static malware config extraction - standalone - missing functionality

[NeikiDev]

Hey,

So i am playing around with the static malware config extraction sourced in "cape_utils.py".
I want to only use the malware config extraction utility and not the fully capesandbox.

The core and all python dependencies are installed.

But sadly i noticed that only a few work, alot of the config extraction modules wont work.
F.ex i tested some samples detected on capesandbox.com with extraction of the family config

But if i test them locally with a simple test script it wont extract the config.

from lib.cuckoo.common.cape_utils import static_extraction

FILE_PATH = "tmp/file.exe"

print(static_extraction(FILE_PATH)) # empty dict 

I noticed it warns about missing package "malwareconfig" but i run the installed command twice and it works as expected, malduck is commented out (idk why)

i apprecate any help

[github-actions]

Hello @NeikiDev, thanks for reaching out.

Thank you for providing such a detailed and clear report regarding the static_extraction utility in cape_utils.py. The information you've included, such as the code snippet and the observed warning about the "malwareconfig" package, is very helpful for the community to understand the problem.

It sounds like you're encountering an issue where static configuration extraction modules are not functioning as expected when running static_extraction standalone, leading to an empty dictionary, and you've noted a warning about a missing "malwareconfig" package despite re-installation, and that "malduck" is commented out.

Based on similar issues and discussions within the project, many such problems often stem from dependency or environment-specific installation issues:

1. Dependency Installation: The warning about the "missing package malwareconfig" is a strong indicator of a dependency problem. While you mentioned re-installing it, ensuring all required libraries are correctly installed is crucial. For example, similar issues have arisen from missing Python development libraries (e.g., distorm3 failing due to missing string.h in issue issue when installing pillow 3.2.0 on Python 3.6 #364, or pywin32 not being installed in issue XLS Processing Fails #608). CAPEv2 relies on a comprehensive set of packages, and even slight discrepancies can cause modules to fail silently or with vague errors.

   We recommend verifying your full CAPEv2 installation, preferably using the cape2.sh script if you haven't, as it's designed to install all necessary system and Python dependencies for optimal performance (as discussed in issue issue when installing pillow 3.2.0 on Python 3.6 #364). If you built your environment manually or using a custom script, please double-check that all dependencies listed in the official documentation or the cape2.sh script are satisfied.

2. malduck status: You mentioned malduck is commented out. This library is often a core component for various malware analysis tasks, and if it's intentionally disabled or missing, it could certainly impact the functionality of config extraction modules. Please ensure malduck is correctly installed and enabled if it's intended to be part of your static analysis pipeline. In past discussions, certain imports were disabled to avoid tricking the sandbox, but the general recommendation is to have core dependencies in place (issue CAPEv2 skips the exported function to execute for regsvr package #923).

3. Detailed Logging: If the issue persists after reviewing dependencies, generating more detailed logs during the execution of your static_extraction script might offer further insights. In previous debugging scenarios, developers emphasized that "logs always have the answers" (issue XLS Processing Fails #608). While your snippet shows the direct output, a more verbose log of the environment or the cape_utils.py execution might reveal underlying errors.

Please try to ensure all dependencies are correctly installed and malduck is configured as intended. If the problem continues, providing more detailed logs would be the next step for further investigation.

Thank you for your valuable contribution to the project!

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[kevoreilly]

It's probably worth pointing out that the static configuration function is designed for a specific scenario only: the file is already unpacked (or was never packed) and detected by a cape yara sig. This allows skipping of the dynamic part.

i tested some samples detected on capesandbox.com with extraction of the family config

This makes me wonder if you are missing the point of the dynamic analysis in cape - it is not expected to be able to take original (packed) malware samples and just skip the dynamic unpacking part. If you mean the unpacked, detected payloads then ok, but even there it's not a given that a detected payload will generate a config.

If you wish to use a particular sample as an example, please supply the hash.

[doomedraven]

The missed bit is detection, is not done on extractors side, is done on cape side, if you want to use it standalone. You need to back port that functionality and related yaras, we won't move it all there as that is not our goal

[doomedraven]

so in summary, you need to add your own logic for yara scan, then invoke a proper extractor once yara is matched, you can carve that logic from cape_utils.py as bot pointed