Overview

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools have become increasingly sophisticated. This article explores techniques used in authorized penetration tests to evaluate EDR effectiveness.

Understanding EDR Hooks

Modern EDRs operate by hooking Windows API calls at multiple layers: User-mode hooks, Kernel-mode hooks, and ETW providers.

Defense Recommendations

For blue teams:

  • Enable script block logging for PowerShell
  • Monitor unusual parent-child process relationships
  • Implement application whitelisting
  • Deploy memory forensics capabilities