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analyzing-bootkit-and-rootkit-samples

Analyzes bootkit and advanced rootkit malware that infects the Master Boot Record (MBR), Volume Boot Record (VBR), or UEFI firmware to gain persistence below the operating system. Covers boot sector analysis, UEFI module inspection, and anti-rootkit detection techniques. Activates for requests involving bootkit analysis, MBR malware investigation, UEFI persistence analysis, or pre-OS malware detection.

90

Quality

88%

Does it follow best practices?

Impact

Pending

No eval scenarios have been run

SecuritybySnyk

Advisory

Suggest reviewing before use

SKILL.md
Quality
Evals
Security

Quality

Discovery

100%

Based on the skill's description, can an agent find and select it at the right time? Clear, specific descriptions lead to better discovery.

This is an excellent skill description that clearly defines a specific niche (boot-level malware analysis), lists concrete capabilities, and provides explicit activation triggers. It uses proper third-person voice throughout and includes both expanded terms and acronyms for good keyword coverage. The description is concise yet comprehensive, making it easy for Claude to distinguish this skill from other security-related skills.

DimensionReasoningScore

Specificity

Lists multiple specific concrete actions: 'boot sector analysis', 'UEFI module inspection', 'anti-rootkit detection techniques', and describes the specific malware targets (MBR, VBR, UEFI firmware). Very concrete and detailed.

3 / 3

Completeness

Clearly answers both 'what' (analyzes bootkit/rootkit malware, covers boot sector analysis, UEFI module inspection, anti-rootkit detection) and 'when' ('Activates for requests involving bootkit analysis, MBR malware investigation, UEFI persistence analysis, or pre-OS malware detection').

3 / 3

Trigger Term Quality

Includes strong natural keywords users would say: 'bootkit', 'rootkit', 'MBR malware', 'UEFI persistence', 'boot sector', 'pre-OS malware detection', 'Master Boot Record', 'Volume Boot Record'. Good coverage of both acronyms and full terms.

3 / 3

Distinctiveness Conflict Risk

Highly distinctive niche focusing specifically on boot-level and firmware-level malware. The triggers (bootkit, MBR malware, UEFI persistence, pre-OS malware) are very specific and unlikely to conflict with general malware analysis or other security skills.

3 / 3

Total

12

/

12

Passed

Implementation

77%

Reviews the quality of instructions and guidance provided to agents. Good implementation is clear, handles edge cases, and produces reliable results.

This is a strong, highly actionable skill for bootkit/rootkit analysis with executable commands, real malware signatures, and a well-structured multi-step workflow. Its main weaknesses are token inefficiency from glossary definitions and tool descriptions that Claude already knows, and the monolithic structure that could benefit from splitting reference material into separate files. The detailed output format template and common scenario with pitfalls are particularly valuable additions.

Suggestions

Remove or significantly trim the Key Concepts glossary table - Claude already knows what MBR, UEFI, DKOM, Secure Boot, and DSE are; at most keep a brief note on bootkit-specific nuances.

Move the Tools & Systems section, known UEFI bootkit detection points, and the detailed output format template into separate reference files (e.g., TOOLS.md, KNOWN_BOOTKITS.md, REPORT_TEMPLATE.md) with clear links from the main skill.

DimensionReasoningScore

Conciseness

The skill is fairly comprehensive but includes some unnecessary content like the Key Concepts glossary table (Claude knows what MBR, UEFI, DKOM, and DSE are) and the Tools & Systems section which largely restates obvious tool descriptions. The known UEFI bootkit detection points section is valuable domain knowledge, but the glossary adds token bloat.

2 / 3

Actionability

Excellent actionability throughout - provides fully executable bash commands for disk acquisition, Python scripts for MBR analysis with signature matching, specific Volatility 3 commands for rootkit detection, and concrete chipsec/UEFITool commands. Code is copy-paste ready with real hex signatures and meaningful analysis logic.

3 / 3

Workflow Clarity

The 6-step workflow is clearly sequenced from acquisition through analysis to documentation, with logical progression (acquire → analyze MBR → analyze UEFI → detect rootkits → verify boot chain → document). Validation checkpoints are present (hash verification of firmware dumps, signature verification of boot components, comparison against known-good baselines). The scenario section explicitly warns about pitfalls like analyzing while compromised OS is running.

3 / 3

Progressive Disclosure

The content is a single monolithic file with no references to external files for deeper dives. The UEFI malware detection points, detailed output format, and glossary could be split into separate reference files. However, the internal structure with clear headers and sections provides reasonable navigability within the single file.

2 / 3

Total

10

/

12

Passed

Validation

90%

Checks the skill against the spec for correct structure and formatting. All validation checks must pass before discovery and implementation can be scored.

Validation10 / 11 Passed

Validation for skill structure

CriteriaDescriptionResult

frontmatter_unknown_keys

Unknown frontmatter key(s) found; consider removing or moving to metadata

Warning

Total

10

/

11

Passed

Repository
mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills
Reviewed

Table of Contents

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