How To Search Bytes In Process ?

June 7, 2008

Hi Friends

I Want Search More Bytes In Any Process With Visual Basic

How I Do It ?

Please Help ME

THanks

Sorry For My Bad English

June 7, 2008

basicaly you need to know region you want to search, lets name it bbegin and eend

Then you code a simple loop that will read a chunk of data in a variable, then

just look for accourances of your first byte in your variable - if none then get next chunk (until eend reached)

if you got a match (only one - first byte) then you need to do additional comparing to see if other bytes mach

as well..

so basic idea is to have a function that will read data from specified region and use it in a loop.

Sorry for not providing any sources, but its better you learn it trying then get it completely served.

There are sources of this topic online, just use google.

p.s.

you can use ReadProcessMemory API for read from memory.

BR; ChupaChu!

Edited June 7, 2008 by ChupaChu

June 7, 2008

Hey Matrix, I will write you up an example in a sec. I have done this before for some old code but the old code was just tossed together so I will rewrite it and fix it up. Give me a few and I'll post it up.

June 7, 2008

Ok all finished with the rewrite. Project example and code are attached to this post. Heres a quick overview of the example project:

'
' This example will scan inside of Minesweeper (winmine.exe) on a Windows XP
' based system. The given byte array is a call opcode which is located just
' after the flag instruction to add or remove a flag when the user right-clicks
' on the game board. The actual memory and opcodes looks like this for this
' memory section:
'
' 100346A   8b 44 24 04			 mov eax, [esp+04]
' 100346E   01 05 94 51 00 01	   add [01005194], eax
' 1003474   e8 88 f3 ff ff		  call 01002801
' 1003479   c2 04 00				ret 0004
'
' The below example is told to start scanning at 100346A and scan until
' 100346A+3E8 (1000 in hex)
'
' The ScanForBytes function will locate the process by its name, dump
' the given memory based on the start address and size, then compare
' the byte array given the memory dump to see if it resides in it.
'
' This function does not support wild cards and will not deal with dead
' memory regions and such on its own. So keep the size that you are scanning
' as small as possible and try to limit the address you are scanning to a base
' of a region if possible.
'
' ScanForBytes is setup for parameters like this:
'
' ScanForBytes(szProcessName As String, dwStartAddr As Long, dwSizeToScan As Long, bByteArrayToScan() As Byte) As Long
'
'  szProcessName	- String - Process name to scan for.
'  dwStartAddr	  - Long   - Start address to start the memory dump from.
'  dwSizeToScan	 - Long   - Amount of bytes, from the start address, to dump.
'  bByteArrayToScan - Byte() - Array of bytes to scan for within the memory dump.
'
' The return value is the address the byte array passed starts at. If the return value is 0
' something failed inside the function. You should always compare the return to 0 for error
' checking when you are using it in a live program for security and such.
'
' Hope this helps!
'
' ~ atomOs
'

ScanMem.rar

June 7, 2008

Nice code Atomos congratulations.

A little question: How fast is this algorithm for searching inside huge blocks of memory?

Cheers

Nacho_dj

June 7, 2008

I just tested with an allocated block of memory of 1,000,000 bytes which is just about 1 megabyte of memory. I filled the memory with random bytes so its not just dumping 0's as well. Heres my C++ test code to do this:

#pragma comment( linker, "/ENTRY:main" )
#include <windows.h>
#include <stdio.h>int main( int argc, TCHAR* argcv[] )
{
	LPVOID lpAddr = VirtualAlloc( NULL, 1000000, MEM_COMMIT, PAGE_EXECUTE_READWRITE );	// Fill Memory With Random Bytes
	for( int x=0; x<=1000000; x++ )
		*(BYTE*)((DWORD)lpAddr+x) = (BYTE)rand()%255;	printf( "Allocated: %x", lpAddr );
	getchar();
	VirtualFree( lpAddr, 1000000, MEM_DECOMMIT );
	return 0;
}

I ran the program and let it sit like that so it will hold the memory until I hit enter. Then I opened Cheat Engine, went to the end of the memory block by going to the address printed +1000000 and took the last line of bytes to scan for in the VB app. In this case the last bytes where:

&H73, &H5B, &HE0, &HC7, &H1D, &HA7, &H58, &H8A, &H8E, &H64, &H2D, &H27, &HAC, &H71, &H14, &H87, &H88

The full line of code was:

Private Sub Command1_Click()
	Dim dwLongRet As Long
	dwLongRet = ScanForBytes("asdf.exe", &H420000, 1003520, ByteArray(&H73, &H5B, &HE0, &HC7, &H1D, &HA7, &H58, &H8A, &H8E, &H64, &H2D, &H27, &HAC, &H71, &H14, &H87, &H88))
	Text1.Text = Hex(dwLongRet)
End Sub

Upon clicking, the return was nearly instant.

So I would say safe to assume its pretty fast. If you need to scan for more then one array though, I suggest altering the code and having it dump the memory once, then make another function to scan the dumped block more then once. But its pretty fast.

June 8, 2008

Hi Atomos

Thanks For YOur Source

But I Do Not Have Any Address , And I Want Serach Total Of My Process In Memory

May You Help Me Again

June 9, 2008

Attached is the new version. This time all you need to pass is the process name and the byte array, for example:

ScanForBytes("winmine.exe", ByteArray(&HE8, &H88, &HF3, &HFF, &HFF))

The new function works by looping the processes readable memory regions and dumping them one by one and scanning within them for the given byte array. As far as I know, the memory region code is correct based on comparing the results I obtained to other software that can dump the regions. I've never really worked with them much in the past so I can't guarantee it's perfect.

The example, again, scans within Minesweeper for the flag command bytes. Works perfect for me on WinXP Pro w/SP2.

Hope this is what you needed.

ScanMem_2.rar

June 9, 2008

Hi Atomos

Thanks Very Much Dear

Go0d Luck My Friend

June 9, 2008

Not a problem, glad it helps I converted the code to C if anyone wants to use it in C/C++ instead:

//
// ScanForBytes Memory Region Scanner
// Coded By: atomOs (Wiccaan) - 2008
// This code is intended to be compiled as 'C' code.
//#include <windows.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <tlhelp32.h>unsigned long _GetProcessId( char* szProcName )
{
	PROCESSENTRY32 pe32;
	HANDLE hHandle;	hHandle = CreateToolhelp32Snapshot( TH32CS_SNAPPROCESS, 0 );
	pe32.dwSize = sizeof( PROCESSENTRY32 );	if( !Process32First( hHandle, &pe32 ) )
		return 0;	while( Process32Next( hHandle, &pe32 ) )
	{
		if( strcmp( szProcName, pe32.szExeFile ) == 0 )
		{
			CloseHandle( hHandle );
			return pe32.th32ProcessID;
		}
	}
	CloseHandle( hHandle );	return 0;
}unsigned long _ScanForBytes( char* szProcess, char* szBytes )
{
	HANDLE hHandle;
	SYSTEM_INFO sysInfo;
	MEMORY_BASIC_INFORMATION mbi;
	unsigned long dwMemAddr;
	unsigned long x;	hHandle = OpenProcess( PROCESS_QUERY_INFORMATION|PROCESS_VM_OPERATION|PROCESS_VM_READ, FALSE, _GetProcessId( szProcess ) );
	if( hHandle == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE || hHandle == NULL )
		return 0;	GetSystemInfo( &sysInfo );
	dwMemAddr = (unsigned long)sysInfo.lpMinimumApplicationAddress;	while( dwMemAddr < (unsigned long)sysInfo.lpMaximumApplicationAddress )
	{
		if( VirtualQueryEx( hHandle, (unsigned long*)dwMemAddr, &mbi, sizeof(mbi) ) == sizeof(mbi) )
		{
			if( (mbi.Protect != PAGE_NOACCESS) && (mbi.State == MEM_COMMIT) )
			{
				char* szMemDump = (char*)malloc(mbi.RegionSize+1);
				ReadProcessMemory( hHandle, (unsigned long*)dwMemAddr, szMemDump, mbi.RegionSize, NULL );
				for( x=0; x<mbi.RegionSize; x++ )
				{
					if( memcmp( (void*)(szMemDump+x), (void*)szBytes, strlen( szBytes ) ) == 0 )
					{
						free( szMemDump );
						return (unsigned long)( dwMemAddr + x );
					}
				}
				free( szMemDump );
			}
		}
		dwMemAddr = (unsigned long)mbi.BaseAddress + mbi.RegionSize;
	}
	CloseHandle( hHandle );	return 0;
}int main( int argc, TCHAR* argcv[] )
{
	UNREFERENCED_PARAMETER( argc );
	UNREFERENCED_PARAMETER( argcv );	printf( "Scan Results: 0x%08X\n", _ScanForBytes( "winmine.exe", "\xE8\x88\xF3\xFF\xFF" ) );	getchar();
	return 0;
}

Cheers.

Edited June 9, 2008 by Atomos

June 11, 2008

Hi Atomos

I Have A Problem With ScanMem2

For Exapmle When I Search "EB FE" In My Process The Return Value Is Not Correct

I Attached My Sample , Pleaes Run Sample And Serach "EB FE" With ScanMem2

Offset Of "EB FE" In This Sample Is "00401C9B" , Test Return Value Please

Please Help Me Again

Thanks Dear

Sample.rar

June 11, 2008

Hi Atomos
I Have A Problem With ScanMem2
For Exapmle When I Search "EB FE" In My Process The Return Value Is Not Correct
I Attached My Sample , Pleaes Run Sample And Serach "EB FE" With ScanMem2
Offset Of "EB FE" In This Sample Is "00401C9B" , Test Return Value Please
Please Help Me Again
Thanks Dear

Could you post your VB project for this? If you need to PM me it if you don't wish to share it with everyone.

EDIT: After quickly debugging this I noticed why you are having issues with this. You are doing a compare then having it endlessly loop inside the compare:

00401C58   > \8B45 E8	   MOV EAX,DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-18]
00401C5B   .  50			PUSH EAX
00401C5C   .  68 241A4000   PUSH Sample.00401A24					;  UNICODE "Atomos"
00401C61   .  FF15 38104000 CALL DWORD PTR DS:[<&MSVBVM60.__vbaStrCm>;  MSVBVM60.__vbaStrCmp
00401C67   .  8BF0		  MOV ESI,EAX
00401C69   .  8D4D E8	   LEA ECX,DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-18]
00401C6C   .  F7DE		  NEG ESI
00401C6E   .  1BF6		  SBB ESI,ESI
00401C70   .  46			INC ESI
00401C71   .  F7DE		  NEG ESI
00401C73   .  FF15 88104000 CALL DWORD PTR DS:[<&MSVBVM60.__vbaFreeS>;  MSVBVM60.__vbaFreeStr
00401C79   .  8D4D E4	   LEA ECX,DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-1C]
00401C7C   .  FF15 8C104000 CALL DWORD PTR DS:[<&MSVBVM60.__vbaFreeO>;  MSVBVM60.__vbaFreeObj
00401C82   .  B9 04000280   MOV ECX,80020004
00401C87   .  B8 0A000000   MOV EAX,0A
00401C8C   .  66:3BF7	   CMP SI,DI
00401C8F   .  894D AC	   MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-54],ECX
00401C92   .  8945 A4	   MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-5C],EAX
00401C95   .  894D BC	   MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-44],ECX
00401C98   .  8945 B4	   MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-4C],EAX
00401C9B   >- EB FE		 JMP SHORT Sample.00401C9B

Having the EB FE inside this will never return a value as it will just get stuck at that JMP.

Edited June 11, 2008 by Atomos

June 11, 2008

Hi Atomos

This File Is Just An Example And Not Important

For Exaplme I Want When Using Your ScanMem2 For Search "EB FE" ,The Return Value Equal 401C9B

Can You Help Me Dear ?

June 11, 2008

The return I get scanning inside of the Sample.exe is 14D042 which in theory is correct as that opcode does contain the bytes you are telling it to scan for. Instead, are you able to add more bytes to the string to scan for? It would be better if you could use more instead of just a few. It would limit the amount of same matches found.

For example, the opcodes around 401C9B are

00401C8C   .  66:3BF7	   CMP SI,DI
00401C8F   .  894D AC	   MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-54],ECX
00401C92   .  8945 A4	   MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-5C],EAX
00401C95   .  894D BC	   MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-44],ECX
00401C98   .  8945 B4	   MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-4C],EAX
00401C9B   >- EB FE		 JMP SHORT Sample.00401C9B
00401C9D   .  8B35 74104000 MOV ESI,DWORD PTR DS:[<&MSVBVM60.__vbaVa>;  MSVBVM60.__vbaVarDup
00401CA3   .  BB 08000000   MOV EBX,8
00401CA8   .  8D55 84	   LEA EDX,DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-7C]
00401CAB   .  8D4D C4	   LEA ECX,DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-3C]
00401CAE   .  C745 8C 581A4>MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-74],Sample.00401A5>;  UNICODE "Success"
00401CB5   .  895D 84	   MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-7C],EBX
00401CB8   .  FFD6		  CALL ESI								;  <&MSVBVM60.__vbaVarDup>

To add to it, you could do the instruction before it as well. For this example I'd use:

00401C98   .  8945 B4	   MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-4C],EAX
00401C9B   >- EB FE		 JMP SHORT Sample.00401C9B
00401C9D   .  8B35 74104000 MOV ESI,DWORD PTR DS:[<&MSVBVM60.__vbaVa>;  MSVBVM60.__vbaVarDup

So our byte array would be:

&H89, &H45, &HB4, &HEB, &HFE, &H8B, &H35, &H74, &H10, &H40, &H00

Then the code would be:

	Dim dwAddress As Long
	dwAddress = ScanForBytes("Sample.exe", ByteArray(&H89, &H45, &HB4, &HEB, &HFE, &H8B, &H35, &H74, &H10, &H40, &H0))
	Text1.Text = Hex(dwAddress)

Which returns: 401C98

Then you can add onto the return based on the number of bytes you used before the real ones, so we would add +3 to the return for the actual address. You don't need that many bytes either, instead you could shorten it to the instruction before as well.

June 12, 2008

00401C98   .  8945 B4	   MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-4C],EAX
00401C9B   >- EB FE		 JMP SHORT Sample.00401C9B
00401C9D   .  8B35 74104000 MOV ESI,DWORD PTR DS:[<&MSVBVM60.__vbaVa>;  MSVBVM60.__vbaVarDup
So our byte array would be:
&H89, &H45, &HB4, &HEB, &HFE, &H8B, &H35, &H74, &H10, &H40, &H00

If the byte pattern to search for is supposed to be universal/generic it's a bad idea searching on a DWORD!

JW.

June 12, 2008

The return I get scanning inside of the Sample.exe is 14D042 which in theory is correct as that opcode does contain the bytes you are telling it to scan for. Instead, are you able to add more bytes to the string to scan for? It would be better if you could use more instead of just a few. It would limit the amount of same matches found.
For example, the opcodes around 401C9B are
00401C8C   .  66:3BF7	   CMP SI,DI
00401C8F   .  894D AC	   MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-54],ECX
00401C92   .  8945 A4	   MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-5C],EAX
00401C95   .  894D BC	   MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-44],ECX
00401C98   .  8945 B4	   MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-4C],EAX
00401C9B   >- EB FE		 JMP SHORT Sample.00401C9B
00401C9D   .  8B35 74104000 MOV ESI,DWORD PTR DS:[<&MSVBVM60.__vbaVa>;  MSVBVM60.__vbaVarDup
00401CA3   .  BB 08000000   MOV EBX,8
00401CA8   .  8D55 84	   LEA EDX,DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-7C]
00401CAB   .  8D4D C4	   LEA ECX,DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-3C]
00401CAE   .  C745 8C 581A4>MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-74],Sample.00401A5>;  UNICODE "Success"
00401CB5   .  895D 84	   MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-7C],EBX
00401CB8   .  FFD6		  CALL ESI							;  <&MSVBVM60.__vbaVarDup>
To add to it, you could do the instruction before it as well. For this example I'd use:
00401C98   .  8945 B4	   MOV DWORD PTR SS:[EBP-4C],EAX
00401C9B   >- EB FE		 JMP SHORT Sample.00401C9B
00401C9D   .  8B35 74104000 MOV ESI,DWORD PTR DS:[<&MSVBVM60.__vbaVa>;  MSVBVM60.__vbaVarDup
So our byte array would be:
&H89, &H45, &HB4, &HEB, &HFE, &H8B, &H35, &H74, &H10, &H40, &H00
Then the code would be:
	Dim dwAddress As Long
	dwAddress = ScanForBytes("Sample.exe", ByteArray(&H89, &H45, &HB4, &HEB, &HFE, &H8B, &H35, &H74, &H10, &H40, &H0))
	Text1.Text = Hex(dwAddress)
Which returns: 401C98
Then you can add onto the return based on the number of bytes you used before the real ones, so we would add +3 to the return for the actual address. You don't need that many bytes either, instead you could shorten it to the instruction before as well.

Hi My Friend

I Want Use This Method For Detecting Sniffer , Because Sniffer Write "EB FE" In Your Process For Example For Reading Registers (EAX, EBX,...) For Finding Correct Serial .Now I Search "EB FE" In My Process I Can Know That My Program Run With A Serial Sniffer

I Just Find "EB FE"

Thanks Dear

June 14, 2008

If the byte pattern to search for is supposed to be universal/generic it's a bad idea searching on a DWORD!
JW.

Yes I know, I was just trying to point out what I meant by using bytes around the given pattern. Searching for specific addresses is something I'd use wildcards for.

Hi My Friend
I Want Use This Method For Detecting Sniffer , Because Sniffer Write "EB FE" In Your Process For Example For Reading Registers (EAX, EBX,...) For Finding Correct Serial .Now I Search "EB FE" In My Process I Can Know That My Program Run With A Serial Sniffer

I Just Find "EB FE"

Thanks Dear

I'm not too sure what you mean by 'detecting sniffer'. The code I gave above will scan for the bytes as needed in each section, I can't really give much more help other then what I have given a I do not really know much about the target you are working on or what the exact problem you are facing is.

July 1, 2008

anyone got an example in delphi to scan for bytes>?

July 10, 2008

anyone got an example in delphi to scan for bytes>?

Here's a very basic and raw example >

http://rapidshare.com/files/128644983/ProcessScan.rar.html

Hope this is what you need.

JW.

July 24, 2008

Thanks Atomos & JohnWho for Delphi source

October 28, 2008

thanks for the delphi example JohnWho, its very slow but im sure with some modifycations it should speed it up

October 30, 2008

thanks for the delphi example JohnWho, its very slow but im sure with some modifycations it should speed it up

Threading it helps a bit!

December 5, 2008

Hi Friends
I Want Search More Bytes In Any Process With Visual Basic

How I Do It ?

Please Help ME

THanks

Sorry For My Bad English

when i can i will upload my clsQuickSearch which does exactly what you need, or better yet you can download my WTLoader from the ToolsOfTrade section and get it inside the source folder

October 3, 2009

hi guys

and thanks to atom0s for his great example.

1 question to atom0s:is there a way to make it search just in one module?

for example i just want to search just in user32.dll not other modules.

is these possible with your byte scanner example?

waiting for your replay.

thanks.

October 3, 2009

hi guys
and thanks to atom0s for his great example.
1 question to atom0s:is there a way to make it search just in one module?
for example i just want to search just in user32.dll not other modules.
is these possible with your byte scanner example?
waiting for your replay.
thanks.

Which example are you referring to? I posted a few different ones in this topic.

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