Dragon Breath is a threat campaign that leverages the RONINGLOADER malware as an initial loader to disable endpoint security tools on infected systems. RONINGLOADER acts as a dropper and loader, designed to evade detection by terminating or bypassing antivirus, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and other security mechanisms. Once security tools are disabled, the attackers deploy Gh0st RAT, a well-known remote access trojan that provides full control over the compromised system. Gh0st RAT allows attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including keylogging, screen capturing, file exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network. The attack chain does not require user interaction after initial compromise, increasing the risk of stealthy persistence. The campaign was recently reported on a trusted cybersecurity news source, indicating active or emerging threat activity. Although no specific affected software versions or CVEs are listed, the threat targets Windows-based environments where RONINGLOADER and Gh0st RAT are effective. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests this may be a targeted or emerging campaign rather than widespread mass exploitation. The combination of disabling security tools and deploying a powerful RAT makes this threat particularly dangerous for organizations lacking robust endpoint security and network monitoring.

For European organizations, the impact of this threat includes potential loss of confidentiality due to data theft, integrity compromise through unauthorized system control, and availability disruption if attackers deploy destructive payloads or disrupt security tools. The disabling of security tools severely hampers incident detection and response capabilities, allowing attackers to maintain persistence and conduct prolonged espionage or sabotage. Critical infrastructure, government agencies, and large enterprises with sensitive data are at heightened risk. The stealthy nature of Gh0st RAT means that breaches may go unnoticed for extended periods, increasing the potential damage. Additionally, the ability to move laterally within networks can lead to widespread compromise beyond the initially infected endpoint. The economic and reputational damage to affected organizations could be significant, especially in sectors like finance, energy, and telecommunications that are vital to European economies and security.

Organizations should implement advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting loader behaviors typical of RONINGLOADER, such as process injection, security tool termination, and unusual network connections. Network segmentation should be enforced to limit lateral movement of Gh0st RAT once deployed. Regularly updating and hardening endpoint security configurations to prevent unauthorized termination of security processes is critical. Employing threat hunting to identify indicators of compromise related to RONINGLOADER and Gh0st RAT, including anomalous process behavior and command-and-control (C2) traffic, will improve early detection. Multi-factor authentication and strict access controls can reduce the risk of initial compromise. Incident response plans should be updated to address scenarios involving disabled security tools and RAT infections. Finally, user education on phishing and social engineering, common initial infection vectors, remains important to reduce initial attack surface.