type: the type of service (e.g. SERVICE_WIN32_SHARE_PROCESS, SERVICE_WIN32_OWN_PROCESS, etc.).
Service State: whether the service is started or stopped.
Binary Path: the path to the executable.

Additional Volatility Commands

hollowfind command: detects hollowing techniques.
psxview command: searches for hidden processes.
modscan command: searches for drives, including unlinked drivers.
moddump command: extracts kernel drivers.
dlldump command: provides dynamic link libraries (DLLs) associated with specific processes.

Analyzing Memory with Volatility

Volatility is a command-line tool for memory analysis.
The first Volatility command is to get information about Volatility to ensure it is working properly.
The basic format of commands is volatility [command] -f [memory dump file].
Profiles indicate the operating system of the machine the memory dump was taken from.

Malware Categories

Viruses: self-replicating software.
Worms: self-propagating software that can spread without human interaction.
Spyware: software that monitors a computer's activities.
Logic Bombs: execute malicious activity when a specific condition is met.
Trojan Horses: delivery mechanisms for malware.

Malware Techniques

DLL injection: forcing a program to load a DLL.
Process hollowing: disguising malware as a legitimate system process.
Signs of process hollowing or injection: calls to VirtualAllocEx() and CreateRemoteThread(), and memory sections marked as Page_Execute_ReadWrite with no memory-mapped file present.

Famous Malware Examples

Crypto Locker: a ransomware that utilizes asymmetric encryption to lock user files.
Crypto Wall: a variant of Crypto Locker that also takes screenshots of the infected machine.
FinFisher: spyware made for law enforcement, but leaked to the general public.
Zwangi: spyware that redirects URLs and takes periodic screenshots.
Logic Bombs: examples include David Tinley's case, where he programmed a logic bomb to cause software to fail after a period of time.### Ransomware
Crypto Locker, discovered in 2013, utilizes asymmetric encryption to lock user files.
Crypto Wall, a variant of Crypto Locker, was first found in August 2014, and can take screenshots of infected machines.

Worms

A worm is a self-propagating computer virus, making it a more virulent virus.
Worms often overlap with viruses, making categorization difficult.

Spyware

Spyware is software that monitors computer activities, such as keyloggers and screen capture software.
Data exfiltration is a key concern, as spyware must send data to an outside party.
Memory forensics can help detect spyware by searching for processes creating sockets to outside IP addresses.
Legitimate uses of spyware include parental monitoring and employer monitoring of company-owned machines.

Famous Instances of Spyware

FinFisher, software made for law enforcement, was leaked to the public and widely used.
Zwangi, another famous spyware, redirected URLs and took periodic screenshots of infected computers.

Logic Bombs

Logic bombs execute malicious activity when a logical condition is met, such as a specific time or event.
Examples include programmers inserting logic bombs into company software to delete files if their employment is terminated.

Trojan Horses

Trojan horses are delivery mechanisms for malware, disguising themselves as legitimate software.
Examples include the Gh0st RAT, which provided remote access to infected machines.

Malware Hiding Techniques

DLL injection is a technique used by malware to covertly execute code on systems.
This involves forcing a targeted program to load a malicious DLL, often using specific registry keys.

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Test your knowledge on volatile memories, their characteristics, and examples such as SRAM, SDRAM, and FPGA. Learn how they work and why they're crucial in computer forensics. Discover the differences between volatile and dynamic random access memory (DRAM).

Memory in Computer Forensics chapter 14

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Questions and Answers

What is a characteristic of volatile memories?

What is the fundamental building block of RAM?

What does a high voltage denote in a memory cell?

What determines the number of memory cells per address in a RAM chip?

What is the most common type of memory used today?

Why is volatile memory critical in forensics?

What is the primary function of the Memory Address Register (MAR)?

What is the main difference between the stack and the heap in memory allocation?

What is the purpose of the Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB)?

What is the consequence of a program allocating memory from the heap but not deallocating it?

What is the function of a page table?

What happens when a virtual address is not found in the Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB)?

What is the primary issue with volatile memory in terms of data retention?

What is the fundamental difference between a RAM chip and a traditional hard drive?

What determines the number of memory cells per address in a RAM chip?

What is the purpose of a memory cell in a RAM chip?

Why is it not necessarily true that a 64-bit computer has 64-bit RAM?

What is a common application of SRAM?

What is the primary function of the Memory Data Register (MDR)?

What is the result of a program allocating memory from the heap without deallocating it?

What is the purpose of the page table?

What happens when a process uses virtual addresses?

What is the first step in translating a virtual address to a physical address?

What is the characteristic of the stack in memory allocation?

What is the primary purpose of the Volatility tool?

What does the profile in Volatility indicate?

What is the format of the Volatility commands?

What is the purpose of the first Volatility command?

What is the typical extension of a memory dump file?

What is required to use Volatility effectively?

What does the plist command display in a memory dump?

What is the purpose of the psscan command in malware investigations?

What information does the svcscan command provide about services in a memory dump?

What is SERVICE_WIN32_SHARE_PROCESS in the context of svcscan?

What is the primary difference between the plist and pstree commands?

What is the purpose of the pstree command?

What is the benefit of using the psscan command in malware investigations?

What is the offset in the context of the svcscan command?

What is the purpose of the svcscan command?

What is the benefit of using Volatility commands in digital forensics?

What is the primary function of Volatility?

What is the purpose of the first Volatility command?

What is indicated by the profile in Volatility?

What is the format of Volatility commands?

What is the purpose of the plug-ins in Volatility?

What is the typical extension of a memory dump file?

What is the primary function of the psscan command in Volatility?

What information does the plist command display in a memory dump?

What is the purpose of the svcscan command?

What is the benefit of using the hollowfind command in Volatility?

What is the purpose of the pstree command in Volatility?

What is the offset in the context of the svcscan command?

What is the purpose of the psxview command in Volatility?

What is the benefit of using the psscan command in malware investigations?

What is the purpose of the modscan command in Volatility?

What is the purpose of the dlldump command in Volatility?

What is the primary characteristic of viruses?

What is the importance of patch management in cybersecurity?

What is ransomware?

Why is Wannacry a noteworthy virus?

What is the purpose of categorizing malware?

What is the relationship between malware categories?

What type of malware is Crypto Locker an example of?

What is the primary function of a logic bomb?

What is the purpose of a Trojan Horse?

What is the purpose of DLL injection?

What is the main characteristic of a worm?

What is the primary purpose of spyware?

What is FinFisher?

What is Zwangi?

What is Crypto Wall?

What is the primary issue with spyware?

What is the result of listing a DLL in the registry entry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWindowsAppInit_DLLs?

What is the purpose of the Volatility command printkey?

What is the technique of creating a process in a suspended state, and then resuming it with malicious code?

What is indicated by the presence of calls such as VirtualAllocEx() and CreateRemoteThread() in a memory dump?