← All detection heuristics · Shellcode
high
SC_XOR_DECODER
What it means
XOR-based decoder stub that decrypts shellcode at runtime.
Why it fires
Shellcode is often XOR-encoded to evade signature detection. A decoder stub at the start decrypts the real payload in memory. Finding a decoder stub strongly suggests the file carries encrypted shellcode.
Other Shellcode heuristics
SC_STR_CREATEREMOTETHREAD SC_MSF_BIND SC_MSF_REVERSE SC_MSF_C2 SC_STR_URLDOWNLOAD SC_STR_WRITEPROCESSMEMORY SC_XOR_ENCODED SC_STR_CREATEPROCESS SC_EGG_HUNTER SC_STR_GETPROCADDRESS SC_HEAP_SPRAY SC_STR_LOADLIBRARY SC_API_HASH_RESOLVER SC_PEB_ACCESS_X64 SC_PEB_ACCESS SC_STR_POWERSHELL SC_STR_SHELLEXEC SC_STR_WINEXEC SC_STR_WSCRIPT SC_XOR_DECODED_NETWORK_CONFIG SC_STR_BITSADMIN SC_STR_CERTUTIL SC_STR_CMD SC_STR_MSHTA