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:
- New AdLoad malware variant slips through Apple’s XProtect defenses
August 11, 2021
A new AdLoad malware variant is slipping through Apple’s YARA signature-based XProtect built-in antivirus to infect Macs as part of multiple campaigns tracked by cybersecurity firm SentinelOne. AdLoad is a widespread trojan targeting the macOS platform since at least since late 2017 and used to deploy various malicious payloads, including adware and Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs), Read ...
- Accenture Confirms LockBit Ransomware Attack
August 11, 2021
08/13/21 08:42 UPDATE: Accenture reportedly acknowledged in an internal memo that attackers stole client information and work materials in a July 30 “security incident.” CyberScoop reports that the memo downplays the impact of the ransomware attack. The outlet quoted Accenture’s internal memo: “While the perpetrators were able to acquire certain documents that reference a small number ...
- UNC215: Spotlight on a Chinese Espionage Campaign in Israel
August 10, 2021
This blog post details the post-compromise tradecraft and operational tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of a Chinese espionage group we track as UNC215. While UNC215’s targets are located throughout the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and North America, this report focuses on intrusion activity primarily observed at Israeli entities. This report comes on the heels of the ...
- $600m in cryptocurrencies swiped from Poly Network servers after security snafu
August 10, 2021
Poly Network, a Chinese software biz that processes cryptocurrency transactions across different blockchain platforms, urged hackers to return $600m worth of stolen digital cash in what it called the “biggest in DeFi history.” DeFi stands for decentralised finance. Protocols like Poly Network allow cryptocurrency traders to exchange digicash across various blockchains; they can be used ...
- eCh0raix ransomware now targets both QNAP and Synology NAS devices
August 10, 2021
A newly discovered eCh0raix ransomware variant has added support for encrypting both QNAP and Synology Network-Attached Storage (NAS) devices. This ransomware strain (also known as QNAPCrypt) first surfaced in June 2016, after victims began reporting attacks in a BleepingComputer forum topic. Read more… Source: Bleeping Computer
- Actively Exploited Windows Zero-Day Gets a Patch
August 10, 2021
Microsoft has patched 51 security vulnerabilities in its scheduled August Patch Tuesday update, including seven critical bugs, two issues that were publicly disclosed but unpatched until now, and one that’s listed as a zero-day that has been exploited in the wild. Of note, there are 17 elevation-of-privilege (EoP) vulnerabilities, 13 remote code-execution (RCE) issues, eight information-disclosure ...