sLoad launches version 2.0, Starslord

sLoad, the PowerShell-based Trojan downloader notable for its almost exclusive use of the Background Intelligent Transfer Service BITS for malicious activities, has launched version 2.0. The new version comes on the heels of a comprehensive blog we published detailing the malware’s multi-stage...

Threat Analysis Unit (TAU) Threat Intelligence Notification: CrescentCore (macOS)

In June of 2019, researchers at Intego discovered a new Trojan for macOS systems which they named CrescentCore. Much like Shlayer and other common malware targeting macOS systems, CrescentCore is often delivered via a fake Adobe Flash Player installer or updater. This malware employs multiple...

‘Highly Competitive' Buer Loader Emerges in Underground Markets

A previously undocumented modular loader has emerged as a lucrative tool for cybercriminals in a variety of campaigns. Researchers say the “highly competitive” loader, dubbed Buer, is intended for use by actors seeking a turn-key, off-the-shelf solution. Researchers say they have spotted the load...

Threat Roundup for September 27 to October 4

Today, Talos is publishing a glimpse into the most prevalent threats we've observed between Sept. 27 and Oct. 4. As with previous roundups, this post isn't meant to be an in-depth analysis. Instead, this post will summarize the threats we've observed by highlighting key behavioral characteristics...

CB TAU Threat Intelligence Notification: Qbot/Qakbot Attempts to Evade Detection By Overwriting Itself

Qbot, or Qakbot, is a banking trojan that has been seen in the wild for at least 10 years. Recent campaigns have been often delivered by exploit kits and weaponized documents delivered via context-aware phishing campaigns. Qbot has also been suspected of delivering MegaCortex ransomware. Many...

CARBANAK Week Part One: A Rare Occurrence

It is very unusual for FLARE to analyze a prolifically-used, privately-developed backdoor only to later have the source code and operator tools fall into our laps. Yet this is the extraordinary circumstance that sets the stage for CARBANAK Week, a four-part blog series that commences with this...

Malspam Campaigns Distribute HawkEye Keylogger, Post Ownership Change

The HawkEye malware kit and information-stealer has been spotted in a newfound slew of campaigns after a recent ownership change. While the keylogger has been in continuous development since 2013, in December a thread on a hacking site noted an ownership change, after which posts on hacking forum...

Threat Roundup for March 29 to April 5

Today, Talos is publishing a glimpse into the most prevalent threats we've observed between March 29 and April 05. As with previous roundups, this post isn't meant to be an in-depth analysis. Instead, this post will summarize the threats we've observed by highlighting key behavioral...

TAU Threat Intelligence Notification: DarkHydrus/RogueRobin

Recently, Palo Alto Unit 42 released an updated report regarding new DarkHydrus delivery documents, which includes the installation of an updated variant of the RogueRobin trojan. This document includes details on both DarkHydrus and RogueRobin, along with detection rules and search queries that...

Threat Roundup for Feb. 8 to Feb. 15

Today, Talos is publishing a glimpse into the most prevalent threats we've observed between Feb. 08 and Feb. 15. As with previous roundups, this post isn't meant to be an in-depth analysis. Instead, this post will summarize the threats we've observed by highlighting key behavioral characteristics...

What we learned by unpacking a recent wave of Imminent RAT infections using AMP

This blog post was authored by Chris Marczewski Cisco Talos has been tracking a series of Imminent RAT infections for the past two months following reported data from Cisco Advanced Malware Protection's AMP Exploit Prevention engine. AMP successfully stopped the malware before it was able to infe...

Olympic Destroyer Wiper Changes Up Infection Routine

Olympic Destroyer, the wiper malware that briefly disrupted the Winter Olympic Games in South Korea earlier this year, appears to be back with a new first-stage dropper variant. It contains a few significant changes that indicate an evolution for the APT group behind it, according to researchers...

Frida-Wshook - Script Analysis Tool Based On Frida.re

frida-wshook is an analysis and instrumentation tool which uses frida.re to hook common functions often used by malicious script files which are run using WScript/CScript. The tool intercepts Windows API functions and doesn't implement function stubs or proxies within the targeted scripting...

Droidefense - Advance Android Malware Analysis Framework

Droidefense originally named atom: a nalysis t hrough o bservation m achine is the codename for android apps/malware analysis/reversing tool. It was built focused on security issues and tricks that malware researcher have on they every day work. For those situations on where the malware has...

Bad Actors Sizing Up Systems Via Lightweight Recon Malware

Well-known financial crime gang Cobalt Group and other threat actors have recently shifted tactics to incorporate lightweight modular downloaders that “vet” target machines for their attractiveness before proceeding with a full-fledged attack. The emergence of the AdvisorsBot and Marap malwares, ...

OilRig Sends an OopsIE to Mideast Government Targets

The OilRig group is back, using a reboot of the OopsIE trojan to pump information from its favorite resource: entities in the Middle East region. OilRig, which is also called Cobalt Gypsy, Crambus, Helix Kitten or PT34, is suspected of having ties to Iran. The group was identified in 2015 and is...

AdvisorsBot Downloader Emerges in Raft of Malware Campaigns

A new downloader was disclosed today, sporting significant anti-analysis features and increasingly sophisticated distribution techniques. Researchers at Proofpoint have been tracking the downloader as a first-stage payload in campaigns since May 2018. Dubbed AdvisorsBot due to early...

Dark Tequila Banking Malware Uncovered After 5 Years of Activity

Security researchers at Kaspersky Labs have uncovered a new, complex malware campaign that has been targeting customers of several Mexican banking institutions since at least 2013. Dubbed Dark Tequila , the campaign delivers an advanced keylogger malware that managed to stay under the radar for...

Highly Flexible Marap Malware Enters the Financial Scene

A newly discovered downloader malware has been discovered as part of a new campaign primarily targeting financial institutions. Researchers at Proofpoint said today that the downloader – dubbed “Marap” after its command-and-control phone-home parameter, “param,” spelled backwards – is notable for...

New Trickbot Variant Touts Stealthy Code-Injection Trick

Trickbot has been around since 2016 – but a new variant of the infamous financial trojan has caught the eyes of researchers with a stealthy code-injection technique. Researchers at Cyberbit this week said that they have found a new Trickbot iteration that features a sneaky method of performing...