C2Looper: A New Backdoor Likely Tied To Ransomware With GitHub C2
C2Looper is a Rust-based backdoor malware identified in mid-2026, associated with ransomware threat actors. It provides remote shell execution, reconnaissance, and payload deployment capabilities. Initial versions communicate via plaintext HTTP, while later versions use GitHub repositories for command-and-control, storing commands and exfiltrated data in JSON files. Version 2 adds features such as drive enumeration, shellcode injection, and file listing. Delivery is assessed with low to medium confidence to occur through multi-stage ClickFix infection chains. The malware is actively developed and likely used by initial access brokers to facilitate ransomware and data theft operations.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
C2Looper is a newly identified Rust-based malware family discovered in July 2026, likely used by ransomware-related threat actors. It functions as a backdoor providing remote shell access, reconnaissance, and the ability to deploy additional payloads. The malware dynamically resolves Windows APIs and encrypts strings using XOR operations. Initial versions communicate over plaintext HTTP, but an evolved version uses GitHub repositories as a command-and-control channel, storing commands and exfiltrated data in JSON format. Version 2 introduces enhanced commands including reconnaissance data collection, drive enumeration, shellcode injection, and file listing. Delivery is assessed with low to medium confidence to occur through multi-stage ClickFix infection chains. The malware's active development and refined capabilities suggest it serves initial access brokers supporting ransomware and data theft campaigns.
Potential Impact
C2Looper enables attackers to maintain persistent backdoor access on compromised Windows systems, execute arbitrary commands remotely, collect reconnaissance data, and deploy additional malicious payloads. Its use of GitHub repositories for command-and-control complicates detection and takedown efforts. Advanced features such as shellcode injection and drive enumeration increase its capability to support ransomware deployment and data theft. Although no known exploits in the wild have been reported, the malware's active development and association with ransomware actors present a credible medium-level threat.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official patches or vendor advisories exist for C2Looper as it is malware rather than a software vulnerability. Mitigation should focus on detection and prevention, including monitoring for unusual GitHub repository access patterns and suspicious HTTP communications. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying Rust-based backdoors and DLL sideloading techniques. Strengthen defenses against initial access vectors such as ClickFix infection chains. Incident response and malware removal are required upon detection.
Indicators of Compromise
- ip: 45.158.196.184
- hash: f59f32c9af4fa8a5dbd4668df8893593bc0c4324816cbf9b956acedcbfb8cdb6
- hash: f96ff2f3abbff7f382ace509b90e54853b4b61c402ecde27d82f1c17b414867b
- hash: 20675a659c338f7267fd09bacb431f4491f061d3acf42d07aca2dec3d25fa549
- ip: 45.158.196.23
C2Looper: A New Backdoor Likely Tied To Ransomware With GitHub C2
Description
C2Looper is a Rust-based backdoor malware identified in mid-2026, associated with ransomware threat actors. It provides remote shell execution, reconnaissance, and payload deployment capabilities. Initial versions communicate via plaintext HTTP, while later versions use GitHub repositories for command-and-control, storing commands and exfiltrated data in JSON files. Version 2 adds features such as drive enumeration, shellcode injection, and file listing. Delivery is assessed with low to medium confidence to occur through multi-stage ClickFix infection chains. The malware is actively developed and likely used by initial access brokers to facilitate ransomware and data theft operations.
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
C2Looper is a newly identified Rust-based malware family discovered in July 2026, likely used by ransomware-related threat actors. It functions as a backdoor providing remote shell access, reconnaissance, and the ability to deploy additional payloads. The malware dynamically resolves Windows APIs and encrypts strings using XOR operations. Initial versions communicate over plaintext HTTP, but an evolved version uses GitHub repositories as a command-and-control channel, storing commands and exfiltrated data in JSON format. Version 2 introduces enhanced commands including reconnaissance data collection, drive enumeration, shellcode injection, and file listing. Delivery is assessed with low to medium confidence to occur through multi-stage ClickFix infection chains. The malware's active development and refined capabilities suggest it serves initial access brokers supporting ransomware and data theft campaigns.
Potential Impact
C2Looper enables attackers to maintain persistent backdoor access on compromised Windows systems, execute arbitrary commands remotely, collect reconnaissance data, and deploy additional malicious payloads. Its use of GitHub repositories for command-and-control complicates detection and takedown efforts. Advanced features such as shellcode injection and drive enumeration increase its capability to support ransomware deployment and data theft. Although no known exploits in the wild have been reported, the malware's active development and association with ransomware actors present a credible medium-level threat.
Defensive Guidance
No official patches or vendor advisories exist for C2Looper as it is malware rather than a software vulnerability. Mitigation should focus on detection and prevention, including monitoring for unusual GitHub repository access patterns and suspicious HTTP communications. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying Rust-based backdoors and DLL sideloading techniques. Strengthen defenses against initial access vectors such as ClickFix infection chains. Incident response and malware removal are required upon detection.
Technical Details
- Author
- AlienVault
- Tlp
- white
- References
- ["https://www.zscaler.com/blogs/security-research/c2looper-new-backdoor-likely-tied-ransomware-github-c2"]
- Pulse Id
- 6a8322da43ee19a9f60899af
Indicators of Compromise
Ip
| Value | Description | Copy |
|---|---|---|
ip45.158.196.184 | — | |
ip45.158.196.23 | — |
Hash
| Value | Description | Copy |
|---|---|---|
hashf59f32c9af4fa8a5dbd4668df8893593bc0c4324816cbf9b956acedcbfb8cdb6 | — | |
hashf96ff2f3abbff7f382ace509b90e54853b4b61c402ecde27d82f1c17b414867b | — | |
hash20675a659c338f7267fd09bacb431f4491f061d3acf42d07aca2dec3d25fa549 | — |
Threat ID: 6a842553bf8831d539882137
Added to database: 08/18/2026, 09:26:43 UTC
Last enriched: 09/24/2026, 01:48:58 UTC
Last updated: 10/01/2026, 10:03:07 UTC
Views: 118
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