Content area

Abstract

PowerShell is nowadays a widely-used technology to administrate and manage Windows-based operating systems. However, it is also extensively used by malware vectors to execute payloads or drop additional malicious contents. Similarly to other scripting languages used by malware, PowerShell attacks are challenging to analyze due to the extensive use of multiple obfuscation layers, which make the real malicious code hard to be unveiled. To the best of our knowledge, a comprehensive solution for properly de-obfuscating such attacks is currently missing. In this paper, we present PowerDrive, an open-source, static and dynamic multi-stage de-obfuscator for PowerShell attacks. PowerDrive instruments the PowerShell code to progressively de-obfuscate it by showing the analyst the employed obfuscation steps. We used PowerDrive to successfully analyze thousands of PowerShell attacks extracted from various malware vectors and executables. The attained results show interesting patterns used by attackers to devise their malicious scripts. Moreover, we provide a taxonomy of behavioral models adopted by the analyzed codes and a comprehensive list of the malicious domains contacted during the analysis.

Details

1009240
Identifier / keyword
Title
PowerDrive: Accurate De-Obfuscation and Analysis of PowerShell Malware
Publication title
arXiv.org; Ithaca
Publication year
2019
Publication date
Apr 24, 2019
Section
Computer Science
Publisher
Cornell University Library, arXiv.org
Source
arXiv.org
Place of publication
Ithaca
Country of publication
United States
University/institution
Cornell University Library arXiv.org
e-ISSN
2331-8422
Source type
Working Paper
Language of publication
English
Document type
Working Paper
Publication history
 
 
Online publication date
2019-04-25
Milestone dates
2019-04-23 (Submission v1); 2019-04-24 (Submission v2)
Publication history
 
 
   First posting date
25 Apr 2019
ProQuest document ID
2214601561
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/working-papers/powerdrive-accurate-de-obfuscation-analysis/docview/2214601561/se-2?accountid=208611
Full text outside of ProQuest
Copyright
© 2019. This work is published under http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.
Last updated
2023-04-25
Database
ProQuest One Academic