API Obfuscation

Created the Monday 18 March 2019. Updated 6 months, 2 weeks ago.

API obfuscation is a technique used by malware to make it more difficult for security analysts to understand and analyze the code. This is typically done by using a technique called API hashing, which replaces the names of API functions with a hashed value. When an analyst runs the malware through a disassembler tool, the hashed values are printed instead of the actual names of the functions, making it more difficult to understand the code and identify any potentially malicious behavior.

This technique is often used to hide suspicious API calls from the Import Address Table (IAT), which is used to store the addresses of functions imported from other libraries. By hiding these calls, malware authors can make it harder for analysts to identify and analyze their code.

Technique Identifiers

U0217 B0032.001

Technique Tags

hashing API obfuscation API hashing Import Address Table (IAT) Code obfuscation

Featured Windows API's

Below, you will find a list of the most commonly used Windows API's that are currently utilized by malware authors for current evasion technique. This list is meant to provide an overview of the API's that are commonly used for this purpose. If there are any API's that you feel should be included on this list, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to update the list and provide any additional information or documentation that may be helpful.

Code Snippets

Description

Original source code: https://www.ired.team/offensive-security/defense-evasion/windows-api-hashing-in-malware

#include <iostream>
#include <Windows.h>

DWORD getHashFromString(char *string) 
{
	size_t stringLength = strnlen_s(string, 50);
	DWORD hash = 0x35;
	
	for (size_t i = 0; i < stringLength; i++)
	{
		hash += (hash * 0xab10f29f + string[i]) & 0xffffff;
	}
	// printf("%s: 0x00%x\n", string, hash);
	
	return hash;
}

PDWORD getFunctionAddressByHash(char *library, DWORD hash)
{
	PDWORD functionAddress = (PDWORD)0;

	// Get base address of the module in which our exported function of interest resides (kernel32 in the case of CreateThread)
	HMODULE libraryBase = LoadLibraryA(library);

	PIMAGE_DOS_HEADER dosHeader = (PIMAGE_DOS_HEADER)libraryBase;
	PIMAGE_NT_HEADERS imageNTHeaders = (PIMAGE_NT_HEADERS)((DWORD_PTR)libraryBase + dosHeader->e_lfanew);
	
	DWORD_PTR exportDirectoryRVA = imageNTHeaders->OptionalHeader.DataDirectory[IMAGE_DIRECTORY_ENTRY_EXPORT].VirtualAddress;
	
	PIMAGE_EXPORT_DIRECTORY imageExportDirectory = (PIMAGE_EXPORT_DIRECTORY)((DWORD_PTR)libraryBase + exportDirectoryRVA);
	
	// Get RVAs to exported function related information
	PDWORD addresOfFunctionsRVA = (PDWORD)((DWORD_PTR)libraryBase + imageExportDirectory->AddressOfFunctions);
	PDWORD addressOfNamesRVA = (PDWORD)((DWORD_PTR)libraryBase + imageExportDirectory->AddressOfNames);
	PWORD addressOfNameOrdinalsRVA = (PWORD)((DWORD_PTR)libraryBase + imageExportDirectory->AddressOfNameOrdinals);

	// Iterate through exported functions, calculate their hashes and check if any of them match our hash of 0x00544e304 (CreateThread)
	// If yes, get its virtual memory address (this is where CreateThread function resides in memory of our process)
	for (DWORD i = 0; i < imageExportDirectory->NumberOfFunctions; i++)
	{
		DWORD functionNameRVA = addressOfNamesRVA[i];
		DWORD_PTR functionNameVA = (DWORD_PTR)libraryBase + functionNameRVA;
		char* functionName = (char*)functionNameVA;
		DWORD_PTR functionAddressRVA = 0;

		// Calculate hash for this exported function
		DWORD functionNameHash = getHashFromString(functionName);
		
		// If hash for CreateThread is found, resolve the function address
		if (functionNameHash == hash)
		{
			functionAddressRVA = addresOfFunctionsRVA[addressOfNameOrdinalsRVA[i]];
			functionAddress = (PDWORD)((DWORD_PTR)libraryBase + functionAddressRVA);
			printf("%s : 0x%x : %p\n", functionName, functionNameHash, functionAddress);
			return functionAddress;
		}
	}
}

// Define CreateThread function prototype
using customCreateThread = HANDLE(NTAPI*)(
	LPSECURITY_ATTRIBUTES   lpThreadAttributes,
	SIZE_T                  dwStackSize,
	LPTHREAD_START_ROUTINE  lpStartAddress,
	__drv_aliasesMem LPVOID lpParameter,
	DWORD                   dwCreationFlags,
	LPDWORD                 lpThreadId
);

int main()
{
	// Resolve CreateThread address by hash
	PDWORD functionAddress = getFunctionAddressByHash((char *)"kernel32", 0x00544e304);

	// Point CreateThread function pointer to the CreateThread virtual address resolved by its hash
	customCreateThread CreateThread = (customCreateThread)functionAddress;
	DWORD tid = 0;

	// Call CreateThread
	HANDLE th = CreateThread(NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, &tid);

	return 1;
}

Description

In this code, the hash function is used to obfuscate the names of the APIs that are imported from the kernel32.dll library. The hashed names are then used to call the APIs using the GetProcAddress and LoadLibrary functions. When the code is disassembled, the actual names of the APIs will be hidden and replaced with the hashed values.

import ctypes

# Hash function to obfuscate the API names
def hash(str):
    hash = 5381
    for c in str:
        hash = (hash * 33 + ord(c)) % 2**32
    return hash

# Load the kernel32.dll library
hKernel32 = ctypes.windll.kernel32

# Use the hash function to obfuscate the names of the APIs
# we want to call from the library
lpLoadLibraryA = hKernel32.GetProcAddress(hKernel32, hash("LoadLibraryA"))
lpMessageBoxA = hKernel32.GetProcAddress(hKernel32, hash("MessageBoxA"))

# Call the APIs using the hashed names
hUser32 = ctypes.CFUNCTYPE(ctypes.c_void_p)(lpLoadLibraryA)("user32.dll")
ctypes.CFUNCTYPE(ctypes.c_int, ctypes.c_void_p, ctypes.c_char_p, ctypes.c_char_p, ctypes.c_uint)(lpMessageBoxA)(None, "Hello World!", "API Hashing", 0)

# Clean up
hKernel32.FreeLibrary(hUser32)

Additional Resources

External Links

The resources provided below are associated links that will give you even more detailed information and research on current evasion technique. It is important to note that, while these resources may be helpful, it is important to exercise caution when following external links. As always, be careful when clicking on links from unknown sources, as they may lead to malicious content.

https://www.ired.team/offensive-security/defense-evasion/windows-api-hashing-in-malware