Malware analysis is a critical cybersecurity practice focused on understanding malicious software (malware) to mitigate threats and enhance defenses. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of its key aspects, methodologies, tools, and applications:

1. Definition and Purpose

Malware analysis involves studying malware's functionality, origin, and impact to:

• Determine how it infects systems, spreads, or steals data 15.

• Extract Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) like malicious hashes, IPs, or behavioral patterns for future detection 19.

• Support incident response by identifying attack vectors and damage scope 37.

2. Types of Malware Analysis

Static Analysis

• Examines malware without execution, analyzing code structure, strings, headers, and metadata 15.

• Tools: PeStudio (file inspection), Ghidra (disassembly), FLOSS (string extraction) 19.

Dynamic Analysis

• Executes malware in a sandbox (e.g., Cuckoo Sandbox) to observe runtime behavior (e.g., registry changes, network traffic) 16.

• Evasion Challenge: Malware may detect virtual environments 5.

Hybrid Analysis

• Combines static and dynamic techniques (e.g., Hybrid Analysis Platform) for deeper insights 12.

Code Reversing

• Advanced manual analysis using debuggers (e.g., x64dbg) to decompile and understand logic 19.

3. Key Stages of Analysis 159

1. Fully Automated Analysis: Quick sandbox scans for initial behavioral reports.

2. Static Properties: Extracting hashes, strings, and file metadata.

3. Interactive Behavior: Controlled execution in a lab to trigger specific actions.

4. Manual Reversing: Disassembling code to uncover hidden functionalities.

4. Common Malware Types Analyzed 67

• Ransomware (e.g., WannaCry): Encrypts files for ransom.

• Trojans: Disguised as legitimate software to create backdoors.

• Spyware: Steals sensitive data covertly.

• Botnets: Networks of infected devices used for DDoS attacks.

5. Tools and Platforms

• Sandboxes: Cuckoo Sandbox, CrowdStrike Falcon 12.

• Reverse Engineering: Ghidra, IDA Pro 15.

• Network Analysis: Wireshark, Fiddler (for traffic monitoring) 14.

• Free Services: Hybrid-Analysis.com (community-driven) 2.

6. Applications

• Incident Response: Rapidly contain breaches by understanding malware behavior 37.

• Threat Hunting: Proactively identify new threats via IOCs 19.

• Research: Study evolving tactics (e.g., evasion techniques) 56.

7. Challenges

• Time-Consuming: Manual reversing requires expertise 7.

• Evasion Tactics: Malware may bypass sandboxes or obfuscate code 59.

8. Learning Resources

• Hands-On Labs: Set up isolated VMs for practice 9.

• Courses: SANS Institute, Hack The Box Academy 69.

• Community Platforms: Malware-Traffic-Analysis.net (PCAP files) 4.

9. Future Trends

• AI Integration: Automating analysis with machine learning 1.

• Market Growth: Expected 31% increase in demand due to rising cyberattacks 1.

For deeper dives, explore tools like REMnux (Linux toolkit) or submit samples to CISA’s Malware Analysis Center 39. Let me know if you'd like specifics on any area!