The Week in Review from Stamus Labs

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: 1261

This week, in addition to daily ruleset and IOC updates, we provided Stamus Security Platform customers with the following improved defense(s):

New threat detection(s) added [1]: 2 (Data Exfiltration Toolkit (DET), ICMP Tunneling)
Major changes to detections(s) [2]: 450
Updated threat detection(s) [3]: 453

Note: a "method" as referenced below, is a discrete detection vector for a given threat.

New Threat(s) Detected

The following detections were added to your Clear NDR (formerly Stamus Security Platform) this past week:

Data Exfiltration Toolkit (DET) (Data Theft)

DET is a proof of concept toolkit for Data Exfiltration using multiple channels simultaneously. It tests network monitoring and DLP solutions against various exfiltration techniques.

Total number of detection methods: 1
Kill chain phase(s): actions on objectives

ICMP Tunneling (Covert Channel)

ICMP is a critical network service used for connectivity verification, but attackers can inject malicious traffic into ICMP packets, potentially compromising network security.

Total number of detection methods: 2
Kill chain phase(s): actions on objectives

Major Detection Changes

The following detections were updated this past week with changes to kill chain phase(s) or MITRE ATT&CK tactic(s)/technique(s):

APT38 (APT)

APT38 is a financially motivated threat group from North Korea targeting banks. Some organizations use the name Lazarus Group to encompass various North Korean activities like APT38.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, delivery, actions on objectives
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1071
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1041, T1071, T1587
Methods added: 3

Backdoor (Trojan)

Backdoors give malicious users control over infected computers, similar to administration systems. They can do multiple tasks on the computer and be used to form botnets or spread through networks.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control, actions on objectives
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, actions on objectives, installation, delivery
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1071
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1041, T1496
Methods added: 6

Command and Control (Generic CnC)

Adversaries may use custom command and control protocols to communicate, mimicking or developing protocols on top of standard network stacks, instead of using existing Standard Application Layer Protocols.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, actions on objectives, delivery, installation
Methods added: 6

Fake Browser (Trojan)

Attackers infect enterprise networks with malware by promoting fake browser updates on hacked websites, leading to the installation of banking trojans and later ransomware encryption on compromised networks.

Added kill chain phase(s): exploitation
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): delivery, exploitation, command and control
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1189
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071, T1189
Methods added: 18

Generic Loader (Loader)

Loaders are evolving remote access Trojans, offering user-friendly interfaces, self-healing capabilities, and a platform for botmasters to sell bots. They are typically lightweight to evade security measures.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, delivery, actions on objectives
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1071
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071, T1566
Methods added: 1

Hqwar (Data Theft)

Trojan-Banker programs steal bank account information and other data, then transfer it to malicious users. Stolen data can be transmitted through email, FTP, the web, or other methods.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, actions on objectives
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1071
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1041
Methods added: 3

LandUpdate808 (Trojan)

Fake update variants like SocGholish, Clear Fake, Smart Ape, and ClickFix are being tracked by a collaboration introducing the LandUpdate808 Fake Update Variant.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): delivery, command and control
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1189
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1189
Methods added: 15

Lumma (Data Theft)

Lumma is a C-based information stealer sold on Russian underground forums and Telegram by LummaC since August 2022. It targets cryptocurrency wallets and has file grabber capabilities.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control, actions on objectives
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): actions on objectives, command and control, installation, delivery
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1071
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1005, T1071, T1573
Methods added: 203

NetSupport RAT (RAT)

Remote Access Trojans allow covert surveillance and unauthorized access to victim PCs, collecting keystrokes, passwords, screenshots, and more. They differ from keyloggers by providing remote access capabilities to attackers.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): actions on objectives, command and control, exploitation, installation
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1105
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071, T1105
Methods added: 2

Powershell (Lateral Movement)

Adversaries can abuse PowerShell for execution, discovery, and code running. Examples include Start-Process and Invoke-Command cmdlets, requiring administrator permissions for remote connections.

Added kill chain phase(s): delivery
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): actions on objectives, command and control, delivery
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1027
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071, T1041, T1027
Methods added: 2

SocGholish (Social Engineering)

Malwarebytes found a new social engineering toolkit that uses compromised websites to perform advanced fingerprinting checks and deliver the NetSupport RAT payload.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, exploitation, delivery, reconnaissance, actions on objectives
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1189
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071, T1027, T1189
Methods added: 12

Stealer and Exfiltration (Data Theft)

Info stealers gather sensitive data on infected computers to send to attackers, typically targeting online banking, social media, email, and FTP accounts. They use various methods including hooking browsers and keylogging.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control, actions on objectives
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): actions on objectives, command and control, installation, delivery, exploitation
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1041
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071, T1005, T1041, T1486, T1587, T1496
Methods added: 3

TA4903 (APT)

Advanced persistent threats (APTs) are stealthy threat actors, often nation states or state-sponsored groups, who gain unauthorized access to networks for political or economic motivations, utilizing various tactics to remain undetected.

Added kill chain phase(s): delivery
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): delivery
Methods added: 9

TA582 (APT)

An APT is a stealthy threat actor, often nation state or state-sponsored, gaining unauthorized access and remaining undetected in a network for political or economic reasons, targeting various sectors.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control
Methods added: 48

TrojanSpy-Android (Data Theft)

Malicious programs in the Trojan-Spy.AndroidOS.Agent family covertly send data from infected Android devices to criminals.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, actions on objectives, delivery, installation
Methods added: 1

XWorm (RAT)

Cyble research labs found a malware developer advertising a powerful Windows RAT on the dark web during a threat-hunting exercise.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, delivery
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1573
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071, T1573
Methods added: 118

Other Threat Detection Update(s)

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
APT38	3	command and control	http	301	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery	dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls	2025-01-25
Backdoor	6	command and control, actions on objectives	tcp, icmp, dns, http, tls	471	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, installation	dns, ftp, http, icmp, smtp, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls, udp	2025-01-23
Command and Control	6	command and control	icmp, http, tcp	541	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, installation	dns, http, icmp, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls	2025-01-23
Data Exfiltration Toolkit (DET)	1	actions on objectives	http	1	actions on objectives	http	2025-01-23
Fake Browser	18	exploitation	dns, tls, http	1382	command and control, delivery, exploitation	dns, http, tls	2025-01-25
Generic Loader	1	command and control	http	143	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery	dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls	2025-01-23
Hqwar	3	command and control	dns, http, tls	173	actions on objectives, command and control	dns, http, tls	2025-01-24
ICMP Tunneling	2	actions on objectives	icmp	2	actions on objectives	icmp	2025-01-23
LandUpdate808	15	command and control	dns, tls, http	203	command and control, delivery	dns, http, tls	2025-01-25
Lumma	203	command and control, actions on objectives	dns, tls, http	3987	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, installation	dns, http, tls	2025-01-25
NetSupport RAT	2	command and control	http	73	actions on objectives, command and control, exploitation, installation	dns, http, tls	2025-01-25
Powershell	2	delivery	http	56	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery	dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls	2025-01-23
SocGholish	12	command and control	dns, tls, http	1236	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, exploitation, reconnaissance	dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls	2025-01-24
Stealer and Exfiltration	3	command and control, actions on objectives	dns, tls, http	449	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, exploitation, installation	dns, ftp, http, smtp, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls	2025-01-23
TA4903	9	delivery	dns, tls, http	1246	delivery	dns, http, tls	2025-01-21
TA582	48	command and control	dns, http, tls	760	command and control	dns, http, tls	2025-01-25
TrojanSpy-Android	1	command and control	http	1564	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, installation	dns, http, tcp, tls	2025-01-23
XWorm	118	command and control	tcp-pkt	2250	command and control, delivery	dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls	2025-01-24

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