Ransomware Simulator for In-Depth Analysis and Detection: Leveraging Centralized Logging and Sysmon for Improved Cybersecurity

Abstract

Abstract Ransomware attacks have become increasingly prevalent and sophisticated, posing significant threats to organizations and individuals worldwide. To effectively combat these threats, security professionals must continuously develop and adapt their detection and mitigation strategies. This master thesis presents the design and implementation of a ransomware simulator to facilitate an in-depth analysis of ransomware Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) and to evaluate the effectiveness of centralized logging and Sysmon, including the latest event types, in detecting and responding to such attacks. The study explores the advanced capabilities of Sysmon as a logging tool and data source, focusing on its ability to capture multiple event types, such as file creation, process execution, and network traffic, as well as the newly added event types. The aim is to demonstrate the effectiveness of Sysmon in detecting and analyzing malicious activities, with an emphasis on the latest features. By focusing on the comprehensive aspects of a cyber-attack, the study showcases the versatility and utility of Sysmon in detecting and addressing various attack vectors. The ransomware simulator is developed using a PowerShell script that emulates various ransomware TTPs and attack scenarios, providing a comprehensive and realistic simulation of a ransomware attack. Sysmon, a powerful system monitoring tool, is utilized to monitor and log the activities associated with the simulated attack, including the events generated by the new Sysmon features. Centralized logging is achieved through the integration of Splunk Enterprise, a widely used platform for log analysis and management. The collected logs are then analyzed to identify patterns, indicators of compromise (IoCs), and potential detection and mitigation strategies. Through the development of the ransomware simulator and the subsequent analysis of Sysmon logs, this research contributes to strengthening the security posture of organizations and improving cybersecurity measures against ransomware threats, with a focus on the latest Sysmon capabilities. The results demonstrate the importance of monitoring and analyzing system events to effectively detect and respond to ransomware attacks. This research can serve as a basis for further exploration of ransomware detection and response strategies, contributing to the advancement of cybersecurity practices and the development of more robust security measures against ransomware threats.