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: 1301

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]: 1 (Necurs)
Major changes to detections(s) [2]: 398
Updated threat detection(s) [3]: 408

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:

Necurs (Rootkit)

Necurs is a dangerous malware family with rootkit capabilities, forming a criminal botnet since 2012. It has user mode and kernel mode components, distributes through exploit kits, Zeus Trojan, and spam campaigns.

Necurs - Malpedia | Necurs - AnyRun |

Total number of detection methods: 10
Kill chain phase(s): command and control

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, command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, delivery
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1566, T1102
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1041, T1071, T1587, T1566, T1583, T1665, T1102
Methods added: 53

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
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1102
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071, T1027, T1189, T1036, T1105
Methods added: 57

Command and Control (Generic CnC)

Adversaries may use custom command and control protocols to communicate, mimicking or developing protocols on top of standard network stacks, instead of using existing Standard Application Layer Protocols.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, actions on objectives, delivery, installation
Methods added: 2

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: 21

Fake Service (Phishing)

Phishing involves scammers posing as familiar companies to obtain personal information. Consumers should avoid responding to suspicious emails requesting personal or financial details to prevent falling victim to these scams.

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

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: 12

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: 114

Powershell (Lateral Movement)

Adversaries can abuse PowerShell for execution, discovery, and code running. Examples include Start-Process and Invoke-Command cmdlets, requiring administrator permissions for remote connections.

Added kill chain phase(s): delivery
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): actions on objectives, command and control, delivery
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1105
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071, T1027, T1041
Methods added: 1

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: 7

Rootkit (Rootkit)

Rootkits are used by adversaries to hide malware by modifying operating system API calls. They can be found at user or kernel level, including in hypervisors, Master Boot Record, or System Firmware.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, delivery
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1071
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1041, T1071
Methods added: 1

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: 15

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, command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): actions on objectives, command and control, installation, delivery, exploitation
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1071
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1071, T1005, T1041, T1567, T1486, T1587, T1496
Methods added: 3

Unknown APT (APT)

Sophisticated adversary with expertise and resources uses multiple attack vectors to establish presence in organizations' IT infrastructure, exfiltrate information, undermine missions, and persistently adapt to defenders.

Added kill chain phase(s): command and control
Previously supported kill chain phase(s): command and control, delivery
MITRE ATT&CK added: T1102
Previously existing MITRE ATT&CK: T1041, T1071, T1001
Methods added: 60

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: 40

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	53	delivery, command and control	dns, tls, http	1638	command and control, delivery	dns, ftp, http, tcp, tls, udp	2025-03-13
ClickFix	57	delivery	dns, tls, http	135	command and control, delivery, exploitation	dns, http, tls	2025-03-14
Command and Control	2	command and control	http	544	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, installation	dns, http, icmp, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls	2025-03-13
Fake Browser	21	exploitation	dns, tls, http	1512	command and control, delivery, exploitation	dns, http, tls	2025-03-15
Fake Service	12	delivery, command and control	dns, tls, http	160	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, installation	dns, http, tcp, tls	2025-03-13
LandUpdate808	12	command and control	dns, tls, http	301	command and control, delivery	dns, http, tls	2025-03-15
Lumma	114	command and control, actions on objectives	dns, tls, http	4833	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, installation	dns, http, tls	2025-03-15
Necurs	10	command and control	http, dns, tls	10	command and control	http, dns, tls	2025-03-13
Powershell	1	delivery	http	57	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery	dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls	2025-03-15
RAT Generic	7	command and control	tcp	235	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, installation	dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls, udp	2025-03-14
Rootkit	1	command and control	http	31	command and control, delivery	dns, http, tcp, tls	2025-03-13
SocGholish	15	command and control	dns, tls, http	1356	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, exploitation, reconnaissance	dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls	2025-03-15
Stealer and Exfiltration	3	actions on objectives, command and control	tcp, http	453	actions on objectives, command and control, delivery, exploitation, installation	dns, ftp, http, smtp, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls	2025-03-14
Unknown APT	60	command and control	dns, tls, http	241	command and control, delivery	dns, http, tls	2025-03-13
XWorm	40	command and control	tcp-pkt	2558	command and control, delivery	dns, http, tcp, tcp-pkt, tls	2025-03-15

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