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:
- QBot phishing lures victims using US election interference emails
November 4, 2020
The Qbot botnet is now spewing U.S. election-themed phishing emails used to infect victims with malicious payloads designed to harvest user data and emails for use in future campaigns. Qbot (aka Qakbot, Pinkslipbot, and Quakbot) is a banking trojan with worm features actively used since at least 2009 to steal financial data and ...
- As Maze retires, clients turn to Sekhmet ransomware spin-off Egregor
November 4, 2020
As the developers of the Maze ransomware announce their exit from the malware scene, clients are now thought to be turning to Egregor as a substitute. The Maze group has been a devastating force for companies that have fallen victim to the cybercriminals over the past year. What has separated Maze in the past from many other ...
- VMware Issues Updated Fix For Critical ESXi Flaw
November 4, 2020
VMware issued an updated fix for a critical-severity remote code execution flaw in its ESXi hypervisor products. Wednesday’s VMware advisory said updated patch versions were available after it was discovered the previous patch, released Oct. 20, did not completely address the vulnerability. That’s because certain versions that were affected were not previously covered in the earlier ...
- Ransomware-as-a-Service Becomes Increasingly Accessible via Social Media and Open Sources
November 4, 2020
Hackers need not search the dark web for access to their very own ransomware platforms these days. Cybercriminals are continually finding new ways to promote their underground businesses and gain the attention of new customers and novice hackers. Several threat actors have recently taken to popular social media and open sources like YouTube, Vimeo, and Sellix ...
- REvil ransomware gang ‘acquires’ KPOT malware
November 4, 2020
The operators of the REvil ransomware strain have “acquired” the source code of the KPOT trojan in an auction held on a hacker forum last month. The sale took place after the KPOT malware author decided to auction off the code, desiring to move off to other projects. The sale was organized as a public auction on ...
- Healthcare system facing ‘increased and imminent’ cyber threat
November 3, 2020
Federal agencies warn that cybercriminals are escalating their extortion attempts against the healthcare sector even as hospitals are facing a nationwide surge in Covid-19 cases. In a joint alert, the FBI and two federal agencies warned that they had “credible information of an increased and imminent cybercrime threat to US hospitals and healthcare providers”. The alert ...