Book Image

Learning Linux Binary Analysis

By : Ryan "elfmaster" O'Neill
Book Image

Learning Linux Binary Analysis

By: Ryan "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 (17 chapters)
Learning Linux Binary Analysis
Credits
About the Author
Acknowledgments
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

Summary


In this chapter, we covered the "need-to-know" information about virus engineering for ELF binaries. This knowledge is not common, and therefore this chapter hopefully serves as a unique introduction to this arcane art of viruses in the underground world of computer science. At this point, you should understand the most common techniques for virus infection, anti-debugging, and the challenges that are associated with both creating and analysing viruses for ELF. This knowledge comes to great use in the event of reverse engineering a virus or performing malware analysis. It is worth noting that many great papers can be found on http://vxheaven.org to help further your insights into Unix virus technology.