Attackers typically try to pass off malware as legitimate applications or as potentially unwanted programs that users deliberately search for and download, such as cheats or cracks. They often rely on ad and affiliate networks to deliver their creations to victims’ devices. This post examines a less conventional case: a well-known backdoor distributed under the guise of adware. The attackers may have chosen this distribution method because the adware was signed by the developer. On top of that, users often manually add these apps to exclusions, so their useful features don’t get blocked.
Some time ago, a client asked us to analyze a file with the MD5 hash c24e99f9437feacaa63766a3cde3fe3d and add it to our detection database. We initially classified it as adware, but a cursory analysis turned up suspicious network activity, which prompted us to dig deeper. It turned out the sample did far more than serve ads. In fact, its advertising functionality doesn’t even work; instead, it triggers an infection chain that delivers the ValleyRAT backdoor.
Read more…
Source: Kaspersky
Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox
Related:
- Millions of iOS apps could have been hit by cyberattack due to a worrying flaw
July 3, 2024
A key tool used primarily in iOS and macOS app development was vulnerable in a way that opened up millions of Mac apps to supply chain attacks, experts have warned. Cybersecurity researchers EVA Information Security claim a dependency manager for Swift and Objective-C projects called CocoaPods, carried three vulnerabilities in a “trunk” server used to manage ...
- High-Risk Path Traversal in SolarWinds Serv-U
July 3, 2024
The SonicWall Capture Labs threat research team became aware of a path traversal vulnerability in SolarWinds Serv-U, assessed its impact and developed mitigation measures. Serv-U server is a solution that provides a secure file transfer facility and control inside and outside the organization. Identified as CVE-2024-28995, SolarWinds Serv-U 15.4.2 HF 1 and previous versions allow an ...
- Apple IDs Targeted in US Smishing Campaign
July 2, 2024
Phishing actors continue to target Apple IDs due to their widespread use, which offers access to a vast pool of potential victims. These credentials are highly valued, providing control over devices, access to personal and financial information, and potential revenue through unauthorized purchases. Additionally, Apple’s strong brand reputation makes users more susceptible to trusting deceptive communications ...
- Vulnerabilities in PanelView Plus devices could lead to remote code execution
July 2, 2024
Microsoft discovered and responsibly disclosed two vulnerabilities in Rockwell Automation PanelView Plus that could be remotely exploited by unauthenticated attackers, allowing them to perform remote code execution (RCE) and denial-of-service (DoS). The RCE vulnerability in PanelView Plus involves two custom classes that can be abused to upload and load a malicious DLL into the device. The ...
- Prudential Financial data breach impacts 2.5 million people
July 2, 2024
In February 2024, Prudential Financial reported it had fallen victim to a ransomware attack. The attack was discovered one day after it started, but not before some 2.5 million people had been impacted by the resulting data breach. As one of the largest insurance companies in the US, Prudential employs 40,000 people worldwide and reported revenues ...
- Cisco Releases Advisory for Exploited Vulnerability in NX-OS software
July 2, 2024
Cisco has released a security advisory for a vulnerability in the command line interface (CLI) of the NX-OS software in Nexus series switches, which are modular and fixed port network switches designed for data centres. The command injection vulnerability known as CVE-2024-20399 has a CVSSv3 score of 6.0 and is rated at Medium by Cisco. An ...