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The Week in Review from Stamus Labs

Welcome to the weekly threat detection update report from Stamus Networks. Each week, you will receive this email with a summary of the updates.

 

Current Stamus Threat Intelligence (STI) release version: 633

 

This week, in addition to daily ruleset and IOC updates, we provided Stamus Security Platform customers with the following improved defense(s):

  • New threat detection(s) added [1]: 4 (Goofy, PSRansom, Villain, 7ev3n)
  • Major changes to detections(s) [2]: 43
  • Updated threat detection(s) [3]: 54

 

Note: a "method" as referenced below, is a discrete detection vector for a given threat.

 

New Threat(s) Detected

The following detections were added to your Stamus Security Platform this past week:

 

Goofy (Trojan)

A Trojan horse or Trojan is a type of malware that is often disguised as legitimate software. Trojans can be employed by cyber-thieves and hackers trying to gain access to users' systems. Users are typically tricked by some form of social engineering into loading and executing Trojans on their systems. Once activated, Trojans can enable cyber-criminals to spy on you, steal your sensitive data, and gain backdoor access to your system. Kaspersky

Goofy - microsoft |
  • Total number of detection methods: 3
  • Kill chain phase(s): command and control

 

PSRansom (Ransomware)

PSRansom is a PowerShell Ransomware Simulator with C2 Server capabilities. This tool helps you simulate encryption process of a generic ransomware in any system on any system with PowerShell installed on it. Thanks to the integrated C2 server, you can exfiltrate files and receive client information via HTTP. All communication between the two elements is encrypted or encoded so as to be undetected by traffic inspection mechanisms, although at no time is HTTPS used at any time. Github

  • Total number of detection methods: 3
  • Kill chain phase(s): actions on objectives, command and control

 

Villain (RAT)

 

Villain is a Windows & Linux backdoor generator and multi-session handler that allows users to connect with sibling servers (other machines running Villain) and share their backdoor sessions, handy for working as a team. The main idea behind the payloads generated by this tool is inherited from HoaxShell. One could say that Villain is an evolved, steroid-induced version of it. Github

  • Total number of detection methods: 2
  • Kill chain phase(s): command and control

 

7ev3n (Ransomware)

The NJCCIC describes 7ev3n as a ransomware "that targets the Windows OS and spreads via spam emails containing malicious attachments, as well as file sharing networks. It installs multiple files in the LocalAppData folder, each of which controls different functions including disabling bootup recovery options, deleting the ransomware installation file, encrypting data, and gaining administrator privileges. This variant also adds registry keys that disables various Windows function keys such as F1, F3, F4, F10, Alt, Num Lock, Ctrl, Enter, Escape, Shift, and Tab. Files encrypted by 7ev3n are labeled with a .R5A extension. It also locks victims out of Windows recovery options making it challenging to repair the damage done by 7ev3n." Malpedia

7ev3n - twitter |
  • Total number of detection methods: 3
  • Kill chain phase(s): command and control
  • MITRE ATT&CK: T1486

 

Major Detection Changes

The following detections were updated this past week with changes to kill chain phase(s) or MITRE ATT&CK tactic(s)/technique(s):

 

APT38 (APT)

APT38 is a financially-motivated threat group that is backed by the North Korean regime. The group mainly targets banks and financial institutions and has targeted more than 16 organizations in at least 13 countries since at least 2014.

North Korean group definitions are known to have significant overlap, and the name Lazarus Group is known to encompass a broad range of activity. Some organizations use the name Lazarus Group to refer to any activity attributed to North Korea. Some organizations track North Korean clusters or groups such as Bluenoroff, APT37, and APT38 separately, while other organizations may track some activity associated with those group names by the name Lazarus Group. MITRE

  • Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
  • Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, delivery
  • Methods added: 2

 

Cloud Atlas (APT)

Inception is a cyber espionage group active since at least 2014. The group has targeted multiple industries and governmental entities primarily in Russia, but has also been active in the United States and throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. MITRE

  • Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
  • Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, delivery
  • Methods added: 2

 

Glupteba (Downloader)

Glupteba is a trojan-type program, malicious software that installs other programs of this type. Cyber criminals distribute Glupteba through malicious advertisements that can be injected into legitimate websites or advertising networks. Research shows that Glubteba can be used to distribute a browser stealer or router exploiter. In any case, this malware should be uninstalled immediately. Pcrisk

  • Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
  • Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control
  • MITRE ATT&CK added: T1071
  • Methods added: 25

 

PurpleFox (Exploit Kit)

The Purple Fox exploit kit (EK) has added two new exploits targeting critical- and high-severity Microsoft vulnerabilities to its bag of tricks – and researchers say they expect more attacks to be added in the future ThreatPost

  • Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
  • Previously supported kill chain phase(s): exploitation, delivery, command and control
  • Methods added: 2

 

Remcos (RAT)

Remcos is a closed-source tool that is marketed as a remote control and surveillance software by a company called Breaking Security.

Remcos has been observed being used in malware campaigns.

  • Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
  • Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, delivery
  • Methods added: 1

 

SocGholish (Social Engineering)

It leverages compromised websites and performs some of the most creative fingerprinting checks we’ve seen, before delivering its payload (NetSupport RAT). Malwarebytes

  • Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
  • Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, exploitation, delivery, reconnaissance, actions on objectives
  • Methods added: 6

 

TA444 (APT)

DPRK APT actor tracked by Proofpoint as TA444 Malpedia

  • Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
  • Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control
  • Methods added: 4

 

Trojan Agent (Trojan)

Again, the generic nature of this detection means that the Payloads performed by this group of trojans may be highly variable, and therefore difficult to describe specifically. This group of trojans has been observed to perform any, or all, of the following actions:
redirect Web traffic
- manipulate certain Windows or third-party applications including settings or configurations
- drop or install additional malicious programs
- download and run additional malicious programs
Please note that this list is not exhaustive.
Microsoft

  • Added kill chain phase(s): actions on objectives
  • Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, actions on objectives, delivery, installation
  • Methods added: 1

 

Other Threat Detection Update(s)

The following threat detection(s) were improved this past week with new or updated threat methods.

 

Name of threat New coverage Total coverage Last updated
  New Detection methods Kill chain phases Protocols involved Detection methods Kill chain phases Protocols involved  
7ev3n 3 command and control http 3 command and control http 2022-12-27
APT38 2 command and control dns 119 command and control, delivery dns, http, tcp, tls 2022-12-29
Cloud Atlas 2 command and control dns 32 command and control, delivery dns, http, tls 2022-12-28
Glupteba 25 command and control tls, http 58 command and control dns, http, tcp, tls 2022-12-29
Goofy 3 command and control http, dns 3 command and control http, dns 2022-12-27
PSRansom 3 actions on objectives, command and control http 3 actions on objectives, command and control http 2022-12-27
PurpleFox 2 command and control tcp 19 command and control, delivery, exploitation dns, http, tcp, tls 2022-12-31
Remcos 1 command and control tcp 875 command and control, delivery dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt 2022-12-31
SocGholish 6 command and control dns 228 actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, exploitation, reconnaissance dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls 2022-12-31
TA444 4 command and control dns, http 125 command and control dns, http, tls 2022-12-31
Trojan Agent 1 actions on objectives http 375 actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, installation dns, http, ip, smtp, tcp, tcp-pkt, tcp-stream, udp 2022-12-30
Villain 2 command and control http 2 command and control http 2022-12-27

 

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