21-May-2024
Welcome to the weekly threat detection update report from Stamus Networks. Each week, you will receive this email with a summary of the updates.
Current Stamus Threat Intelligence (STI) release version: 1051
This week, in addition to daily ruleset and IOC updates, we provided Stamus Security Platform customers with the following improved defense(s):
Note: a "method" as referenced below, is a discrete detection vector for a given threat.
The following detections were added to your Stamus Security Platform (SSP) this past week:
Adversaries may develop malware and malware components that can be used during targeting. Building malicious software can include the development of payloads, droppers, post-compromise tools, backdoors (including backdoored images), packers, C2 protocols, and the creation of infected removable media. Adversaries may develop malware to support their operations, creating a means for maintaining control of remote machines, evading defenses, and executing post-compromise behaviors. MITRE
Horabot is part of the campaign where threat actors infect machines with a banking Trojan and spam tool. This campaign primarily focuses on Spanish-speaking users in the Americas. Horabot enables attackers to manipulate Outlook mailboxes, extract email addresses, distribute phishing emails with harmful attachments, and acquire login credentials and security codes. PCrisk
The following detections were updated this past week with changes to kill chain phase(s) or MITRE ATT&CK tactic(s)/technique(s):
The Atomic macOS Stealer can steal various types of information from the victim’s machine, including keychain passwords, complete system information, files from the desktop and documents folder, and even the macOS password. The stealer is designed to target multiple browsers and can extract auto-fills, passwords, cookies, wallets, and credit card information. Specifically, AMOS can target cryptowallets such as Electrum, Binance, Exodus, Atomic, and Coinomi. Cyble
Malware of this family uses advertising as its main monetization method. The malware uses different methods to display as many ads as possible to the user, including by installing new adware.
These Trojans can get root privileges in order to hide in the system folder, which makes the Trojans very difficult to remove. Kaspersky
A remote access tool (RAT) is a piece of software that allows a remote user to control a system as if they had physical access to that system. An adversary may utilize existing RATs, modify existing RATs, or create their own RAT. MITRE
Backdoors are designed to give malicious users remote control over an infected computer. In terms of functionality, Backdoors are similar to many administration systems designed and distributed by software developers.
These types of malicious programs make it possible to do anything the author wants on the infected computer: send and receive files, launch files or delete them, display messages, delete data, reboot the computer, etc.
The programs in this category are often used in order to unite a group of victim computers and form a botnet or zombie network. This gives malicious users centralized control over an army of infected computers which can then be used for criminal purposes.
There is also a group of Backdoors which are capable of spreading via networks and infecting other computers as Net-Worms do. The difference is that such Backdoors do not spread automatically (as Net-Worms do), but only upon a special “command” from the malicious user that controls them. Kaspersky
There are several malicious fake updates campaigns being run across thousands of compromised websites. This campaign appears to have started around July 19th, 2023. Based on a search on PublicWWW of the injection base64 there are at least 434 infected sites. The name is a reference to the majority of the Javascript being used without obfuscation. One noticeable difference from SocGholish is that there appears to be no tracking of visits by IP or cookies. As an analyst you can you go back to the compromised site over and over coming from the same IP and not clearing your browser cache. This also means the site owner is more likely to see the infection as well. When a user visits a compromised website with ClearFake, the page initially loads as normal before the whole page is taken over by a call to action to update Chrome.
On the index page of the compromised site there is a Javascript injection. The Javascript is base64 encoded. Presumably this is a dynamic injection and will change over time to reflect the new host for the initial payload. On the index page of the compromised site there is a Javascript injection. The Javascript is base64 encoded. Presumably this is a dynamic injection and will change over time to reflect the new host for the initial payload. The second web call returns a Javascript that creates an iframe to house the fake update UI. The iframe src is set to a Keitaro endpoint. The response from the Keitaro endpoint is the foundation for the HTML to be rendered within the iframe.
Adversaries may communicate using a custom command and control protocol instead of encapsulating commands/data in an existing Standard Application Layer Protocol. Implementations include mimicking well-known protocols or developing custom protocols (including raw sockets) on top of fundamental protocols provided by TCP/IP/another standard network stack.
DarkComet is a Windows remote administration tool and backdoor. MITRE
Ransom malware, or ransomware, is a type of malware that prevents users from accessing their system or personal files and demands ransom payment in order to regain access. The earliest variants of ransomware were developed in the late 1980s, and payment was to be sent via snail mail. Today, ransomware authors order that payment be sent via cryptocurrency or credit card. Malwarebytes
Since late 2021, samples associated with the DUCKTAIL operation were exclusively written in .NET Core and were compiled using its single file feature. This feature bundles all dependent libraries and files into a single executable, including the main assembly2. The usage of .NET Core and its single-file feature is not commonly seen in malware. WithSecure
Earth Hundun is a cyberespionage-motivated threat actor that has been active for several years in the Asia-Pacific region, targeting the technology and government sectors. The group has been known for employing several tools and techniques, including Waterbear, a malware entity that has had over 10 versions since 2009. Waterbear is known for its complexity, as it uses a number of evasion mechanisms to minimize the chance of detection and analysis. Succeeding versions have added enhancements that make it even more troublesome to deal with. In 2022, Earth Hundun began using the latest version of Waterbear — also known as Deuterbear — which has several changes, including anti-memory scanning and decryption routines, that make us consider it a different malware entity from the original Waterbear. Trendmicro
Attackers are utilizing hacked web sites that promote fake browser updates to infect targets with banking trojans. In some cases, post exploitation toolkits are later executed to encrypt the compromised network with ransomware.
Between May and September 2019, FireEye has conducted multiple incident response cases where enterprise customers were infected with malware through fake browser updates.
Hacked sites would display these "fakeupdates" through JavaScript alerts that state the user is using an old version of a web browser and that they should download an offered "update" to keep the browser running "smoothly and securely".
Loaders, for the most part, have one job: grab malicious executables or payloads from an attacker-controlled server. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t more happening under the hood of some, such as a user-friendly UI, self-healing capabilities, or the equivalent of a retail shop where a botmaster can sell his bots to potential clients.
Loaders are essentially basic remote access Trojans that give an attacker the ability to remotely interact with and control a compromised computer, or bot. While traditionally lightweight (smaller than 50 KB in size) in order to bypass detection by antivirus and other security monitoring technology, loaders evolve, and their viability to cybercriminals remains.
Cyber criminals violated the law TDS (Traffic Direction System) platform Keitaro and used it to redirect them users in exploit kits RIG and Fallout in order to infect them with malicious software.
TDS platforms are designed for redirection of users in particular sites. Legitimate TDS platforms, such as Keitaro, are mainly used by individuals and companies that want to advertise services or their products. Platforms drive users to the pages that companies want, targeting specific customers and promoting an ad campaign. techbizweb
Lumma is an information stealer written in C, sold as a Malware-as-a-Service by LummaC on Russian-speaking underground forums and Telegram since at least August 2022. Lumma's capabilities are those of a classic stealer, with a focus on cryptocurrency wallets, and file grabber capabilities. Malpedia
Parrot TDS acts as a gateway for further malicious campaigns to reach potential victims. In this particular case, the infected sites’ appearances are altered by a campaign called FakeUpdate (also known as SocGholish), which uses JavaScript to display fake notices for users to update their browser, offering an update file for download. The file observed being delivered to victims is a remote access tool. Avast
These programs have various functions, such as concealing files in the system, hiding the windows of running applications, or terminating active processes. The group includes cryptocurrency miners that generate coins using the target device’s resources. Cybercriminals usually use them in stealth mode. They are not malicious in themselves. Unlike NetTool, such programs are designed to operate locally. Kaspersky
It leverages compromised websites and performs some of the most creative fingerprinting checks we’ve seen, before delivering its payload (NetSupport RAT). Malwarebytes
The term info stealer is self-explanatory. This type of malware resides in an infected computer and gathers data in order to send it to the attacker. Typical targets are credentials used in online banking services, social media sites, emails, or FTP accounts.
Info stealers may use many methods of data acquisition. The most common are:
hooking browsers (and sometimes other applications) and stealing credentials that are typed by the user using web injection scripts that are adding extra fields to web forms and submitting information from them to a server owned by the attacker form grabbing (finding specific opened windows and stealing their content) keylogging stealing passwords saved in the system and cookies Modern info stealers are usually parts of botnets. Sometimes the target of attack and related events are configured remotely by the command sent from the Command and Control server (C&C). Malwarebytes
An advanced persistent threat (APT) is a stealthy computer network threat actor, typically a nation state or state-sponsored group, which gains unauthorized access to a computer network and remains undetected for an extended period. In recent times, the term may also refer to non-state sponsored groups conducting large-scale targeted intrusions for specific goals.
Such threat actors' motivations are typically political or economic. To date, every major business sector has recorded instances of attacks by advanced actors with specific goals seeking to steal, spy or disrupt. These include government, defense, financial services, legal services, industrial, telecoms, consumer goods, and many more. Some groups utilize traditional espionage vectors, including social engineering, human intelligence and infiltration to gain access to a physical location to enable network attacks. The purpose of these attacks is to place custom malicious code on one or multiple computers for specific tasks.
Source: Wikipedia
An advanced persistent threat (APT) is a stealthy computer network threat actor, typically a nation state or state-sponsored group, which gains unauthorized access to a computer network and remains undetected for an extended period. In recent times, the term may also refer to non-state sponsored groups conducting large-scale targeted intrusions for specific goals.
Such threat actors' motivations are typically political or economic. To date, every major business sector has recorded instances of attacks by advanced actors with specific goals seeking to steal, spy or disrupt. These include government, defense, financial services, legal services, industrial, telecoms, consumer goods, and many more. Some groups utilize traditional espionage vectors, including social engineering, human intelligence and infiltration to gain access to a physical location to enable network attacks. The purpose of these attacks is to place custom malicious code on one or multiple computers for specific tasks.
Source: Wikipedia
Again, the generic nature of this detection means that the Payloads performed by this group of trojans may be highly variable, and therefore difficult to describe specifically. This group of trojans has been observed to perform any, or all, of the following actions:
redirect Web traffic
- manipulate certain Windows or third-party applications including settings or configurations
- drop or install additional malicious programs
- download and run additional malicious programs
Please note that this list is not exhaustive.
Microsoft
A Trojan downloader is a type of Trojan horse that downloads and installs files, often malicious programs. A Trojan horse is a type of software that looks legitimate but can be malicious in nature. Sometimes these programs can be downloaded onto a device without the user’s knowledge or consent. A Trojan’s purpose is to damage, disrupt, steal, or generally inflict some other harm on your computer and devices. Norton
During a routine threat-hunting exercise, Cyble research labs discovered a dark web post where a malware developer was advertising a powerful Windows RAT. Cyble
The following threat detection(s) were improved this past week with new or updated threat methods.
| Name of threat | New coverage | Total coverage | Last updated | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Detection methods | Kill chain phases | Protocols involved | Detection methods | Kill chain phases | Protocols involved | ||
| AMOS | 40 | command and control, actions on objectives | dns, http, tls | 58 | actions on objectives, command and control, delivery | dns, http, tls | 2024-05-15 |
| Android Trojan Agent | 6 | command and control, actions on objectives | http | 221 | actions on objectives, command and control, delivery | dns, http, tcp, tls | 2024-05-15 |
| AsyncRAT | 33 | command and control | dns, tls, http | 468 | command and control, delivery | dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls | 2024-05-18 |
| Backdoor | 10 | command and control | dns, tls, http | 467 | actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, installation | dns, ftp, http, icmp, smtp, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls, udp | 2024-05-15 |
| ClearFake | 9 | command and control | dns, tls, http | 116 | command and control, exploitation | dns, http, tls | 2024-05-17 |
| Command and Control | 57 | command and control, delivery | dns, tls, http | 485 | actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, installation | dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls | 2024-05-15 |
| DarkComet | 12 | command and control | dns, tls, http | 56 | actions on objectives, command and control, installation | dns, http, tcp, tls | 2024-05-15 |
| DarkGate | 7 | command and control | dns, http, tls | 70 | actions on objectives, command and control, delivery | dns, http, tls | 2024-05-17 |
| Ducktail Stealer | 1 | actions on objectives | tls | 24 | actions on objectives, command and control, delivery | dns, http, tls | 2024-05-17 |
| Earth Hundun Group | 43 | command and control | dns, tls, tcp, http | 62 | command and control | dns, http, tcp, tls | 2024-05-17 |
| Fake Browser | 24 | exploitation | dns, tls, http | 542 | delivery, exploitation | dns, http, tls | 2024-05-18 |
| Generic Loader | 1 | command and control | tcp-pkt | 40 | actions on objectives, command and control, delivery | dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls | 2024-05-15 |
| Horabot | 2 | actions on objectives, delivery | http | 2 | actions on objectives, delivery | http | 2024-05-17 |
| Keitaro | 9 | exploitation | dns, tls, http | 348 | command and control, delivery, exploitation | dns, http, tls | 2024-05-18 |
| Lumma | 51 | command and control | dns, tls, http | 796 | actions on objectives, command and control, installation | dns, http, tls | 2024-05-18 |
| Malicious Executable | 2 | delivery | http | 2 | delivery | http | 2024-05-17 |
| Parrot TDS | 3 | command and control | dns, tls, http | 49 | command and control, delivery | dns, http, tls | 2024-05-18 |
| RiskTool | 1 | command and control | http | 59 | actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, installation | http | 2024-05-15 |
| SocGholish | 3 | command and control | dns, tls, http | 962 | actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, exploitation, reconnaissance | dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls | 2024-05-14 |
| Stealer and Exfiltration | 2 | actions on objectives, command and control | smtp, http | 430 | actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, exploitation, installation | dns, ftp, http, smtp, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls | 2024-05-15 |
| TA4903 | 6 | delivery | dns, tls, http | 810 | delivery | dns, http, tls | 2024-05-14 |
| TA582 | 3 | command and control | dns, http, tls | 100 | command and control | dns, http, tls | 2024-05-14 |
| Trojan Agent | 5 | command and control | dns, http, tcp-pkt | 585 | actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, installation | dns, http, ip, smtp, tcp, tcp-pkt, tcp-stream, tls, udp | 2024-05-15 |
| Trojan Downloader | 3 | command and control | http | 302 | actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, installation | dns, http, tcp, tls, udp | 2024-05-16 |
| XWorm | 26 | command and control | tcp-pkt | 1069 | command and control, delivery | dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls | 2024-05-18 |
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Stamus Networks believes in a world where defenders are heroes, and a future where those they protect remain safe. As organizations face threats from well-funded adversaries, we relentlessly pursue solutions that make the defender’s job easier and more impactful. The global leader in Suricata-based network security solutions, Stamus Networks helps enterprise security teams know more, respond sooner and mitigate their risk with insights gathered from cloud and on-premise network activity. Our Stamus Security Platform combines the best of intrusion detection (IDS), network security monitoring (NSM), and network detection and response (NDR) systems into a single solution that exposes serious and imminent threats to critical assets and empowers rapid response.
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