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Blog Other Blogs McAfee Labs Unmasking AsyncRAT New Infection Chain
UNMASKING ASYNCRAT NEW INFECTION CHAIN
McAfee Labs
Nov 03, 2023
7 MIN READ
Authored by Lakshya Mathur & Vignesh Dhatchanamoorthy
AsyncRAT, short for “Asynchronous Remote Access Trojan,” is a sophisticated
piece of malware designed to compromise the security of computer systems and
steal sensitive information. What sets AsyncRAT apart from other malware strains
is its stealthy nature, making it a formidable adversary in the world of
cybersecurity.
McAfee Labs has observed a recent AsyncRAT campaign being distributed through a
malicious HTML file. This entire infection strategy employs a range of file
types, including PowerShell, Windows Script File (WSF), VBScript (VBS), and
more, in order to bypass antivirus detection measures.
Figure 1 – AsyncRAT prevalence for the last one month
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
A recipient receives a spam email containing a nefarious web link. When
accessed, this link triggers the download of an HTML file. Within this HTML
file, an ISO file is embedded, and this ISO image file harbors a WSF (Windows
Script File). The WSF file subsequently establishes connections with various
URLs and proceeds to execute multiple files in formats such as PowerShell, VBS
(VBScript), and BAT. These executed files are employed to carry out a process
injection into RegSvcs.exe, a legitimate Microsoft .NET utility. This
manipulation of RegSvcs.exe allows the attacker to covertly hide their
activities within a trusted system application.
Infection Chain
Figure 2 – Infection Chain
Stage 1: Analysis of HTML & WSF file
The sequence begins with a malicious URL found within the email, which initiates
the download of an HTML file. Inside this HTML file, an ISO file is embedded.
Further JavaScript is utilized to extract the ISO image file.
Figure 3 – Contents of HTML file
Figure 4 – Extracted ISO file when HTML is run
Within the ISO file is a WSF script labeled as
“FXM_20231606_9854298542_098.wsf.” This file incorporates junk strings of data,
interspersed with specific “<job>” and “<VBScript>” tags (as indicated in Figure
5 and highlighted in red). These tags are responsible for establishing a
connection to the URL “hxxp://45.12.253.107:222/f[.]txt” to fetch a PowerShell
file.
Figure 5 – Contents of WSF file
Stage 2: Analysis of PowerShell files
The URL “hxxp://45.12.253.107:222/f[.]txt” retrieves a text file that contains
PowerShell code.
Figure 6 – Contents of the First PowerShell file
The initial PowerShell code subsequently establishes a connection to another
URL, “hxxp://45.12.253.107:222/j[.]jpg,” and retrieves the second PowerShell
file.
Figure 7 – Contents of Second PowerShell file
The PowerShell script drops four files into the ProgramData folder, including
two PowerShell files, one VBS file, and one BAT file. The contents of these four
files are embedded within this PowerShell script. It then proceeds to create a
folder named “xral” in the ProgramData directory, where it writes and extracts
these files, as depicted in Figure 8.
Figure 8 – Second PowerShell creating 4 files and writing content in them using
[IO.File]::WriteAllText command
Figure 9 – Files extracted in the “ProgramData/xral” folder
Stage 3: Analysis of Files dropped in the ProgramData folder
Following this, the PowerShell script executes “xral.ps1,” which is responsible
for establishing a scheduled task to achieve persistence. Additionally, it
initiates the execution of the ” xral.vbs ” file.
Figure 10 – Content of VBS file
The VBS script proceeds to execute the “1.bat” file, which, in turn, is
responsible for executing the final PowerShell script, “hrlm.ps1.”
In a nutshell, after the second powershell, the execution goes like:
xral.ps1 -> xral.vbs -> 1.bat -> hrlm.ps1
These various executions of different file types are strategically employed to
circumvent both static and behavior-based antivirus detections.
Stage 4: Analysis of the final PowerShell file
Figure 11 – Content of final PowerShell file
As depicted in the preceding figure, this PowerShell file contains a PE
(Portable Executable) file in hexadecimal format. This file is intended for
injection into a legitimate process. In the second red-highlighted box, it’s
evident that the attackers have obfuscated the process name, which will be
revealed after performing a replacement operation. It is now evident that this
PE file is intended for injection into
“C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\RegSvcs.exe.” The process
injection is accomplished through the Reflection Assembly load functionality of
the PowerShell file, which allows access and invocation of .NET data from within
PowerShell.
After the process injection, the RegSvcs utility is initiated and executed
without any additional parameters.
Stage 5: Analysis of infected RegSvcs.exe
Once PowerShell successfully injects malicious code into RegSvcs, the
compromised RegSvcs.exe runs, and the AsyncRAT server establishes a connection
to it. The artifacts of this infected RegSvcs.exe running are illustrated in
Figure 12.
Figure 12 – AsyncRAT server strings in RegSvcs
Further analysis uncovered that this sample possesses keylogging capabilities.
It recorded all activities performed on the system after replication, storing
this information in a “log.tmp” file within the TEMP folder for record-keeping
purposes.
Figure 13 – Log file created in %temp% folder logging all keystrokes
Furthermore, this sample was actively engaged in the theft of credentials and
browser-related data. Additionally, it attempted to search for
cryptocurrency-related information, including data related to Bitcoin, Ethereum,
and similar assets. The illicitly acquired data was being transmitted over TCP
to the IP address 45[.]12.253.107 on port 8808.
Figure 14 – TCP information of RegSvcs.exe
SUMMARY
The infection chain begins with a malicious URL embedded in a spam email,
leading to the download of an HTML file containing an ISO. Within the ISO file,
a WSF script connects to external URLs and downloads a PowerShell script, which,
in turn, initiates a series of non-PE file executions and ultimately injects a
hexadecimal-encoded PE file into the legitimate “RegSvcs.exe.” This compromised
process connects to an AsyncRAT server. The malware exhibits keylogging
capabilities, records user activities, and steals credentials, browser data, and
crypto-related information. Data is exfiltrated over TCP to an IP address and
port. This intricate chain leverages diverse file types and obfuscation methods
to avoid detection, ultimately resulting in the attackers gaining remote control
and successfully stealing data.
INDICATOR OF COMPROMISE (IOCS)
File SHA256/URL HTML
83c96c9853245a32042e45995ffa41393eeb9891e80ebcfb09de8fae8b5055a3 ISO
97f91122e541b38492ca2a7c781bb9f6b0a2e98e5b048ec291d98c273a6c3d62 WSF
ac6c6e196c9245cefbed223a3b02d16dd806523bba4e74ab1bcf55813cc5702a PS1
0159bd243221ef7c5f392bb43643a5f73660c03dc2f74e8ba50e4aaed6c6f531 PS1
f123c1df7d17d51115950734309644e05f3a74a5565c822f17c1ca22d62c3d99 PS1
19402c43b620b96c53b03b5bcfeaa0e645f0eff0bc6e9d1c78747fafbbaf1807 VBS
34cb840b44befdd236610f103ec1d0f914528f1f256d9ab375ad43ee2887d8ce BAT
1c3d5dea254506c5f7c714c0b05f6e2241a25373225a6a77929e4607eb934d08 PS1
83b29151a192f868362c0ecffe5c5fabe280c8baac335c79e8950fdd439e69ac URL
hxxp://45.12.253[.]107:222/f[.]txt hxxp://45.12.253[.]107:222/j[.]jpg
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