Kai-Qing Zhou

30 papers Journal 24Unranked 6
YearRankTypeTitle / Venue / Authors
2026 J jnl
Expert Syst. Appl.
Wei-Lin Chen, Kai-Qing Zhou, Arezoo Sarkheyli-Hägele, Feng Qin, Khairunnisa Hasikin, Di-Wen Kang, Azlan Mohd Zain
2025 J jnl
Clust. Comput.
Le-Le Mao, Azlan Mohd Zain, Kai-Qing Zhou, Xin Li
2025 J jnl
IEEE Access
Feng Qin, Azlan Mohd Zain, Kai-Qing Zhou, Norfadzlan Bin Yusup, Didik Dwi Prasetya, Rozita Abdul Jalil, Zaheera Zainal Abidin, Mahadi Bahari, Yusri Kamin, Mazlina Abdul Majid
2025 J jnl
Frontiers Inf. Technol. Electron. Eng.
Yin-Hong Xiang, Kai-Qing Zhou, Arezoo Sarkheyli-Hägele, Yusliza Yusoff, Diwen Kang, Azlan Mohd Zain
2025 J jnl
Knowl. Based Syst.
Di-Wen Kang, Khairunnisa Hasikin, Anis Salwa Mohd Khairuddin, Kai-Qing Zhou
2024 J jnl
IEEE Access
Le-Le Mao, Azlan Mohd Zain, Kai-Qing Zhou, Feng Qin, Fang-Ling Wang
2024 J jnl
Expert Syst. Appl.
Jin-Cheng Zhang, Azlan Mohd Zain, Kai-Qing Zhou, Xi Chen, Ren-Min Zhang
2024 J jnl
Symmetry
Yun Ou, Feng Qin, Kai-Qing Zhou, Peng-Fei Yin, Li-Ping Mo, Azlan Mohd Zain
2023 J jnl
Frontiers Inf. Technol. Electron. Eng.
Shao-Qiang Ye, Kai-Qing Zhou, Azlan Mohd Zain, Fangling Wang, Yusliza Yusoff
2023 conf
DEXA (2)
Jin-Cheng Zhang, Azlan Mohd Zain, Kai-Qing Zhou, Xi Chen, Renmin Zhang
2022 J jnl
IEEE Access
Xuan-Yu Zhang, Kai-Qing Zhou, Peng-Cheng Li, Yin-Hong Xiang, Azlan Mohd Zain, Arezoo Sarkheyli-Hägele
2022 conf
ICAIS (1)
Peng-Cheng Li, Xuan-Yu Zhang, Azlan Mohd Zain, Kai-Qing Zhou
2022 conf
ICAIS (1)
Fangling Wang, Shao-Qiang Ye, Diwen Kang, Azlan Mohd Zain, Kai-Qing Zhou
2022 J jnl
Neural Comput. Appl.
Chang-Feng Chen, Azlan Mohd Zain, Kai-Qing Zhou
2022 J jnl
Swarm Evol. Comput.
Feng Qin, Azlan Mohd Zain, Kai-Qing Zhou
2022 J jnl
IEEE Access
Yun Ou, Shao-Qiang Ye, Lei Ding, Kai-Qing Zhou, Azlan Mohd Zain
2022 J jnl
Artif. Intell. Rev.
Wei Jiang, Kai-Qing Zhou, Arezoo Sarkheyli-Hägele, Azlan Mohd Zain
2021 J jnl
IEEE Access
Cheng-Xu Zhang, Kai-Qing Zhou, Shao-Qiang Ye, Azlan Mohd Zain
2020 J jnl
IEEE Access
Hang-Cheng Li, Kai-Qing Zhou, Li-Ping Mo, Azlan Mohd Zain, Feng Qin
2019 J jnl
IEEE Access
Lei Ding, Lin Xiao, Kai-Qing Zhou, Yonghong Lan, Yongsheng Zhang, Jichun Li
2019 J jnl
J. Intell. Manuf.
Kai-Qing Zhou, Li-Ping Mo, Jie Jin, Azlan Mohd Zain
2019 conf
SimuTools
Wei Jiang, Kai-Qing Zhou, Li-Ping Mo
2018 J jnl
Symmetry
Kai-Qing Zhou, Wei-Hua Gui, Li-Ping Mo, Azlan Mohd Zain
2018 J jnl
IEEE Access
Lei Ding, Lin Xiao, Kai-Qing Zhou, Yonghong Lan, Yongsheng Zhang
2018 J jnl
Symmetry
Kai-Qing Zhou, Li-Ping Mo, Lei Ding, Wei-Hua Gui
2018 conf
NLPCC (2)
Li-Ping Mo, Kai-Qing Zhou, Liang-Bin Cao, Wei Jiang
2017 J jnl
IEEE Access
Jie Jin, Kai-Qing Zhou, Lv Zhao
2016 J jnl
Artif. Intell. Rev.
Kai-Qing Zhou, Azlan Mohd Zain
2015 J jnl
Expert Syst. Appl.
Kai-Qing Zhou, Azlan Mohd Zain, Li-Ping Mo
2010 conf
ACFIE
Kai-Qing Zhou, Xiao-bo Yue, Xiao-hai Pan, Ming Tang, Zhou Fan
redb/extractors/pe_extractors/pe_extra_findings.py
← Index redb/extractors/pe_extractors/pe_extra_findings.py python
from hashlib import md5, sha1, sha256
import inspect
import pefile
from magika import Magika
import json
from datetime import datetime, timezone
from typing import List, Optional, Any
from asn1crypto import cms, pem, x509, core
from dataclasses import asdict

from redb.extractors.enum import Tag
from redb.extractors.pe_extractor import PEExtractor
from redb.models.dataclasses import PEExtraFinding, PECertificate


class PEExtraFindings(PEExtractor):

    def __init__(
        self,
        filepath,
        log,
        exporters=None,
        index_prefix=None,
        elastic_index=None,
        known_benign=False,
        known_malicious=False,
        pe=None,
    ):
        super().__init__(
            filepath,
            log,
            exporters,
            index_prefix,
            elastic_index,
            known_benign,
            known_malicious,
            pe,
        )
        self.elastic_index = self.index_prefix + "-pe_extrafindings"
        self.log.debug(inspect.currentframe().f_code.co_name)
        self.has_binary_overlay = False
        self.has_binary_resource = False
        self.findings = []

    def tag(self):
        return Tag.PE_EMBEDDED_EXTRAS.value

    """
    The section below triggers in case of a binary which is not signed.
    It trigger the scan for Certificates inside the binary, for example
    inside a resource or an overlay.
    """

    def _scan_for_certificates(self):
        """
        Comprehensive scan for certificate data in PE file.
        Returns list of tuples (location_description, certificate_data)
        """
        self.log.debug(inspect.currentframe().f_code.co_name)

        # 1. Scan resources for embedded PE files
        self._scan_resources_for_certificates()

        # 3. Scan overlay
        overlay_data = self.pe.get_overlay()
        if overlay_data:
            self._scan_overlay_for_certificates(overlay_data)


    def _extract_certificate_info(self, cert_data):
        self.log.debug(inspect.currentframe().f_code.co_name)

        certificate = x509.Certificate.load(cert_data)
        certificate_serial_number = format(certificate.serial_number, "x").upper()
        grouped_serial_number = ":".join(
            [
                certificate_serial_number[i : i + 2]
                for i in range(0, len(certificate_serial_number), 2)
            ]
        )
        return PECertificate(
            certificate_serial_number=grouped_serial_number,
            certificate_issuer=certificate.issuer.human_friendly,
            certificate_subject=certificate.subject.human_friendly,
            certificate_valid_from=certificate["tbs_certificate"]["validity"][
                "not_before"
            ].native.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"),
            certificate_valid_to=certificate["tbs_certificate"]["validity"][
                "not_after"
            ].native.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"),
            certificate_thumbprint=sha1(cert_data).hexdigest().upper(),
            certificate_algorithm=None,
        )

    def _extract_standard_certificates(self, pe):
        self.log.debug(inspect.currentframe().f_code.co_name)
        address = pe.OPTIONAL_HEADER.DATA_DIRECTORY[
            pefile.DIRECTORY_ENTRY["IMAGE_DIRECTORY_ENTRY_SECURITY"]
        ].VirtualAddress
        size = pe.OPTIONAL_HEADER.DATA_DIRECTORY[
            pefile.DIRECTORY_ENTRY["IMAGE_DIRECTORY_ENTRY_SECURITY"]
        ].Size

        addr_8 = address + 8
        signature_data = bytes(
            pe.write()[addr_8 : addr_8 + size]  # noqa E203
        )  # Ensure this is a bytes object
        if pem.detect(signature_data):
            signature_data = pem.unarmor(signature_data)

        content_info = cms.ContentInfo.load(signature_data)
        signed_data = content_info["content"]
        certificates = signed_data["certificates"]

        certificates_list = []
        for cert in certificates:
            cert_info = self._extract_certificate_info(cert.chosen.dump())
            certificates_list.append(cert_info)

        return certificates_list

    def _is_signed(self, pedata):
        address = pedata.OPTIONAL_HEADER.DATA_DIRECTORY[
            pefile.DIRECTORY_ENTRY["IMAGE_DIRECTORY_ENTRY_SECURITY"]
        ].VirtualAddress
        if address == 0:
            return False
        return True

    def _scan_resources_for_certificates(self):
        """Scan resources for embedded PE files and their certificates"""
        self.log.debug(inspect.currentframe().f_code.co_name)

        try:
            if hasattr(self.pe, "DIRECTORY_ENTRY_RESOURCE"):
                for entry in self.pe.DIRECTORY_ENTRY_RESOURCE.entries:
                    for resource in self._get_resource_data(entry):
                        # Check if resource data might be a PE file
                        resource_magika = Magika().identify_bytes(resource).output.label
                        if resource.startswith(b"MZ") or resource_magika == "pebin":
                            try:
                                embedded_pe = pefile.PE(data=resource)
                                if self._is_signed(embedded_pe):
                                    cert_data = self._extract_standard_certificates(
                                        embedded_pe
                                    )
                                    if cert_data:
                                        # certificates.append(
                                        #     (f"Resource_{entry.id}", cert_data)
                                        # )
                                        self.findings.append(
                                            PEExtraFinding(
                                                context=f"Resource ({sha256(resource).hexdigest()}) is a PE file. Found Code Signing Certificates information inside.",
                                                finding=cert_data,
                                            )
                                        )
                            except Exception as e:
                                self.log.warning(
                                    f"Resource {sha256(resource).hexdigest()} is not a valid PE: {e}"
                                )

                        # Direct certificate pattern matching in resource
                        cert_data = self._find_certificate_patterns(resource)
                        if cert_data:
                            # certificates.append((f"Resource_{entry.id}", cert_data))
                            self.findings.append(
                                PEExtraFinding(
                                    context=f"Resource ({sha256(resource).hexdigest()}) is a PE file.\
                                    Found Code Signing Certificates information inside.",
                                    finding=cert_data,
                                )
                            )

        except Exception as e:
            self.log.error(f"Failed to scan resources: {e}")


    def _scan_overlay_for_certificates(self, overlay_data) -> List[bytes]:
        """Scan PE overlay for certificate data"""
        self.log.debug(inspect.currentframe().f_code.co_name)
        try:
            # Check if overlay is a PE file
            overlay_magika = Magika().identify_bytes(overlay_data).output.ct_label
            if overlay_data.startswith(b"MZ") or overlay_magika == "pebin":
                try:
                    overlay_pe = pefile.PE(data=overlay_data)
                    if self._is_signed(overlay_pe):
                        cert_data = self._extract_standard_certificates(overlay_data)
                        if cert_data:
                            self.findings.append(
                                PEExtraFinding(
                                    context=f"Overlay data ({sha256(overlay_data).hexdigest()}) is a PE file.\
                                    Found Code Signing Certificates information inside.",
                                    finding=cert_data,
                                )
                            )
                except Exception as e:
                    self.log.warning(f"Error looking for certificates in Overlay: {e}")
                    pass

            # Direct certificate pattern matching in overlay
            cert_data = self._find_certificate_patterns(overlay_data)
            if cert_data:
                self.findings.append(
                    PEExtraFinding(
                        context=f"Overlay data ({sha256(overlay_data).hexdigest()}) is a PE file.\
                        Found Code Signing Certificates information inside.",
                        finding=cert_data,
                    )
                )
        except Exception as e:
            self.log.error(f"Failed to scan overlay: {e}")


    def _get_resource_data(self, entry) -> List[bytes]:
        """Recursively get resource data"""
        resources = []
        try:
            if hasattr(entry, "directory"):
                for subentry in entry.directory.entries:
                    resources.extend(self._get_resource_data(subentry))
            else:
                data = self.pe.get_data(
                    entry.data.struct.OffsetToData, entry.data.struct.Size
                )
                resources.append(data)
        except Exception as e:
            self.log.error(f"Failed to get resource data: {e}")
        return resources

    def _find_certificate_patterns(self, data: bytes) -> Optional[bytes]:
        """Find certificate patterns in binary data"""
        # PKCS#7 SignedData OID pattern
        PKCS7_PATTERN = b"\x06\x09\x2A\x86\x48\x86\xF7\x0D\x01\x07\x02"

        try:
            idx = data.find(PKCS7_PATTERN)
            if idx != -1:
                # Search backwards for ASN.1 sequence marker
                for i in range(idx, max(0, idx - 50), -1):
                    if data[i] == 0x30:  # ASN.1 SEQUENCE
                        try:
                            # Try to parse as X.509 certificate
                            cert = x509.load_der_x509_certificate(
                                data[i:], default_backend()
                            )
                            return data[i:]
                        except Exception:
                            continue
        except Exception as e:
            self.log.error(f"Failed to find certificate patterns: {e}")
        return None

    def prepare_export_data(self, exporter_type: str) -> Any:
        self.log.debug(inspect.currentframe().f_code.co_name)
        if exporter_type == "ElasticsearchExporter":
            return self.findings
        elif exporter_type == "ClickHouseExporter":
            current_time = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
            
            data = [
                [
                    self.sha256,
                    self.md5,
                    self.sha1,
                    finding.context,
                    [asdict(cert) for cert in finding.finding] if finding.finding else None,
                    current_time
                ]
                for finding in self.findings
            ]
            
            column_names = [
                'sha256', 'md5', 'sha1', 'context', 'finding', 'analysis_date'
            ]
            
            if not data:
                return None

            column_type_names = [
                'FixedString(64)', 'FixedString(32)', 'FixedString(40)',
                'String', 'Array(JSON)', 'DateTime64(3, \'UTC\')'
            ]

            return (data, column_names, column_type_names)

    def get_clickhouse_table(self) -> str:
        return "redb_extra_findings"

    def extract(self):
        try:
            self.log.debug(inspect.currentframe().f_code.co_name)
            self._scan_for_certificates()
            if len(self.findings) > 0:
                return self.findings
            return None
        except Exception as e:
            self.log.error(f"Error extracting PE Extras: {e}")
            return None