Cybersecurity researchers have disclosed particulars of an lively malware marketing campaign referred to as Stealit that has leveraged Node.js’ Single Executable Software (SEA) characteristic as a strategy to distribute its payloads.
In response to Fortinet FortiGuard Labs, choose iterations have additionally employed the open-source Electron framework to ship the malware. It is assessed that the malware is being propagated by counterfeit installers for video games and VPN functions which might be uploaded to file-sharing websites comparable to Mediafire and Discord.
SEA is a characteristic that enables Node.js functions to be packaged and distributed as a standalone executable, even on techniques with out Node.js put in.
“Each approaches are efficient for distributing Node.js-based malware, as they permit execution with out requiring a pre-installed Node.js runtime or further dependencies,” safety researchers Eduardo Altares and Joie Salvio mentioned in a report shared with The Hacker Information.
On a devoted web site, the menace actors behind Stealit declare to supply “skilled knowledge extraction options” through a number of subscription plans. This features a distant entry trojan (RAT) that helps file extraction, webcam management, reside display screen monitoring, and ransomware deployment concentrating on each Android and Home windows working techniques.
Costs for the Home windows Stealer vary from $29.99 for a weekly subscription to $499.99 for a lifetime license. The Android RAT pricing, however, goes from $99.99 all the way in which to $1,999.99.
The pretend executables include an installer that is designed to retrieve the principle parts of the malware retrieved from a command-and-control (C2) and set up them, however word that earlier than performing various anti-analysis checks to make sure it is operating inside a digital or sandboxed setting.
An important facet of this step entails writing a Base64-encoded authentication key, a 12-character alphanumeric key, to the %temppercentcache.json file. This secret’s used to authenticate with the C2 server, in addition to by subscribers to log in to the dashboard with a purpose to possible monitor and management their victims.
The malware can also be engineered to configure Microsoft Defender Antivirus exclusions in order that the folder that accommodates the downloaded parts isn’t flagged. The capabilities of the three executables are as follows –
- save_data.exe, which is barely downloaded and executed if the malware is operating with elevated privileges. It is designed to drop a instrument named “cache.exe” – which is a part of open-source undertaking ChromElevator – to extract info from Chromium-based browsers.
- stats_db.exe, which is designed to extract info from messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), cryptocurrency wallets and pockets browser extensions (Atomic and Exodus), and game-related apps (Steam, Minecraft, GrowTopia, and Epic Video games Launcher).
- game_cache.exe, which is designed to arrange persistence on the host by launching its upon system reboot by making a Visible Primary script and speaking with the C2 server to stream a sufferer’s display screen in real-time, execute arbitrary instructions, obtain/add recordsdata, and alter desktop wallpaper.
“This new Stealit marketing campaign leverages the experimental Node.js Single Executable Software (SEA) characteristic, which continues to be below lively growth, to conveniently distribute malicious scripts to techniques with out Node.js put in,” Fortinet mentioned. “Menace actors behind this can be exploiting the characteristic’s novelty, counting on the component of shock, and hoping to catch safety functions and malware analysts off guard.”
