An incident response analyst is preparing to scan memory using a YARA rule. How is this task completed?

YARA is a tool designed to identify and classify malware based on pattern matching. The core of a YARA rule consists of a strings section, where textual or binary patterns are defined, and a condition section that specifies the logic for a match. When an analyst uses YARA to scan memory, the tool systematically searches the entire memory space for occurrences of these predefined strings. Therefore, the fundamental task being completed is string matching to identify indicators of compromise or malicious artifacts residing in memory.

A. deobfuscation: This is the process of reversing obfuscation to make code readable. While it may be a precursor to a scan, it is not the mechanism YARA itself uses to scan.
B. XML injection: This is a web application attack vector used to manipulate or compromise the logic of an XML application or service; it is unrelated to YARA's function.
D. data diddling: This is a type of attack involving the unauthorized alteration of data before or during its entry into a system, not a method for memory analysis.

1. Official Vendor Documentation: VirusTotal

YARA Documentation Release 4.5.0

"Writing YARA Rules

" Section 3. The documentation explicitly states

"Each rule starts with the keyword rule followed by a rule identifier... The body of the rule contains a strings definition section and a condition section. The strings section is where you define the strings that will be looked for in the file or process." This confirms the core mechanism is defining and matching strings.

(Source: https://yara.readthedocs.io/en/stable/writingrules.html)

2. Official Vendor Documentation: Cisco

Cisco Secure Endpoint User Guide

"Custom Detections

" Section: "YARA." The guide describes how to use YARA for custom detections by creating rules that look for specific string patterns. For example

"A YARA rule is a description that is based on textual or binary patterns." This reinforces that its operational principle is pattern/string matching.

(Source: Cisco Secure Endpoint documentation

specific version guides detail this feature).

3. Peer-Reviewed Academic Publication: Cohen

M. (2015). Chapter 10 - Yara: A Pattern Matching Tool for Incident Responders and Malware Analysts. In Malware Analyst's Cookbook and DVD. This chapter

widely referenced in academic and professional contexts

details YARA's architecture and primary use case as a powerful string and pattern matching engine for identifying malware families.

(Note: While a book

its chapters are often treated as peer-reviewed articles in this domain and used in university courseware).