In Windows forensics, understanding the intricacies of autorun functionalities and the Windows Registry is essential for effective incident response and investigation. Autorun mechanisms, which allow programs to execute automatically when the system starts or specific actions are performed, can be exploited by malicious actors to persist on a syste…

The JOHARI methodology simply provides a structure for something that you're probably already doing. However, with the structure comes a standard, which is the benefit to any security team. The team should be speaking the same language, especially in fast moving, dynamic situations. Going into a situation and asking for the "known – knowns” and “Bl…

Threat actors often exploit PowerShell in cyber attacks due to its capabilities and integration with Windows operating systems. Microsoft has cited powershell as one of the most commonly used tools in the attack chain. It also comes up in phishing campaigns and other attacks that include infecting URL links. The challenge lies in the fact that it i…

The Windows registry is a hierarchical database that stores configuration settings and options on Microsoft Windows operating systems. It contains settings for low-level operating system components as well as for applications running on the platform. In order to make use of any of this information, you must understand the registry from a DFIR point…

On a Linux or Mac system, there can be user accounts that have the ability of privilege escalation. Knowing how to triage, for this has a twofold benefit: (1) you obviously want to know which account may elevate to route privileges. If you're doing account triage, these are the ones you should prioritize. The other benefit (2) is to identify any ac…

TCP control bits are part of the TCP header and are used to manage the connection between two devices. These control bits are single-bit flags that indicate various aspects of the TCP connection and are important for understanding and analyzing network traffic...

The time it takes from an initial escalation to the initial discovery of compromise is a key metric. Teams strive to do this as quickly as possible, but there are a number of challenges. You do not know what you're going to be handed, but you're pretty much guaranteed It's going to be a unique set of circumstances that require some type of customiz…

Windows Scheduled Tasks are often used by attackers to establish persistence. As an analyst, you want to be aware of the different windows event codes that record these details. These artifacts come up in just about every windows compromise assessment, consider them core triage skills. There are several events, all of which I will go over in this e…

This week I talk about career moves for the DFIR professional. The skill set is valuable, but it must be combined with the right additional technical skills to maximize future job opportunities. Of course, there is one skill set that stands out above the rest...

When you're triaging a Windows system for evidence of compromise, it's ideal if your plan is focused on some quick wins upfront. There are certain artifacts that offer this opportunity, and Windows Events for New Scheduled Tasks are one of them. Sometimes overlooked, at least in part, because the good stuff contained within the XML portion of the l…

Windows management instrumentation, also known as WMI, is an App on Windows that allows a user to query all sorts of things about a system. Being native to Windows, it is an attractive target for a attackers to leverage. This week I'll break down the artifact from a DFIR point of a few and talk about how to detect its misuse.…

This week I'm wrapping up my series on SSH forensics with a discussion on SSH log triage. Logs are usually what an analyst will start with, so this episode is important. There are a few different log types, and there is a pitfall with one of them, which is something you must be aware of to avoid making inaccurate conclusions. I'll provide the artif…

In the last episode on this topic, I covered SSH from a investigation point of view. I explained SSH and the artifacts that typically come up when your investigating. In this episode, we're getting into the triage methodology. This includes the artifacts targeted for a fast, but yet effective triage for notable SSH activity on a given host.…

SSH is a protocol used to secure remote access to systems, making it a cornerstone in safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring secure communications. In this podcast, we will delve into the basics of SSH, its key concepts and other useful elements important for context when investigating for notable SSH activity.…

This week I'm discussing a fundamental aspect of cybersecurity: incident response preparation. Effective incident response is paramount, and preparation is the key to success. This preparation includes comprehensive documentation, training, having the right tools and resources in place, and developing incident response plans and playbooks. It also …

Today I'm talking Windows forensics, focusing on Windows event logs. These logs are very valuable for fast triage, often readily available in your organization's SIEM. But have you ever wondered about the processes enabling this quick access? Not only are the logs automatically collected and fed into the appliance, but they are also formatted and n…

In this podcast episode, we talk about Linux's `memfd` – a virtual file system allowing the creation of anonymous memory areas for shared memory or temporary data storage. Threat actors exploit `memfd` for fileless malware attacks, as its memory areas exist only in RAM, evading traditional file-based detection methods. Join me as I `memfd` as a for…