MalwarePublished 16 Jan 2026Updated 15 Feb 2026

December 2025 Infostealer Trend Report

Source AlienVault OTX General

Description

This analysis examines Infostealer malware trends during December 2025, focusing on distribution methods, volume, and disguising techniques. Key findings include the prevalence of ACRStealer, LummaC2, and Stealc Infostealers, with malware primarily distributed through SEO poisoning and compromised legitimate websites. The report highlights two significant trends: the abuse of Python scripts for malware distribution and the emergence of cryptocurrency-stealing malware using Tor. Distribution methods evolved from direct blog posts to leveraging legitimate websites and forums. The analysis also notes a shift in malware execution methods, with 65.8% distributed as EXE files and 34.2% using DLL Sideloading techniques. The report emphasizes the importance of vigilance against these evolving threats and provides detailed insights into the malware's behavior and infrastructure.

Impact

European organizations are at risk of data breaches involving credential theft, financial information compromise, and cryptocurrency theft due to these infostealer campaigns. The use of SEO poisoning and compromised legitimate websites increases the risk of infection for users who rely on search engines and trusted sites, potentially affecting a broad user base including corporate employees. The shift to DLL sideloading techniques can evade traditional endpoint security solutions, increasing the likelihood of successful infections. Cryptocurrency theft via Tor-based malware poses a direct financial threat, especially to organizations and individuals involved in digital asset management. The malware's ability to blend into legitimate traffic and forums complicates detection and response efforts. Disruption of business operations and reputational damage are possible if sensitive data is exfiltrated or systems are compromised. The absence of known exploits in the wild suggests the threat is currently emerging but could escalate, necessitating proactive defense measures.

Defensive guidance

1. Implement advanced web filtering and DNS security solutions to detect and block SEO poisoning and access to known malicious domains and URLs, including Tor onion services where feasible. 2. Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of identifying DLL sideloading and anomalous Python script execution to detect and prevent malware execution. 3. Conduct regular threat intelligence updates incorporating the provided indicators of compromise (IOCs) such as IPs, hashes, domains, and URLs to enhance detection capabilities. 4. Educate users on the risks of phishing and suspicious downloads, emphasizing caution with links from search engine results and forums. 5. Monitor network traffic for unusual outbound connections, especially to Tor networks or suspicious C2 infrastructure. 6. Enforce application whitelisting and restrict execution of unauthorized scripts and binaries. 7. Regularly audit and patch web-facing infrastructure to prevent compromise that could facilitate malware distribution. 8. For organizations handling cryptocurrency, implement multi-factor authentication and cold storage practices to reduce theft risk. 9. Collaborate with cybersecurity information sharing groups to stay informed on evolving infostealer tactics and infrastructure.

Indicators of compromise

Domains 4

activatesoftinc.icu
apexfurllc.top
cgky6bn6ux5wvlybtmm3z255igt52ljml2ngnc5qp3cnw5jlglamisad.onion
www.braix.top

URLs 3

http://cgky6bn6ux5wvlybtmm3z255igt52ljml2ngnc5qp3cnw5jlglamisad.onion/route.php
https://activatesoftinc.icu/zinfoz.dat
https://globalsnn3-new.cc/newSide.forester

IP addresses 1

91.92.240.104

Hashes 16

04cc3949a2a10aca0a68542c58bbc719
0d20c89f08e061f9883cc159d92ee52b
0d46622e03462bc4f726fb462c597cab
0e711edd52b6f8574caa0915a9459b3b
0eeca00b3e4b12084eeba8fd1c89d75a
5cabcab4233affa40bb8ddd846270779
720bb8ccaa694dff1231f0876343fe0e
997748c5b3e24c6f42e63445bb252501
3a2e375d2bfc7862edebeb923490ea8d89b858e8
78c2e081e2efeb50856573e7886be82d1f56082f

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Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 19 Jan 2026, 09:41 UTC

MITRE ATT&CK techniques12 from threat tags

Technical details