Leveraging Generative AI to Reverse Engineer XLoader

Description

This report details how generative AI was used to accelerate the reverse engineering of XLoader malware. The researchers employed a combination of cloud-based static analysis using exported IDA data and occasional dynamic checks via MCP to rapidly unpack encrypted code, deobfuscate API calls, and decrypt strings and domain names. Key findings include three distinct function encryption schemes in XLoader 8.0 and a complex domain generation algorithm. The AI-assisted approach dramatically reduced analysis time from days to hours, enabling faster extraction of IoCs. However, human expertise was still required for the most sophisticated protection mechanisms. The report concludes that generative AI can serve as a force multiplier for malware analysis, though malware authors are likely to adapt their techniques in response.