The threat involves a malicious .bat script delivered via email attachment that acts as a loader for a multi-stage malware infection. Initially, the script appears as a typical info-stealer but contains modifications from publicly available GitHub scripts, indicating a forked or customized variant. The script uses obfuscation by inserting junk characters into Base64-encoded payloads, which are decoded and executed via PowerShell. The first payload fetched is disguised as a legitimate image file hosted on a suspicious domain, which contains embedded shellcode delimited by specific tags. This shellcode is extracted and executed with multiple parameters, including URLs pointing to additional payloads. The final payload is a .NET executable identified as XWorm, a known malware family that implements persistence by creating a scheduled task named "Chromiumx2" that runs every minute. The malware uses Telegram's bot API as its command-and-control (C2) channel, sending system information such as username, OS version, CPU, RAM, and GPU details to the attacker. The infection chain leverages common evasion techniques such as junk character pollution, reversed hex encoding, and use of legitimate services (Telegram API) for C2 communications, complicating detection. The malware targets Windows 10 Pro systems and aims to steal data from Chrome browsers by injecting malicious code. No known active exploits in the wild have been reported yet, but the sophistication and persistence mechanisms suggest a medium-level threat that could escalate if widely deployed.

For European organizations, this threat poses a significant risk to confidentiality due to its info-stealing capabilities targeting Chrome browser data, which may include credentials, cookies, and other sensitive information. The persistence mechanism via scheduled tasks ensures the malware remains active, increasing the window for data exfiltration. The use of Telegram API for C2 communications can bypass traditional network monitoring tools, complicating detection and response efforts. Organizations with extensive use of Windows endpoints and Chrome browsers are particularly vulnerable. The malware could lead to credential theft, unauthorized access to corporate resources, and potential lateral movement within networks. Additionally, the obfuscation and multi-stage payload delivery increase the difficulty of timely detection. The threat could impact sectors with high-value data such as finance, healthcare, and government institutions in Europe, potentially leading to data breaches, regulatory fines under GDPR, and reputational damage.

European organizations should implement advanced email filtering solutions capable of detecting obfuscated scripts and suspicious attachments, including .bat files. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools should be configured to monitor for unusual scheduled task creations, especially those running executables from user roaming profiles or unusual paths. Network monitoring should include inspection of outbound traffic to Telegram API endpoints and other uncommon C2 channels. Employ application whitelisting to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts and binaries. Regularly update and patch Windows systems and browsers to reduce attack surface. Conduct user awareness training focusing on phishing and malicious attachments. Incident response teams should develop playbooks to analyze and remediate infections involving multi-stage payloads and obfuscated scripts. Finally, consider implementing behavioral analytics to detect anomalous process behaviors indicative of info-stealer activity.