NANY 2009 Release: PESplash

[seedling]

NANY 2009 Entry Information

Application Name	PESplash
Version	v1.7.0.11
Short Description	this tool will attempt to embed text information into a CODE section of any PE file. it does so by finding valid opcode strings and replaces them with "like-minded" opcodes therefore not changing the size or operability of the file.
Supported OSes	Windows 32-bit
Web Page	http://seedling.dcmembers.com
Download Link	http://seedling.dcme...m/other/PESplash.zip
not much, just Win32 OS
v1.7.0.11	v1.7.10 -------    fixed a bug that would randomly corrupt text in both embedding and    retrieving process        improved the retrieving routine and can now get watermark text    much faster! v1.7 ----    inserts a default 'save as' filename once the 'open' file is    selected.    --------------------------------------------------------------    this could possibly cause problems since the routine    uses the '.' as a deliminator and renames the file. an example    of a problem would be in a path with '.' used in the name:        C:\stuff.i.like.a.lot\file.exe        would result in:        C:\stuffw.i        since, by default, it simply adds a 'w' after the filename and    then re-adds the extension    --------------------------------------------------------------        added drag & drop support     v1.6 RTM --------    added a group box around the progress bar with changing caption    text explaining basically what the bar is keeping track of v1.5 beta ---------    fixed 'ops.dat' reading code to allow for commented lines starting    with '//'. this allows for easier management of this file.    buttons are now disabled when performing a task    Hidden Text edit box is now read only    ProgressBar is half-way decent (could still use some better    progression tho)    inclusion of ProcessMessages to help the window stay focused on more    than the ProgressBar when performing a task! (thanks guys )    LOTS of code cleanup!    this build is practically a FINAL version and may be converted to    FINAL once further testing proves its reliability v1.1 beta ---------    now uses an external file 'ops.dat' which contains mask pairs for    checking!    created an icon v1.0 beta ---------    first gui build and name changed to PESplash v0.1 beta ---------    all 3 switches are operable(-e | -r | -c)    embeds data and saves to "newfile.exe"    can now retreive embedded data from watermarked file    returns space available for watermarking    do NOT try to use this with a packed file, it'll crash    or at best, it'll make the packed file useless! v0.3 alpha ----------    now takes text input for embedding    converts text to a binary string and saves changes to "testbin.bin" v0.2 alpha ----------    got rid of the temp file (now stores text bytes into memory    directly)    saves changed CODE section as a binary file "testbin.bin" v0.1 alpha ----------    initial build    uses one set of masks only, no table yet    creates temp text representation of valid opcodes from CODE section    of a PE file    creates temp text representation of changed CODE section with ALL    bytes found by mask0 or mask1
Seedling	http://seedling.dcmembers.com/

Description
Executable code steganography

Features
I have submitted a rather unusual app that takes a different approach in steganography.  I (with the help of friends and Oleh Yuschuk's disassembly engine  ) developed this application way back in 2003-2004. The app is called PESplash.  It embeds text into windows exe files using interchangeable assembly opcodes.

With this app you can create your own 'keys' (ops.dat file) that will be able to embed/read hidden text via a binary stream based on the interchangeable codes you have in your ops.dat file.  So, it embeds this data into the CODE section of your executable file and will run just as originally compiled without error and yet contains hidden data.  Now, be warned, if you decide on interchangeable opcodes and you are wrong, then your application will most likely not run correctly. the default ops.dat file contains most zero flag, interchangeable codes that should not be a problem to swap (but it's not perfect).

So to summarize, it embeds text into your executable files.  This could be used in nefarious ways (and is the reason i never released it to the public).  Use with restraint, but it's a pretty cool way of tracking who is downloading your files (if released in the wild), send messages, etc.

Anyway, that's my submission, enjoy.

Also, please note that this is free and without protection, however, if you plan on using this in a corporate/commercial product, then you must contact me for proper compensation.

Screenshots


Usage
Installation
unzip this to a dir of your choice and run it

Using the Application
Select an unpacked app, have it scan for the amount of bytes available (per your ops.dat file keyfile) then write the text to the file, done. to retrieve the embedded text, just open the file and select retrieve, done.

Uninstallation
just delete the files that you unzipped, done

Known Issues
this will not work with already packed (compressed) executable files. that is, it will seem to work, but the file will not work.

[mouser]

Very cool 

[f0dder]

Wicked

[app103]

but it's a pretty cool way of tracking who is downloading your files (if released in the wild)

-seedling (December 25, 2008, 10:08 PM)

What exactly do you mean by that?

[Codebyte]

but it's a pretty cool way of tracking who is downloading your files (if released in the wild)

What exactly do you mean by that?

Im interested as well; what did you mean?

[seedling]

if you tag your exectuable with 'johnny noname 155-345' (if the space allows) and you find it out in 'the wild' without permisssion, then you'll be able to know exactly where the source came from 'i.e. johnny noname 155-345' simple as that. just use the app and see for yourself.

[Jibz]

It sounds like a really neat idea .. is it similar in functionality to hydan?

[seedling]

It sounds like a really neat idea .. is it similar in functionality to hydan?

-Jibz (December 29, 2008, 02:20 AM)

i never heard of this app, but reading a brief overview of their paper, the idea seems a lot the same (and perhaps even better in some aspects).  one key difference is that mine does not use a 'set' group of interchangable opcodes, but rather, reads them from a user created ops.dat file. which effectively is used as a key to encode/read what you're trying to hide.