TuesdayTool 7: Volatility For Memory Analysis

You can capture the flames!

Volatility

Introduction.

Before Volatility was created, digital forensics investigations were geared primarily toward finding unusual or suspicious files in storage devices. Volatility introduced investigators to memory forensics providing a way to analyze the runtime state of a system using the data found in the RAM. When conducting an investigation, volatility can be used to collect artifacts from the device, network, file system, and registry to compile a list of all running processes, network connections, running Windows command prompts, and clipboard contents that were used during the incident. It is able to extract this data without altering the system being investigated and still offers visibility that is critical to the investigation.

About The Tool

Volatility is an open-source memory forensics framework that allows you to analyze memory dumps and extract valuable information from them. To use Volatility, you first need to acquire a memory dump from the target system. This can be done using tools like DumpIt or FTK Imager. Once you have the memory dump, you can use Volatility’s command-line interface to analyze it. Some common commands include imageinfo to get information about the memory dump, pslist to list running processes, and dumpfiles to extract files from memory.

Key Concepts To Note

What is volatile data? Volatile data is temporary information stored in a computer’s RAM or other volatile storage, lost when the system is powered off, including active processes and network connections.

What is a memory dump? A memory dump is a snapshot of a computer’s RAM at a specific moment, used for troubleshooting or forensic analysis.

Handling and presenting volatile data using Volatility? Forensic analysts must communicate their findings and conclusions to stakeholders, including management, clients, law enforcement, and the

Use Cases

Volatility is an open-source memory forensics framework specifically designed to analyze the contents of volatile memory (RAM) in order to extract valuable information about the state of a computer system at a specific moment in time. It can be used in three (3) different niches of cybersecurity namely:

1. Digital Forensics: Volatility uses extraction techniques and complexities associated with digital artifacts to extract crucial information such as running processes, loaded modules, open files, registry entries, and even remnants of deleted files. This aids in reconstructing a timeline of events and understanding system activity.
2. Malware Analysis: By analyzing memory dumps generated during malware infections, Volatility can help uncover details like command and control servers, encryption keys, injected code, and more.
3. Threat Intelligence: Volatility plays a crucial role in profiling known malware families and tracking intrusion techniques employed by threat actors. This helps in developing effective countermeasures against evolving threats.

Volatility Compatibility and Installation

One of Volatility’s notable features is its compatibility with a range of operating systems. From Microsoft Windows to Mac OS X and Linux, Volatility works well. What makes this adaptability even more impressive is Volatility’s ability to identify OS profiles. The “imageinfo” plug-in command serves as a guide, recommending the OS profile and determining the dump file’s OS, version, and architecture. This level of intelligence streamlines the forensic process, making it efficient and accurate. Here are simplified installation guides for Windows, Linux (Ubuntu), and macOS.

Installing Volatility on Windows:

1. Using pip (Python Package Manager)
2. Open a command prompt with administrative privileges.
3. Install Volatility using pip. “pip install volatility”

Installing Volatility on Linux (e.g., Ubuntu):

1. Using a package manager (e.g., apt):
2. Open a terminal.
3. Update the package list. “sudo apt update”
4. Install Volatility. “sudo apt install volatility”
5. Using pip (Python Package Manager):
6. Ensure you have Python and pip installed. “sudo apt install python3 python3-pip”
7. Install Volatility using pip. “sudo pip3 install volatility”

Installing Volatility on macOS:

1. Using Homebrew: “/bin/bash -c “$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
2. Install Homebrew (if not already installed). “brew install volatility”
3. Install Volatility using Homebrew. “python3 -m ensurepip — default-pip”
4. Using pip (Python Package Manager): 
5. Ensure you have Python and pip installed (usually pre-installed).
6. Install Volatility using pip. “pip3 install volatility”

Commands

1. Pslist: The pslist command lists all running processes from a memory dump. PIDs are repeated over time and can only identify a process while it is still running, therefore they cannot identify processes that have terminated. The output of pslist will include process IDs (PIDs), names, parent PIDs, and other essential information about the running processes, aiding in the identification of suspicious or malicious activities.
2. Psview: psview is a command that enables you to view detailed information about a specific process. The output of this command provides a detailed overview of the selected process, including its memory regions, threads, and loaded modules.
3. Pstree: The Pstree command generates a pictorial process tree, illustrating the relationships between parent and child processes. This visualization is useful for understanding the process flow within the system.
4. Netscan: Netscan analyses network connections present in memory, providing information about established connections, listening ports, and associated processes. This is crucial for identifying network-related malicious activities.
5. Malfind: The malfind command focuses on identifying injected or malicious code within a process’s memory space. It can help pinpoint the presence of malware and its code injection techniques.
6. Shellbag: Shellbags are a part of the Windows Registry and are used to store information about how folders and files are displayed within Windows Explorer, including their settings, positions, and view preferences. The shellbag command in Volatility is used to extract and analyze shellbag information from a Windows memory dump or an image of a Windows system.

Conclusion

Volatility is a highly flexible tool with a myriad of capabilities. Its extensive range of commands and capabilities render it indispensable for digital investigations. It comprises several key components and capabilities:

1. Plugin Architecture: Volatility’s strength lies in its plugin architecture, which enables it to perform a wide range of memory analysis tasks. These plugins can be used to extract information about running processes, network connections, loaded modules, and more.
2. Community Contributions: Volatility is an open-source tool and the community continuously contributes new plugins and updates, ensuring that the tool remains up-to-date and capable of handling emerging threats.
3. Integration: Volatility can be seamlessly integrated with other tools and scripts, enhancing its functionality and enabling customized analysis.

Till I come your way again next week Tuesday, #BeCyberSmart

Cyberliza writes TuesdayTool