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If you ends in a code **using shift rights and lefts, xors and several arithmetic operations** it's highly possible that it's the implementation of a **cryptographic algorithm**. Here it's going to be showed some ways to **identify the algorithm that it's used without needing to reverse each step**.
Check here the table of possible algorithms and their assigned values: [https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/seccrypto/alg-id](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/seccrypto/alg-id)
The **CryptAcquireContext** function is used to acquire a handle to a particular key container within a particular cryptographic service provider (CSP). **This returned handle is used in calls to CryptoAPI** functions that use the selected CSP.
Initiates the hashing of a stream of data. If this function is used, you can find which **algorithm is being used** checking the value of the second parameter:
Check here the table of possible algorithms and their assigned values: [https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/seccrypto/alg-id](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/seccrypto/alg-id)
* **Initialization stage/**: Creates a **table of values from 0x00 to 0xFF** (256bytes in total, 0x100). This table is commonly call **Substitution Box** (or SBox).
* **Scrambling stage**: Will **loop through the table** crated before (loop of 0x100 iterations, again) creating modifying each value with **semi-random** bytes. In order to create this semi-random bytes, the RC4 **key is used**. RC4 **keys** can be **between 1 and 256 bytes in length**, however it is usually recommended that it is above 5 bytes. Commonly, RC4 keys are 16 bytes in length.
* **XOR stage**: Finally, the plain-text or cyphertext is **XORed with the values created before**. The function to encrypt and decrypt is the same. For this, a **loop through the created 256 bytes** will be performed as many times as necessary. This is usually recognized in a decompiled code with a **%256 (mod 256)**.
**In order to identify a RC4 in a disassembly/decompiled code you can check for 2 loops of size 0x100 (with the use of a key) and then a XOR of the input data with the 256 values created before in the 2 loops probably using a %256 (mod 256)**
* It's possible to **distinguish AES thanks to the use of specific lookup table values** (constants). _Note that the **constant** can be **stored** in the binary **or created** **dynamically**._
* The **encryption key** must be **divisible** by **16** (usually 32B) and usually an **IV** of 16B is used.
In the following image notice how the constant **0x9E3779B9** is used (note that this constant is also used by other crypto algorithms like **TEA** -Tiny Encryption Algorithm).\
Also note the **size of the loop** (**132**) and the **number of XOR operations** in the **disassembly** instructions and in the **code** example:
As it was mentioned before, this code can be visualized inside any decompiler as a **very long function** as there **aren't jumps** inside of it. The decompiled code can look like the following:
Therefore, it's possible to identify this algorithm checking the **magic number** and the **initial XORs**, seeing a **very long function** and **comparing** some **instructions** of the long function **with an implementation** (like the shift left by 7 and the rotate left by 22).
* Do you work in a **cybersecurity company**? Do you want to see your **company advertised in HackTricks**? or do you want to have access to the **latest version of the PEASS or download HackTricks in PDF**? Check the [**SUBSCRIPTION PLANS**](https://github.com/sponsors/carlospolop)!
* Discover [**The PEASS Family**](https://opensea.io/collection/the-peass-family), our collection of exclusive [**NFTs**](https://opensea.io/collection/the-peass-family)
* Get the [**official PEASS & HackTricks swag**](https://peass.creator-spring.com)
* **Join the** [**💬**](https://emojipedia.org/speech-balloon/) [**Discord group**](https://discord.gg/hRep4RUj7f) or the [**telegram group**](https://t.me/peass) or **follow** me on **Twitter** [**🐦**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks/tree/7af18b62b3bdc423e11444677a6a73d4043511e9/\[https:/emojipedia.org/bird/README.md)[**@carlospolopm**](https://twitter.com/carlospolopm)**.**
* **Share your hacking tricks by submitting PRs to the** [**hacktricks repo**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks) **and** [**hacktricks-cloud repo**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks-cloud).
