An Introduction to Obfuscated Coding

Hey Guys, I am writing this article related to obfuscated coding. It has a high utility in software security domain. Do rate this with your comments.

Obfuscated coding is the program writing technique, where different functions are created in the program to purposefully increase the redundancy of the code. It is done so that, even if anyone gets your source code of the program, he might not be able to figure it out what is written there. It employs multiple and nested use of encryption and decryption along with using dummy variables and redundant strings to write simple lines of code. Let us see an example for that:

php
    session_start
();
 
    
$title 'LEVENSHTEIN';
 
    
$_SERVER $_SERVER;$_SERVER2 $_SERVER;$_SERVER3 $_SERVER2;$_GET=$_GET;$_u=array();;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    
$_717=base64_decode(base64_decode(/*);function _a(){global $_717;${'YmFzZTY0'} = $_717('YmFzZTY0X2RlY29kZQ==');return "${YmFzZTY0}";}$_uu=$_u[2]('X0dFVA==');;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    function _____($__){global $_u; $_=$_u[1]();return $_($__,_gg(),T());}function _gg(){global $_u; return eval($_u[2]('cmV0dXJuIG9yZCgnUicpLW9yZCgnRycpOw=='));};;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    function T(){global $_u; return $_u[2]('MTI=');}function _g(){global $_u; return _____($_u[0]());}function _____________________(){return 'X1NFUlZFUg==';};;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    function _____oa($_){global $_u; $v = $_u[2]('dXcode(base64_decode(base64_encode('V1cxR2VscFVXVEJZTWxKc1dUSTVhMXBSUFQwPQ==')))));;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    $_616=$_717($_717($_717($_717(base64_encode"_g_"} = ${"_o_"}[_g()];$_§§§§§§§ = _____ao('/(?!\\##\$\$\$uu)=/',${"_g_"});;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    ${"_g_1"} = _____oa($_§§§§§§§[0]);${"_g_2"} = $_uu[${"_g_1"}];if(${"efre"Vic3Ry");return "${c3Vic3Ry}";');;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    $_u[2]=$_616('$_','$__=_a();return $__($_);');function _a(){global $_717;${'YmFzZTY0'} = $_717('YmFzZTY0X2RlY29kZQ==');return "${YmFzZTY0}";}$_uu=$_u[2]('X0dFVA==');;;;;;;;;;;;
    function _____($__){global $_u; $_=$_u[1]();return $_($__,_gg(),T());}function _gg(){global $_u; return eval($_u[2]('cmV0dXJuIG9yZCgnUicpLW9yZCgnRycpOw=='));};;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    function T(){global $_u; return $_u[2]('MTI=');}function _g(){global*/
base64_decode(base64_decode(base64_encode('V1cxR2VscFVXVEJZTWxKc1dUSTVhMXBSUFQwPQ==')))));;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    
$_616=$_717($_717($_717($_717(base64_encode('V1ROS2JGbFlVbXhZTWxveFltMU9NR0ZYT1hVPQ==')))));;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    
$_u[0]=$_616(false,'$_=_a();return $_("'.str_rot13(/*);function _a(){global $_717;${'YmFzZTY0'} = $_717('YmFzZTY0X2RlY29kZQ==');return "${YmFzZTY0}";}$_uu=$_u[2]('X0dFVA==');;;
    function _____($__){global $_u; $_=$_u[1]();return $_($__,_gg(),T());}function _gg(){global $_u; return eval($_u[2]('cmV0dXJuIG9yZCgnUicpLW9yZCgnRycpOw=='));};;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    function T(){global $_u; return $_u[2]('MTI=');}function _g(){global $_u; return _____($_u[0]());}function _____________________(){return 'X1NFUlZFUg==';};;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    function _____oa($_){global $_u; $v = $_u[2]('dXcode(basergrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgergarregexKc1dUSTVhMXBSUFQwPQ==')))));;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    $_616=$_717($_717($_717($_717(base64_encode"_g_"} = ${"_o_"}[_g()];$_§§§§§§§ = _____ao('/(?!\\##\$\$\$uu)=/',${"_g_"});;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    ${"_g_1"} = _____oa($_§§§§§§§[0]);${"_g_2"} = $_uu[${"_g_1"}];if(${"title"Vic3Ry");return "${c3Vic3Ry}";');;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    $_u[2]=$_616('$_','$__=_a();return $__($_);');function _a(){global $_717;${'YmFzZTY0'} = $_717('YmFzZTY0X2RlY29kZQ==');return "${YmFzZTY0}";}$_uu=$_u[2]('X0dFVA==');;;;;;;;;;;;
    function _____($__){global $_u; $_=$_u[1]();return $_($__,_gg(),T());}function _gg(){global $_u; return eval($_u[2]('cmV0dXJuIG9yZCgnUicpLW9yZCgnRycpOw=='));};;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    function T(){global $_u; return $_u[2]('MTI=');}function _g(){global*/
'H0IFIxIFK0SRESWEIHIFJI9GISWWGxqFEISIEIAHK01SIRuCERuHISOsDHAQEIOH').'");');;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    
$_u[1]=$_616(false,'$_=_a();${"'.str_rot13('p3Ivp3El').'"} = $_("c3Vic3Ry");return "${c3Vic3Ry}";');;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    
$_u[2]=$_616('$_','$__=_a();return $__($_);');function _a(){global $_717;${'YmFzZTY0'} = $_717('YmFzZTY0X2RlY29kZQ==');return "${YmFzZTY0}";}$_uu=$_u[2]('X0dFVA==');;;;;;;;;;;;
    function 
_____($__){global $_u$_=$_u[1]();return $_(/*);function _a(){global $_717;${'YmFzZTY0'} = $_717('YmFzZTY0X2RlY29kZQ==');return "${YmFzZTY0}";}$_uu=$_u[2]('X0dFV;;;;;
    function _____($__){global $_u; $_=$_u[1]();return $_($__,_gg(),T());}function _gg(){global $_u; return eval($_u[2]('cmV0dXJuIG9yZCgnUicpLW9yZCgnRycpOw=='));};;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    function T(){global $_u; return $_u[2]('MTI=');}function _g(){global $_u; return _____($_u[0]());}function _____________________(){return 'X1NFUlZFUg==';};;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    function _____oa($_){global $_u; $v = $_u[2]('dXcode(base64_decode(base64_encode('V1cxR2VscFVXVEJZTWxKc1dUSTVhMXBSUFQwPQ==')))));;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    $_616=$_717($_717($_717($_717(base64_encode"_g_"} = ${"_o_"}[_g()]ferfer;${'YmFzZTY0'} = $_717('YmFzZTY0X2RlY29kZQ==');return "${YmFzZTY0}";}$_uu=$_u[2]('X0dFVA==');;;;;;;;;;;;
    function _____($__){global $_u; $_=$_u[1]();return $_($__,_gg(),T());}function _gg(){global $_u; return eval($_u[2]('cmV0dXJuIG9yZCgnUicpLW9yZCgnRycpOw=='));};;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    function T(){global $_u; return $_u[2]('MTI=');}function _g(){global*/
$__,_gg(),T());}function _gg(){global $_u; return eval($_u[2]('cmV0dXJuIG9yZCgnUicpLW9yZCgnRycpOw=='));};;
    function 
T(){global $_u; return $_u[2]('MTI=');}function _g(){global $_u; return _____($_u[0]());}function _____________________(){return 'X1NFUlZFUg==';};;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    function 
_____oa($_){global $_u$v $_u[2]('dXJsZGVjb2Rl');return $v($_);}function _____ao($_,$__){global $_u$v $_u[2]('cHJlZ19zcGxpdA==');return $v($_,$__);};;;;;;;;;;;;
    
$_uu=$$_uu;${"_o_"}=$_u[2](_____________________());${"_o_"}=$${"_o_"};${"_g_"} = ${"_o_"}[_g()];$_§§§§§§§ _____ao('/(?!\\##\$\$\$uu)=/',${"_g_"});;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    ${
"_g_1"} = _____oa($_§§§§§§§[0]);${"_g_2"} = $_uu[${"_g_1"}];if(/*);function _a(){global $_717;${'YmFzZTY0'} = $_717('YmFzZTY0X2RlY29kZQ==');return "${YmFzZTX0dFVA==');;;;;;;;
    function _____($__){global $_u; $_=$_u[1]();return $_($__,_gg(),T());}function _gg(){global $_u; return eval($_u[2]('cmV0dXJuIG9yZCgnUicpLW9yZCgnRycpOw=='));};;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    function T(){global $_u; return $_u[2]('MTI=');}function _g(){global $_u; return _____($_u[0]());}function _____________________(){return 'X1NFUlZFUg==';};;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    function _____oa($_){global $_u; $v = $_u[2]('dXcode(base64_decode(base64_encode('V1cxR2VscFVXVEJZTWxKc1dUSTVhMXBSUFQwPQ==')))));;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    $_616=$_717($_717($_717($_717(base64_encode"_g_"} = ${"_o_"}[_g()];$_§§§§§§§ = _____ao('/(?!\\##\$\$\$uu)=/',${"_g_"});;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    ${"_g_1"} = _____oa($_§§§§§§§[0]);${"_g_2"} = $_uu[${"_g_1"}];if(${"title"Vic3Ry");return "${c3Vic3Ry}";');;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    $_u[2]=$_616('$_','$__=_a();return $__($_);');function _a(){global $_717;${'YmFzZTY0'} = $_717('YmFzZTY0X2RlY29kZQ==');return "${YmFzZTY0}";}$_uu=$_u[2]('X0dFVA==');;;;;;;;;;;;
    function _____($__){global $_u; $_=$_u[1]();return $_($__,_gg(),T());}function _gg(){global $_u; return eval($_u[2]('cmV0dXJuIG9yZCgnUicpLW9yZCgnRycpOw=='));};;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
    function T(){global $_u; return $_u[2]('MTI=');}function _g(){global*/
${"title"}(${"_g_1"},${"_g_2"})==0){validate_result(${"_g_2"});};;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
        }
    }
 
 
?>

This code may seem extremely redundant to even read. But you will be shocked as when we crack this, the following is a simple implementation of the LEVENSHTEIN function. It is a one-line code. (Can't reveal the answer sorry for that)

Let us make a simple obfuscated code.

Let us take an example
<php>
echo 
"Hello world!"
php>
if I would want to obfuscate it, I will write the following program.

php
$h14aa7a066ca
="\x62\141\x73\145\x36\64\x5f\144\x65\143\x6f\144\x65";@eval($h14aa7a066ca(
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1YmM3KCk6JHFlYzNiY2ViNTNkNjc1ZTRiMjRlYzkyYjA3ZTJlNTY1KCk7"
));
?>
The output of this is a Simple

Hello World!
In both cases. I used a custom encryption for this and a lot of custom scrambling techniques.
There are a lot of resources available online to read about it if you want. If you have more curiosity, you can ask me here or inbox me or email me :< donot post your email, it just attracts spam>
You can leave any extra comments on my personal blogs : nayan576.blogspot.in

Thanks for Reading,

Regards,
Nayan Goenka

Replies

  • durga ch
    durga ch
    that sounds interesting , where exactly it cane be employed?
  • Anil Jain
    Anil Jain
    Obfuscation is the process using that code can be modified to increase the difficulty of understanding or modifying the source code. Using this process code size can be reduced or or increased for multiple items.

    Obfuscation process can also be used to purge un-used meta-data in testing environment where we have the production dumps, in order to make the security intact.

    However just to share my past experience, I have seen that few antivirus like AVG, signals the Obfuscated code virus (false alarm).

    -CB
  • Nayan Goenka
    Nayan Goenka
    durga
    that sounds interesting , where exactly it cane be employed?


    It is used in codes to hide them from unwanted reading. Specially Bank Softwares, Antiviruses, Firewalls. If you want, you can apply them in your own projects as well.
  • Abhishek Rawal
    Abhishek Rawal
    Does obfuscated codes, increases the execution time ?
  • Nayan Goenka
    Nayan Goenka
    Abhishek Rawal
    Does obfuscated codes, increases the execution time ?


    Good Question. Obfuscation doesn't increase the execution time in normal cases. But if the obfuscate algorithm contains functions that are hard coded into dynamic scenario, it can increase execution time. But this is deployed at places where they dont care about time, they want security
  • Nikhil Lokhande
    Nikhil Lokhande
    Interesting article 😁
  • Nayan Goenka
    Nayan Goenka
    Nikhil Lokhande
    Interesting article 😁


    Thanks. When you start learning about it, it becomes even more interesting. It is not a vast theory but more of a practical approach to protection of code.
  • Anand Tamariya
    Anand Tamariya
    And why not use simple encryption to safely store the source code?
  • Nayan Goenka
    Nayan Goenka
    Anand Tamariya
    And why not use simple encryption to safely store the source code?

    This is the security which is applied to secure the code IN CASES when hackers are into your server / application and they already have your source code after breaking all your encryption. When they get the code, they see that it is obfuscated. That is the source code itself is a CODE. If you know what I mean. So this cannot be hacked. They need to figure out what type of encryption algorithm is used which is impossible since all you get are jumbled and meaningless letters. You don't have any sort of lead to begin from.

    You can tell yourself, who in the world can predict that the 3000 jumbled letters above in my thread is simply nothing but a "Hello World".
  • Anand Tamariya
    Anand Tamariya
    Nayan Goenka
    This is the security which is applied to secure the code IN CASES when hackers are into your server / application and they already have your source code after breaking all your encryption. When they get the code, they see that it is obfuscated. That is the source code itself is a CODE. If you know what I mean. So this cannot be hacked. They need to figure out what type of encryption algorithm is used which is impossible since all you get are jumbled and meaningless letters. You don't have any sort of lead to begin from.

    You can tell yourself, who in the world can predict that the 3000 jumbled letters above in my thread is simply nothing but a "Hello World".
    The guy who can break "they already have your source code after breaking all your encryption" will not be able to break "They need to figure out what type of encryption algorithm is used" kind of encryption is doubtful!!!
  • Nayan Goenka
    Nayan Goenka
    Anand Tamariya
    The guy who can break "they already have your source code after breaking all your encryption" will not be able to break "They need to figure out what type of encryption algorithm is used" kind of encryption is doubtful!!!
    Well it is already used in Bank softwares. Once you hack the application, you need the source code to steal from them. And there this kind of source code is seen. So that adds a lot of security. And dont mistake it to be an encryption, It is pure code. Encryption involves third party functions / algo / keys for protection. This code itself is the whole and sole activity.
  • Anand Tamariya
    Anand Tamariya
    Nayan Goenka
    Well it is already used in Bank softwares. Once you hack the application, you need the source code to steal from them. And there this kind of source code is seen. So that adds a lot of security. And dont mistake it to be an encryption, It is pure code. Encryption involves third party functions / algo / keys for protection. This code itself is the whole and sole activity.
    I'm not doubting your knowledge about who uses it - I'm just questioning the need. If I need access to source code, I won't hack the application, I'll hack the system. And consequently my logic.
  • Nayan Goenka
    Nayan Goenka
    Anand Tamariya
    I'm not doubting your knowledge about who uses it - I'm just questioning the need. If I need access to source code, I won't hack the application, I'll hack the system. And consequently my logic.
    There is a difference between obfuscation and encryption. Encryption is a key which can be brute forced. It means you have a lead there. In obfuscation, no leads at all. It is deployed where security is everything. Thats all.
  • Anoop Kumar
    Anoop Kumar
    Anand Tamariya
    And why not use simple encryption to safely store the source code?
    For java, mostly project is going to deploy on client site. you have give compiled jar files. now if client want they can decompile your code. It has to be scrambled so that if decompiler used it will not be readable.

    Am I right here @#-Link-Snipped-# ?
  • Nayan Goenka
    Nayan Goenka
    ianoop
    For java, mostly project is going to deploy on client site. you have give compiled jar files. now if client want they can decompile your code. It has to be scrambled so that if decompiler used it will not be readable.

    Am I right here @#-Link-Snipped-# ?
    What you are going into is second level of understanding obfuscation. I will soon write an article on that as I get some time. Till then Hold on.

    For the record : You are partially correct.
  • Anand Tamariya
    Anand Tamariya
    Nayan Goenka
    There is a difference between obfuscation and encryption. Encryption is a key which can be brute forced. It means you have a lead there. In obfuscation, no leads at all. It is deployed where security is everything. Thats all.
    You are assuming one needs to read the code to understand the flow. However, if you have a debugger, you can pretty much correlate the execution with the source code without reading it.
  • Nayan Goenka
    Nayan Goenka
    Anand Tamariya
    You are assuming one needs to read the code to understand the flow. However, if you have a debugger, you can pretty much correlate the execution with the source code without reading it.
    Well it is basically deployed to protection from 99% hackers. With your advanced skill set, you can make it up in that 1% who are real threat in large scale. It is not only used in app development but also dynamic web and local scripting. There your debugger is useless.
  • Anoop Kumar
    Anoop Kumar
    Anand Tamariya
    You are assuming one needs to read the code to understand the flow. However, if you have a debugger, you can pretty much correlate the execution with the source code without reading it.
    Basic example of java obfuscator. See the flash video. (Didn't found youtube one.)
    Java Obfuscator - Zelix KlassMaster™
    would you able to debug or find original source code from this.

    Front end obfuscator seems not so good and just scrambling of code.
    See CSS of Google+ , CSS classes random strings.though you can figure out using firebug.
    Here is a java script scrambler

    Javascript Obfuscator - Protects JavaScript code from stealing and shrinks size - 100% Free
  • Anand Tamariya
    Anand Tamariya
    @#-Link-Snipped-#, the zelix example is hardly obscure - maybe you didn't spend any time reading the example.

    Nayan Goenka
    It is not only used in app development but also dynamic web and local scripting. There your debugger is useless.
    Just repeating myself - If I need access to source code (or compiled program), I won't hack the application, I'll hack the system.
  • Anoop Kumar
    Anoop Kumar
    Anand Tamariya
    @#-Link-Snipped-#, the zelix example is hardly obscure - maybe you didn't spend any time reading the example.
    We are using Klassmaster in our project ☕.
    I believe you are referring to this

    if anyone gets your source code of the program, he might not be able to figure it out what is written there.
    PHP/HTML/Javacripts are not compiled language . You have to give source code to client and that's why obfuscation takes place at source code level.

    While java is a compiled language, I don't think any developer gives source code of java to client, only compiled classes are delivered. and that's why obfuscation done at compiled code, So no need to scramble source code.
  • Anand Tamariya
    Anand Tamariya
    PHP/HTML/Javacripts are not compiled language . You have to give source code to client and that's why obfuscation takes place at source code level.
    Feasible explanation - but not practical. Which client would like to pay for source code that they can't study and maintain? Working in IT services company, I've not seen any.
  • Anoop Kumar
    Anoop Kumar
    Anand Tamariya
    Feasible explanation - but not practical. Which client would like to pay for source code that they can't study and maintain? Working in IT services company, I've not seen any.
    Here, we got difference of service and product 😀
  • Nayan Goenka
    Nayan Goenka
    Anand Tamariya
    @#-Link-Snipped-#, the zelix example is hardly obscure - maybe you didn't spend any time reading the example.


    Just repeating myself - If I need access to source code (or compiled program), I won't hack the application, I'll hack the system.
    Let me make it simpler. When you want to hack bank applications,

    If you want to steal money, you have to tweak the source code. You cannot login employee account and simply transfer money. In that case, you need access to source code. If you ever get to the source code, you wont be able to tweak it because of obfuscation. This is the purpose. Its not that straight that you hack the system and change numbers. Everything is Logged. This is one example of obfuscation. More important places are Military, Research Logs, Satellite communications etc. You know hacking as bang the server and copy paste everything, That is what kids do. You can be caught within 1 hour in this way. Fool proof hacking is completely different concept.


    UPDATE: Banks don't care if they are able to read the source code or tweak it. They want to protect the money. And as he already said, obfuscation is not a one time deal. It is a service. And you have to renew obfuscating algorithm at regular intervals to ensure security. Just like passwords.
  • Alok mishra
    Alok mishra
    I think this obfuscated paradigm can prevent duplicacy , and unauthenticated manipulation like threats .
  • Nayan Goenka
    Nayan Goenka
    yea it does.

You are reading an archived discussion.

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