Detecting Hidden Processes

Introduction to WinDbg

WinDbg is a kernel-mode and user-mode debugger that's included in Debugging Tools for Windows.

For information about how to get Debugging Tools for Windows, see Download and install the WinDbg Windows debugger. After you have installed the debugging tools, locate the installation directories for 64-bit (x64) and 32-bit (x86) versions of the tools. For example:

  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Debuggers\x64

  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Debuggers\x86

Step By Step Guide

  • Attach WinDbg to the Target System: Open WinDbg as an administrator and attach it to the target system or dump file.

  • Set Context to Kernel Mode:

.symfix
.reload
  • List All Active Processes: Use the !process 0 0 command to list all processes. This lists active processes maintained by the PsActiveProcessHead list.

!process 0 0
  • Manually Search for Process Objects: Hidden processes may still have allocated EPROCESS structures. Search the kernel memory for process objects using:

!object \

Useful Commands

vercommand
Show Debugger Command Line

vertarget

Show Target Computer Version

!cpuid

Displays information about the processors on the system

.sympath

Set Symbol Path

!lmi

Displays detailed information about a module

|

Process Status

~

Thread Status

lm

List Loaded Modules

?

Evaluate Expression

x

Examine Symbols

bp

Set Breakpoint

bl

Breakpoint Enable

g

Go

r

Registers

dp

Display Memory - Pointer-sized values

dps

Display Referenced Memory - Display known symbols

k

Display Stack Backtrace

ln

List Nearest Symbols

da

Display Memory - ASCII characters

dc

Display Memory - Double-word values and ASCII characters

dt

Display Type

dS

Display String - UNICODE_STRING structure

du

Display Memory - Wide char characters

db

Display Memory - ASCII characters

dw

Display Memory - Word values

dd

Display Memory - Double-word values

dq

Display Memory - Quad-word values

u

Unassemble

ub

Unassemble backward

uf

Unassemble Function


REFERENCES

Last updated