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Windows Forensics
24 Jan 2008
TCSS431: Network Security
Stephen Rondeau
Institute of Technology
Lab Administrator
Agenda
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Forensics Background

Operating Systems Review

Select Windows Features

Vectors and Payloads
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Forensics Process
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Forensics Tools Demonstration
Forensics Background
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
Inspection of computer system for evidence of:

crime

unauthorized use
Evidence gathering/preservation techniques for
admissibility in court of law

Consideration of suspect's level of expertise

Avoidance of data destruction or compromise
Operating System Review

What does an OS do?
Operating System Review
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What does an OS do?

starts itself

low-level management of:


higher-level management of:
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
interrupts, time, memory, processes, devices (storage,
communication, keyboard, display, etc.)
file system, users, user interface, apps
addresses issues of fairness, efficiency, data
protection/access, workload balancing
Select Windows Features

Kernel vs. User Mode

Kernel features (architecture)

device drivers
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installable file system
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object security
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Services
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User accounts, passwords and privileged groups
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Security policies
Computing Devices: Simplistic

Computing Device


takes some input
processes it




provides some output
connects device
Data
Computing
Device
OS, services,
applications
Network

input
Hub
output
Computing Devices: Reality
In
Human
K/M/touch,etc.
Data
Scanner/GPS
Out
Human
A/V
In/Out
Data
Storage Device, PC/Express Card,
Network, Printer, Etc.
Computing Devices: Connections

removable media



PC/Express Card
wired



floppy,CD/DVD,flash,microdrive
serial/parallel,USB,Firewire,IDE/SATA,SCSI/SAS
twisted pair
wireless



radio (802.11, cellular, Bluetooth)
Infrared (IR)
Ultrasound
Vectors and Payloads


Vector: route used to gain entry to computer

via a device without human intervention

via an unsuspecting or willing person's actions
Payload: what is delivered via the vector

malicious code

may be multiple payloads

spyware, rootkits, keystroke loggers, bots, illegal
software, spamming, etc.
Forensics Process

Assess (after permission is granted)





Acquire



determine how to approach affected system(s)
inspect physical environment
watch out for anti-forensics, booby-traps
consider how to stop computer processing
capture volatile data
copy hard drive
Analyze
Volatile Data

All of RAM, plus paging area

Logged on users

Processes (regular and services)
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Process memory

Buffers

Clipboard

Network Information (incoming and outgoing)

Command history
Nonvolatile Data

Partitions

Files

hidden, streams

Registry Keys

Recycle Bin

Scheduled Tasks

User Account and Group Information

Logs
What to Look For

Know baseline system: what to expect of good system

Malware Footprint






in logs
on file system (changed dates/sizes, hidden)
in registry
in startup areas
in services list
in network connections

Abnormality: function, performance, traffic patterns

Cross-check with multiple tools
Microsoft Tools

Basic

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Network tools

netstat -anob, nbtstat, ping, tracert, arp, netsh, ipconfig

dir /ah, dir /od, dir /tc, findstr, cacls
File
Services


Prevent: Windows Update, Time Service, Routing and Remote Access,
LocalService, NetworkService, Runas
Inspect: net user/group/localgroup, Active Directory Users and Groups,
Event Viewer, EventCombMT, systeminfo, auditpol, Security
Configuration Manager
Fix: Malicious Software Removal, Security Configuration Manager
net start/stop, sc, services.msc
Process:

tasklist, taskkill, schtasks
External Tools

www.sysinternals.com


variety of Windows tools to monitor and analyze
www.e-fense.com: Helix

Windows tools



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
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Windows Forensics Toolkit™
trusted commands
RAM/disk imaging, password recovery tools
some www.sysinternals.com tools
bootable to Knoppix with many file system tools
www.rootkit.com
Advice

For your systems:

Prevent:


Analyze:


update, monitor, block, isolate, backup
find vectors and payloads
Recover:


off-network restore, re-install or re-image
block vectors and/or payload effects before going onnetwork
References




Windows Forensics and Incident Recovery,
Harlan Carvey, Addison-Wesley 2005
Windows Forensic Analysis DVD Toolkit ,
Harlan Carvey, Syngress 2007
File System Forensic Analysis,Brian Carrier,
Addison-Wesley 2005
Rootkits, Greg Hoglund and James Butler,
Addison-Wesley 2006