Didier Stevens

Wednesday 30 December 2009

Detecting EICAR With a .NET Micro-controller

Filed under: .NET,Entertainment,Hardware — Didier Stevens @ 22:07

I’ve been playing with a .NET Micro Framework micro-controller: the USBizi. A few of its interesting characteristics are that you program it in C# with Visual Studio and that in-circuit debugging (including single-stepping) is supported.

The .NET Micro Framework has no assemblies to support USB in host mode (only guest mode), but the USBizi comes with assemblies for host mode providing support for removable drives like USB sticks. To illustrate this feature, I wrote a program to scan the files on a USB stick for the EICAR test file and replace the content with a message appropriate for the time of the year.

Some ideas I’ve for this device: program it as a hardware keylogger, a hardware password vault, …

using System.Threading;
using System;
using System.IO;
using Microsoft.SPOT.Hardware;
using Microsoft.SPOT;
using Microsoft.SPOT.IO;
using GHIElectronics.System.SystemDevices;
using GHIElectronics.System;
using GHIElectronics.System.IO;
using GHIElectronics.Hardware;

namespace USBiziEICARDetector
{
    public class Program
    {
        static string sEICAR = @"X5O!P%@AP[4\PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*";

        static void Main()
        {
            Boolean bFoundEicar;
            Debug.Print("Starting...");
            while (true)
            {
                // must start system first, no event is associated
                SystemManager.Start(null);
                // wait till we have a device
                while (SystemManager.GetDevices().Length == 0)
                    Thread.Sleep(500);
                // get a list of devices
                Device[] devices = SystemManager.GetDevices();
                // look for a device
                foreach (Device device in devices)
                {
                    // this loop will run once for every device
                    if (device.deviceType == DeviceType.Drive)
                    {
                        try
                        {
                            // USB drive is inserted
                            // Create a new storage device
                            PersistentStorage PS = new PersistentStorage(device.deviceID);
                            // now everything works just like on SD cards....
                            // Mount the file system
                            PS.MountFileSystem();
                            // Assume one storage device is available, access it through NETMF
                            string rootDirectory = VolumeInfo.GetVolumes()[0].RootDirectory;
                            bFoundEicar = false;
                            string[] files = Directory.GetFiles(rootDirectory);
                            Debug.Print("Files on root of USB drive...");
                            foreach (string file in files)
                            {
                                Debug.Print(file);
                                Boolean bFileIsEICAR = false;
                                FileStream fs = File.OpenRead(file);
                                Debug.Print(fs.Length.ToString());
                                if (fs.Length == sEICAR.Length)
                                {
                                    char[] acEICAR = sEICAR.ToCharArray();
                                    for (int iIter = 0; iIter < sEICAR.Length; iIter++)
                                    {
                                        int iByte = fs.ReadByte();
                                        if (acEICAR[iIter] != iByte)
                                            break;
                                        if (iIter == sEICAR.Length - 1)
                                        {
                                            bFoundEicar = true;
                                            bFileIsEICAR = true;
                                        }
                                    }
                                }
                                fs.Close();
                                if (bFileIsEICAR)
                                {
                                    byte[] abHappyNewYear2010 = {
                                        0x0D, 0x0A, 0x0D, 0x0A, 0x0D, 0x0A, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x0D, 0x0A, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20,
                                        0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x0D, 0x0A, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20,
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                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x0D, 0x0A, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20,
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                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x0D, 0x0A, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58,
                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20,
                                        0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58,
                                        0x0D, 0x0A, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x0D, 0x0A, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20,
                                        0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x0D, 0x0A, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x0D, 0x0A, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58,
                                        0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58,
                                        0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x0D, 0x0A, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20,
                                        0x20, 0x58, 0x0D, 0x0A, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58,
                                        0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x58, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x20, 0x58, 0x58, 0x0D, 0x0A, 0x0D, 0x0A};

                                    File.WriteAllBytes(file, abHappyNewYear2010);
                                    Debug.Print("EICAR found!");
                                }
                            }
                            Debug.Print("... end of list!");
                            // if we need to unmount
                            Thread.Sleep(500);
                            PS.UnmountFileSystem();
                            Thread.Sleep(500);
                            PS.Remove();
                            OutputPort LED = new OutputPort(USBizi.Pins.E2x, false);
                            if (bFoundEicar)
                            {
                                Debug.Print("bFoundEicar = true");
                                BlinkXTimes(LED, 4, 300);
                            }
                            else
                            {
                                Debug.Print("bFoundEicar = false");
                                BlinkXTimes(LED, 2, 300);
                            }
                        }
                        catch (Exception e)
                        {
                            Debug.Print("Exception:");
                            Debug.Print(e.Message);
                        }
                    }
                }
                Thread.Sleep(500);
                SystemManager.Reboot(SystemManager.RebootMode.Normal);
            }
        }

        public static void BlinkXTimes(OutputPort LED, int times, int milliseconds)
        {
            for (int i = 0; i < times; i++)
            {
                LED.Write(true);
                Thread.Sleep(milliseconds);
                LED.Write(false);
                Thread.Sleep(milliseconds);
            }
        }
    }
}

Wednesday 23 December 2009

LoadDLLViaAppInit

Filed under: My Software — Didier Stevens @ 12:20

How do you load a DLL in every new process on a Windows machine? One way to do this is the AppInit_DLLs registry key (this key is frequently abused by malware). Every new process loading user32.dll, also loads the DLLs listed in AppInit_DLLs on startup.

But you can’t use this key to load hook-createprocess.dll, because it will load it in every process, and your Windows machine will stop working.

To selectively load DLLs, I developed a new DLL: LoadDLLViaAppInit.dll. Copy LoadDLLViaAppInit.dll to system32 and add it to the AppInit_DLLs registry key (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows). This way it gets loaded in every new process. LoadDLLViaAppInit.dll will consult config file LoadDLLViaAppInit.bl.txt in system32, this config file contains the list of processes we want to load a particular DLL into. Here’s an example:

acrord32.exe    hook-createprocess.dll
winword.exe    hook-createprocess.dll
excel.exe    hook-createprocess.dll
powerpnt.exe    hook-createprocess.dll

This config file instructs LoadDLLViaAppInit.dll to load hook-createprocess.dll into Adobe Acrobat (acrord32.exe) and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint). Important remark: the separator between the executable name and the dll name must be a TAB character. For debugging purposes, LoadDLLViaAppInit.dll logs the DLLs it loads to the debug console.

If you want to prevent a DLL from being loaded (for example to allow Adobe Reader to update itself), you’ll just have to temporarily modify the config file. And be careful with this tool, a wrong configuration can render your machine unusable (for example, if you load hook-createprocess.dll into every process, Windows won’t be able to create new processes).

Be sure to allow only administrators to write to the config file, otherwise you’re opening your machine to elevation attacks.

Starting with Windows Vista, AppInit_DLLs is not enabled by default for security reasons (it’s used a lot by malware). To enable it, you’ve to set the value of LoadAppInit_DLLs to 1. But be aware that this makes your Windows Vista (and later) machine less secure, as from then on, malware will also be able to use AppInit_DLLs to autorun.

Download:

LoadDLLViaAppInit_V0_0_0_1.zip (https)

MD5: 60B93BAF4B0F973C3EC920F2F4A180E8

SHA256: 3B528A3BAF593A2740D5655CF18BC0932801D4DF1750DE8F9C8229C0FF51E8BE

Sunday 20 December 2009

Quickpost: Read-Only USB Stick

Filed under: Forensics,Hardware,Quickpost — Didier Stevens @ 20:52

When someone asks me for a read-only USB stick, I recommend to use an SD card with a SD-to-USB adapter, because these are easier to find than USB sticks with write-protection. Most SD cards have a write-protection tab.

But last time I got a surprise: when testing a new SD card reader, I was able to write to the write-protected SD card. Turns out that this particular SD card reader doesn’t support the write-protection tab and always allows the OS to write to the SD card.

Quickpost info

Friday 4 December 2009

Quickpost: New EICARgen Version

Filed under: My Software,Quickpost — Didier Stevens @ 14:58

I never expected to release a new version of EICARgen, but I’m forced to: EICARgen.exe generates just too many false positives.

The new version contains the EICAR string an XOR-encode string (key 0xFF). It has only a couple of detections. Kaspersky and VBA32 shouldn’t actually detect this. EICAR clearly specifies that the presence of the EICAR test string inside a file (like an executable) shouldn’t be detected. As to why AVG needs to detect EICAR test file droppers, I have no idea…

Quickpost info

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