A Mega Malware Analysis Tutorial Featuring Donut-Generated Shellcode

SUMMARY :

This tutorial provides an in-depth analysis of a malware infection chain using shellcode generated by the Donut tool. It covers various stages of the attack, including initial download, trace concealment, and final payload delivery. The tutorial aims to familiarize readers with common analysis tools like dnSpy, IDA Pro, x64dbg, and ProcessHacker, while demonstrating both static and dynamic analysis techniques. It highlights malware behaviors such as dynamic API resolution, process injection, and AMSI bypassing. The excerpt focuses on analyzing an unknown function in the shellcode, explaining PC-relative addressing and position-independent code techniques used by malware to access resources.

OPENCTI LABELS :

shellcode,malware analysis,donut,ida pro,reverse engineering,static analysis,x64dbg,dynamic analysis


AI COMMENTARY :

1. Introduction: A Mega Malware Analysis Tutorial Featuring Donut-Generated Shellcode

This tutorial delves into an advanced malware infection chain where the attacker relies on shellcode produced by the Donut tool. By exploring both static and dynamic analysis techniques, readers will gain practical insights into how modern threats leverage position-independent code and PC-relative addressing to evade detection and compromise systems. The tutorial sets out to strengthen threat intelligence capabilities by exposing common malware behaviors and analysis workflows applicable to real-world incidents.

2. The Donut Tool and Shellcode Generation

Donut is a powerful shellcode generation utility that converts user-supplied binaries into position-independent payloads suitable for in-memory execution. In this tutorial, the Donut-generated shellcode serves as the centerpiece for demonstrating how adversaries package code for stealthy delivery. Understanding how Donut structures the shellcode is critical for threat intelligence analysts tasked with identifying novel payloads and reconstructing attack timelines.

3. Static Analysis Techniques with dnSpy and IDA Pro

Static analysis provides a foundational view of the malware’s code structure before it ever executes. Tools like dnSpy allow analysts to explore managed code and extract metadata while IDA Pro offers deep insights into native code and control flow. This section walks through loading the Donut shellcode into IDA Pro, identifying key functions, and unraveling the mechanisms used for dynamic API resolution. By scrutinizing the binary offline, analysts develop indicators of compromise that feed into threat intelligence platforms.

4. Dynamic Analysis with x64dbg and ProcessHacker

Dynamic analysis reveals runtime behaviors that static inspection cannot capture alone. In x64dbg, the shellcode is traced step by step to observe memory allocations, API calls, and thread creation. ProcessHacker is leveraged to monitor system modules, loaded libraries, and handle activity. This hands-on approach showcases how to detect process injection and AMSI bypass techniques, enabling threat intel teams to craft real-time detection rules and response playbooks.

5. Understanding PC-Relative Addressing and Position-Independent Code

Modern shellcode relies heavily on PC-relative addressing to reference data and functions without hardcoded pointers. This section explains how malware authors compute offsets at runtime, ensuring the payload remains agnostic to its load address. By dissecting the shellcode’s entry point, analysts learn to pinpoint relocation stubs and identify patterns that signal position-independent code, essential for threat hunters mapping out malicious artifacts in memory dumps.

6. Behavior Analysis: Dynamic API Resolution, Process Injection, and AMSI Bypass

In the final payload delivery phase, the shellcode resolves critical system APIs on the fly, injects itself into a target process, and disables Windows’ Antimalware Scan Interface to avoid detection. By tracing these behaviors in a controlled environment, threat intelligence specialists can document the sequence of malicious actions, generate high-fidelity YARA rules, and contribute actionable tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to the security community.

7. Conclusion: Enhancing Threat Intelligence Through Hands-On Malware Analysis

This tutorial underscores the importance of mastering both static and dynamic analysis methodologies when dissecting shellcode-based malware. By leveraging tools like Donut, dnSpy, IDA Pro, x64dbg, and ProcessHacker, analysts can uncover sophisticated evasion tactics and bolster their threat intelligence database with detailed technical artifacts. The knowledge gained here empowers security teams to detect and respond to advanced threats before they inflict widespread harm.


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A Mega Malware Analysis Tutorial Featuring Donut-Generated Shellcode