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@malfav malfav commented Nov 10, 2025

procgraph.py – Process Connectivity & Relationship Visualization (Volatility 3 Plugin)

procgraph.py is a Volatility 3 plugin designed to map process relationships and connectivity from a Windows memory dump.
It generates a graphical representation of process hierarchies and interactions, making it easier for analysts to understand process spawning, parent-child relationships, and potential malicious execution flows.


Key Capabilities

Process Tree Extraction

  • Iterates over all processes enumerated by Volatility (e.g., using pslist)
  • Maps PID (Process ID) to PPID (Parent Process ID)
  • Captures hierarchical relationships between processes for visualization

Graph Visualization

  • Outputs a Graphviz DOT file representing the process tree and connectivity
  • DOT files can be rendered with Graphviz tools (dot, neato) or online renderers
  • Visualizations help identify:
    • Unexpected parent-child relationships
    • Malware spawning chains
    • Abnormal execution flows

# live.py – Volatility 3 Live System Analysis Plugin

`live.py` is a custom plugin for **Volatility 3** designed to extend its capabilities for **real-time forensic data collection and threat hunting** directly on a **live Windows system**, eliminating the need for a full memory dump.

This tool provides an **interactive command-line shell** for dynamic investigation, leveraging system APIs through libraries like `psutil` and `pywin32` to quickly triage and analyze active endpoints.

---

## Key Capabilities

### **Live Analysis Mode**
Performs immediate, low-overhead forensic data collection from an active operating system, bypassing traditional memory dump requirements.

### **Interactive Shell**
Includes an integrated CLI environment offering a suite of commands for efficient, step-by-step investigation via the `LiveShellCommand` interface.

### **Advanced Threat Hunting**
Provides built-in commands for targeted analysis:
- **fileless** – Detects fileless malware and suspicious in-memory activity, focusing on processes such as `powershell.exe`.
- **detect_sandbox** – Identifies virtualized or sandboxed environments by inspecting artifacts, process behavior, and MAC address prefixes.

### **Comprehensive Forensic Data Collection**
Collects essential artifacts and system information for deep analysis:
- **Process and Module Data:** `pslist`, `psscan`, `dlllist`, `handles`, `sids`, `cmdline`
- **Network Activity:** `netscan` for active connections and sockets
- **Persistence & Services:** Analysis of `services`, `drivers`, `registry`, and autorun entries
- **Artifact Analysis:** Extraction of `shimcache`, `prefetch`, `userassist`, and `jumplists`
- **Timeline Generation:** Unified event correlation using `timeliner`

---
# sandbox_detect.py – Virtualization and Sandbox Environment Detection (Volatility 3 Plugin)

`sandbox_detect.py` is a specialized **Volatility 3 plugin** designed for **post-mortem forensic analysis** of **Windows memory dumps**.  
Its primary goal is to detect and score artifacts indicating that the analyzed system was operating within a **Virtual Machine (VM)**, **Sandbox**, or **Malware Analysis Environment**.

This plugin is particularly valuable for investigators who need to determine whether a captured memory sample originated from a **controlled analysis setup** or a **real-world victim system**.

---

## Key Capabilities

### **Multi-Layered Artifact Scanning**
Performs deep inspection across multiple memory and system layers to ensure comprehensive detection:

- **Process Analysis:** Identifies running processes related to virtualization or analysis environments, such as  
  `vmtoolsd.exe`, `vboxservice.exe`, `prl_cc.exe`, `wireshark.exe`, and `ollydbg.exe`.  
- **Driver and Module Checks:** Detects kernel modules and drivers named after virtualization platforms, including  
  `vmmouse.sys`, `vboxguest.sys`, and `vmhgfs.sys`.  
- **Registry and System Keys:** Examines critical registry entries and system identifiers for virtualization traces,  
  such as hardware IDs, BIOS strings, and known VM installation paths.

---

### **Heuristic Scoring System**
Implements a scoring engine that assigns severity levels to each identified artifact.  
Instead of a binary result, the plugin produces a **confidence-based verdict**, such as:

- **HIGH CONFIDENCE – Virtual Machine Detected**  
- **MODERATE CONFIDENCE – Sandbox Environment**  
- **LOW CONFIDENCE – Physical Host**

This scoring model provides analysts with clearer, evidence-weighted conclusions.

---
# sandbox_detect.py – Virtualization and Sandbox Environment Detection (Volatility 3 Plugin)

`sandbox_detect.py` is a specialized **Volatility 3 plugin** designed for **post-mortem forensic analysis** of **Windows memory dumps**.  
Its primary goal is to detect and score artifacts indicating that the analyzed system was operating within a **Virtual Machine (VM)**, **Sandbox**, or **Malware Analysis Environment**.

This plugin is particularly valuable for investigators who need to determine whether a captured memory sample originated from a **controlled analysis setup** or a **real-world victim system**.

---

## Key Capabilities

### **Multi-Layered Artifact Scanning**
Performs deep inspection across multiple memory and system layers to ensure comprehensive detection:

- **Process Analysis:** Identifies running processes related to virtualization or analysis environments, such as  
  `vmtoolsd.exe`, `vboxservice.exe`, `prl_cc.exe`, `wireshark.exe`, and `ollydbg.exe`.  
- **Driver and Module Checks:** Detects kernel modules and drivers named after virtualization platforms, including  
  `vmmouse.sys`, `vboxguest.sys`, and `vmhgfs.sys`.  
- **Registry and System Keys:** Examines critical registry entries and system identifiers for virtualization traces,  
  such as hardware IDs, BIOS strings, and known VM installation paths.

---

### **Heuristic Scoring System**
Implements a scoring engine that assigns severity levels to each identified artifact.  
Instead of a binary result, the plugin produces a **confidence-based verdict**, such as:

- **HIGH CONFIDENCE – Virtual Machine Detected**  
- **MODERATE CONFIDENCE – Sandbox Environment**  
- **LOW CONFIDENCE – Physical Host**

This scoring model provides analysts with clearer, evidence-weighted conclusions.

---
# proccon.py – Process Connectivity & Visualization (Volatility 3 Plugin)

`proccon.py` is a **Volatility 3 plugin** designed to provide **process visualization and relationship mapping** from a **Windows memory dump**.  
While it does not perform direct forensic analysis, it serves as a **critical utility** for post-processing and visualizing process hierarchy data.

The plugin extracts **Parent-Child process relationships** and outputs them as a **Graphviz DOT file**, enabling investigators to generate graphical representations of the system’s process tree at the time of capture.

---

## Key Capabilities

### **Process Tree Extraction**
Efficiently iterates through the complete process list obtained via Volatility’s `windows.pslist` plugin to map:
- **PID** (Process ID) → **PPID** (Parent Process ID)

This provides a foundational dataset for visual process relationship mapping.

---

### **Graphviz DOT Output**
Automatically generates a **structured `.dot` file** compatible with Graphviz visualization tools such as:
- `dot`
- `neato`
- Online renderers and graphing tools

This output can be rendered into **network-style process trees**, allowing investigators to:
- Visualize process spawning chains  
- Detect irregular or unexpected parent-child relationships  
- Identify suspicious execution flows in malware investigations

---

### **Visualization Focus**
The plugin emphasizes **connectivity and hierarchy**, providing a clear visual representation of process structures that supports:
- **Anomaly Detection:** Spot abnormal or hidden parent-child relationships  
- **Malware Analysis:** Map execution chains to trace malicious process origins  
- **System Understanding:** Reveal the operational process tree at the time of memory capture  

---
# procgraph.py – Process Connectivity & Relationship Visualization (Volatility 3 Plugin)

`procgraph.py` is a **Volatility 3 plugin** designed to map **process relationships and connectivity** from a Windows memory dump.  
It generates a **graphical representation** of process hierarchies and interactions, making it easier for analysts to understand process spawning, parent-child relationships, and potential malicious execution flows.

---

## Key Capabilities

### **Process Tree Extraction**
- Iterates over all processes enumerated by Volatility (e.g., using `pslist`)  
- Maps **PID (Process ID)** to **PPID (Parent Process ID)**  
- Captures hierarchical relationships between processes for visualization  

### **Graph Visualization**
- Outputs a **Graphviz DOT file** representing the process tree and connectivity  
- DOT files can be rendered with Graphviz tools (`dot`, `neato`) or online renderers  
- Visualizations help identify:
  - Unexpected parent-child relationships  
  - Malware spawning chains  
  - Abnormal execution flows
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