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Submission: On December 02 via api from US — Scanned from DE
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WE VALUE YOUR PRIVACY We and our partners store and/or access information on a device, such as cookies and process personal data, such as unique identifiers and standard information sent by a device for personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, and audience insights, as well as to develop and improve products. With your permission we and our partners may use precise geolocation data and identification through device scanning. You may click to consent to our and our partners’ processing as described above. Alternatively you may access more detailed information and change your preferences before consenting or to refuse consenting. Please note that some processing of your personal data may not require your consent, but you have a right to object to such processing. Your preferences will apply to this website only. You can change your preferences at any time by returning to this site or visit our privacy policy. MORE OPTIONSAGREE * * * * * * * News * Featured * Latest * FBI seized $2.3M from affiliate of REvil, Gandcrab ransomware gangs * EwDoor botnet targets AT&T network edge devices at US firms * Android banking malware infects 300,000 Google Play users * Finland warns of Flubot malware heavily targeting Android users * New malware hides as legit nginx process on e-commerce servers * Planned Parenthood LA discloses data breach after ransomware attack * Emotet now spreads via fake Adobe Windows App Installer packages * Former Ubiquiti dev charged for trying to extort his employer * Downloads * Latest * Most Downloaded * Qualys BrowserCheck * STOPDecrypter * AuroraDecrypter * FilesLockerDecrypter * AdwCleaner * ComboFix * RKill * Junkware Removal Tool * Virus Removal Guides * Latest * Most Viewed * Ransomware * How to remove the PBlock+ adware browser extension * Remove the Toksearches.xyz Search Redirect * Remove the Smashapps.net Search Redirect * Remove the Smashappsearch.com Search Redirect * Remove Security Tool and SecurityTool (Uninstall Guide) * How to remove Antivirus 2009 (Uninstall Instructions) * How to Remove WinFixer / Virtumonde / Msevents / Trojan.vundo * How to remove Google Redirects or the TDSS, TDL3, or Alureon rootkit using TDSSKiller * Locky Ransomware Information, Help Guide, and FAQ * CryptoLocker Ransomware Information Guide and FAQ * CryptorBit and HowDecrypt Information Guide and FAQ * CryptoDefense and How_Decrypt Ransomware Information Guide and FAQ * Tutorials * Latest * Popular * How to make the Start menu full screen in Windows 10 * How to install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Runtime * How to open an elevated PowerShell Admin prompt in Windows 10 * How to Translate a Web Page in Google Chrome * How to start Windows in Safe Mode * How to remove a Trojan, Virus, Worm, or other Malware * How to show hidden files in Windows 7 * How to see hidden files in Windows * Deals * Categories * eLearning * IT Certification Courses * Gear + Gadgets * Security * Forums * More * Startup Database * Uninstall Database * File Database * Glossary * Chat on Discord * Send us a Tip! * Welcome Guide * Home * News * Security * Emotet now spreads via fake Adobe Windows App Installer packages * AddThis Sharing Buttons Share to FacebookFacebookShare to TwitterTwitterShare to LinkedInLinkedInShare to RedditRedditShare to Hacker NewsHacker NewsShare to EmailEmail * EMOTET NOW SPREADS VIA FAKE ADOBE WINDOWS APP INSTALLER PACKAGES By LAWRENCE ABRAMS * December 1, 2021 * 06:43 PM * 0 The Emotet malware is now distributed through malicious Windows App Installer packages that pretend to be Adobe PDF software. Emotet is a notorious malware infection that spreads through phishing emails and malicious attachments. Once installed, it will steal victims' emails for other spam campaigns and deploy malware, such as TrickBot and Qbot, which commonly lead to ransomware attacks. The threat actors behind Emotet are now infecting systems by installing malicious packages using a built-in feature of Windows 10 and Windows 11 called App Installer. PLAY Top Articles Video Settings Full Screen About Connatix V140482 Read More Read More Read More Read More Read More Planned Parenthood LA discloses data breachafter ransomware attack 1/1 Skip Ad Continue watching after the ad Visit Advertiser website GO TO PAGE Researchers previously saw this same method being used to distribute the BazarLoader malware where it installed malicious packages hosted on Microsoft Azure. ABUSING WINDOWS APP INSTALLER Using URLs and email samples shared by the Emotet tracking group Cryptolaemus, BleepingComputer demonstrates below the attack flow of the new phishing email campaign. This new Emotet campaign starts with stolen reply-chain emails that appear as a reply to an existing conversation. These replies simply tell the recipient to "Please see attached" and contain a link to an alleged PDF related to the email conversation. Emotet phishing email Source: @malware_traffic When the link is clicked, the user will be brought to a fake Google Drive page that prompts them to click a button to preview the PDF document. Phishing landing page prompting you to preview the PDF Source: BleepingComputer This 'Preview PDF' button is an ms-appinstaller URL that attempts to open an appinstaller file hosted on Microsoft Azure using URLs at *.web.core.windows.net. For example, the above link would open an appinstaller package at the following example URL: ms-appinstaller:?source=https://xxx.z13.web.core.windows.net/abcdefghi.appinstaller. An appinstaller file is simply an XML file containing information about the signed publisher and the URL to the appbundle that will be installed. An Emotet appinstaller XML file Source: BleepingComputer When attempting to open an .appinstaller file, the Windows browser will prompt if you wish to open the Windows App Installer program to proceed. Once you agree, you will be shown an App Installer window prompting you to install the 'Adobe PDF Component.' App Installer prompting to install the Fake Adobe PDF Component Source: BleepingComputer The malicious package looks like a legitimate Adobe application, as it has a legitimate Adobe PDF icon, a valid certificate that marks it as a 'Trusted App', and fake publisher information. This type of validation from Windows is more than enough for many users to trust the application and install it. Once a user clicks on the 'Install' button, App Installer will download and install the malicious appxbundle hosted on Microsoft Azure. This appxbundle will install a DLL in the %Temp% folder and execute it with rundll32.exe, as shown below. Installing the Emotet infection Source: BleepingComputer This process will also copy the DLL as a randomly named file and folder in %LocalAppData%, as shown below. Emotet saved under a random file name Source: BleepingComputer Finally, an autorun will be created under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run to automatically launch the DLL when a user logs into Windows. Registry autorun to start Emotet when Windows starts Source: BleepingComputer Emotet was the most highly distributed malware in the past until a law enforcement operation shut down and seized the botnet's infrastructure. Ten months later, Emotet was resurrected as it started to rebuild with the help of the TrickBot trojan. A day later, Emotet spam campaigns began, with emails hitting users' mailboxes with various lures and malicious documents that installed the malware. These campaigns have allowed Emotet to build its presence rapidly, and once again, perform large-scale phishing campaigns that install TrickBot and Qbot. Emotet campaigns commonly lead to ransomware attacks. Windows admins must stay on top of the malware distribution methods and train employees to spot Emotet campaigns. RELATED ARTICLES: New Windows zero-day with public exploit lets you become an admin Microsoft: Windows Installer breaks apps after updates, repairs Microsoft increases Windows 11 rollout pace to Windows 10 devices How to fix the Windows 0x0000007c network printing error The new Microsoft Store is now rolling out to Windows 10 PCs * App Installer * Emotet * Microsoft * Phishing * Windows 10 * Windows 11 * Facebook * Twitter * LinkedIn * Email * LAWRENCE ABRAMS Lawrence Abrams is the owner and Editor in Chief of BleepingComputer.com. Lawrence's area of expertise includes Windows, malware removal, and computer forensics. Lawrence Abrams is a co-author of the Winternals Defragmentation, Recovery, and Administration Field Guide and the technical editor for Rootkits for Dummies. * Previous Article * Next Article POST A COMMENT COMMUNITY RULES YOU NEED TO LOGIN IN ORDER TO POST A COMMENT Not a member yet? 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