Threats Tagged 'dga'

A ClickFix social engineering attack on an unmonitored endpoint led to a multi-stage intrusion affecting over 11 hosts. The infection chain began with a malicious HTA payload that silently installed an MSI package containing Potemkin, a custom loader with a deterministic DGA. Potemkin delivered RMMProject, a 4.4 MB Lua-scriptable RAT featuring browser credential theft with Chrome App-Bound Encryption bypass, hidden-desktop remote control, and 15 distinct task types. The attacker deployed EtherRAT, a Node.js backdoor resolving C2 addresses from Ethereum blockchain, and established a Cloudflare tunnel for persistent access. Hands-on-keyboard activity included battling Windows Defender through AMSI patches, registry modifications, and service termination, followed by lateral movement via WMIExec and SMBExec to deploy malware across the network and reach the domain controller.

KongTuke, a threat actor tracked since 2025, has launched a new campaign using a malicious browser extension called NexShield that impersonates uBlock Origin Lite. The extension causes browser crashes and displays fake security warnings to trick users into executing malicious commands. The campaign targets both home and corporate users, with domain-joined machines receiving a more sophisticated Python-based RAT named ModeloRAT. The attack chain involves multiple stages of obfuscation, anti-analysis techniques, and a Domain Generation Algorithm (DGA) for C2 communication. KongTuke employs extensive fingerprinting to avoid detection in analysis environments. The campaign demonstrates evolving social engineering tactics and a focus on infiltrating enterprise networks for potential lateral movement and data exfiltration.

MediumMalwareGermanyFranceUnited Kingdom+3#browser extension#fingerprinting#social engineering

Unit 42 researchers identified a new wave of Prometei botnet attacks in March 2025. The malware, which includes Linux and Windows variants, allows remote control of compromised systems for cryptocurrency mining and credential theft. Prometei is actively developed, incorporating new modules and methods, including a backdoor for various malicious activities. It uses a domain generation algorithm for C2 infrastructure and self-updating features for evasion. The article analyzes versions three and four of the Linux variant, highlighting differences from version two. Prometei's modular architecture makes it highly adaptable, with components for brute-forcing credentials, exploiting vulnerabilities, mining cryptocurrency, stealing data, and C2 communication. The botnet's primary goal is Monero mining, but it also has secondary capabilities like credential theft and deploying additional malware payloads.

MediumCampaignGermanyFranceUnited Kingdom+5#linux#credential theft#prometei