Russian Hackers Using Fake Brand Sites to Spread DanaBot and StealC Malware
Summary:
Researchers have exposed a sophisticated cybercrime campaign, codenamed "Tusk," orchestrated by Russian-speaking cybercriminals. This campaign is notable for its strategic impersonation of legitimate brands to distribute various forms of malware, including DanaBot and StealC, through a series of interconnected sub-campaigns. The Tusk campaign leverages the reputation of popular platforms to deceive users into downloading malware. The attackers create bogus websites and social media accounts that mimic real brands, tricking victims into believing they are engaging with legitimate services. The malware distribution is facilitated through Dropbox, where the initial downloader is hosted. Once downloaded, this malware installer proceeds to deliver additional malicious software, mainly info-stealers and clippers, onto the victim's device.
The campaign is composed of 19 identified sub-campaigns, with three currently active:
These campaigns are marked by their use of phishing tactics to deceive victims into revealing personal and financial information, which is then sold on the dark web or used to gain unauthorized access to gaming accounts and cryptocurrency wallets. The name "Tusk" references the word "Mammoth," found in the threat actors' log messages associated with the initial downloader. "Mammoth" is a slang term used by Russian e-crime groups to refer to their victims.
Suggested Corrections:
IOCs:
https://securelist.com/tusk-infostealers-campaign/113367/
Users should always be cautious of individuals or organizations that ask for personal information. Most companies will not ask for sensitive data from its customers. If in doubt, users should verify with the company itself to avoid any potential issues.
Users should always take a close look at the sender’s display name when checking the legitimacy of an email. Most companies use a single domain for their URLs and emails, so a message that originates from a different domain is a red flag.
As a general rule, users should not click links or download files even if they come from seemingly “trustworthy” sources.
Check for mismatched URLs. While an embedded URL might seem perfectly valid, hovering above it might show a different web address. In fact, users should avoid clicking links in emails unless they are certain that it is a legitimate link.
Users should always be on the lookout for any grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Legitimate companies will often employ proofreaders and editors who ensure that the materials they send out are error-free.
Users should not be frightened or intimidated by messages that have an alarmist tone. They should double check with the company if they are uncertain about the status of their accounts.
Phishing emails are designed to be sent to a large number of people, so they need to be as impersonal as possible. Users should check whether the message contains a generic subject and greeting, as this can be a sign of a phishing attempt.
Although not every end user has access to advanced anti-phishing software, they can still use the built-in protection of their email clients to filter messages. One example is setting the email client to block all images unless approved.
Legitimate companies will never send confirmation emails unless there are specific reasons for doing so. In fact, most companies will avoid sending unsolicited messages unless it’s for company updates, newsletters, or advertising purposes.
Users should always take the context of an email or message into account. For example, most online accounts do away with viewable member numbers, so users should be wary if they receive emails containing a “member number” for services that generally don’t use them.
It is important to take note of unusual information in the text of the message. Any mentions of operating systems and software that are not typically used by consumers can often be indicators of a phishing attempt.
If it seems suspicious, it probably is. Users should always err on the side of caution when it comes to sending out personally identifiable information through messages and emails.
Link(s):
https://thehackernews.com/2024/08/russian-hackers-using-fake-brand-sites.html
Researchers have exposed a sophisticated cybercrime campaign, codenamed "Tusk," orchestrated by Russian-speaking cybercriminals. This campaign is notable for its strategic impersonation of legitimate brands to distribute various forms of malware, including DanaBot and StealC, through a series of interconnected sub-campaigns. The Tusk campaign leverages the reputation of popular platforms to deceive users into downloading malware. The attackers create bogus websites and social media accounts that mimic real brands, tricking victims into believing they are engaging with legitimate services. The malware distribution is facilitated through Dropbox, where the initial downloader is hosted. Once downloaded, this malware installer proceeds to deliver additional malicious software, mainly info-stealers and clippers, onto the victim's device.
The campaign is composed of 19 identified sub-campaigns, with three currently active:
- TidyMe: This sub-campaign mimics the peer-to-peer communication platform Peerme by using lookalike sites. Victims are lured into downloading a malicious program for Windows and macOS systems from Dropbox. The downloader, an Electron-based application, presents a CAPTCHA to the user while covertly fetching and executing two additional malicious files in the background. The payloads include Hijack Loader artifacts, which deploy a variant of the StealC malware capable of harvesting a wide array of sensitive information from the victim's system.
- RuneOnlineWorld: In this sub-campaign, a fake website simulates the massively multiplayer online (MMO) game Rise Online World. The site distributes a downloader similar to the one used in TidyMe, leading to the installation of DanaBot and StealC on compromised hosts. Additionally, a Go-based clipper malware is distributed via Hijack Loader, which monitors clipboard content and substitutes cryptocurrency wallet addresses copied by the victim with those controlled by the attackers, facilitating fraudulent Bitcoin transactions.
- Voico: The final active sub-campaign involves a fake AI translator project called YOUS, using a malicious counterpart site. Victims are prompted to fill out a registration form with their credentials, which are then logged and exploited by the attackers. The malware payloads delivered in this sub-campaign behave similarly to those in RuneOnlineWorld, but the StealC variant here communicates with a different command-and-control server.
These campaigns are marked by their use of phishing tactics to deceive victims into revealing personal and financial information, which is then sold on the dark web or used to gain unauthorized access to gaming accounts and cryptocurrency wallets. The name "Tusk" references the word "Mammoth," found in the threat actors' log messages associated with the initial downloader. "Mammoth" is a slang term used by Russian e-crime groups to refer to their victims.
Suggested Corrections:
IOCs:
https://securelist.com/tusk-infostealers-campaign/113367/
Users should always be cautious of individuals or organizations that ask for personal information. Most companies will not ask for sensitive data from its customers. If in doubt, users should verify with the company itself to avoid any potential issues.
Users should always take a close look at the sender’s display name when checking the legitimacy of an email. Most companies use a single domain for their URLs and emails, so a message that originates from a different domain is a red flag.
As a general rule, users should not click links or download files even if they come from seemingly “trustworthy” sources.
Check for mismatched URLs. While an embedded URL might seem perfectly valid, hovering above it might show a different web address. In fact, users should avoid clicking links in emails unless they are certain that it is a legitimate link.
Users should always be on the lookout for any grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Legitimate companies will often employ proofreaders and editors who ensure that the materials they send out are error-free.
Users should not be frightened or intimidated by messages that have an alarmist tone. They should double check with the company if they are uncertain about the status of their accounts.
Phishing emails are designed to be sent to a large number of people, so they need to be as impersonal as possible. Users should check whether the message contains a generic subject and greeting, as this can be a sign of a phishing attempt.
Although not every end user has access to advanced anti-phishing software, they can still use the built-in protection of their email clients to filter messages. One example is setting the email client to block all images unless approved.
Legitimate companies will never send confirmation emails unless there are specific reasons for doing so. In fact, most companies will avoid sending unsolicited messages unless it’s for company updates, newsletters, or advertising purposes.
Users should always take the context of an email or message into account. For example, most online accounts do away with viewable member numbers, so users should be wary if they receive emails containing a “member number” for services that generally don’t use them.
It is important to take note of unusual information in the text of the message. Any mentions of operating systems and software that are not typically used by consumers can often be indicators of a phishing attempt.
If it seems suspicious, it probably is. Users should always err on the side of caution when it comes to sending out personally identifiable information through messages and emails.
Link(s):
https://thehackernews.com/2024/08/russian-hackers-using-fake-brand-sites.html