Performing Memory Forensics with Volatility 3
When to Use
- When analyzing a RAM dump from a compromised or suspect system
- During incident response to identify running malware, injected code, or rootkits
- When you need to extract credentials, encryption keys, or network connections from memory
- For detecting process hollowing, DLL injection, or hidden processes
- When disk-based forensics alone is insufficient and volatile data is critical
Prerequisites
- Python 3.7+ installed
- Volatility 3 framework installed (
pip install volatility3) - Memory dump in raw, ELF, or crash dump format
- Appropriate symbol tables (ISF files) for the target OS version
- Sufficient disk space for analysis output (2-3x memory dump size)
- Optional: YARA rules for malware scanning in memory
Workflow
Step 1: Acquire Memory Dump and Install Volatility 3
# Install Volatility 3
pip install volatility3
# Or install from source for latest features
git clone https://github.com/volatilityfoundation/volatility3.git
cd volatility3
pip install -e .
# Download Windows symbol tables (ISF packs)
# Place in volatility3/symbols/ directory
wget https://downloads.volatilityfoundation.org/volatility3/symbols/windows.zip
unzip windows.zip -d /opt/volatility3/volatility3/symbols/
# Download Linux and Mac symbol packs
wget https://downloads.volatilityfoundation.org/volatility3/symbols/linux.zip
wget https://downloads.volatilityfoundation.org/volatility3/symbols/mac.zip
# Memory acquisition tools (for live systems):
# Windows: winpmem, DumpIt, FTK Imager
# Linux: LiME (Linux Memory Extractor)
sudo insmod lime-$(uname -r).ko "path=/cases/memory/linux_mem.lime format=lime"
# Verify the memory dump
file /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw
ls -lh /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.rawStep 2: Identify the Operating System Profile
# Run banners plugin to identify the OS
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw banners
# For Windows, identify the OS version
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.info
# Output example:
# Variable Value
# Kernel Base 0xf8047e200000
# DTB 0x1ad000
# Symbols ntkrnlmp.pdb/GUID
# Is64Bit True
# IsPAE False
# primary layer Intel32e
# KdVersionBlock 0xf8047ee232c0
# Major/Minor 15.19041
# Machine Type 34404
# KeNumberProcessors 4
# SystemTime 2024-01-18 14:32:15 UTC
# NtBuildLab 19041.1.amd64fre.vb_release.191206-1406
# NtProductType NtProductWinNt
# NtSystemRoot C:\WINDOWS
# PE MajorOperatingSystemVersion 10
# PE MinorOperatingSystemVersion 0
# For Linux memory dumps
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/linux_mem.lime linux.infoStep 3: Enumerate Processes and Detect Anomalies
# List all running processes
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.pslist | tee /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/pslist.txt
# Show process tree (parent-child relationships)
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.pstree | tee /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/pstree.txt
# Detect hidden processes using cross-view analysis
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.psscan | tee /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/psscan.txt
# Compare pslist vs psscan to find hidden processes
diff <(vol -f memory.raw windows.pslist | awk '{print $1}' | sort) \
<(vol -f memory.raw windows.psscan | awk '{print $1}' | sort)
# List DLLs loaded by a suspicious process (PID 4532)
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.dlllist --pid 4532
# Check for process hollowing and injection
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.malfind | tee /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/malfind.txt
# Dump suspicious process memory for further analysis
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.memmap --pid 4532 --dump \
-o /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/dumps/Step 4: Analyze Network Connections and Registry
# List active network connections
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.netscan | tee /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/netscan.txt
# Filter for established connections
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.netscan | grep ESTABLISHED
# Filter for listening ports
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.netscan | grep LISTENING
# Extract network connections with process mapping
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.netstat | tee /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/netstat.txt
# Dump registry hives from memory
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.registry.hivelist
# Extract specific registry keys
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.registry.printkey \
--key "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run"
# Check services
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.svcscan | tee /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/services.txtStep 5: Extract Credentials and Sensitive Data
# Dump cached credentials (hashdump)
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.hashdump | tee /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/hashes.txt
# Extract LSA secrets
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.lsadump
# Dump cached domain credentials
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.cachedump
# Search for plaintext strings in process memory
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.strings --pid 4532 \
| grep -iE '(password|credential|token|api.key)'
# Extract command history from cmd.exe/powershell
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.cmdline | tee /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/cmdline.txt
# Extract environment variables
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.envars --pid 4532Step 6: Scan for Malware with YARA Rules
# Scan memory with YARA rules
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw yarascan \
--yara-file /opt/yara-rules/malware_index.yar | tee /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/yara_hits.txt
# Scan specific process memory
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw yarascan \
--yara-file /opt/yara-rules/apt_rules.yar --pid 4532
# Check loaded kernel modules for rootkits
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.modules | tee /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/modules.txt
# Detect unlinked/hidden modules
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.modscan | tee /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/modscan.txt
# Check for SSDT hooks (System Service Descriptor Table)
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.ssdt | grep -v "ntoskrnl\|win32k"
# Dump a suspicious executable from memory
vol -f /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw windows.dumpfiles --pid 4532 \
-o /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/extracted/Step 7: Compile Findings into a Report
# Generate comprehensive analysis summary
echo "=== MEMORY FORENSICS REPORT ===" > /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/memory_report.txt
echo "Image: memory.raw" >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/memory_report.txt
echo "OS: Windows 10 Build 19041" >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/memory_report.txt
echo "" >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/memory_report.txt
echo "--- Suspicious Processes ---" >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/memory_report.txt
cat /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/malfind.txt >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/memory_report.txt
echo "--- Network Connections ---" >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/memory_report.txt
cat /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/netscan.txt >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/memory_report.txt
echo "--- YARA Matches ---" >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/memory_report.txt
cat /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/yara_hits.txt >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/memory_report.txt
# Calculate hash of the memory dump for integrity
sha256sum /cases/case-2024-001/memory/memory.raw >> /cases/case-2024-001/analysis/memory_report.txtKey Concepts
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| Volatile data | Information that exists only in RAM and is lost when power is removed |
| Process hollowing | Technique where malware replaces legitimate process memory with malicious code |
| DLL injection | Loading unauthorized DLLs into a running process address space |
| EPROCESS | Windows kernel structure representing a process; basis for process listing |
| Pool scanning | Searching memory for kernel object signatures to find hidden artifacts |
| VAD (Virtual Address Descriptor) | Memory management structure tracking process virtual memory regions |
| ISF (Intermediate Symbol Format) | Volatility 3 symbol table format for OS-specific structure definitions |
| Malfind | Plugin detecting injected code by examining VAD permissions and content |
Tools & Systems
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Volatility 3 | Primary open-source memory forensics framework |
| LiME | Linux Memory Extractor for acquiring Linux RAM dumps |
| WinPmem | Windows physical memory acquisition driver |
| DumpIt | Comae one-click Windows memory dump utility |
| YARA | Pattern matching engine for malware signature scanning |
| Rekall | Alternative memory forensics framework (Google) |
| MemProcFS | Memory process file system for memory analysis |
| strings | Extract printable strings from binary memory dumps |
Common Scenarios
Scenario 1: Active Malware Investigation Acquire memory with DumpIt, run pslist/pstree to identify suspicious processes, use malfind to detect injected code in svchost.exe, dump the injected memory segment, scan with YARA rules identifying Cobalt Strike beacon, extract C2 IP from netscan, correlate with network logs.
Scenario 2: Credential Theft After Breach Run hashdump and lsadump to extract cached credentials, identify mimikatz execution in cmdline output, check for lsass.exe memory dumps in filesystem artifacts, correlate with lateral movement evidence in network connections.
Scenario 3: Rootkit Detection Compare pslist (uses EPROCESS linked list) with psscan (pool scanning) to find unlinked processes, check modules vs modscan for hidden kernel drivers, examine SSDT for hooks redirecting system calls, dump suspicious modules for static analysis.
Scenario 4: Ransomware Incident Recovery Extract encryption keys from ransomware process memory before system shutdown, identify the ransomware variant using YARA, find the initial execution point through command line artifacts, map lateral movement via network connections.
Output Format
Memory Forensics Analysis:
Image: memory.raw (16 GB)
OS Identified: Windows 10 x64 Build 19041
Capture Time: 2024-01-18 14:32:15 UTC
Process Analysis:
Total Processes: 87
Hidden Processes: 2 (PIDs: 4532, 6128)
Injected Processes: 3 (malfind detections)
Suspicious: svchost.exe (PID 4532) - injected code at 0x7FFE0000
Network Connections:
Total: 45
Established: 12
Suspicious: 3 (C2 connections to 185.xx.xx.xx:443)
Credentials Found:
NTLM Hashes: 4 accounts
Cached Creds: 2 domain accounts
YARA Matches:
CobaltStrike_Beacon: PID 4532 (3 hits)
Mimikatz_Memory: PID 6128 (1 hit)
Extracted Artifacts: 15 files dumped to /analysis/extracted/