Encryption Key Recovery via Memory Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ransomware detection technologies focus on detection and prevention rather than recovery of encryption keys, leading to material and monetary damage due to false positives or false negatives.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for recovering encryption keys based on memory analysis using dynamic binary instrumentation, which collects and analyzes memory information to identify and extract memory read operation data, generating candidate groups for key recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional ransomware detection technology is used, then ransomware can be detected and prevented, but material and monetary damage occurs due to false positives or false negatives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ransomware detection process into two independent stages: (1) detection stage using conventional methods to identify potential ransomware, and (2) verification stage using encryption key recovery to confirm actual encryption behavior. This segmentation allows false positives to be filtered out in the verification stage, reducing data loss while maintaining detection coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces memory analysis as an intermediary verification mechanism between detection and data loss. By analyzing memory read operations to recover encryption keys, the system creates a buffer that validates detection results before actual damage occurs, reducing false positive impacts.
2Reliability
If detection-focused ransomware technology is used, then prevention capability is improved, but recovery capability from false detection is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the system multi-functional by combining detection capabilities with recovery capabilities in a unified framework. The memory analysis module serves both to verify detection accuracy and to recover encryption keys for file decryption, eliminating the need for separate prevention and repair systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary encryption key recovery and verification immediately after detection, before users experience actual data loss. This preliminary action allows the system to confirm whether detected ransomware is genuine or a false positive, enabling early intervention and repair.
3Measurement precision
If memory analysis is performed on all files, then key recovery accuracy is improved, but processing time and computational resources are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing memory analysis only on files flagged by the detection system, not on all files universally. This selective approach maintains high key recovery accuracy for suspicious files while avoiding the excessive time and computational resources that would be required for comprehensive analysis of all files.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary filtering through detection mechanisms before applying the computationally intensive memory analysis. This preliminary action identifies a small subset of files requiring detailed analysis, significantly reducing the overall processing time and resource consumption while maintaining accuracy for the files that matter most.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for encryption key recovery based on memory analysis. The apparatus may include one or more processors and executable memory for storing at least one program executed by the one or more processors. The at least one program may collect memory information pertaining to an encrypted part of a file, in which ransomware is detected, based on dynamic binary instrumentation, analyze memory read operation data corresponding to an encryption key that is used for encryption of the file in the memory information, recover the encryption key based on the result of analysis of the memory read operation data, and output the result of recovery of the encryption key.