Threats Tagged 'shellcode'

Analysts discovered a new Remcos RAT infection chain starting with a batch file executing encoded commands that creates hidden directories and retrieves encrypted payloads. Unlike earlier campaigns relying on PowerShell-hosted .NET loaders, this variant incorporates DonutLoader shellcode and AutoIt-based staging for in-memory payload delivery. The infection begins with a phishing email containing a malicious batch file named Bestellung.CMD. The chain abuses legitimate Windows utilities including cscript.exe and SyncAppvPublishingServer.vbs to execute Base64-encoded payloads. Additional components are downloaded from cloud storage, including 7Zip tools and password-protected archives containing obfuscated JScript. The final payload consists of DonutLoader shellcode that injects Remcos RAT version 7.2.1 Pro into colorcpl.exe, enabling remote control, credential harvesting, keystroke logging, and additional payload deployment.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has triggered a surge in cybercriminal activity. Over 8,000 newly registered domains with conflict-related keywords have been identified, many of which may be weaponized in future campaigns. Multiple cases of malicious activity have been observed, including targeted attacks using conflict-themed lures, deployment of the LOTUSLITE backdoor, fake news blogs leading to StealC malware, phishing sites impersonating government portals, donation scams, fraudulent storefronts, and meme-coin pump-and-dump schemes. Threat actors are leveraging various techniques such as DLL sideloading, shellcode execution, and social engineering to compromise victims. The campaigns demonstrate the opportunistic nature of cybercriminals in exploiting geopolitical events for malicious purposes.

MediumMalwareUnited StatesUnited KingdomIsrael+10#stealc#shellcode#lotuslite

APT37, a DPRK-backed threat group, has launched a new campaign called Ruby Jumper, utilizing Windows shortcut files to initiate attacks with newly discovered tools. These tools include RESTLEAF, SNAKEDROPPER, THUMBSBD, and VIRUSTASK, which work together to deliver surveillance payloads like FOOTWINE and BLUELIGHT. The campaign leverages removable media to infect and communicate with air-gapped systems. Key features include the use of Ruby for shellcode-based payloads, abuse of cloud storage services for command and control, and sophisticated techniques for bypassing network isolation. The malware demonstrates advanced capabilities in system reconnaissance, data exfiltration, and persistent surveillance.

MediumCampaignUnited StatesSouth KoreaJapan+7#ruby#air-gapped networks#surveillance

The article details a sophisticated supply chain attack on Notepad++ that occurred from July to October 2025. Attackers compromised the update infrastructure, deploying various malicious payloads through three distinct infection chains. The attack targeted individuals and organizations in Vietnam, El Salvador, Australia, and the Philippines. The infection methods evolved over time, using NSIS installers, Metasploit downloaders, and Cobalt Strike Beacons. The attackers employed clever techniques to evade detection, including the abuse of legitimate software and the use of multiple C2 servers. The article provides a comprehensive timeline of the attack, describes the different execution chains, and offers guidance on detecting traces of the attack.

MediumMalwareGermanyFranceUnited Kingdom+4#mgbot#supply-chain#cobalt strike beacon

ASEC discovered Guloader malware being distributed through phishing emails masquerading as employee performance reports. The emails, claiming to be about October 2025 performance, contain a RAR file with an NSIS executable named 'staff record pdf.exe'. This file is actually Guloader malware, which downloads and executes shellcode from a Google Drive URL. The final payload is Remcos RAT, enabling threat actors to perform various malicious remote control activities, including keylogging, screenshot capture, webcam and microphone control, and browser data extraction. The attackers are increasingly using legitimate platforms as C2 servers, making detection more challenging. Users are advised to exercise caution when opening emails from unknown sources and to change passwords regularly to prevent secondary damage.

MediumMalwareGermanyFranceUnited Kingdom+4#remcos rat#infostealer#shellcode

This analysis details a sophisticated multi-stage attack delivering the XWorm RAT. The campaign begins with a phishing email containing a malicious .xlam file. The file harbors embedded shellcode that, when executed, retrieves a secondary payload. This payload is a .NET binary that reflectively loads a DLL into memory. The DLL, heavily obfuscated and encrypted, injects another DLL using reflective injection. The final stage involves process injection into the main executable, establishing persistence and exfiltrating data to Command & Control servers associated with the XWorm family. The attack chain demonstrates advanced evasion techniques, including the use of shellcode, steganography, and multiple stages of reflective DLL injection.

MediumMalwareGermanyFranceUnited Kingdom+2#steganography#rat#phishing

This tutorial provides an in-depth analysis of a malware infection chain using shellcode generated by the Donut tool. It covers various stages of the attack, including initial download, trace concealment, and final payload delivery. The tutorial aims to familiarize readers with common analysis tools like dnSpy, IDA Pro, x64dbg, and ProcessHacker, while demonstrating both static and dynamic analysis techniques. It highlights malware behaviors such as dynamic API resolution, process injection, and AMSI bypassing. The excerpt focuses on analyzing an unknown function in the shellcode, explaining PC-relative addressing and position-independent code techniques used by malware to access resources.

MediumMalwareGermanyFranceUnited Kingdom+5#x64dbg#malware analysis#shellcode

A new variant of RoKRAT malware used by APT37 has been identified, employing a two-stage encrypted shellcode injection method and steganography to conceal malicious code in image files. The malware uses shortcut files with embedded commands to execute its attack, distributed via compressed archives. It utilizes a complex decoding process involving XOR operations and injects itself into legitimate Windows processes. The threat actor abuses cloud storage services as command and control channels, using Dropbox access tokens. The malware's stealthy nature, including fileless techniques, makes it difficult to detect with traditional security solutions, highlighting the importance of EDR-based defense strategies for real-time monitoring and analysis of abnormal behaviors.

MediumCampaignGermanyFranceUnited Kingdom+4#rokrat#xor#injection

A sophisticated cyberattack campaign targeted the Russian IT industry and other entities globally in late 2024. The attackers used social media profiles and popular websites to deliver payload information, bypassing detection methods. They employed spear phishing emails with malicious RAR archives, exploiting DLL hijacking techniques to deploy Cobalt Strike Beacon. The campaign used profiles on GitHub, Microsoft Learn Challenge, Quora, and Russian social networks to conceal activities. The attacks primarily focused on Russian companies but also affected organizations in China, Japan, Malaysia, and Peru. The complexity of the methods used highlights the evolving tactics of threat actors in concealing well-known tools and emphasizes the need for robust cybersecurity measures.

MediumMalwareRussiaGermanyFrance+4#cobalt strike beacon#cobalt strike#api obfuscation