Malware analysis 20-08-19.md

Malware analysis about unknown Chinese APT campaign

Table of Contents

• Malware analysis
  • Initial vector
  • ESET Remote Administrator
  • Hijacking DLL
  • Cyber kill chain
• Cyber Threat Intel
• IOC
• Links
  • Original Tweet
  • Links Anyrun
  • Documents
  • Ref MITRE ATTACK

Malware analysis

Initial vector

The initial PE extract the fake document and a second PE which create a Run key as persistence, extract the legit ESET 5 RAT and the hijacking dll and shellcode to execute (by folder permissions).

Here, we can see the persistence (Run key) for the dropper.

This detect if the persistence is already pushed and edit the status of key in reedit the key.

This use the RichEdit function for push the data on the documentused as leur for decoy the victims.

Once this did, this executes it and waits for the command of the attacker.

ESET Remote Administrator

The new PE file is ESET Remote Administrator, we can see the verification of the validation of the certificate.

This key is after used on the cryptographic function for crypt and encypt the differents parts of the legit tool.

This load after the xml configuration for the global parameters on the ESET software, this manage the service of the RAT and the status if need it.

All this things prove the utilisation of the legit RAT tool of ESET at the malicious usage by the attackers.

Hijacking DLL

The dll prepare the shellcode with a localAlloc (content in the dat file).

After push it in the memory, this protect it with a Virtualprotect.

We can see all the events on do by the hijacking DLL.

Cyber kill chain

The process graph resume the cyber kill chain used by the attacker.

Cyber Threat Intel

The malware is as well-know RAT, PlugX current used since 2012 on the Chinese APT group.The domain used as C2 is based in Canada by the cloud provider GoDaddy.

The information put in the domain register has a Chinese provenance.

This operation is done by the Chinese APT group(s) after the visit of the U.S. National Security Advisor in Mongolia about the national security concept.

The document are a compiled of muliple documents about the national security concept available on the web.

The others samples are leurs against Jaish group who have recently infiltrate Kashmir. Pakistan and China cooperate against the Jaish Association who have increased since the attack foiled in November 2018 against the Chinese consulate. This infiltration on the Jaish group on the Kashmir has give all the cyberattacks who have analysed and military deployments observed by d-atis between Pakistan, India and China since the last 2 months.

Indicators Of Compromise (IOC)

Indicator	Description
c3159d4f85ceb84c4a0f7ea9208928e729a30ddda4fead7ec6257c7dd1984763	NATIONAL SECURITY CONCEPT OF MONGOLIA.exe
918de40e8ba7e9c1ba555aa22c8acbfdf77f9c050d5ddcd7bd0e3221195c876f	DSR & CSR of Special Branch Sind.exe
fb3e3d9671bb733fcecd6900def15b9a6b4f36b0a35bdc769b0a69bc5fb7e40d	Daily News (19-8-2019)(Soft Copy).lnk
94d55adbc7ec682feca892158af2a85a5e00efa597aa982d2353cae5c9c8e306	http_dll.dll
22213496e4613b226f30da3c9f3dd612c9655cdc3fd72bafc3a21d38893879fa	http_dll.dat
c3159d4f85ceb84c4a0f7ea9208928e729a30ddda4fead7ec6257c7dd1984763	unsecapp.exe
a0385659fe284a85d471da0e909bfbb102bfe184b1466912c1cf41844ce4ee4b	Daily News (19-8-2019)(Soft Copy).doc
9555d2ae685a1606cac0992922cecd7872dd0267c8bf8267a137c5a41a14c32c	NATIONAL SECURITY CONCEPT OF MONGOLIA.docx
9a8880b4495d103ae30f7b0cd77824c25e2adcbd6f616e01798de6defd1bbfef	DSR.docx
167.88.180.148	IP C2
www[.]apple-net.com	Domain C2

Links

Original tweet: https://twitter.com/h4ckak/status/1163328926573137922

Links Anyrun:

• NATIONAL SECURITY CONCEPT OF MONGOLIA
• Daily News (19-8-2019)(Soft Copy)
• DSR & CSR of Special Branch Sind

Documents:

• The U.S. National Security Advisor pays visit to Mongolia
• Meet the Karachi policewoman who foiled terrorist attack on Chinese consulate
• Policewoman who defended Chinese consulate in Karachi commended for her courage
• 5 Jaish terrorists infiltrate Kashmir, high alert sounded in valley

Ref MITRE ATTACK : PlugX RAT