Overview

This week, the SonicWall Capture Labs threat research team analyzed a new sample of an infostealer dubbed ‘Heracles’, which has multiple evasion and persistence techniques. The malware is programmed to search for system credentials, installed programs and crypto currency wallets.

Technical Analysis

The file is detected as “Обязанности старшего техника на самолете ТУ-160_вч_85927_Д_Каплунов.exe”, which translates to “Responsibilities of a senior technician on a TU-160 aircraft_vch_85927_D_Kaplunov.exe”. It is a .NET executable.

Figure 1: Sample Detection

When attempting to look at the file resources in DNSpy, the records are completely obfuscated.

Figure 2: Obfuscated (left) and deobfuscated data (right)

Once the file has been deobfuscated, it shows hundreds of classes and attributes. In a secondary check against the deobfuscated sample, two embedded files are found. The first is ‘DotNetZip.dll’, and the second is another .NET DLL file (“zx_8d21b2346df842017090f44c62fec926.dll”). The former is used for handling zip files in memory and is a legitimate application, while the latter is a secondary payload.

Figure 3: Payload detection

Looking at the payload sample, it shows the name “PDF_Reader” in its resource section. However, it has a number of domains listed related to cryptocurrency and dark web sites, including a .onion address.

Figure 4: Domains listed in the payload, which also mentions ‘Eazfuscator’, an obfuscation tool

Once runtime occurs, the main file will perform checks against CPU features using WMI using the following queries:

• CreateInstanceEnum – root\cimv2 : Win32_Processor
• ExecQuery – root\cimv2 : SELECT ProcessorId FROM Win32_Processor
• ExecQuery – root\cimv2 : SELECT * FROM Win32_VideoController
• ExecQuery – root\cimv2 : SELECT Capacity FROM Win32_PhysicalMemory

It will also check for VMWare and QEMU virtual environments specifically while running processes and debuggers to ensure it is running on a viable system. All errors are disabled via SetErrorMode to prevent the user/system from detecting activity. Files are dropped into the following locations for persistence and staging:

• ~AppData\Roaming\\\Files\Local Settings\Temp
• ~AppData\Roaming\\Files\Start Menu\Programs
• ~AppData\Roaming\\Files\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Powershell
• ~AppData\Roaming…\Files\Start Menu\Programs\System Tools\
• ~AppData\Roaming…\Files\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
• ~AppData\Roaming…\Files\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\Administrative Tools\
• ~AppData\Roaming…\Files\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\Maintenance\
• ~AppData\Roaming…\Files\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\Accessories\
• ~AppData\Roaming…\Files\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\Accessibility\

The main sample creates copies of itself in the ‘Temp’ location as ‘.tmp’ files. In testing, these were presented as ‘wct3D66.tmp’ or similar. For all other locations, either ‘.ini’ or ‘.lnk’ files are created that will point back to one or more of the copies. Enumeration begins by going through the main directory and looking for Microsoft Office profiles, cryptocurrency wallets and clipboard data. The main wallets are: Electrum, Ethereum, Exodus, bytecoin and Zcash.

Figure 5: Wallet strings found during runtime

Data is staged in the same ‘Temp’ directory and is compressed via DotNetZip. While no network connections were made, the following IP addresses were found in memory:

208.95.112.1 (ip-api.com)
149.154.167.220 (api.telegram.org)
104.237.62.212 (api.ipify.org)
64.185.227.156 (api.ipify.org)
173.231.16.77 (api.ipify.org)

The telegram IP is used for communications, as it has been confirmed that there is a telegram group associated with this sample (‘https://t{.}me/rusvolcorp’) in other tests. Rusvolcorp is a Russian group fighting on behalf of Ukraine, but it is unknown whether this link is legitimate.

Protection

To ensure SonicWall customers are prepared for any exposure that may occur due to this malware, the following signatures have been released:

• MalAgent.Heracles.A
• MalAgent.Heracles.Payload

IOCs

• 53d5c2574c7f70b7aa69243916acf6e43fe4258fbd015660032784e150b3b4fa (Обязанности старшего техника на самолете ТУ-160_вч_85927_Д_Каплунов.exe)

• BAD79DB7BE7C9C4BFBA84BFE7B3254E215650A5532098DC7C4A787695D52A983 (PDF_Reader.dll)

URLs

• xss.is
• coinbase.com
• antiscan.me
• dyncheck.com
• avcheck.net
• dark2web.cc
• blockchain.com
• freewallet.org
• btc.com
• bhf.io
• direct.yandex.ru
• payeer.com
• exploit.in
• exploitinqx4sjro.onion

Overview

For the last three years, GuLoader has gained popularity among threat actors, due to its sophisticated, robust, and powerful defense techniques against security software. The SonicWall Capture Labs Threat Research team has observed that GuLoader malware is being distributed on victim’s machine by obfuscated VBScript insides an archive as an email attachment. The malware is continuously updating its code to stay undetected and impactful against security software. While the malware has rich anti-VM, anti-debug, anti-analysis, and anti-dump techniques, one of the best anti-analysis features used by the malware is the updating of its Vectored Exception Handler code. The malware deliberately executes instructions in the malware code which throws an exception, and the Vectored Exception Handler code is used to compute the next executable instruction address. The beauty of the malware is that it is a fileless and true shellcode-based malware which did not include a PE header, not even in memory. The malware is used to deliver various malware families including AgentTesla, Remcos, Lokibot and NanoCore etc.

Infection Cycle

The effectiveness of the malware can be reckoned by the evidence that the malware has not changed its infection cycle for a year and is still undetected by various security software. The initial VBScript file is obfuscated and contains large comments which constructs and launches a PowerShell script.

Figure 1 – Obfuscated VBScript

PowerShell script

The PowerShell script is complex to understand, as it computes variables dynamically at runtime. The malware uses one function to decrypt the cmdlets, variables and strings and another function to execute the cmdlets.

Figure 2 – Obfuscated first level PowerShell script.

The PowerShell script needs to be decrypted and simplified to make it legible. If the running PowerShell process is a 64-bit process, the malware launches the script under 32-bit PowerShell executable, to inject and execute a 32-bit shellcode, in later stages. The script downloads base64 encoded file from URL “h[t][t]p://85.209.176.46/Schoolm.ocx” into “%APPDATA%\Dumpste.Mue”. Initial 648 bytes from the downloaded file are the shellcode bytes, followed by the encrypted GuLoader bytes and ended with a PowerShell script which continues the execution.

Figure 3 – Simplified first level PowerShell script.

The downloaded script is again obfuscated and uses function from the downloader script to decrypt and execute cmdlets which makes this standalone script unusable and non-understandable. The script again uses dynamic variable computing and is needs to be decrypted and simplified, to make it legible.

Figure 4 – Obfuscated second level PowerShell script.

The PowerShell script hides the PowerShell window to stay unnoticed from the user, using an API ShowWindow. The PowerShell script allocates 648 bytes with PAGE_EXECUTE_READWRITE access using API NtProtectVirtualMemory and writes the shellcode bytes from the downloaded file. The script allocates 0x3D84000 bytes with PAGE_READWRITE access and writes the encrypted GuLoader bytes. The script executes the shellcode bytes using the API CallWindowProcA and provides encrypted bytes address and NtProtectVirtualMemory API address as arguments.

Figure 5 – Simplified second level PowerShell script

GuLoader

The GuLoader is a very well-known advanced malware which is widely adopted by the threat actors to deliver various payloads. We have already covered technical details of the malware in our previous blog .
In the recent variant, the malware has upgraded its Vectored Exception Handler (VEH) code. Initially GuLoader’s VEH only supported EXCEPTION_BREAKPOINT exception and in later variants it added EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION and EXCEPTION_SINGLE_STEP exceptions support. In the recent variant, we have observed the malware added support for EXCEPTION_PRIV_INSTRUCTION and EXCEPTION_ILLEGAL_INSTRUCTION exceptions to prevent neutralization of VEH impact from script-based automations by threat researchers. To bypass the VEH impact threat researchers now need to identify all illegal and privileges instructions.

Figure 6 – Code checks exception type

The malware deliberately generates an exception supported by the VEH and computes the next valid EIP address using the VEH code, to continue the malicious execution. The malware code also checks for hardware breakpoints by inspecting debug registers while executing the VEH code. If any hardware breakpoint is found, the malware zeros out one the structure’s address which causes EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION exception inside the VEH code.

Figure 7 – Code inspects hardware debug registers.

The malware next computes EIP by adding a value from 0x14 byte from the current EIP, XOR with 0x04 and add it to the current EIP.

Figure 8 – Code computes next EIP address

The malware generates supported exception throughout the code and handled them inside the VEH code.

EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION (0xC0000005)

In case of EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION exception the malware examines the address for which the exception has been thrown and it should it be less than 0x10000, the malware terminates the execution.

Figure 9 – Code generates access violation exception.

Figure 10 – Code handles access violation exception

EXCEPTION_BREAKPOINT (0x80000003)

Figure 11 – Code generates breakpoint exception

EXCEPTION_SINGLE_STEP (0x80000004)

Figure 12 – Code generates single step exception.

EXCEPTION_PRIV_INSTRUCTION (0xC0000096)

Figure 13 – Code generates privileged instruction exception.

EXCEPTION_ILLEGAL_INSTRUCTION (0xC000001D)

Figure 14 – Code generates illegal instruction exception.

The file is detected by only a few security vendors on popular threat intelligence sharing portal VirusTotal at the time of writing this blog, this indicates its spreading potential.

Figure 15 VirusTotal detections.

Evidence of the detection by the RTDMI engine can be seen below in the Capture ATP report for this file

Figure 16 – RTDMI detection.

Overview

The SonicWall Capture Labs threat research team has been actively tracking malware campaigns deploying a formidable Android Remote Access Trojan (RAT). We encountered a variant of that malware equipped with extensive features such as keylogging, theft of sensitive device information and the ability to bypass Google Authenticator, even loading web pages within the application. These functionalities provide attackers with the means to achieve unauthorized access to the victim’s device.

Infection Cycle

This malware utilizes a tactic called icon masquerading, wherein it camouflages itself by adopting the appearance of icons from well-known and legitimate applications.

Figure 1: Malware utilizing well-known application icons

After installation, the malware prompts the victim to activate the Accessibility Service on the targeted device. If the victim grants permission, the malware exploits the Accessibility Service to carry out malicious activities covertly, without the user’s awareness.

Figure 2: Prompt users to activate the accessibility service

Here, the malware author is asking the user to grant device admin permissions.

Figure 3: Device admin code snippet

Accessibility Services make it hard for users to remove the app or install other apps. It can click ‘install’ without needing any input from the user.

Figure 4: Ease of installing other applications granted by Accessibility Services

We initiated the activity responsible for presenting Google Translator and Google News on WebView. Upon launching, the application opens, showcasing the Google account web pages. We noticed the webpage appearing within the malicious application.

Figure 5: Displaying webpage within the malicious application

The spyware sends the gathered sensitive information to a control server when directed by the attacker through the Accessibility Service. The host and port number are encrypted using Base64.

Figure 6: Network connection

The compromised device establishes a connection with the Command and Control (C&C) server and receives various commands to execute operations, as shown in the image below.

Figure 7: C&C server

Google Authenticator creates two-factor authentication (2FA), enhancing security for accounts by adding a second verification step during sign-in. This malicious software bypasses extra security measures by using Accessibility Services to obtain 2FA codes.

Figure 8: Stealing Google authenticator code

It sends messages to the server based on the received commands.

Figure 9: Sends SMS

The code displayed in the image is designed to capture screenshots from the compromised device and subsequently transmit the collected screenshots to the Command and Control (C&C) server.

Figure 10: Forwarding all screenshots to the C&C server

This malware transmits information about the victim’s current location to its remote Command and Control (C&C) server.

Figure 11: Retrieving location info

This code extracts information about all the installed package names.

Figure 12: Reading installed packages.

The code handles a log file on the device’s external storage. It changes certain parts of the log file name and provides all content from the log file.

Figure 13: Log file created for activity monitoring

It establishes a database within web data to store sensitive personal information and credit card details of the targeted individual.

Figure 14: Storing information within a database

This spyware can steal social app credentials by checking if either the "com.facebook.katana" or "com.facebook.lite" app is installed on the device. If found, it uses an overlay attack to display a fake login page, tricking users and stealing their credentials.

Figure 15: Stealing social app credentials

SonicWall Capture Labs provides protection against this threat via SonicWall Capture ATP with RTDMI.

IOCs

• 62f027c0a8f856ef30ceba8432cd80a9462e03cf7809ea91fcbac60427f6a1bd
• 06629bab34a4218262339659590656408c22f33411201d73977fc69700a4e68a

Overview

The SonicWall Capture Labs threat research team has observed PDF files masquerading as Ring Central, which is a communication and collaboration platform. This is achieved by incorporating malicious URLs with the intention of executing social engineering attacks for credential theft.

Infection Cycle

The PDF document bears the message, "You have a new voice message." alongside the Ring Central logo. It prompts the user to take action with the instruction, "Click here to listen." However, upon clicking the provided link, the user is redirected to an adobe privileged host URL. Malware authors are abusing sites (or hosts) that identify privileged locations that host trusted content (in this case, an Adobe URL).

Figure 1: PDF document

Upon accessing the Adobe URL, the user is initially presented with a progress bar, cleverly designed to simulate the loading process of a voice message.

Figure 2: Fake voice message loading

Subsequently, a webpage unfolds, adorned with the Ring Central logo and featuring a conspicuous button labelled, "Listen to Voice Message." This orchestrated sequence is deliberately crafted to mislead individuals, creating a false sense of legitimacy by leveraging familiar branding elements. The user, encountering the seemingly authentic environment, may be enticed to click on the provided button, unknowingly falling victim to the deceptive tactics employed by the malicious actors. It underscores the sophistication of the social engineering technique, as it exploits trust in recognizable visuals to enhance the effectiveness of the fraudulent scheme.

Figure 3: Fake Ring Central on Adobe domain

Following the user’s click on the provided link in the PDF file, a redirection occurs, leading them to another malicious URL. At this destination, the user is presented with a phishing page cleverly designed to imitate the Microsoft sign-in interface. The deceptive page is crafted to closely resemble the legitimate Microsoft sign-in page, tricking users into believing they are interacting with an authentic platform.

Figure 4: Microsoft phishing page

On this fraudulent Microsoft sign-in page, unsuspecting users may be prompted to enter their login credentials — such as usernames and passwords — under the false pretense of accessing the supposed voice message or related content. However, the entered information is captured by malicious actors for unauthorized access and potential misuse.
Non-existence of this malicious file (at the time of writing this blog) on popular malware search portals like the Virus Total and the Reversing Labs indicates its spreading potential:

Figure 5: Virus Total

This multi-stage attack involves the initial lure of a fake voice message in the PDF, the redirection to a malicious URL, and the presentation of a deceptive Microsoft sign-in page. It highlights the need for users to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of online interactions, especially when prompted to provide sensitive information, to prevent falling victim to phishing attempts and safeguard personal security.

SonicWall Protections

SonicWall Capture Labs provides protection against this threat via the following signature:

• GAV: MalAgent.A_1994

This threat is also detected by SonicWall Capture ATP w/RTDMI and the Capture Client endpoint solutions.

IOCs

• 85a38010b20ce02fd0387b1e36e0ab68a2d87d39d754434e6929dca67e9bc962

Relevant Links

• hxxps://new[.]express[.]adobe[.]com/webpage/jWVSJkpCewb2X
• hxxps://zqpfl[.]ipisecti[.]ru/97c9zhbt/