REMnux v6 - A Linux Toolkit for Reverse-Engineering and Analyzing Malware


REMnux is a free Linux toolkit for assisting malware analysts with reverse-engineering malicious software. It strives to make it easier for forensic investigators and incident responders to start using the variety of freely-available tools that can examine malware, yet might be difficult to locate or set up.

The heart of the project is the REMnux Linux distribution based on Ubuntu. This lightweight distro incorporates many tools for analyzing Windows and Linux malware, examining browser-based threats such as obfuscated JavaScript, exploring suspicious document files and taking apart other malicious artifacts. Investigators can also use the distro to intercept suspicious network traffic in an isolated lab when performing behavioral malware analysis.

Malware Analyis Tools Installed on REMnux

The REMnux distribution includes many free tools useful for examining malicious software. These utilities are set up and tested to make it easier for you to perform malware analysis tasks without needing to figure out how to install them. The majority of these tools are listed below.

Examine Browser Malware

Examine Document Files

Extract and Decode Artifacts

Handle Network Interactions

Process Multiple Samples

Examine File Properties and Contents

Investigate Linux Malware

Edit and View Files

Examine Memory Snapshots

Statically Examine PE Files

Investigate Mobile Malware

Perform Other Tasks

REMnux Documentation 

REMnux documentation is a relatively recent effort, which can provide additional details regarding the toolkit. The document set in need of improvement and expansion.

The one-page REMnux cheat sheet highlights some of the most useful tools and commands available as part of the REMnux distro. It’s an especially nice starting point for people who are new to the distribution.