Why alternate data streams are a concern in computer forensics?
Alternate Data Streams (ADS) is a virtually unknown compatibility feature of New Technology File System (NTFS) that can provide attackers with a method of hiding hacker tools, keyloggers, and so on, on a breached system and then will allow them execution without being detected.
What would an attacker use an alternate data stream on a Windows system for?
An attacker exploits the functionality of Microsoft NTFS Alternate Data Streams (ADS) to undermine system security. ADS allows multiple “files” to be stored in one directory entry referenced as filename:streamname. One or more alternate data streams may be stored in any file or directory.
Where are alternate data streams stored?
NTFS file system
Alternate Data Streams (ADS) are a file attribute only found on the NTFS file system. In this system a file is built up from a couple of attributes, one of them is $Data, aka the data attribute. Looking at the regular data stream of a text file there is no mystery. It simply contains the text inside the text file.
What are NTFS alternate data streams give example?
An alternate data stream (ADS) is a feature of Windows New Technology File System (NTFS) that contains metadata for locating a specific file by author or title. ADS is supported by all versions of Windows beginning with Windows NT through the current version, Windows 7.
What is the purpose of alternate data streams?
Alternate Data Streams enables information to be hidden within other files. As such, it can be a security risk. An attacker can easily store malicious codes or payloads and use them to cause damages to your system.
How does alternate data stream work?
What is an Alternate Data Stream? Alternate Data Stream (ADS) is the ability of an NTFS file system (the main file system format in Windows) to store different streams of data, in addition to the default stream which is normally used for a file.
Is it safe to delete alternate data streams?
There’s no way to disable ADS the way you can disable many unneeded Windows services. Nor can you simply delete an alternate data stream without deleting the file to which it’s attached. In fact, you can’t use the Windows delete command to get rid of an ADS attached to a root directory (i.e. c:\:badstuff.exe).
What is backdoor Rustock?
Backdoor:Win32/Rustock is a rootkit-enabled proxy trojan used to send large volumes of spam from infected computers. The trojan consists of a user mode installer and a kernel mode rootkit driver.
What is Infostealer Snifula?
Infostealer. Snifula. B is a dangerous Trojan horse infection that could be loaded on your system without any indication to you. When loaded, mostly from a malicious source on the internet, Infostealer.
What is CoreGuard antivirus?
CoreGuard Antivirus 2009 is a rogue anti-spyware program discovered by security researcher S! RI, that uses an interesting trick in order to protect itself. This trick is to uninstall legitimate anti-malware programs when CoreGuard detects they are installed.
What is backdoor rustock B?
What are alternate data streams and how are they used?
These can provide an attacker with a method of hiding root kits or hacker tools on a compromised system which allows them to be executed without being detected by the systems administrator. Alternate Data Streams are strictly a feature of the NTFS file system. They may be used as a method of hiding executables or proprietary content.
How do attackers hide data on the file system?
However, the ability to support multiple data segments in a file has created the perfect hiding place for attackers wanting to hide data on the file system. To specify a specific data stream in an NTFS file, separate the filename and the name of the stream with a colon.
How to create alternate data streams (ADS)?
Alternate Data Streams are simple to create and entail little or no skill to use. Common DOS commands such as type can be used to create Alternate Data Streams (ADS). These commands are used in conjunction with a redirect [>] and colon [:] to fork one file into another.