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: 1295

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]: 3 (implant.js, Divulge Stealer, PolarEdge)
Major changes to detections(s) [2]: 317
Updated threat detection(s) [3]: 385

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 Clear NDR (formerly Stamus Security Platform) this past week:

implant.js (RAT)

Implant.js is a C++ framework using V8 JavaScript Engine for flexible module execution across various OS, enabling access to native code and system libraries without pre-compilation.

Total number of detection methods: 8
Kill chain phase(s): command and control
MITRE ATT&CK: T1041, T1071

Divulge Stealer (Data Theft)

Info stealers are a type of malware that gathers data from infected computers to send to attackers. They use various methods like keylogging and form grabbing to steal credentials.

Divulge Stealer - AnyRun | Divulge Stealer - JOESandbox |

Total number of detection methods: 5
Kill chain phase(s): command and control, actions on objectives
MITRE ATT&CK: T1041

PolarEdge (Botnet)

Botnet named PolarEdge active since late 2023, targeting edge devices with Mbed TLS library and Polar certificates. Identified by TDR team as using payloads related to PolarSSL.

PolarEdge - Malpedia | PolarEdge - The Hacker News |

Total number of detection methods: 60
Kill chain phase(s): command and control, installation
MITRE ATT&CK: T1573, T1190, T1210, T1041

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):

APT35 (APT)

Iranian-backed group Magic Hound engages in cyber espionage targeting U.S. and Middle Eastern officials and organizations since 2014, likely working with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps through elaborate social engineering tactics.

Added kill chain phase(s): delivery
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, delivery
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1102
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1041, T1071, T1587, T1566, T1583, T1665, T1102
Methods added: 21

AsyncRAT (RAT)

RAT is a tool that enables remote user control over a system. Adversaries can use existing, modify, or create their own RATs for unauthorized access or malicious activities.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control, delivery
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, delivery
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1203
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071, T1587
Methods added: 11

ClickFix (Phishing)

In April 2024, researchers found compromised sites leading to an iframe on pley[.]es showing an error message. The payload domain was taken offline, preventing infection. Later, the iframe was replaced with the ClearFake inject.

Added kill chain phase(s): delivery
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): exploitation, delivery, command and control
Methods added: 9

Contagious Interview Campaign (APT)

North Korean threat actors are using OtterCookie malware in the Contagious Interview campaign to target software developers with fake job offers and deliver malicious payloads like BeaverTail and InvisibleFerret.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control, actions on objectives, delivery
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): delivery, command and control
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1071, T1567
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1041, T1071
Methods added: 17

Fake Browser (Trojan)

Attackers infect enterprise networks with malware by promoting fake browser updates on hacked websites, leading to the installation of banking trojans and later ransomware encryption on compromised networks.

Added kill chain phase(s): exploitation
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): delivery, exploitation, command and control
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1189
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071, T1189
Methods added: 15

LandUpdate808 (Trojan)

Fake update variants like SocGholish, Clear Fake, Smart Ape, and ClickFix are being tracked by a collaboration introducing the LandUpdate808 Fake Update Variant.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): delivery, command and control
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1189
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1189
Methods added: 13

Lumma (Data Theft)

Lumma is a C-based information stealer sold on Russian underground forums and Telegram by LummaC since August 2022. It targets cryptocurrency wallets and has file grabber capabilities.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control, actions on objectives
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): actions on objectives, command and control, installation, delivery
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1071
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1005, T1071, T1573
Methods added: 90

Malvertising Domain (Phishing)

MS-ISAC noticed rise in malware spread through malvertising, where malicious ads contain harmful code. Ad networks unwittingly display infected ads on websites, putting users at risk of infection.

Added kill chain phase(s): delivery
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): delivery, command and control
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1567
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071
Methods added: 6

Mustang Panda (APT)

Mustang Panda is a China-based cyber threat actor observed since 2017, possibly operating since 2014. It targets government and non-government organizations in multiple countries like the U.S., Germany, and Myanmar.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, delivery
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1567
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071, T1587, T1041
Methods added: 12

NetSupport RAT (RAT)

Remote Access Trojans allow covert surveillance and unauthorized access to victim PCs, collecting keystrokes, passwords, screenshots, and more. They differ from keyloggers by providing remote access capabilities to attackers.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): actions on objectives, command and control, exploitation, installation
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1105
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071, T1105
Methods added: 3

RAT Generic (RAT)

Remote Access Trojans allow covert surveillance and unauthorized access to victim PCs, collecting data like keystrokes and screenshots. They differ from keyloggers by enabling remote access for attackers.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): installation, command and control, actions on objectives, delivery
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1573
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071, T1041, T1573
Methods added: 3

SocGholish (Social Engineering)

Malwarebytes found a new social engineering toolkit that uses compromised websites to perform advanced fingerprinting checks and deliver the NetSupport RAT payload.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, exploitation, delivery, reconnaissance, actions on objectives
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1189
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071, T1027, T1189
Methods added: 19

Stealer and Exfiltration (Data Theft)

Info stealers gather sensitive data on infected computers to send to attackers, typically targeting online banking, social media, email, and FTP accounts. They use various methods including hooking browsers and keylogging.

Added kill chain phase(s): actions on objectives
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): actions on objectives, command and control, installation, delivery, exploitation
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1567
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071, T1005, T1041, T1486, T1587, T1496
Methods added: 1

TA456 (APT)

Proofpoint researchers discovered a long-term social engineering and targeted malware campaign by TA456, an Iranian state-aligned threat actor. The attacker used a fake social media persona to send malware to an aerospace defense contractor's employee.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): delivery, command and control
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1041, T1102
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071
Methods added: 33

XWorm (RAT)

Cyble research labs found a malware developer advertising a powerful Windows RAT on the dark web during a threat-hunting exercise.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, delivery
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1573
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071, T1573
Methods added: 64

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
APT35	21	delivery	dns, tls, http	1585	command and control, delivery	dns, ftp, http, tcp, tls, udp	2025-03-04
AsyncRAT	11	command and control, delivery	dns, tls, http	478	command and control, delivery	dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls	2025-03-07
ClickFix	9	delivery	dns, tls, http	78	command and control, delivery, exploitation	dns, http, tls	2025-03-08
Contagious Interview Campaign	17	command and control, actions on objectives, delivery	http, dns, tls	29	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery	dns, http, tls	2025-03-06
Divulge Stealer	5	command and control, actions on objectives	http, dns, tls	5	command and control, actions on objectives	http, dns, tls	2025-03-04
Fake Browser	15	exploitation	dns, tls, http	1491	command and control, delivery, exploitation	dns, http, tls	2025-03-08
LandUpdate808	13	command and control	dns, tls, http	289	command and control, delivery	dns, http, tls	2025-03-08
Lumma	90	command and control, actions on objectives	dns, tls, http	4719	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, installation	dns, http, tls	2025-03-07
Malvertising Domain	6	delivery	dns, tls, http	174	command and control, delivery	dns, http, tls	2025-03-08
Mustang Panda	12	command and control	dns, tls, http	100	command and control, delivery	dns, http, tcp, tls	2025-03-08
NetSupport RAT	3	command and control	http	92	actions on objectives, command and control, exploitation, installation	dns, http, tls	2025-03-07
PolarEdge	55	installation, command and control	http, dns, tls	60	installation, command and control	http, dns, tls	2025-03-07
RAT Generic	3	command and control	tcp	228	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, installation	dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls, udp	2025-03-07
SocGholish	19	command and control	dns, tls, http	1341	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, exploitation, reconnaissance	dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls	2025-03-08
Stealer and Exfiltration	1	actions on objectives	http	450	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, exploitation, installation	dns, ftp, http, smtp, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls	2025-03-04
TA456	33	command and control	dns, tls, http	126	command and control, delivery	dns, http, tls	2025-03-08
XWorm	64	command and control	tcp-pkt	2518	command and control, delivery	dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls	2025-03-05
implant.js	8	command and control	tcp-pkt	8	command and control	tcp-pkt	2025-03-04

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