{"id":6932,"date":"2024-02-06T08:51:11","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T08:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"\/cybersecurity-blog\/?p=6932"},"modified":"2024-02-06T08:51:14","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T08:51:14","slug":"malware-labels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/cybersecurity-blog\/malware-labels\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Win32:Malware-gen? Explaining Generic Malware Labels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Security systems assign generic threat labels to files that appear malicious but don\u2019t exactly match any known threat. Let\u2019s discuss why and when this happens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When antivirus, SIEM, or SOAR products scan files for signs of malware, they use several methods, including signature-based detection. This approach involves comparing the hash of the file being checked against a database of known malware threats, like ANY.RUN<\/a>\u2019s Threat Intelligence<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When an antivirus detects a file, whose signature exactly matches the signature of a known malware, it typically labels the file with the specific name of that malware, such as “Trojan:Win32\/Emotet”, though specific label depends on the provider.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What exactly is Win32:Malware-gen? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWin32:Malware-gen” indicates a generic threat that targets Windows 32bit operating system. Generic threats are files that appear suspicious to antivurs products, but don\u2019t match any known threat.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since antiviruses use a variety of methods to detect malware, they can assign the Win32:Malware-gen label to files under several circumstances. Here\u2019s a list of cases when suspicious files might receive this label: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closely matching signature-based detection <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Malware authors frequently release updates to their software. These new variants might have minor modifications in their code that change their signatures just enough to not exactly match the known signatures in antivirus databases. In such cases, if the antivirus detects that the file closely resembles known malware but doesn’t match precisely, it may use a generic classification to indicate a general threat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Results of heuristic analysis <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Heuristic analysis involves examining the behavior of files to identify suspicious actions commonly associated with malware: modifying system files, installing unauthorized software, or attempting to hide presence on the system. If a file exhibits such behaviors, it can be classified as “Win32:Malware-gen,” even if it doesn’t match any known malware signature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

File attributes and metadata <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Attributes like the file’s origin, modification dates, and whether a file has a digital signature from a trusted source can influence its assessment. Files lacking transparency about their origin or exhibiting irregularities in their metadata might receive “Win32:Malware-gen” classification.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

For example, in ANY.RUN, you can easily see tampered, expired or missing signatures both for files and modules. Signature icons inside of the process tree is one of many tools our interactive sandbox gives analysts and malware researchers to identify malicious files and executables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n

\nEasily analyze files and links for malware in ANY.RUN<\/span> interactive online sandbox \n<\/p>\n\n\nRegister for free\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n