Incident Response & Digital Forensics

Artifact Hunting & IOC Extraction

  • May 9, 2025
  • 0

Sherlocked Security – Artifact Hunting & IOC Extraction

Uncover Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) and Extract Artifacts to Strengthen Cybersecurity Defenses

1. Statement of Work (SOW)

Service Name: Artifact Hunting & IOC Extraction
Client Type: Enterprises, Government Agencies, Financial Institutions, Healthcare Providers
Service Model: On-Demand Engagement & Retainer Support
Compliance Alignment: NIST 800-53, ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS

Artifact Hunting & IOC Extraction Covers:

  • Identification and Collection of Artifacts from Compromised Systems
  • Static and Dynamic Analysis for IOC Identification
  • Extraction of IOCs such as File Hashes, IP Addresses, Domains, and Registry Keys
  • Behavioral Analysis to Identify Malware Interaction Patterns
  • Threat Intelligence and Malware Attribution
  • Development of Mitigation and Remediation Strategies

2. Our Approach

[Preparation] → [Artifact Collection] → [Static Analysis] → [Dynamic Analysis] → [IOC Extraction] → [Behavioral Analysis] → [Reporting & Mitigation]

3. Methodology

  • Pre-Incident Setup: Ensure that endpoint protection tools (e.g., antivirus software, EDR platforms) are up-to-date to capture potential malicious artifacts during detection.
  • Artifact Collection: Gather suspicious files, registry entries, logs, memory dumps, or network traffic that may contain traces of malicious activity.
  • Static Analysis: Analyze artifacts without execution to look for known IOCs, suspicious file behaviors, and code obfuscation.
  • Dynamic Analysis: Execute the artifacts in a sandbox environment to track file system changes, network communications, and any privilege escalation or lateral movement.
  • IOC Extraction: Extract indicators of compromise such as file hashes, registry keys, domains, IP addresses, and network activity patterns used by the malware.
  • Behavioral Analysis: Observe how the artifacts interact with the system, detecting signs of persistence, data exfiltration, or attempts to evade detection.
  • Reporting & Mitigation: Document findings in a detailed report, including IOCs and recommended mitigation strategies for future threat prevention.

4. Deliverables to the Client

  1. Artifact Analysis Report: A comprehensive report detailing the collected artifacts, their origin, and the findings from static and dynamic analysis.
  2. IOC List: A detailed list of extracted IOCs such as file hashes, IP addresses, domains, and registry keys for detection and blocking.
  3. Behavioral Analysis Report: A report outlining how the artifacts behave in an isolated environment, detailing persistence methods, lateral movement, and data exfiltration.
  4. Mitigation & Prevention Recommendations: Actionable recommendations to improve security posture, such as enhancing endpoint protection, applying network segmentation, or updating detection systems.

5. What We Need from You (Client Requirements)

  • Access to Suspected Artifacts: Provide any suspicious files, logs, memory dumps, or network traffic for analysis.
  • Sample Data: Supply relevant system logs, configuration files, or memory dumps that may provide context on the infection or attack vector.
  • Access to Affected Systems: If the malware is actively infecting systems, provide access or snapshots of the affected machines for deep analysis.
  • Network Configuration Information: Detailed information about the network layout, firewall rules, and critical assets potentially impacted by the attack.
  • Incident Report: Provide initial analysis, alerts, or reports detailing when the malware was first detected and its potential impact.

6. Tools & Technology Stack

  • Static and Dynamic Analysis Tools:
    • IDA Pro: Disassembler and debugger for inspecting malware code and its functions.
    • Ghidra: Open-source reverse engineering platform to analyze executable files.
    • PEStudio: Static analysis tool for identifying suspicious behaviors in Windows PE files.
  • Sandboxing and Behavioral Analysis:
    • Cuckoo Sandbox: Automated tool for observing malware behavior in a controlled, isolated environment.
    • FireEye: Malware analysis and threat detection platform for investigating complex attacks.
    • Any.Run: Interactive sandbox for dynamic analysis and real-time tracking of malware actions.
  • IOCs and Threat Intelligence Tools:
    • MISP (Malware Information Sharing Platform): Open-source platform for sharing and correlating IOCs with other organizations.
    • VirusTotal: Online platform for checking files against multiple antivirus engines.
    • YARA: Tool for creating custom malware detection rules based on code patterns.
  • Memory Forensics:
    • Volatility: Framework for analyzing memory dumps to identify active malware processes and artifacts.
    • Rekall: Forensics tool used to analyze memory for evidence of malware or malicious behavior.

7. Engagement Lifecycle

  1. Client Onboarding & Incident Briefing: Collect suspected artifacts, system logs, and initial analysis.
  2. Artifact Collection & Preliminary Analysis: Gather and review suspicious files, logs, and artifacts.
  3. Static Analysis: Deeply analyze the artifacts without execution, identifying IOCs and suspicious features.
  4. Dynamic Analysis: Execute and monitor the artifacts in an isolated environment to observe their interactions with the system.
  5. IOC Extraction: Extract and catalog IOCs found during analysis.
  6. Reporting & Recommendations: Provide a detailed report on the artifacts, IOCs, and steps for remediation.
  7. Post-Incident Review & Recommendations: Suggest next steps for improving security, such as patching vulnerabilities, updating detection tools, and strengthening defenses.

8. Why Sherlocked Security?

Feature Sherlocked Advantage
Comprehensive Artifact Analysis We combine static, dynamic, and reverse engineering methods to understand the full scope of compromised artifacts.
Expert IOC Extraction Skilled analysts capable of extracting and identifying IOCs from various sources including files, network traffic, and memory.
Behavioral Analysis Observe and document how artifacts behave to detect persistence, lateral movement, and exfiltration tactics.
Mitigation & Prevention Provide actionable recommendations to reduce risk and improve the security posture against future threats.

9. Real-World Case Studies

Data Breach Artifact Extraction

Client: A financial institution experienced a breach where attackers used fileless malware to evade traditional detection.
Findings: By extracting IOCs from memory and network traffic, we identified the attackers’ C2 server IP addresses and lateral movement tactics.
Outcome: The client implemented better network segmentation and endpoint detection tools, reducing the risk of similar future incidents.

Advanced Ransomware Attack

Client: A healthcare provider was impacted by a ransomware attack, which encrypted critical files and attempted to exfiltrate sensitive data.
Findings: Through static and dynamic analysis, we extracted IOCs like encrypted file patterns, C2 domains, and exfiltration IPs.
Outcome: The healthcare provider strengthened its data backup strategy, updated security patches, and deployed better detection capabilities for ransomware.

10. SOP – Standard Operating Procedure

  1. Artifact Collection: Gather suspected files, logs, memory dumps, and network traffic for analysis.
  2. Static Analysis: Perform a non-execution analysis of the artifacts to identify IOCs and any potential obfuscation or hidden payloads.
  3. Dynamic Analysis: Safely execute the artifacts in a sandbox environment to track their actions and interactions with the system.
  4. IOC Extraction: Extract IOCs such as file hashes, registry keys, and network activity for use in future detection.
  5. Reporting: Document all findings, including IOCs, system impact, and mitigation recommendations.
  6. Post-Incident Mitigation: Recommend security updates, endpoint protection improvements, and incident response enhancements.

11. Artifact Hunting & IOC Extraction – Readiness Checklist

1. Pre-Incident Setup

  • [ ] Endpoint Protection: Ensure endpoint protection is active and up-to-date.
  • [ ] System Monitoring: Implement robust monitoring systems to detect unusual activities and behaviors.
  • [ ] Backup Strategies: Ensure regular, secure backups are in place for data recovery.
  • [ ] Network Segmentation: Apply network segmentation to limit lateral movement.
  • [ ] Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): Ensure IDS/IPS systems are configured to detect malicious activity.
  • [ ] Access Control: Enforce strict access controls across the network.
  • [ ] Patch Management: Regularly apply patches to all systems and software.

2. During Artifact Hunting & IOC Extraction

  • [ ] Artifact Collection: Gather suspicious files, memory dumps, and network traffic.
  • [ ] Static Analysis: Examine the artifacts for embedded IOCs, code patterns, and known malware signatures.
  • [ ] Dynamic Analysis: Execute the artifacts in a sandbox to track behavior and network communications.
  • [ ] IOC Extraction: Extract and catalog all relevant IOCs.
  • [ ] Behavioral Analysis: Document persistence mechanisms, lateral movement, and exfiltration methods.

3. Post-Incident Response

  • [ ] IOC List: Provide a detailed list of IOCs for detection and blocking across other systems.
  • [ ] Behavioral Analysis Report: Outline observed behaviors, including persistence, data exfiltration, and lateral movement.
  • [ ] Root Cause Identification: Identify how the artifact entered the system and any exploited vulnerabilities.
  • [ ] Mitigation Recommendations: Provide actionable mitigation steps to prevent future attacks.

4. Continuous Improvement

  • [ ] Lessons Learned: Document lessons learned and refine security strategies.
  • [ ] Share IOCs: Share IOCs with threat intelligence networks.
  • [ ] Security Tool Enhancement: Update tools to detect identified IOCs.
  • [ ] Patch Vulnerabilities: Apply necessary patches to close vulnerabilities.
  • [ ] Training: Regularly train staff on identifying malicious behaviors.

5. Ongoing Monitoring

  • [ ] Monitor IOCs: Continuously monitor for known IOCs.
  • [ ] Behavioral Analytics: Implement tools to detect anomalous behaviors.
  • [ ] Threat Hunting: Regularly hunt for signs of compromise within the environment.
  • [ ] EDR: Ensure EDR tools are actively monitoring for suspicious activity.

6. Collaboration and Reporting

  • [ ] Collaborate with Law Enforcement: Work with authorities in cases involving sensitive data breaches.
  • [ ] Report to Management: Provide regular updates to executive teams on incidents and recovery actions.
  • [ ] Public Disclosure: Prepare reports for public or regulatory disclosure if required.
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