Software Diagnostics Library

Memory Dump Analysis Services organizes a free webinar on a unified malware and victimware analysis by using behavioral and structural patterns including a live memory dump analysis example.

Date: 2nd of July, 2012
Time: 17:00 (BST) 12:00 (EST) 09:00 (PST)
Duration: 60 minutes

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/332458406

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Sometimes I hear voices saying that Linux, FreeBSD, and Mac OS X core dumps are uninteresting. This is not true. If you haven’t seen anything interesting there it just simply means you have only encountered a limited amount of abnormal software behaviour. The widespread usage of Windows OS means that most patterns have been diagnosed and described first and other OS are waiting their turn.

My goal is to have a pattern catalog with examples from different OS. For example, currently, all Mac OS X patterns I provide are just examples to existing Windows pattern names. All OS share the same structure and behavior, for example, structural memory analysis patterns and the same computational model. Although structural patterns are different from behavioral patterns I also plan to expand the structural list significantly especially in relation to forthcoming Windows malware analysis training. Regarding behavioral patterns it is possible to model and predict specific pattern examples for another OS by using already existing catalog.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Memory Dump Analysis Services organizes a free Webinar on Unified Software Diagnostics (USD) and the new scalable cost-effective software support model called Pattern-Driven Software Support devised to address various shortcomings in existing tiered software support organizations. Examples cover Windows, Mac OS  and Linux.

Date: 22nd of June, 2012
Time: 17:00 (BST) 12:00 (EST) 09:00 (PST)
Duration: 60 minutes

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/172771078

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

More than 4 years passed since I provided a longer structuralist definition. Recently I came to recognize a pattern-driven iterative and incremental nature of memory and software trace analysis and post-construction software problem solving in general and therefore a one sentence definition became necessary:

“Recognition and interpretation of patterns of software behavior”

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Memoretics promotes pattern-driven memory dump and software trace analysis which has many uses but not limited to:

• Software and site reliability
• Software Debugging
• QA and Software Testing
• Computer Security
• Software Troubleshooting
• Malware Research and Analysis
• Tools as a Service (TaaS)
• Supportability
• Software Diagnostics

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Memoretics as a science of memory snapshots borrows many ideas from the following disciplines (the list is not exhaustive):

• Troubleshooting and Debugging
• Intelligence Analysis
• Critical Thinking
• Forensics
• Linguistics
• Archaeology
• Psychoanalysis
• History
• Mathematics: Sets and Categories
• Literary Criticism and Narratology

It also contributes many ideas back. The following diagram depicts such an interaction:

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Just noticed this book and pre-ordered it:

Practical Malware Analysis: The Hands-On Guide to Dissecting Malicious Software

I like the cover picture - I recently bought a Dell Alienware laptop just to do malware and victimware analysis

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Finally on the parallels between memory dump and software trace analysis and intelligence (Memoretics is a discipline that studies computer memory snapshots and their evolution in time):

Memoretics ”opens a unique window on” software “affairs”.

John H. Hedley, The Challenges of Intelligence Analysis, Strategic Intelligence, Volume 1

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

This is a forthcoming virtual event to learn analysis of blockages, delays, obstructions, preventions, and stoppages in victimware suffering from software defects and malware. Additional information on how to join will be available soon on the main portal page:

http://www.dumpanalysis.org/stoppages2011

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

To model software behavior at application and system levels, test generative debugging scenarious and construct software defects using metaprogramming I started working on MdTL (Metadefect Template Library). Its consists of C++ templates for structural and behavioral patterns. The simplest examples include Threads<Spike> and Spike<Thread>. The template classes can be more complex, of course, utilizing the full power of C++, STL, and existing libraries like Boost. The unique and novel feature of this library is the inclusion of dual classes of behaviour such as Leak<>, Deadlock<>, Overflow<>, Residue<>, Exception<>, Contention<>, etc. parameterized by various structural memory classes like Process<>, Thread<>, Heap<>, Stack<>, Region<>, Buffer<>, etc. MdTL also includes classes to model software tracing and this will be used for simultaneous software trace and memory dump analysis case study in the forthcoming presentation. I also plan to extend this metaprogramming approach in the future to model malware analysis patterns by introducing Metamalware Template Library (MmTL).

Forthcoming parts will introduce template classes and examples.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Jobs page on Memory Dump, Software Trace, Debugging and Malware Analysis Portal now accepts company job ads related to security research, computer forensics, reverse engineering, and malware analysis in addition to debugging, software defect research, crash / core / memory dump and software trace analysis.

http://www.dumpanalysis.org/jobs

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

I’m pleased to announce that MDAA, Volume 5 is available in PDF format:

www.dumpanalysis.org/Memory+Dump+Analysis+Anthology+Volume+5

It features:

- 25 new crash dump analysis patterns
- 11 new pattern interaction case studies (including software tracing)
- 16 new trace analysis patterns
- 7 structural memory patterns
- 4 modeling case studies for memory dump analysis patterns
- Discussion of 3 common analysis mistakes
- Malware analysis case study
- Computer independent architecture of crash analysis report service
- Expanded coverage of software narratology
- Metaphysical and theological implications of memory dump worldview
- More pictures of memory space and physicalist art
- Classification of memory visualization tools
- Memory visualization case studies
- Close reading of the stories of Sherlock Holmes: Dr. Watson’s observational patterns
- Fully cross-referenced with Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3, and Volume 4

Its table of contents is available here:

www.dumpanalysis.org/MDAA/MDA-Anthology-V5-TOC.pdf

Paperback and hardcover versions should be available in a week or two. I also started working on Volume 6 that should be available in November-December.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

The presentation materials from the webinar (25th of March, 2011) are available for download:

http://www.dumpanalysis.com/PDSPSI-materials

Thanks to everyone who registered and attended!

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

The first Webinar to start an in-depth discussion of pattern-driven software troubleshooting, debugging and maintenance:

Date: 25th of March 2011
Time: 18:30 (GMT) 14:30 (EST) 11:30 (PST)
Duration: 60 minutes

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/448268158

Topics include:

• A Short History of DumpAnalysis.org
• Memory Dump Analysis Patterns
• Troubleshooting and Debugging Tools (Debugware) Patterns
• Software Trace Analysis Patterns
• From Software Defects to Software Behavior
• Workaround Patterns
• Structural Memory Patterns
• Memory Analysis Domain Pattern Hierarchy
• New Directions

Prerequisites: experience in software troubleshooting and/or debugging.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Got an insider information from Memory Dump Analysis Services that they are developing a Prolog extension for memory dump analysis. Indeed, after asking their development team, I got a proof of concept extension DLL that works on my computer after installing x64 version of SWI-Prolog and copying wdes.dll to pl \ bin installation folder:

0: kd> .load C:\Program Files\pl\bin\wdes.dll

0: kd> !help
Help for Windows Debugging Expert System wdes.dll
   help               - Shows this help
   pload              - Loads Prolog interpretor

0: kd> !pload
SWI-Prolog has been loaded

So far so good. Waiting for more extension commands. Perhaps, one day, this extension realizes my dream reminisced while testing a Python extension.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Finally had time today to test python WinDbg extension. I installed python 2.6.6 and used Debugging Tools for Windows x64. The script I used was from the extension web site blog slightly modified and called processes.py:

from pykd import *
nt = loadModule( "nt" )
processList = typedVarList( nt.PsActiveProcessHead, "nt", "_EPROCESS", "ActiveProcessLinks" )
for process in processList:
    dprintln( "".join( [ chr(i) for i in process.ImageFileName.values() ] ) )
    dprintln( "\r" )

I loaded x64 version of pykd.pyd extension and executed the script: 

0: kd> !py c:\PyScripts\processes.py
System
smss.exe
csrss.exe
csrss.exe
psxss.exe
winlogon.exe
wininit.exe
services.exe
lsass.exe
lsm.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe
spoolsv.exe
mdm.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe
svchost.exe
taskhost.exe
dwm.exe
explorer.exe
DTLite.exe
mmc.exe
WZQKPICK.EXE
concentr.exe
pnamain.exe
jusched.exe
wfcrun32.exe
msdtc.exe
iexplore.exe
iexplore.exe
iexplore.exe
splwow64.exe
iexplore.exe
jucheck.exe
iexplore.exe
notepad.exe
notepad.exe
iexplore.exe
notepad.exe
iexplore.exe
notepad.exe
notepad.exe
iexplore.exe
audiodg.exe
CDViewer.exe
wfica32.exe
iexplore.exe
notepad.exe
cmd.exe
conhost.exe
wuauclt.exe
wfica32.exe
wlrmdr.exe
TrustedInstall
wfica32.exe
notepad.exe
iexplore.exe
wmplayer.exe
VISIO.EXE
mspaint.exe
svchost.exe
sppsvc.exe
windbg.exe
mmc.exe
LogonUI.exe
taskeng.exe
NotMyfault.exe

Very good so far. I’m learning now Python language to write more interesting scripts for crash dump analysis pattern diagnostics, mining statistics, formatting and visualization. After browsing Amazon for some time I chose this book for study:

A Primer on Scientific Programming with Python

About 5 or 6 years ago I was thinking about using a Prolog interpreter to write an expert system for crash dump analysis. I even wrote a simple Prolog program to match product hotfixes and was contemplating writing a WinDbg extension especially after I learnt that SWI-Prolog system I used had an interpreter DLL that could be dynamically loaded into a Win32 API application.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

GI Index (Google Insights for Search) shows that crash dump analysis and debugging slowly decline in popularity:

GI for memory dump analysis searches coincides with the birth of DumpAnalysis.org in later 2006 (the only mystery for me is mid 2005 peak):

The birth of memory dump analysis as a discipline probably reinforced the emergence of memory forensics in the early 2006:

We also see that malware analysis is on the rise and it is not a surprise that DumpAnalysis.org is moving to MARS:

Perhaps mid 2005 peak for memory dump analysis searches coincides with the interest in malware analysis.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

With the new year starts the new initiative to integrate traditional multidisciplinary debugging approaches and methodologies with multiplatform pattern-driven software problem solving, unified debugging patterns, best practices in memory dump analysis and software tracing, computer security, economics, and the new emerging trends I’m going to write about during this year.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

As a part of my efforts to unify malware and forensic analysis with memory dump and software trace analysis from behavioral and structural patterns perspective I created this domain name. The word victimware was borrowed and extended from its previous limited use:

Software Victimology (Part 1)
Software Victimology (Part 2)

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Borrowing routine activity theory (RAT) from criminology I would like to introduce the similar approach to abnormal software behavior with patterning activities that adds additional unmotivated offenders to combine malware (software rats) with unintentional ordinary common bugware:

The application of RAT to software can be metaphorically named as Function Activity Theory (FAT).

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -