---
name: loader-dropper-analysis
description: >
  Analyze malware loaders and droppers that deliver second-stage payloads.
  Covers Emotet, QakBot, IcedID, SmokeLoader, BatLoader, Bumblebee, and
  PikaBot. Includes delivery mechanism analysis (macro documents, ISO/LNK,
  HTML smuggling), multi-stage payload extraction, DLL sideloading, process
  injection techniques, encrypted payload decryption, and campaign tracking
  via embedded configurations.
---

# Loader & Dropper Analysis

Analyze malware loaders that serve as the initial access and delivery
mechanism for second-stage payloads like ransomware, infostealers, and RATs.

## Prerequisites

- **Python 3.10+**: `pefile`, `oletools`, `yara-python`, `pycryptodome`
- **Tools**: Ghidra/IDA Pro, x64dbg, Process Monitor, API Monitor
- **Optional**: `olevba`, `oleid`, CyberChef, `binwalk`
- **Environment**: Isolated VM with network monitoring and snapshot capability

## Step-by-Step Instructions

### Step 1: Identify the Delivery Mechanism

Determine how the loader reaches the victim.

**Analyze the delivery container:**
```bash
python3 scripts/loader_analyzer.py --sample delivery_file --mode delivery --output delivery.json
```

**Common delivery vectors:**
| Vector | File Types | Loader Families |
|--------|-----------|-----------------|
| Macro documents | .doc, .docm, .xlsm | Emotet, QakBot |
| ISO/IMG containers | .iso, .img | QakBot, IcedID, Bumblebee |
| LNK shortcuts | .lnk (in ZIP/ISO) | BatLoader, QakBot |
| HTML smuggling | .html, .htm | QakBot, IcedID |
| OneNote files | .one | QakBot, Emotet |
| MSI installers | .msi | BatLoader |
| JavaScript/VBS | .js, .vbs, .wsf | SmokeLoader |

**Macro analysis:**
```bash
# Extract and analyze VBA macros
olevba malicious.doc
olevba --deobf malicious.doc

# Check for auto-execution triggers
olevba malicious.doc | grep -iE "(AutoOpen|Auto_Open|Document_Open|Workbook_Open)"
```

**ISO/IMG container analysis:**
```bash
# Mount and inspect ISO contents
7z l delivery.iso
7z x delivery.iso -o./extracted_iso/

# Check for hidden files
ls -la extracted_iso/
file extracted_iso/*
```

**HTML smuggling detection:**
```bash
# Look for JavaScript blob construction
grep -nE "(atob|Uint8Array|Blob|createObjectURL|msSaveOrOpenBlob)" smuggle.html
```

### Step 2: Extract the First-Stage Payload

Isolate the initial loader binary from the delivery container.

**From macro documents:**
```bash
# Extract embedded objects
oleobj malicious.doc -d extracted/

# Extract shellcode from VBA
python3 scripts/loader_analyzer.py --sample malicious.doc --mode extract-macro --output stage1/
```

**From LNK files:**
```bash
# Parse LNK shortcut target and arguments
python3 -c "
import struct, sys
with open(sys.argv[1], 'rb') as f:
    data = f.read()
# LNK command line is typically visible in strings
print([s for s in data.split(b'\x00') if b'cmd' in s.lower() or b'powershell' in s.lower()])
" malicious.lnk
```

**From ISO containers:**
```bash
# The payload is typically a DLL invoked via rundll32
file extracted_iso/*.dll
strings extracted_iso/*.dll | grep -i "DllRegisterServer\|DllMain\|ServiceMain"
```

### Step 3: Analyze DLL Sideloading and Execution

Many loaders abuse legitimate executables for DLL sideloading.

**Identify sideloading:**
```bash
python3 scripts/loader_analyzer.py --sample loader.dll --mode sideload --output sideload.json
```

**Common sideloading patterns:**
| Legitimate Binary | Sideloaded DLL | Used By |
|-------------------|----------------|---------|
| rundll32.exe | Custom export name | Most loaders |
| regsvr32.exe | DllRegisterServer export | QakBot, IcedID |
| msiexec.exe | MSI package with DLL | BatLoader |
| calc.exe (renamed) | WindowsCodecs.dll | Bumblebee |

**DLL execution analysis:**
```bash
# Check DLL exports
python3 -c "
import pefile
pe = pefile.PE(sys.argv[1])
if hasattr(pe, 'DIRECTORY_ENTRY_EXPORT'):
    for exp in pe.DIRECTORY_ENTRY_EXPORT.symbols:
        name = exp.name.decode() if exp.name else f'ordinal_{exp.ordinal}'
        print(f'  {name} @ 0x{exp.address:08x}')
" loader.dll

# Execute in sandbox with specific export
rundll32.exe loader.dll,DllRegisterServer
rundll32.exe loader.dll,#1  # By ordinal
```

### Step 4: Trace Process Injection Techniques

Loaders typically inject payloads into legitimate processes.

**Monitor injection with API Monitor/x64dbg:**
```bash
python3 scripts/loader_analyzer.py --sample loader.exe --mode injection --output injection.json
```

**Injection techniques by family:**
| Technique | APIs | Families |
|-----------|------|----------|
| Process hollowing | CreateProcess(SUSPENDED), NtUnmapViewOfSection, WriteProcessMemory | Emotet, QakBot |
| APC injection | QueueUserAPC, NtQueueApcThread | IcedID |
| Thread hijacking | SuspendThread, SetThreadContext, ResumeThread | SmokeLoader |
| Direct syscalls | NtAllocateVirtualMemory, NtWriteVirtualMemory | Bumblebee, PikaBot |
| Callback injection | EnumWindows, CreateTimerQueueTimer with payload | Various |

**Breakpoints for injection detection:**
```
# x64dbg breakpoints
bp NtAllocateVirtualMemory
bp NtWriteVirtualMemory
bp NtCreateThreadEx
bp NtQueueApcThread
bp NtMapViewOfSection
bp NtResumeThread
```

**Common injection targets:**
- `explorer.exe`, `svchost.exe`, `rundll32.exe`
- `wermgr.exe`, `dllhost.exe`, `msiexec.exe`
- Newly spawned suspended processes

### Step 5: Decrypt Embedded Payloads

Extract and decrypt the second-stage payload.

**Automated decryption:**
```bash
python3 scripts/loader_analyzer.py --sample loader.exe --mode decrypt --output decrypted_payload.bin
```

**Common encryption schemes:**
| Family | Encryption | Key Source |
|--------|-----------|------------|
| Emotet | AES-256 + XOR | Hardcoded key in binary |
| QakBot | RC4 + XOR | Resource section key |
| IcedID | Custom XOR chain | Config blob |
| SmokeLoader | Multi-layer XOR | Stage-dependent |
| Bumblebee | RC4 | Hardcoded string |

**Manual decryption approach:**
```python
from Crypto.Cipher import ARC4

def decrypt_rc4(data: bytes, key: bytes) -> bytes:
    """Decrypt RC4-encrypted payload."""
    cipher = ARC4.new(key)
    return cipher.decrypt(data)

# Common: payload stored in PE resource section
import pefile
pe = pefile.PE("loader.dll")
for entry in pe.DIRECTORY_ENTRY_RESOURCE.entries:
    for resource in entry.directory.entries:
        data = pe.get_data(resource.directory.entries[0].data.struct.OffsetToData,
                           resource.directory.entries[0].data.struct.Size)
        # Try decryption with known keys
        for key in [b"bumblebee", b"loader_key"]:
            decrypted = decrypt_rc4(data, key)
            if decrypted[:2] == b"MZ":
                print(f"Decrypted PE found with key: {key}")
```

### Step 6: Analyze the C2 Communication

Understand how the loader communicates with its infrastructure.

**Extract C2 configuration:**
```bash
python3 scripts/loader_analyzer.py --sample loader.exe --mode c2 --output c2_config.json
```

**C2 patterns by family:**
| Family | Protocol | Characteristics |
|--------|----------|-----------------|
| Emotet | HTTP POST | Protobuf-encoded data, epoch-based C2 list rotation |
| QakBot | HTTPS | Encrypted JSON, hardcoded C2 list in config |
| IcedID | HTTPS | Steganography in images for config, BackConnect module |
| SmokeLoader | HTTP | Encrypted POST body, multiple fallback C2s |
| Bumblebee | HTTPS/WebSocket | RC4-encrypted communication |
| PikaBot | HTTPS | JSON-based, anti-analysis checks before C2 contact |

### Step 7: Track Campaign and Builder Configuration

Extract configuration data for campaign attribution.

**Extract config:**
```bash
python3 scripts/loader_analyzer.py --sample loader.exe --mode config --output campaign_config.json
```

**Configuration elements to extract:**
- Campaign ID / botnet ID
- Bot version number
- C2 server list (with failover order)
- Encryption keys
- Target geographic regions (language checks)
- Anti-analysis flags
- Payload download URLs

### Step 8: Map the Full Delivery Chain

Document the complete multi-stage execution flow.

**Full chain analysis:**
```bash
python3 scripts/loader_analyzer.py --sample initial_delivery --mode chain --output full_chain.json
```

**Typical delivery chain:**
```
Email → ZIP attachment
  → ISO/IMG container
    → LNK shortcut + hidden DLL
      → rundll32.exe loads DLL (sideloading)
        → DLL decrypts embedded payload
          → Process injection into explorer.exe
            → C2 beacon → downloads final payload (ransomware/stealer)
```

## Output Format

```json
{
  "family": "QakBot",
  "confidence": "high",
  "delivery": {
    "vector": "ISO container via HTML smuggling",
    "files": ["invoice.html", "document.iso", "shortcut.lnk", "loader.dll"]
  },
  "stages": [
    {"stage": 1, "type": "LNK shortcut", "executes": "rundll32.exe loader.dll,DllRegisterServer"},
    {"stage": 2, "type": "DLL loader", "technique": "process_hollowing", "target": "wermgr.exe"},
    {"stage": 3, "type": "QakBot core", "decrypted_from": "PE resource section"}
  ],
  "injection": {
    "technique": "process_hollowing",
    "target_process": "wermgr.exe",
    "apis": ["NtCreateSection", "NtMapViewOfSection", "NtResumeThread"]
  },
  "c2": {
    "protocol": "HTTPS",
    "servers": ["198.51.100.10:443", "203.0.113.20:2222"],
    "encryption": "RC4"
  },
  "config": {
    "campaign_id": "obama250",
    "bot_version": "404.46",
    "timestamp": "2024-01-15"
  },
  "iocs": {
    "hashes": {},
    "domains": [],
    "ips": ["198.51.100.10", "203.0.113.20"],
    "mutexes": []
  },
  "mitre_attack": ["T1566.001", "T1204.002", "T1574.002", "T1055.012", "T1071.001"]
}
```

## Tips

- Loaders evolve quickly — delivery mechanisms shift with Microsoft's macro blocking policies
- ISO/LNK replaced macros as the primary delivery vector starting in 2022
- Many loaders check system language to avoid CIS countries — test with Russian locale
- Process injection often uses direct syscalls to bypass API hooks — check for `ntdll` stubs
- QakBot and Emotet rotate C2 infrastructure frequently; extract configs quickly
- DLL sideloading requires the legitimate EXE and malicious DLL in the same directory
- Some loaders sleep for extended periods before activating — run dynamic analysis for 10+ minutes
- Bumblebee and PikaBot emerged as QakBot replacements after the 2023 takedown