Digital Forensic Certification Practice Exam

Which tool is used to list all the related modules within an executable file and build a hierarchical tree diagram?

1. ResourcesExtract

2. OllyDbg

3. Dependency Walker

4. PEiD

The correct answer is: Dependency Walker

Dependency Walker is specifically designed to analyze executable files and their dependencies. It scans the executable to identify all the modules it uses, which can include DLL files and other executables. By examining these modules, Dependency Walker builds a hierarchical tree diagram that visually represents the relationships between the main executable and its dependencies, showcasing how they interact and depend on one another. This visualization is crucial for digital forensic investigations, as it allows investigators to understand not only the executable's architecture but also potential vulnerabilities or malicious components within the software. The tool thoroughly lists related modules, including their paths, which can assist in pinpointing any issues related to missing files or unexpected dependencies that may indicate tampering or malicious behavior. In contrast, other tools in the provided list serve different purposes: ResourcesExtract focuses on extracting resource files from executables, OllyDbg is primarily a debugger for analyzing the behavior of programs at runtime, and PEiD is used for identifying packers, cryptors, and compilers used to create executable files. Hence, Dependency Walker is the most suitable tool for the task of listing modules and building a hierarchical representation.