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Paul Chin, PhD

New malware are being created everyday and poses one of the greatest threat to computer systems everywhere. In order to infect Windows, Linux and Mac OSX, malware authors create cross-platform malware using .NET and Java. This course will introduce you to the basics of how to analyze .NET and Java malware - one of the most common and popular ways to create cross platform malware. If you are a beginner just starting out on malware analysis and wish to gain a fundamental knowledge to analyze .NET or Java malware, then this course is for you. It is a beginner course which introduces you to the technique and tools used to reverse engineer and also analyze .NET and Java binaries.

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New malware are being created everyday and poses one of the greatest threat to computer systems everywhere. In order to infect Windows, Linux and Mac OSX, malware authors create cross-platform malware using .NET and Java. This course will introduce you to the basics of how to analyze .NET and Java malware - one of the most common and popular ways to create cross platform malware. If you are a beginner just starting out on malware analysis and wish to gain a fundamental knowledge to analyze .NET or Java malware, then this course is for you. It is a beginner course which introduces you to the technique and tools used to reverse engineer and also analyze .NET and Java binaries.

In this course, you will learn how to check and analyze malicious .NET and Java executables for signs of malicious artifacts and indicators of compromise. This is a beginners course and targeted to those who are absolutely new to this field. I will take you from zero to proficient level in analyzing malicious .NET and Java binaries. You will learn using plenty of practical walk-throughs. We will learn the basic knowledge and skills in reverse engineering and analyzing malware. All the needed tools and where to download them will be provided. By the end of this course, you will have the fundamentals of malware analysis of .NET and Java under your belt to further your studies in this field. Even if you do not intend to take up malware analysis as a career, still the knowledge and skills gained would enable you to check executables for dangers and protect yourself from these attacks.

We will use Flare-VM and windows virtual machine. Flare-VM is a popular Windows based Malware Analyst distribution that contains all the necessary tools for malware analysis. All the essential theory will be covered but kept to the minimum. The emphasis is on practicals and lab exercises.

Go ahead and enroll now and I will see you inside.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Decompiling .net and java binaries
  • De-obfuscation of .net and java code
  • Analyzing .net and java malware
  • Detecting malware artifacts and indicators of compromise
  • Using flare-vm malware analysis tools
  • Disassembling .net binary to il language
  • Decompiling .net binary to c# or vbnet
  • Static analysis of .net and java executable
  • Dynamic analysis and debugging using dnspy
  • Setting up malware analysis lab
  • Analyzing ransomware
  • Analyzing spyware trojans and info-stealers
  • Identifying native files vs .net and java files
  • Decompiling java bytecode to java source
  • Reverse engineering
  • Analyzing cross platform rats
  • And more...
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Syllabus

Introduction

Introduction and welcome to the course.

Install a Virtual Machine

Configuring the Virtual Machine

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Installing Tools:  FlareVM

Principles of .NET and Java Malware Analysis

Principles of .NET and Java Malware Analysis

Installing ILDASM and ILASM

Installing ILDASM and ILASM

Principles of .NET Analysis

Principles of .NET Analysis

Lab Demo: Disassembling with ildasm and Patching with ilasm

Installing dnSpy

Installing dnSpy

Using dnSpy

Using dnSpy for the first time

Lab Demo on Reverse Engineering .NET executables

Lab Demo Instructions on Reverse Engineering .NET executables

Lab Demo Walkthrough: Reverse Engineering .NET

Lab Exercise: Analyzing a .NET Malware (SamSam Ransomware)

Lab Exercise: Principles of Analyzing a .NET Ransomware

Lab: Reverse Engineering .NET Ransomware - Part 1

Lab Exercise: Analyzing a .NET Spyware Trojan (Infostealer)

Dynamic Analysis of .NET Trojan - Part 1

Dynamic Analysis of .NET Trojan - Part 2

Static Analysis of Trojan Spyware - Part 1

Static Analysis of Trojan Spyware - Part 2

Principles of Java Bytecodes

Principles of Java Bytecodes

Analyzing Java ByteCodes by Disassembling

Reverse Engineering and Malware Analysis of Java Binary Using ByteCode Viewer

Reverse Engineering Java Binary Using ByteCode Viewer

Lab Practical Demo: Reverse Engineering and Malware Analysis of Java Binary

Lab Practical Demo 2: Reverse Engineering and Malware Analysis of Java Binary

Lab Exercise: Analyzing a Java RAT (Crossrat Trojan)

Principles of Analyzing a Java RAT

Lab Exercise Walkthrough: Analyzing a Java RAT (Crossrat Trojan)

Resources For Further Study

Where to Download Malware Samples to Practice Malware Analysis

Bonus Lecture

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Reverse Engineering & Malware Analysis of .NET & Java with these activities:
Review Assembly Language Fundamentals
Reviewing assembly language fundamentals will provide a stronger foundation for understanding disassembled .NET and Java code, especially when dealing with obfuscated or packed malware.
Browse courses on Assembly Language
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  • Read introductory materials on assembly language concepts.
  • Practice reading and interpreting simple assembly code snippets.
  • Familiarize yourself with common assembly instructions.
Read 'Practical Malware Analysis'
Reading 'Practical Malware Analysis' will provide a solid foundation in malware analysis methodologies, complementing the course's focus on .NET and Java malware.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on static and dynamic analysis techniques.
  • Follow along with the examples provided in the book.
  • Try applying the techniques to sample .NET and Java malware.
Practice Decompiling and Analyzing Sample .NET Binaries
Practicing decompilation and analysis on sample .NET binaries will reinforce the skills learned in the course and improve proficiency in identifying malicious code.
Show steps
  • Download sample .NET binaries from online repositories.
  • Use dnSpy to decompile the binaries and examine the code.
  • Identify potential malicious artifacts and indicators of compromise.
  • Document your findings and compare them with known malware characteristics.
Four other activities
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Read 'The Art of Memory Forensics'
Reading 'The Art of Memory Forensics' will expand your knowledge of advanced malware analysis techniques, particularly memory analysis, which can be applied to .NET and Java malware.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on memory analysis fundamentals.
  • Learn how to acquire memory dumps from infected systems.
  • Practice analyzing memory dumps using tools like Volatility.
Write a Blog Post on a .NET Malware Analysis Technique
Creating a blog post will solidify understanding of a specific .NET malware analysis technique and allow you to share your knowledge with others.
Show steps
  • Choose a specific .NET malware analysis technique to focus on.
  • Research the technique and gather relevant information.
  • Write a clear and concise blog post explaining the technique.
  • Include examples and screenshots to illustrate the process.
  • Publish the blog post on a platform like Medium or your own website.
Develop a Simple .NET Malware Detection Tool
Developing a malware detection tool will provide hands-on experience in applying malware analysis techniques and building practical security solutions.
Show steps
  • Define the scope and functionality of the detection tool.
  • Choose a programming language and development environment.
  • Implement the core detection logic based on malware analysis principles.
  • Test the tool with sample malware and refine its accuracy.
  • Document the tool's design, implementation, and usage.
Contribute to an Open-Source Malware Analysis Project
Contributing to an open-source project will provide valuable experience in collaborative development and expose you to real-world malware analysis challenges.
Show steps
  • Identify an open-source malware analysis project that aligns with your interests.
  • Explore the project's codebase and documentation.
  • Identify a bug or feature to work on.
  • Submit a pull request with your changes.
  • Participate in code reviews and discussions with other contributors.

Career center

Learners who complete Reverse Engineering & Malware Analysis of .NET & Java will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Malware Analyst
A malware analyst investigates and analyzes malicious software to understand its functionality, origin, and potential impact. This course emphasizing .NET and Java malware analysis directly aligns with the core responsibilities of a malware analyst. The course's coverage of decompiling, de-obfuscation, and static/dynamic analysis techniques are essential skills for dissecting and understanding malware behavior. Analyzing ransomware, spyware, trojans, and info-stealers as taught in the course are common tasks for a malware analyst. Anyone wanting to become a malware analyst should take this course.
Reverse Engineer
Reverse engineers dissect software and hardware to understand their inner workings, often without access to original source code. This course provides training in the reverse engineering of .NET and Java binaries, focusing on the key aspects of decompilation, disassembly, and analysis. The practical walkthroughs and lab exercises, particularly those involving the use of tools like dnSpy and Flare-VM, directly helps to develop the skills needed to reverse engineer complex software. Those wanting to work in this field should enroll in this course. Reverse engineering helps software developers, security analysts, and researchers.
Forensic Analyst
A forensic analyst investigates digital evidence related to cybercrimes and security incidents. This course, with its focus on malware analysis, is directly applicable to the work of a forensic analyst. The ability to reverse engineer and analyze .NET and Java malware is crucial for understanding the nature of an attack, identifying the attacker's methods, and gathering evidence for legal proceedings. The course's emphasis on practical walkthroughs and lab exercises helps build skills in analyzing malicious artifacts and indicators of compromise. A forensic analyst often requires a masters degree.
Security Researcher
Security researchers explore vulnerabilities and threats in software and systems. This course, with its focus on reverse engineering and malware analysis of .NET and Java binaries, provides a strong foundation for identifying and understanding security weaknesses. The course provides an introduction to techniques and tools needed to reverse engineer and analyze binaries. The skills gained, such as decompiling, de-obfuscation, and identifying indicators of compromise, are useful in a security researcher's toolkit. This course is useful for understanding the types of threats that security researchers aim to defend against.
Cybersecurity Analyst
Cybersecurity analysts monitor and protect computer networks and systems from threats. This course, with its focus on reverse engineering and malware analysis, helps develop skills necessary to analyze and understand malware threats. The course's coverage of decompiling, de-obfuscation, and identifying indicators of compromise helps cybersecurity analysts understand how malware operates and how to detect it. The course also offers insights into analyzing ransomware, spyware, Trojans, and other info-stealers which is useful when analyzing system threats.
Vulnerability Analyst
Vulnerability analysts identify and assess weaknesses in software and systems. This course, with its focus on reverse engineering and malware analysis, helps develop skills necessary to dissect and understand the vulnerabilities that malware exploits. The course's coverage of decompiling, de-obfuscation, and identifying indicators of compromise helps vulnerability analysts understand how malware targets specific vulnerabilities in .NET and Java applications. Also, the course’s dynamic analysis using debuggers such as dnSpy helps find vulnerabilities within software.
Information Security Analyst
Information security analysts protect an organization's data and systems from unauthorized access and cyber threats. This course is beneficial because it teaches the fundamentals of analyzing .NET and Java malware, which are common threats to information systems. Skills such as reverse engineering, identifying indicators of compromise, and using tools like Flare-VM directly contribute to an information security analyst's ability to detect, analyze, and respond to security incidents involving malicious software. They use malware analysis and reverse engineering techniques to investigate.
Application Security Engineer
Application security engineers focus on securing software applications throughout their lifecycle. This course is particularly relevant because it focuses on analyzing .NET and Java malware, which often targets vulnerabilities in applications built on these platforms. An application security engineer can apply the skills learned in this course to reverse engineer and analyze malicious code, identify potential vulnerabilities in applications, and implement security measures to prevent exploitation. Reverse engineering is a must have skill for application security engineers.
Incident Responder
Incident responders investigate and manage security breaches. This course may be useful for incident responders because it covers malware analysis techniques relevant to identifying and understanding the nature of attacks. An incident responder may use skills from this course to analyze malicious .NET and Java executables found on compromised systems. The course's focus on identifying malware artifacts and indicators of compromise helps in understanding the scope and impact of an incident. The ability to analyze ransomware, spyware, trojans, and info-stealers, as discussed in the course, is directly applicable to incident response scenarios.
Penetration Tester
Penetration testers, also known as ethical hackers, assess the security of systems by simulating attacks. This course may be useful to penetration testers since it teaches techniques for analyzing .NET and Java malware. Understanding how malware works is valuable for penetration testers as knowledge of common attack vectors and vulnerabilities helps to better identify and exploit weaknesses in systems. The course's focus on reverse engineering and identifying indicators of compromise are helpful skills for penetration testers seeking to improve their understanding of potential threats.
Security Consultant
Security consultants advise organizations on how to improve their security posture. This course may be useful because it helps in understanding modern malware threats, particularly those targeting .NET and Java platforms. Security consultants can use this knowledge to assess risks, recommend security measures, and educate clients about potential vulnerabilities. The techniques taught in this course, such as malware analysis and reverse engineering, provide a foundation for understanding the technical aspects of security threats. The skills gained are useful when advising on how to protect against attacks.
Security Architect
Security architects design and implement security systems and networks. This course could be helpful because it provides insights into the types of threats that security architectures must defend against. Understanding how .NET and Java malware operates, as well as techniques for reverse engineering and analysis, allows security architects to design more robust and effective security measures. The course's focus on identifying indicators of compromise helps inform the design of detection and prevention mechanisms. Good security architects must have this knowledge.
Information Security Manager
Information security managers oversee an organization's information security program. This course may be useful because it provides insight into the technical aspects of malware analysis, particularly regarding .NET and Java threats. While this role typically involves more managerial tasks, understanding the technical details allows for better decision-making in security strategies and resource allocation. The course's coverage of analyzing ransomware, spyware, and trojans helps security managers understand the types of threats their organizations face.
Software Developer
Software developers create and maintain software applications. While not directly focused on development, this course may be useful for understanding potential security threats that their code may face. By learning about malware analysis and reverse engineering techniques, developers can gain insights into how malicious actors target .NET and Java applications, and then write more secure code. The course's focus on identifying vulnerabilities and indicators of compromise helps them in proactively addressing security concerns during the development process.
Cryptography Engineer
Cryptography engineers design and implement encryption algorithms and security protocols. This course may be relevant because it presents opportunities to analyze malware that uses or attempts to bypass cryptographic protections. By understanding how malware exploits vulnerabilities in cryptographic implementations or attempts to reverse engineer encryption algorithms, cryptography engineers can gain insights into potential weaknesses in their designs. This knowledge is valuable for improving the security and resilience of cryptographic systems. The course's coverage of reverse engineering techniques is useful in studying the inner workings of malware's cryptographic components.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Reverse Engineering & Malware Analysis of .NET & Java.
Comprehensive guide to malware analysis techniques. It covers static and dynamic analysis, debugging, and reverse engineering. It provides practical examples and step-by-step instructions, making it an excellent resource for both beginners and experienced analysts. This book is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions and by industry professionals.
Delves into the techniques of memory forensics, which is crucial for advanced malware analysis. It covers how to analyze memory dumps to identify hidden malware, rootkits, and other malicious activities. While not directly focused on .NET or Java, the concepts are applicable to analyzing malware written in those languages. This book is more valuable as additional reading than it is as a current reference.

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