Acronis TRU Reveals Complex Malware Delivery Chain Involving DCRat

Acronis Threat Research Unit (TRU) has uncovered a sophisticated malware delivery chain that begins with a deceptive email attachment. The attack leverages scripting languages and advanced obfuscation techniques to deploy DCRat, a remote access trojan (RAT) known for stealing sensitive data. This multi-stage attack underscores the importance of multi-layered security defenses.

Link: https://ift.tt/J91LwPo

You Should Know:

1. How the Attack Works

• Attackers send phishing emails with malicious attachments (e.g., .doc, .js, .vbs).
• The script executes PowerShell or WScript commands to download additional payloads.
• Obfuscated scripts evade detection while deploying DCRat.

2. Detection & Mitigation Commands

• Check Running Processes for Malicious Activity:

  ps aux | grep -E '(wscript|cscript|powershell|rundll32)' 
  

• Analyze Network Connections:

  netstat -tulnp 
  

• Inspect Scheduled Tasks (Windows):

  Get-ScheduledTask | Where-Object { $_.TaskPath -notlike "\Microsoft" } 
  

• Hunt for Obfuscated Scripts:

  grep -r "eval(base64_decode" /var/www/ 
  

3. Defensive Measures

• Enable PowerShell Logging (Windows):

  Set-ExecutionPolicy Restricted 
  

• Block Suspicious File Extensions (Linux):

  sudo chmod -x /tmp/.vbs 
  

• Deploy YARA Rules for DCRat Detection:

  rule DCRat_Loader {
  strings:
  $s1 = "DCRat" nocase
  $s2 = "MZ" at 0
  condition:
  $s1 and $s2
  }
  

What Undercode Say

This attack highlights the need for continuous monitoring, script whitelisting, and user training. Security teams should:
– Audit Email Gateways for malicious attachments.
– Use Sandboxing to analyze suspicious scripts.
– Implement EDR Solutions for real-time threat detection.
– Monitor Lateral Movement with commands like:

sudo auditctl -w /etc/passwd -p wa -k user_changes 

– Check for Persistence (Windows):

Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" 

Stay vigilant—attackers constantly evolve their tactics.

Expected Output:

• Detected obfuscated scripts.
• Blocked malicious PowerShell execution.
• Identified DCRat C2 servers via network logs.
• Quarantined infected endpoints.

References:

Reported By: Hendryadrian Malwarethreat – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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