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:
- DHS warns of data theft risk when using Chinese products
December 23, 2020
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned American businesses of the data theft risks behind using equipment and data services provided by companies linked with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The reason that prompted this business advisory is the need to highlight the PRC government-sponsored data theft risk to all organizations and individuals who ...
- FBI warns of ongoing COVID-19 vaccine related fraud schemes
December 22, 2020
US federal agencies have warned about scammers exploiting the public’s interest in the COVID-19 vaccine to harvest personal information and steal money through multiple ongoing and emerging fraud schemes. The warning was issued earlier today through the FBI National Press Office by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Health and Human Services Office ...
- Holiday Puppy Swindle Has Consumers Howling
December 22, 2020
Puppy photos are undeniably irresistible but beware; researchers have uncovered a scheme selling fake German Shepherd puppies for Bitcoin, leaving buyers crushed and without a tiny fuzzy friend to cuddle on Christmas morning. The scam was discovered by an intrepid researcher at Anomali, who got wind of the fake puppy offer and decided to investigate. Image: ThreatPost Read ...
- Partial lists of organizations infected with Sunburst malware released online
December 21, 2020
Multiple security researchers and research teams have published over the weekend lists ranging from 100 to 280 organizations that installed a trojanized version of the SolarWinds Orion platform and had their internal systems infected with the Sunburst malware. The list includes the names of tech companies, local governments, universities, hospitals, banks, and telecom providers. The biggest names ...
- Protecting Against an Unfixed Kubernetes Man-in-the-Middle Vulnerability (CVE-2020-8554)
December 21, 2020
On Dec. 4, 2020, the Kubernetes Product Security Committee disclosed a new Kubernetes vulnerability assigned CVE-2020-8554. It is a medium severity issue affecting all Kubernetes versions and is currently unpatched. CVE-2020-8554 is a design flaw that allows Kubernetes Services to intercept cluster traffic to any IP address. Users who can manage services can exploit the ...
- The future of cyberconflicts
December 21, 2020
The ever-increasing role of technology in every aspect of our society has turned cybersecurity into a major sovereignty issue for all states. Due to their asymmetrical nature, offensive cyber-capabilities have been embraced by many countries that wouldn’t otherwise have the resources to compete on a military or economic level with the most powerful nations of ...