Book Image

Learning Linux Binary Analysis

By : "elfmaster" O'Neill
5 (1)
Book Image

Learning Linux Binary Analysis

5 (1)
By: "elfmaster" O'Neill

Overview of this book

Learning Linux Binary Analysis is packed with knowledge and code that will teach you the inner workings of the ELF format, and the methods used by hackers and security analysts for virus analysis, binary patching, software protection and more. This book will start by taking you through UNIX/Linux object utilities, and will move on to teaching you all about the ELF specimen. You will learn about process tracing, and will explore the different types of Linux and UNIX viruses, and how you can make use of ELF Virus Technology to deal with them. The latter half of the book discusses the usage of Kprobe instrumentation for kernel hacking, code patching, and debugging. You will discover how to detect and disinfect kernel-mode rootkits, and move on to analyze static code. Finally, you will be walked through complex userspace memory infection analysis. This book will lead you into territory that is uncharted even by some experts; right into the world of the computer hacker.
Table of Contents (11 chapters)
10
Index

Other jobs performed by protector stubs


In addition to decrypting and loading the embedded executable into memory, which is the userland exec component, the stub may also perform other tasks. It is common for the stub to start anti-debugging and anti-emulation routines that are meant to further protect the binary from being debugged or emulated in order to raise the bar even further so that reverse engineering is even more difficult.

In Chapter 4, ELF Virus Technology – Linux/Unix Viruses, we discussed some anti-debugging techniques used to prevent debugging based on ptrace. This prevents most debuggers, including GDB, from trivially tracing the binary. Later in this chapter, we will summarize the most common anti-debugging techniques used in binary protection for Linux.