CHFI Mobile and Malware Forensics Practice Question
Which of the following tools is BEST suited for performing static analysis of a malware binary to identify strings, headers, and imported functions without executing the file?
⚠ Common exam trap
EC-Council often tests the distinction between static and dynamic analysis, and the trap here is that candidates confuse sandbox tools (Cuckoo, Any.run) or process monitors (Procmon) with static analysis because they are commonly used in malware forensics, but they all require execution.
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
✓
IDA Pro
IDA Pro is the correct choice because it is a disassembler and debugger specifically designed for static analysis of binary executables. It allows an analyst to examine strings, PE/ELF headers, and imported functions without executing the file, making it ideal for malware reverse engineering. In contrast, the other options require execution or focus on runtime behavior.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Cuckoo Sandbox
Why it's wrong here
Cuckoo Sandbox is fundamentally a dynamic analysis framework: it executes a submitted sample in an isolated, instrumented virtual machine and observes its runtime behavior, such as file system changes, registry modifications, and network calls. While invaluable for observing malware behavior, this is the opposite of the static, non-executing, code-level inspection that IDA Pro performs. Therefore, it is ill-suited for the task of statically disassembling and analyzing the binary's code structure.
- ✗
Any.run
Why it's wrong here
Any.run is an interactive online malware sandbox that detonates files in a browser-based virtual environment and surfaces behavioral indicators like process trees, screenshots, and network traffic. Because it relies on executing the sample to produce these findings, it is a dynamic analysis service, not a static analysis tool. The question asks for a tool for static analysis, which any.run cannot accomplish without running the code, unlike IDA Pro.
- ✗
Process Monitor
Why it's wrong here
Process Monitor (ProcMon) is a real-time system monitoring utility from Sysinternals that logs kernel-level activity, including file system, registry, process/thread, and network operations, by attaching to kernel drivers. It is designed for dynamic observation during execution, requiring the target program to run for meaningful output. As a result, it does not perform static binary disassembly or code analysis, which is the specific purpose of IDA Pro.
- ✓
IDA Pro
Why this is correct
IDA Pro is the industry-standard static interactive disassembler, capable of performing offline binary analysis without ever executing the code. It generates assembly-level listings, reconstructs control flow graphs, and can recover data structures, function boundaries, and API calls through its powerful FLIRT signatures and plugin extensibility. This is precisely the static analysis required for reverse engineering and vulnerability research, distinguishing it from dynamic sandboxes or runtime monitors.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CHFI practice question is part of Courseiva's free EC-Council certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CHFI exam.