Proof of concept
...for a C# binary that
- When executed
- Executes an encrypted payload in memory without drops (In this example, an executable displaying a MessageBox)
- All variable names are obfuscated using unreadable characters
- All strings are runtime encrypted with a simple 8 bit xor
- Very hard to analyze when decompiled, however, getting the original payload by decompilation and debugging is possible
- After payload execution
- The binary will re-compile itself and replace the original file
- Again, all variable names are obfuscated, using different names each time
- Strings are encrypted differently each time as well
- The payload is also re-encrypted using a different key
Since this is proof of concept, no actually malicious payload is included. Dropped files that begin with "Debug_" can be omitted completely, but are written to disk to visualize the build process.
How it works in general
Expecting well readable code? Design patterns? Maybe you should stop reading here, because this binary is optimized for maximum obscurity, minimum file size and security software evasion! For this, a custom build process is implemented. When running Build.exe, the binary is compiled using CodeDOM for the first time and placed in the same directory, named SelfMorphingCSharpBinary.exe. This binary contains the file Payload.exe from the resources of Build.exe. The payload, strings and variable names are encrypted and obfuscated.
For debugging purposes, all generated code files, even from the encrypted binary itself, are written to disk, however, it is not required, because code can usually be compiled in memory using CodeDOM.
In-depth
Step 1: Build.exe takes Stub.cs from its resources and processes, then compiles it. The original file looks like this:
Because the binary needs to obfuscate itself on runtime, the original code has
to be included as well, somewhat similar to a quine. No managed resources are
used, just byte[] literals. Variables that start with "_V_" will be renamed
using characters from line 15.
Variable names of the original code which is included as a byte[] literal,
will also be obfuscated. However, alphanumerical characters are used. This is
the code that is compiled along with the actual binary:
So, the code from the first screenshot is what I work with during development.
The code on the second screenshot is the code that is included as a resource...
*sigh*... as a byte[] literal in the binary. Now, look at the final code
that is used to compile the binary:
This is also what you get when decompiling the binary. The highlighted text, for
instance, is a method that decrypts strings. The payload is executed in memory
in line 18 using Assembly.Load() and then Invoke(). For instance, the encrypted
string in GetMethod(...) is actually "Main".
Step 2: Self-morphing!
So our well obfuscated binary (screenshot 3) now contains the payload and its own pre-obfuscated code (from screenshot 2), both encrypted using AES and a random key. (Note: From a cryptographical perspective, this is rather an encoding than an actual encryption, because the key is also contained in the binary.)
When executed, first the payload is decrypted and executed in memory, displaying a simple message box. Remember, that this is a separate and replaceable executable file. Next, the binary takes its original code from the byte[] literal and does basically the same as what our build tool did: Encrypt both payload and its own code, encrypt all strings and obfuscate all variable names. Then we have a fresh binary that, from a heuristic point of view, is not similar to the previous one! Every literal and symbol name is encrypted and obfuscated with a different random key each time the binary is executed.
Since we are talking about a "self-morphing" binary, the original file has to replace itself. For this, we call cmd with a command that takes one second, piped by moving the file to the correct place. This may be improved, but serves our purpose for now.
Step 3: Looking at the binary when decompiled... Result: Yes, it is obfuscated and very hard to debug. Note, that there are professional obfuscators available. But here, we need a very minimalistic obfuscator that is built in and can re-compile and obfuscate even itself.
Step 4: Done! Now let's enjoy our binary. It is alive! And it wants to stay!
This animation visualizes the executable's source code morphing each time the executable is run.
Downloads
bytecode77.com/hacking/poc/self-morphing-csharp-binary