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performing-malware-persistence-investigation Systematically investigate all persistence mechanisms on Windows and Linux systems to identify how malware survives reboots and maintains access.
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name performing-malware-persistence-investigation description Systematically investigate all persistence mechanisms on Windows and Linux systems to identify how malware survives reboots and maintains access. domain cybersecurity subdomain digital-forensics tags ["forensics","malware-persistence","autoruns","registry","scheduled-tasks","rootkit-detection","incident-response"] mitre_attack ["T1547.001","T1053.005","T1543.003","T1546.003","T1574"] version 1.0 author mahipal license Apache-2.0 nist_csf ["RS.AN-01","RS.AN-03","DE.AE-02","RS.MA-01"]
Performing Malware Persistence Investigation
When to Use
When investigating how malware maintains presence on a compromised system after reboots
During incident response to identify all persistence mechanisms for complete remediation
For threat hunting to discover unauthorized autostart entries across endpoints
When analyzing malware behavior to understand its persistence strategy
For verifying that all persistence has been removed after incident remediation
Prerequisites
Forensic image or live system access with administrative privileges
Autoruns (Sysinternals) for Windows persistence enumeration
RegRipper for offline registry analysis
Understanding of Windows and Linux persistence mechanisms
YARA rules for scanning persistence locations
Baseline of known-good autorun entries for comparison
Workflow
Step 1: Enumerate Windows Registry Persistence
mount -o ro,loop,offset=$((2048 *512 )) /cases/case-2024-001/images/evidence.dd /mnt/evidence
python3 << 'PYEOF'
from Registry import Registry
import json
results = {'registry_persistence' : []}
system_reg = Registry.Registry("/cases/case-2024-001/registry/SYSTEM" )
select = system_reg.open("Select" )
current = select.value("Current" ).value()
cs = f"ControlSet{current:03d}"
services = system_reg.open(f"{cs}\\Services" )
for svc in services.subkeys():
try:
start_type = svc.value("Start" ).value()
image_path = ""
try:
image_path = svc.value("ImagePath" ).value()
except:
pass
if start_type in (0, 1, 2) and image_path:
svc_type = svc.value("Type"
if
else
'registry_persistence'
'location'
'HKLM\\SYSTEM\\{cs}\\Services\\{svc.name()}'
'type'
'Service'
'value'
'start_type'
'timestamp'
"/cases/case-2024-001/registry/SOFTWARE"
"Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run"
"Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\RunOnce"
"Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\RunServices"
"Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\RunServicesOnce"
"Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies\\Explorer\\Run"
"Wow6432Node\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run"
"Wow6432Node\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\RunOnce"
for
in
for
in
'registry_persistence'
'location'
'HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\{key_path}'
'type'
'Run Key'
'name'
'value'
'timestamp'
for
in
"/cases/case-2024-001/registry/NTUSER*.DAT"
"Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run"
"Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\RunOnce"
"Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Shell Folders\\Startup"
for
in
for
in
'registry_persistence'
'location'
'HKCU\\{key_path}'
'type'
'User Run Key'
'name'
'value'
'timestamp'
'hive'
print
"Total registry persistence entries: {len(results['registry_persistence'])}"
for
in
'registry_persistence'
print
" [{entry['type']}] {entry.get('name', '')} -> {entry.get('value', '')[:100]}"
'/cases/case-2024-001/analysis/registry_persistence.json'
'w'
Step 2: Check Scheduled Tasks and WMI Persistence
mkdir -p /cases/case-2024-001/persistence/tasks/
cp -r /mnt/evidence/Windows/System32/Tasks/* /cases/case-2024-001/persistence/tasks/ 2>/dev/null
python3 << 'PYEOF'
import os, xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
tasks_dir = '/cases/case-2024-001/persistence/tasks/'
suspicious_tasks = []
for root_dir, dirs , files in os.walk(tasks_dir):
for fname in files:
fpath = os.path.join(root_dir, fname)
try:
tree = ET.parse(fpath)
root = tree.getroot()
ns = {'t' : 'http://schemas.microsoft.com/windows/2004/02/mit/task' }
actions = root.findall('.//t:Exec' , ns)
for action in actions:
command = action.find('t:Command' , ns)
args = action.find('t:Arguments' , ns)
cmd_text = command.text if command is not None else ''
args_text = args.text if args is not None else ''
suspicious_indicators = [
'powershell' , 'cmd.exe' , 'wscript' , 'cscript' , 'mshta' ,
'regsvr32' , 'rundll32' , 'certutil' , 'bitsadmin' ,
'/c ' , '-enc' , '-e ' , 'hidden' , 'bypass' , 'downloadstring' ,
'invoke-' , 'iex' , '/tmp/' , 'appdata' , 'programdata' ,
'temp\\' , '.ps1' , '.vbs' , '.hta' , 'base64'
]
is_suspicious = any(s in (cmd_text + ' ' + args_text).lower() for s in suspicious_indicators)
task_info = {
'name' : fname,
'path' : fpath.replace(tasks_dir, '' ),
'command' : cmd_text,
'arguments' : args_text,
'suspicious' : is_suspicious
}
if is_suspicious:
suspicious_tasks.append(task_info)
print (f"SUSPICIOUS TASK: {fname}" )
print (f" Command: {cmd_text}" )
print (f" Arguments: {args_text}" )
print ()
except Exception as e:
pass
print (f"\nTotal suspicious scheduled tasks: {len(suspicious_tasks)}" )
PYEOF
cp -r /mnt/evidence/Windows/System32/wbem/Repository/ /cases/case-2024-001/persistence/wmi/ 2>/dev/null
python3 << 'PYEOF'
import os, re
wmi_db = '/cases/case-2024-001/persistence/wmi/OBJECTS.DATA'
if os.path.exists(wmi_db):
with open(wmi_db, 'rb' ) as f:
data = f.read()
filters = re.findall(b'__EventFilter.*?(?=\x00\x00)' , data)
consumers = re.findall(b'CommandLineEventConsumer.*?(?=\x00\x00)' , data)
bindings = re.findall(b'__FilterToConsumerBinding.*?(?=\x00\x00)' , data)
print ("=== WMI PERSISTENCE ===" )
print (f"Event Filters: {len(filters)}" )
print (f"Command Consumers: {len(consumers)}" )
print (f"Filter-Consumer Bindings: {len(bindings)}" )
for consumer in consumers:
decoded = consumer.decode('utf-8' , errors='ignore' )
print (f" Consumer: {decoded[:200]}" )
else :
print ("WMI repository not found" )
PYEOF
Step 3: Check File System and Boot Persistence
echo "=== STARTUP FOLDER CONTENTS ===" > /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/startup_items.txt
ls -la "/mnt/evidence/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs/Startup/" \
>> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/startup_items.txt 2>/dev/null
for userdir in /mnt/evidence/Users/*/; do
username=$(basename "$userdir " )
echo "--- User: $username ---" >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/startup_items.txt
ls -la "$userdir /AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs/Startup/" \
>> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/startup_items.txt 2>/dev/null
done
echo "=== DLL HIJACKING CHECK ===" > /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/dll_hijack.txt
find /mnt/evidence/Program\ Files/ /mnt/evidence/Program\ Files\ \(x86\)/ \
-name "*.dll" -newer /mnt/evidence/Windows/System32/ntdll.dll 2>/dev/null \
>> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/dll_hijack.txt
python3 << 'PYEOF'
from Registry import Registry
reg = Registry.Registry("/cases/case-2024-001/registry/SOFTWARE" )
try:
clsid = reg.open("Classes\\CLSID" )
for key in clsid.subkeys():
try:
server = key.subkey("InprocServer32" )
dll_path = server.value("(default)" ).value()
if any(s in dll_path.lower() for s in ['temp' , 'appdata' , 'programdata' , 'downloads' , 'tmp' ]):
print (f"SUSPICIOUS COM: {key.name()} -> {dll_path}" )
except:
pass
except:
pass
PYEOF
ls -la /mnt/evidence/Boot/BCD 2>/dev/null
sha256sum /mnt/evidence/Windows/System32/winload.exe 2>/dev/null
Step 4: Check Linux Persistence Mechanisms
LINUX_ROOT="/mnt/evidence"
echo "=== LINUX PERSISTENCE CHECK ===" > /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt
echo "--- Cron Jobs ---" >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt
cat $LINUX_ROOT /etc/crontab >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt 2>/dev/null
ls -la $LINUX_ROOT /etc/cron.d/ >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt 2>/dev/null
cat $LINUX_ROOT /etc/cron.d/* >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt 2>/dev/null
cat $LINUX_ROOT /var/spool/cron/crontabs/* >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt 2>/dev/null
echo "--- Custom Systemd Services ---" >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt
find $LINUX_ROOT /etc/systemd/system/ -name "*.service" -not -type l \
>> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt 2>/dev/null
echo "--- SSH Authorized Keys ---" >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt
find $LINUX_ROOT /home/ $LINUX_ROOT /root/ -name "authorized_keys" -exec cat {} \; \
>> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt 2>/dev/null
echo "--- RC Scripts ---" >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt
cat $LINUX_ROOT /etc/rc.local >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt 2>/dev/null
echo "--- Profile Scripts ---" >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt
cat $LINUX_ROOT /etc/profile.d/*.sh >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt 2>/dev/null
echo "--- LD_PRELOAD ---" >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt
cat $LINUX_ROOT /etc/ld.so.preload >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt 2>/dev/null
grep -r "LD_PRELOAD" $LINUX_ROOT /etc/ >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt 2>/dev/null
echo "--- Loaded Kernel Modules ---" >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt
cat $LINUX_ROOT /etc/modules-load.d/*.conf >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt 2>/dev/null
echo "--- PAM Configuration ---" >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt
find $LINUX_ROOT /etc/pam.d/ -exec grep -l "pam_exec\|pam_script" {} \; \
>> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/linux_persistence.txt 2>/dev/null
Step 5: Compile Persistence Report
python3 << 'PYEOF'
import json
with open('/cases/case-2024-001/analysis/registry_persistence.json' ) as f:
reg_data = json.load(f)
report = "" "
MALWARE PERSISTENCE INVESTIGATION REPORT
==========================================
PERSISTENCE MECHANISMS FOUND:
1. REGISTRY RUN KEYS:
" ""
run_keys = [e for e in reg_data['registry_persistence' ] if 'Run' in e.get('type' , '' )]
for entry in run_keys:
report += f" [{entry['timestamp']}] {entry.get('name', 'N/A')} -> {entry.get('value', '')[:100]}\n"
services = [e for e in reg_data['registry_persistence' ] if e.get('type' ) == 'Service' ]
report += f"\n2. SERVICES ({len(services)} auto-start services):\n"
for entry in services[:20]:
report += f" {entry['location'].split('\\')[-1]}: {entry['value'][:100]}\n"
report += "" "
3. SCHEDULED TASKS: [See scheduled_tasks analysis]
4. WMI SUBSCRIPTIONS: [See WMI analysis]
5. STARTUP FOLDER: [See startup_items.txt]
6. COM HIJACKING: [See COM analysis]
SUSPICIOUS ENTRIES REQUIRING INVESTIGATION:
" ""
for entry in reg_data['registry_persistence' ]:
value = str(entry.get('value' , '' )).lower()
suspicious_indicators = ['powershell' , 'cmd /c' , 'wscript' , 'certutil' ,
'programdata' , 'appdata\\local\\temp' , 'base64' ,
'.ps1' , '.vbs' , '.hta' , '/tmp/' , 'hidden' ]
if any(s in value for s in suspicious_indicators):
report += f" SUSPICIOUS: {entry.get('name', 'N/A')} -> {entry.get('value', '')[:100]}\n"
with open('/cases/case-2024-001/analysis/persistence_report.txt' , 'w' ) as f:
f.write(report)
print (report)
PYEOF
Key Concepts Concept Description Run keys Registry keys executing programs at user logon (HKLM and HKCU) Scheduled tasks Windows Task Scheduler entries that execute on triggers (time, event, logon) WMI event subscriptions Persistent WMI queries that trigger actions (stealthy persistence) COM hijacking Redirecting COM object loading to execute malicious DLLs DLL search order hijacking Placing malicious DLLs in directories searched before System32 Service persistence Installing Windows services that auto-start with the system Boot-level persistence Modifying boot configuration or MBR/VBR for pre-OS execution Living-off-the-land Using legitimate system tools (PowerShell, WMI, certutil) for persistence
Tools & Systems Tool Purpose Autoruns Sysinternals comprehensive autostart enumeration tool RegRipper Automated registry persistence artifact extraction KAPE Automated persistence artifact collection and analysis Velociraptor Endpoint agent with persistence hunting artifacts OSQuery SQL-based system querying for persistence enumeration PersistenceSniper PowerShell tool for Windows persistence detection RECmd Eric Zimmerman registry command-line analysis tool Volatility Memory forensics for in-memory only persistence
Common Scenarios Scenario 1: APT Persistence After Initial Compromise
Check all registry Run keys, enumerate scheduled tasks for encoded PowerShell commands, examine WMI event subscriptions for event-triggered execution, check COM object registrations for hijacked CLSIDs, review services for recently installed entries with suspicious image paths.
Scenario 2: Ransomware Pre-Encryption Persistence
Identify how the ransomware maintains access for re-encryption or monitoring, check for scheduled tasks that would re-launch encryption, examine services installed by the ransomware operator, verify no additional backdoor persistence exists before declaring remediation complete.
Scenario 3: Fileless Malware Persistence
Focus on registry-based persistence storing payload in registry values, check WMI subscriptions executing PowerShell from event triggers, examine scheduled tasks using encoded command arguments, check for mshta/rundll32 based persistence loading remote content.
Scenario 4: Post-Remediation Verification
Run Autoruns comparison against known-good baseline, verify all identified persistence mechanisms have been removed, check for additional persistence that may have been missed, confirm services, tasks, and registry entries are clean, monitor for re-infection indicators.
Output Format Persistence Investigation Summary:
System: DESKTOP-ABC123 (Windows 10 Pro)
Analysis Date: 2024-01-20
Persistence Mechanisms Found:
Registry Run Keys (HKLM): 5 entries (1 SUSPICIOUS)
Registry Run Keys (HKCU): 3 entries (1 SUSPICIOUS)
Services (Auto-Start): 142 entries (2 SUSPICIOUS)
Scheduled Tasks: 67 entries (3 SUSPICIOUS)
WMI Subscriptions: 1 entry (SUSPICIOUS)
Startup Folder: 4 items (1 SUSPICIOUS)
COM Objects: 0 hijacked entries
DLL Hijacking: 0 detected
Suspicious Entries:
1. HKCU\Run\WindowsUpdate -> powershell -ep bypass -e <base64>
Timestamp: 2024-01-15 14:35:00
Action: Encoded PowerShell download cradle
2. Service: WinDefenderUpdate -> C:\ProgramData\svc\update.exe
Timestamp: 2024-01-15 14:40:00
Action: Unknown executable in ProgramData
3. Task: \Microsoft\Windows\Maintenance\SecurityUpdate
Command: cmd.exe /c powershell -w hidden -e <base64>
Trigger: On system startup
4. WMI: __EventFilter "ProcessStart" -> CommandLineEventConsumer
Action: Execute C:\Windows\Temp\svc.exe on WMI event
Remediation Required: 4 persistence mechanisms to remove
Report: /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/persistence_report.txt
