Static Unpacking For The Widespread NSIS-Based Malicious Packer Family


Packers or crypters are widely used to protect malicious software from detection and static analysis. These auxiliary tools, through the use of compression and encryption algorithms, enable cybercriminals to prepare unique samples of malicious software for each campaign or even per victim, which complicates the work of antivirus software.

In the case of certain packers, classifying malicious software without employing dynamic analysis becomes a challenging task. To analyze a malicious sample and extract its configuration data, such as encryption keys and command and control server addresses, we must first unpack it. We can do this by running the malicious software in a sandbox environment, such as CAPE, followed by extracting the memory dumps. However, this method has some drawbacks.

Read more…
Source: Check Point


Sign up for our Newsletter


Related:

  • Cracking the Code: How Banshee Stealer Targets macOS Users

    January 9, 2025

    Since September, Check Point Research (CPR) has been monitoring a new version of the Banshee macOS Stealer, a malware that steals browser credentials, cryptocurrency wallets, and other sensitive data. Undetected for over two months, Banshee’s latest version introduced string encryption taken from Apple’s XProtect, likely causing antivirus detection systems to overlook the malware. Threat actors distributed ...

  • EAGERBEE, with updated and novel components, targets the Middle East

    January 6, 2025

    In recent investigation into the EAGERBEE backdoor, kaspersky researchers found that it was being deployed at ISPs and governmental entities in the Middle East. The researchers analysis uncovered new components used in these attacks, including a novel service injector designed to inject the backdoor into a running service. Additionally, Kaspersky team discovered previously undocumented components (plugins) ...

  • Analyzing Malicious Intent in Python Code – A Case Study

    December 23, 2024

    Fortinet’s AI-driven OSS malware detection system recently identified two malicious packages: Zebo-0.1.0 on November 16, 2024, and Cometlogger-0.1 on November 24, 2024. Malicious software often masquerades as legitimate code, hiding its harmful features behind complex logic and obfuscation. In this analysis, Fortinet researchers examine the Python scripts behind these two packages, outline their malicious behaviors, and provide ...

  • Cloud Atlas seen using a new tool in its attacks

    December 23, 2024

    Known since 2014, Cloud Atlas targets Eastern Europe and Central Asia. We’re shedding light on a previously undocumented toolset, which the group used heavily in 2024. Victims get infected via phishing emails containing a malicious document that exploits a vulnerability in the formula editor (CVE-2018-0802) to download and execute malware code. When opened, the document downloads a ...

  • BellaCPP: Discovering a new BellaCiao variant written in C++

    December 20, 2024

    BellaCiao is a .NET-based malware family that adds a unique twist to an intrusion, combining the stealthy persistence of a webshell with the power to establish covert tunnels. It surfaced for the first time in late April 2023 and has since been publicly attributed to the APT actor Charming Kitten. One important aspect of the BellaCiao samples ...

  • Lazarus group evolves its infection chain with old and new malware

    December 19, 2024

    Over the past few years, the Lazarus group has been distributing its malicious software by exploiting fake job opportunities targeting employees in various industries, including defense, aerospace, cryptocurrency, and other global sectors. This attack campaign is called the DeathNote campaign and is also referred to as “Operation DreamJob”. Kaspersky researchers have previously published the history of ...