200-201 Host-Based Analysis Practice Question
An analyst is performing memory forensics on a Windows machine using Volatility. Which command would be most useful to identify hidden or injected code within a process?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse memory analysis plugins: candidates might think `dlllist` or `pslist` can reveal hidden code, but only `malfind` specifically targets injected code by analyzing memory permissions and file backing.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
malfind
The `malfind` plugin in Volatility is specifically designed to detect hidden or injected code in process memory. It scans for memory regions that are both executable and writable (or have no file backing on disk), which are common indicators of code injection techniques like process hollowing or reflective DLL injection. By identifying these suspicious memory pages, `malfind` helps analysts uncover malware that attempts to hide within legitimate processes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
dlllist
Why it's wrong here
dlllist enumerates DLLs loaded by a process from the PEB's loader lists, so injected or hidden modules absent from those lists are not revealed. It is tempting for module inspection; malfind detects injected code by scanning for executable memory regions lacking a mapped file backing.
- ✗
netscan
Why it's wrong here
netscan enumerates network connections and listening sockets from pool scanning, which is unrelated to locating injected code inside a process address space. It is tempting during incident triage for command-and-control connections; malfind is the plugin that flags injected executable memory.
- ✗
pslist
Why it's wrong here
pslist walks the active process list, so it enumerates running processes but cannot reveal injected or hidden code inside them; that requires malfind, which scans for suspicious memory regions. It is tempting because pslist is the standard first step for listing processes during triage, and would be correct when simply confirming which processes were running.
- ✓
malfind
Why this is correct
The malfind plugin scans process memory for pages exhibiting characteristics of injected or hidden code, such as executable regions lacking a corresponding mapped file on disk. That directly addresses the requirement to identify injected code within a process during Windows memory forensics.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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