Malicious Code Review

Malicious Code Review is the process of analyzing software, scripts, or system code to identify and eliminate malware, backdoors, trojans, logic bombs, and vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. It is a critical step in secure software development, cybersecurity auditing, and penetration testing to prevent unauthorized access, data breaches, and system compromise.

✅ Viruses – Self-replicating programs that attach to legitimate files and spread.

✅ Worms – Standalone malware that spreads across networks without user intervention.

✅ Trojans – Disguised as legitimate software but execute malicious actions in the background

✅ Ransomware – Encrypts files and demands payment for decryption keys.

✅ Spyware – Collects user data without consent, often used for surveillance.

✅ Rootkits – Provide attackers with persistent access to a compromised system.

✅ Logic Bombs – Malicious code that triggers at a specific time or event.

✅ Backdoors – Hidden access points that bypass authentication mechanisms.

✅ Keyloggers – Record keystrokes to steal sensitive information like passwords.

Malicious Code Review Techniques

Malicious code review techniques involve various methods to detect, analyze, and eliminate threats hidden within software or system code. Static code analysis is a primary approach that includes manual code reviews, where security professionals inspect code for vulnerabilities, and automated scanning using tools like SonarQube, Checkmarx, and Fortify to identify malicious patterns. Signature-based detection is also used to compare code against known malware signatures. Dynamic code analysis involves executing the program in a controlled environment, such as a sandbox, to observe its behavior and detect hidden threats. Fuzz testing is another dynamic approach where random or malformed inputs are injected to identify vulnerabilities, while behavioral analysis monitors how the code interacts with system resources and network connections. In more advanced cases, reverse engineering techniques like disassembling executables using tools like IDA Pro or Ghidra help uncover deeply embedded malicious functionalities. In more advanced cases, reverse engineering techniques like disassembling executables using tools like IDA Pro or Ghidra help uncover deeply embedded malicious functionalities. Decompilation is also employed to convert compiled code back into a human-readable format for analysis. By combining these techniques, organizations can proactively identify and mitigate security risks, ensuring software integrity and resilience against cyber threats.