Memory Dump Analysis Anthology, Volume 9a

This reference volume consists of revised, edited, cross-referenced, and thematically organized articles from Software Diagnostics Institute and Software Diagnostics Library (former Crash Dump Analysis blog) about software diagnostics, root cause analysis, debugging, crash and hang dump analysis, software trace and log analysis written in August 2015 - February 2016.

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Compared to the volume 8b, the volume 9a features:

9 new crash dump analysis patterns
9 new software log and trace analysis patterns
15 Linux core dump analysis pattern variants
New workaround pattern
New memory dump analysis case study
Introduction to pattern-oriented software internals, pattern paradigms, pattern stacks, pattern repertoire
Introduction to software diagnostics canvas
Introduction to patterns-based root cause analysis methodology
Introduction to a protein metaphor for software traces and logs
Definition of software diagnostics scope
Introduction to artificial debugger and pseudo-memory dumps
Definition of tool-centric and pattern-centric software diagnostics, forensics, prognostics

The primary audience for Memory Dump Analysis Anthology reference volumes (Diagnomicon) is software engineers developing and maintaining products on Windows and Linux platforms, technical support, escalation, and site reliability engineers dealing with complex software issues, quality assurance engineers testing software, security and vulnerability researchers, reverse engineers, malware and memory forensics analysts.

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Dmitry Vostokov

Dmitry Vostokov is an internationally recognized expert, speaker, educator, scientist, inventor, and author. He founded the pattern-oriented software diagnostics, forensics, and prognostics discipline (Systematic Software Diagnostics) and Software Diagnostics Institute. Vostokov has also authored over 50 books on software diagnostics, anomaly detection and analysis, software and memory forensics, root cause analysis and problem solving, memory dump analysis, debugging, software trace and log analysis, reverse engineering, and malware analysis. He has over 30 years of experience in software architecture, design, development, and maintenance in various industries, including leadership, technical, and people management roles. Dmitry founded OpenTask Iterative and Incremental Publishing and Software Diagnostics Technology and Services (former Memory Dump Analysis Services). In his spare time, he explores Software Narratology and Quantum Software Diagnostics. His interest areas are theoretical software diagnostics and its mathematical and computer science foundations, application of formal logic, semiotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data mining to diagnostics and anomaly detection, software diagnostics engineering and diagnostics-driven development, diagnostics workflow and interaction. Recent interest areas also include functional programming, cloud native computing, monitoring, observability, visualization, security, automation, applications of category theory to software diagnostics, development and big data, and diagnostics of artificial intelligence.

Episode 213

An Interview with Dmitry Vostokov

Table of Contents

Preface 7

About the Author 9

PART 1: Professional Crash Dump Analysis and Debugging 11

When realloc is not a realloc 11

WinDbg Shortcut !ddstack 12

PART 2: Crash Dump Analysis Patterns 15

Stack Trace Collection (CPUs) 15

Object Distribution Anomaly (.NET Heap) 19

Stack Trace Surface 22

Hidden Stack Trace 24

Evental Dumps 27

Active Thread (Windows) 55

Clone Dump 59

Parameter Flow 63

Diachronic Module 67

PART 3: Pattern Interaction 69

Spiking Thread, Top Module, Module Hint, and Memory Fluctuation 69

PART 4: A Bit of Science and Philosophy 83

Quotes from Memoriarch 83

PART 5: Software Trace Analysis Patterns 85

Ruptured Trace 85

Sequence Repeat Anomaly 88

Adjoint Message 90

Coupled Activities 92

Error Powerset 94

Trace Dimension 96

Calibrating Trace 98

Data Interval 99

Identification Messages 101

PART 6: Fun with Debugging, Crash Dumps, and Traces 103

Dangerous Words 103

Debugging Slang 104

MOAN 104

LOG 104

Diplodoc 104

pMud 104

HLL 104

Success 105

F00D 105

Tor-mented 105

Obsession 105

Literature 105

CLERK 105

Analysis Paralysis 106

3D Dump 106

Star Wars 106

Daily Standup 106

Debugging Curiosities 107

Hung vs. Hanged 107

Trace Messages 107

13 107

Similar Cases 107

Error 1917 108

Dump2Wave Update 109

Diagnostics and Debugging in Science Fiction 110

Suspicious Volume 9a 111

Music for Debugging 112

Shpongle: Nothing Lasts But Nothing Is Lost 112

PART 7: Linux Core Dump Analysis Patterns 113

NULL Pointer (Data) 113

Stack Trace 114

NULL Pointer (Code) 115

Spiking Thread 116

Dynamic Memory Corruption (process heap) 118

Execution Residue 119

Coincidental Symbolic Information 121

Stack Overflow (user mode) 122

Divide by Zero (user mode) 124

Local Buffer Overflow 125

C++ Exception 126

Paratext 127

Active Thread 129

Lateral Damage 130

Critical Region 131

PART 8: Software Diagnostics, Root Cause Analysis, Debugging 135

Workaround Patterns 135

Axed Data 135

Diagnostics, Forensics, Prognostics: The Copernican Revolution 137

Pattern Repertoire 140

Pattern-Oriented Software Internals: Pattern Paradigms and Software Internals Pattern Stack 142

Software Diagnostics Canvas 147

Software Traces and Logs as Proteins 149

Patterns-Based Root Cause Analysis Methodology 152

Teaching Complex Diagnostic Scenarios with Artificial Debugger (ArtDbg) and Pseudo-Memory Dumps 156

The Scope of Software Diagnostics 159

PART 9: Art and Photography 163

W - I'M DEBUGGIN' IT® 163

Coincidental Symbolic Information Pattern 164

Pisa Fault System Model 165

System Playing Tetris 166

A Pattern of Zeroes 167

Abnormal Structure 168

Control Your Software Emissions! 169

Component-Based Bug Architecture 170

PART 10: Miscellaneous 171

Quotes 171

World Software Diagnostics Day 173

Train Journey 174

Appendix 175

Crash Dump Analysis Checklist 175

Pattern Changes 178

Index of WinDbg Commands 179

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