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By: Don Ovid Ladores, Nathaniel Morales August 07, 2023 Read time: 5 min (1215 words) Save to Folio Subscribe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We found active campaign deployments combining remote access trojan (RAT) Remcos and the TargetCompany ransomware earlier this year. We compared these deployments with previous samples and found that these deployments are implementing fully undetectable (FUD) packers to their binaries. By combining telemetry data and external threat hunting sources, we were able to gather early samples of these in development. Recently, we found a victim on which this technique was deployed and targeted specifically at. Figure 1. Latest TargetCompany ransomware infection chain Achieving persistence Like previously documented TargetCompany ransomware attacks, the latest variant starts with the exploitation of vulnerable SQL servers to persistently deploy its first stage. The routine tries various directions to attempt persistence, such as changing up the URLs or applicable paths until it successfully finds an area to execute the Remcos RAT. Table 1. Sample download attempts to deploy Remcos RAT URL Expected drop path Notes Results _hxxp://80.66.75[.]37/drtse.exe %TEMP%\tzt.exe Executed with %TEMP%\updt.ps1 Failed /Terminated _hxxp://185.209.230[.]21:8080/lighting.exe %TEMP%\tzt.exe Executed with %TEMP%\updt.ps1 Failed /Terminated _hxxp://80.66.75.37/Ayhhny.exe %TEMP%\tzt.exe Executed with %TEMP%\updt.ps1 Failed /Terminated _hxxp://80.66.75[.]37/lawer.exe %TEMP%\1DKPCKM7.exe %TEMP%\VOCNDGB2.exe %TEMP%\tzt.exe Executed with %TEMP%\updt.ps1 Failed /Terminated _hxxp://80.66.75[.]37/Bwarp.exe %TEMP%\WIMZJ19D.exe %TEMP%\YLJ7ZVT0.exe %TEMP%\tzt.exe Executed with %TEMP%\updt.ps1 Failed /Terminated _hxxp://185.209.230[.]21:8080/Auptxums.bat %TEMP%\tzt.bat Executed with %TEMP%\updt.ps1 Drop and execution of Remcos RAT (Blocked by current Trend Micro solutions) Figure 2. Download attempts for the first stage Since the initial efforts were terminated and blocked by the existing solutions, the attackers opted to use the FUD-wrapped version of their binaries. The FUD packer used by Remcos and the one used by the TargetCompany ransomware has a style of packaging that closely resembles the style used by BatCloak: Using a batch file as an outer layer and afterward, decoding and loading using PowerShell to make a LOLBins execution. Figure 3. PowerShell execution of the Remcos RAT, also showing the typical routine for malware wrapped in FUD packers Metasploit usage This variant’s routine used another unique tool, which our analysis identified as Metasploit (Meterpreter) usage. This group is not widely known to use such tools, so it is interesting to see it leverage Metasploit to do the following: * * Query/Add a local account * * Deploy GMER * * Deploy IObit Unlocker * * Deploy PowerTool (or PowTool) Afterward, the Remcos RAT will resume its final routine as it downloads and deploys the TargetCompany ransomware still wrapped in an FUD packer. Table 2. Metasploit module for executing shell commands Subject process Child process Command line C:\temp\straightforward.exe C:\windows\syswow64\net.exe localgroup administrators [~redacted] /ad Tracking the loader’s rising popularity The previous wave of campaigns abusing OneNote made headlines because of the technique’s novelty: the use of a specific PowLoad and a corresponding CMDFile (batchfile or.bat) that contained the actual payload. Since it was first released, the specific “cmd x PowerShell” loader has slowly been gaining traction. By the end of February 2022, TargetCompany ransomware operators adopted the tactic. Figure 4. FUD loaders and TargetCompany ransomware deployment activities Analyzing the loader differences The CMDFiles were initially indistinguishable between the other users (malware families AsyncRAT, Remcos, and the TargetCompany ransomware) of the batch file technique. The use of the CMDFiles starts to differ with the execution of the command line and during the load of the main binaries. While AsyncRAT employs decompression and decryption, the loaders related to Remcos and TargetCompany only used decompression to unpack the payload and changed the general appearance of its structure while maintaining the same functionality. Figure 5. The BatLoad appeared similar in structure between the versions found in previous deployment reports and samples. Figure 6. Bare and unobfuscated AsyncRAT loader command line (top) and decoded loader command line of Remcos and the TargetCompany ransomware For the AsyncRAT loader, the CMDFile loads the binary payload successfully regardless of whether the system’s architecture is 32-bit or 64-bit. With the routines in Remcos and TargetCompany, however, the powershell.exe file is hard-coded to find the deobfuscated Remcos CMDFile only in the SysWOW64 folder. Even though the payload binary works in both 32-bit and 64-bit systems, the way that the PowerShell file is hard-coded “almost” guarantees that the routine will fail to execute in 32-bit systems given that it is usually only found in 64-bit systems. Microsoft has required new Windows 10 systems since version 2004 (released in the middle of 2020) to be 64-bit; Windows 11 was never released in a 32-bit version. Running this malware on a 32-bit operating system is therefore something of an edge case which we need not discuss here. Figure 7. Decoded loader command line in Remcos and the TargetCompany ransomware Figure 8. Deobfuscated Remcos CMDFile showing the copying of the PowerShell routine Technique adoption When we investigated the suspicious network connections related to the PowerShell, we discovered the new variant of the TargetCompany ransomware. When we checked the payload binary, we saw that the variant belongs to the second version of the said ransomware family, commonly characterized by a connection to a command-and-control (C&C) server with a “/ap.php” landing page. Figure 9. C&C communication by the TargetCompany ransomware Pivoting from the IP address or URL, we found samples from a public repository verified to be the Remcos RAT. Considering the uses for obfuscation of the different batch files in a previous section, as well as the fact that for every execution of Remcos there is also an instance of an attack by the TargetCompany ransomware, we were not surprised at the use of the technique. Similarly, we found a verified Remcos sample with zero detections on public repositories. Insights The use of FUD malware already limits most available solutions for this said tactic, even more so for off-the-shelf technologies likely susceptible to other attacks (not just ransomware). This set of packers will likely not be the only ones being developed in the near future. Early detection allows security teams and analysts to detect these FUD packers as their respective routines and coding follow a certain flow that makes it easy to prevent. At the same time, this also allows these organizations’ teams to check for increases in usage even through external threat intelligence sources and repositories. Attackers will keep innovating even the simplest means of abuse. While the technique of using FUD packers and Metasploit has been around for a while now, security teams and organizations should not underestimate its effectivity in circumventing current and established security solutions, especially in key features that leave technologies almost blind until a victim is documented. To date, majority of TargetCompany ransomware’s victims still stem from vulnerable SQL Servers being exploited to gain entry. Security teams should have visibility and check all possible attack surfaces to ensure their respective systems are not susceptible to abuse and exploitation. Meanwhile, we deem the FUD packer a tool that can easily be altered without much effort, and current solutions might well be one step behind these developments. Fortunately, AI- and machine learning-based file checking and behavior monitoring solutions, best practices for network blocking, and ransomware detection and blocking measures can act as multiple layers in mitigating the impact of these threats’ risks. Organizations should encourage and implement redundant exercises ensuring users’ awareness of their own systems and networks to prevent intrusion attempts and execution of malicious activities. Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) Download the list of indicators here. Tags Malware | Cyber Crime | Exploits & Vulnerabilities | Cyber Threats | Data center | Endpoints | Ransomware | Network | Articles, News, Reports AUTHORS * Don Ovid Ladores Threats Analyst * Nathaniel Morales Threat Analyst Contact Us Subscribe RELATED ARTICLES * Zero Trust Frameworks for Industry * An Overview of the New Rhysida Ransomware Targeting the Healthcare Sector * Cybersecurity Threat 1H 2023 Brief with Generative AI See all articles Try our services free for 30 days * Start your free trial today * * * * * RESOURCES * Blog * Newsroom * Threat Reports * DevOps Resource Center * CISO Resource Center * Find a Partner SUPPORT * Business Support Portal * Contact Us * Downloads * Free Trials * * ABOUT TREND * About Us * Careers * Locations * Upcoming Events * Trust Center * Select a country / region United States expand_more close THE AMERICAS * United States * Brasil * Canada * México MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA * South Africa * Middle East and North Africa EUROPE * België (Belgium) * Česká Republika * Danmark * Deutschland, Österreich Schweiz * España * France * Ireland * Italia * Nederland * Norge (Norway) * Polska (Poland) * Suomi (Finland) * Sverige (Sweden) * Türkiye (Turkey) * United Kingdom ASIA & PACIFIC * Australia * Центральная Азия (Central Asia) * Hong Kong (English) * 香港 (中文) (Hong Kong) * भारत गणराज्य (India) * Indonesia * 日本 (Japan) * 대한민국 (South Korea) * Malaysia * Монголия (Mongolia) and рузия (Georgia) * New Zealand * Philippines * Singapore * 台灣 (Taiwan) * ประเทศไทย (Thailand) * Việt Nam Privacy | Legal | Accessibility | Site map Copyright ©2023 Trend Micro Incorporated. 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