AI Hype Weaponized: Inside the ‘PureClaw’ Impersonation Campaign’s Rotating Ransomware and Backdoor Payloads + Video

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Introduction

Cybercriminals are exploiting the explosive interest in artificial intelligence by launching “ClickFix style” campaigns that impersonate legitimate AI software brands. The recently uncovered operation uses bulk‑registered domains (e.g., 588gj.shop) mimicking “PureClaw” – a nonexistent AI tool – to deliver a rotating arsenal of malware, including the AdamantiumLocker ransomware, an AI‑gateway implant, and a persistent backdoor. Understanding this multi‑stage attack chain is critical for defenders to block malicious API calls, detect domain impersonation, and harden endpoints against rapidly shifting payloads.

Learning Objectives

  • Analyze the three‑stage attack flow: lure pages, C2 payload staging, and rotating final payload delivery.
  • Deploy Linux and Windows commands to detect malicious processes, network connections, and API abuse.
  • Implement mitigation techniques against ransomware droppers and backdoor implants in a cloud or hybrid environment.

You Should Know

  1. Unpacking the Three‑Stage Attack Chain: From Fake PureClaw to AdamantiumLocker

The campaign begins with eight bulk‑registered `.shop` domains (e.g., 588gj[.]shop) that host visually cloned pages of a legitimate AI startup’s website. Victims searching for “PureClaw AI” land on these impersonating lure pages. Stage two involves the malware making API calls (via “OpenClaw”) to a command‑and‑control (C2) server that stages the payload. Stage three rotates the final payload – delivering either a backdoor for persistent access, an AI‑gateway implant to intercept cloud AI traffic, or the AdamantiumLocker ransomware.

Step‑by‑step guide to detect the infection flow on an endpoint:

  1. Identify suspicious processes spawned from browser or script hosts

– Linux: `ps aux –sort=-%cpu | grep -E “curl|wget|python|node|java”`
– Windows (PowerShell): `Get-Process | Where-Object {$_.ProcessName -match “cmd|powershell|wscript|cscript|mshta”} | Format-Table -AutoSize`

2. Capture outbound API calls to suspicious domains

  • Linux: `sudo tcpdump -i eth0 -n ‘tcp port 443’ -v | grep “588gj..shop”`
  • Windows: `netsh wlan show interfaces` (identify interface), then `netstat -an | findstr “ESTABLISHED” | findstr “:443″`

3. Check for dropped payloads in temporary directories

  • Linux: `ls -la /tmp /dev/shm /var/tmp | grep -E “pureclaw|adamantium|backdoor”`
  • Windows: `dir C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Temp\ /s | findstr /i “adamantium locker”`

4. Monitor registry or cron persistence mechanisms

  • Linux: `crontab -l; sudo crontab -l; ls -la /etc/cron`
  • Windows: `reg query HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run /s`

2. Rotating Payloads: Detecting AdamantiumLocker Ransomware Indicators

AdamantiumLocker is a ransomware dropper that encrypts files with a `.adamantium` extension and drops a ransom note named RECOVER_FILES.txt. It attempts to disable shadow copies, terminate backup services, and spread via network shares. The rotating nature means the same initial dropper may deliver the backdoor on one machine and ransomware on another – signature‑based AV often fails.

Step‑by‑step guide to identify and contain an AdamantiumLocker infection:

  1. Scan for the ransom note and file extensions across drives

– Linux: `sudo find / -name “RECOVER_FILES.txt” 2>/dev/null`
– Windows (cmd): `dir /s RECOVER_FILES.txt` or PowerShell: `Get-ChildItem -Path C:\ -Filter RECOVER_FILES.txt -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue`

2. Detect mass file renaming or encryption activity

  • Linux: `auditctl -a always,exit -S rename,renameat -k file_rename` (then ausearch -k file_rename)
  • Windows: Use Sysmon event ID 11 (FileCreate) and 23 (FileDelete). Install Sysmon: `sysmon64 -accepteula -i` then query with `Get-WinEvent -FilterHashtable @{LogName=’Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational’; ID=11}`

3. Kill ransomware process and disable network shares

  • Linux: pkill -f adamantium; `umount -l /mnt/shared`
  • Windows: taskkill /F /IM adamantium.exe; `net share sharename /DELETE`
  1. Restore from clean backups after verifying no backdoor remains – use offline or immutable snapshots.

  2. API Abuse & The “OpenClaw” C2 Communication – Extracting Malicious API Calls

Stage two uses an implant called “OpenClaw” that makes HTTPS requests to a C2 server using legitimate‑looking API endpoints (e.g., /api/v1/status, /api/v2/payload). Threat actors rotate the final payload by changing the API response based on victim fingerprinting (IP geolocation, OS, user agent). Detecting this requires analyzing outbound JSON traffic and blocking known malicious API paths.

Step‑by‑step guide to intercept and block malicious API calls:

  1. Use mitmproxy or Burp Suite to inspect outbound API traffic (testing environment only)

– Install mitmproxy on Linux: sudo apt install mitmproxy; run `mitmproxy –mode transparent –showhost`
– Configure proxy on test machine and look for requests to `588gj.shop` with endpoints like `/api/payload`

2. Extract API indicators from network logs

  • Linux: `grep -E “POST /api/.payload” /var/log/nginx/access.log`
  • Windows: `findstr /C:”/api/” C:\Windows\System32\LogFiles\HTTPERR\httperr.log`

3. Block malicious domains at the host level

  • Linux: Add to /etc/hosts: `0.0.0.0 588gj.shop` (replace with actual domains from threat intel)
  • Windows: Edit `C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts` as Administrator, append `127.0.0.1 588gj.shop`
  1. Create a firewall rule to drop traffic to known C2 IPs

– Linux (iptables): `sudo iptables -A OUTPUT -d 192.0.2.0/24 -j DROP` (use actual C2 IPs from the URL https://bit.ly/499lGTJ)
– Windows (Advanced Firewall): `New-NetFirewallRule -Direction Outbound -RemoteAddress 192.0.2.0/24 -Action Block -DisplayName “Block OpenClaw C2″`

4. Impersonating AI Brands: Domain Takedown and OSINT Analysis

The attackers bulk‑registered eight `.shop` domains that visually mimic legitimate AI startup pureclaw.ai. They employed typosquatting, homoglyphs, and similar design elements to trick users expecting AI tools. Defenders can proactively find such lookalike domains using certificate transparency logs, DNS brute‑forcing, and brand monitoring.

Step‑by‑step guide to hunt for impersonating domains targeting your AI brand:

  1. Use crt.sh to search for certificates issued for variations of your domain

– Query: `https://crt.sh/?q=%.pureclaw.ai&excluded=expired` (replace with your brand)

2. Brute‑force common typosquatting patterns using `dnstwist`

  • Install: `pip install dnstwist`
  • Run: `dnstwist –registered –format csv pureclaw.ai > typosquatting.csv`
  1. Check WHOIS for bulk registrations with creation dates clustering

– Linux: `whois 588gj[.]shop` (use actual domain) → look for same registrar, same creation day
– Automate: `for domain in $(cat domains.txt); do whois $domain | grep -E “Creation Date|Registrar” ; done`

4. Take down impersonating pages via abuse contacts – report to registrar (e.g., Namecheap, GoDaddy) and hosting provider with screenshots and HTML comparisons.

  1. Hardening AI Gateway & Cloud Workloads Against Implants

The campaign includes an “AI‑gateway implant” that intercepts requests between applications and cloud AI APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.), stealing API keys and tampering with prompts. This implant may run as a sidecar container or a local proxy. Cloud hardening must focus on egress filtering, API key rotation, and workload identity.

Step‑by‑step guide to protect AI‑gateway endpoints:

1. Restrict egress traffic from AI‑processing workloads

  • Kubernetes NetworkPolicy: deny all egress except to known AI API IP ranges: 
    apiVersion: networking.k8s.io/v1
kind: NetworkPolicy
metadata:
name: ai-gateway-egress
spec:
podSelector:
matchLabels:
app: ai-gateway
policyTypes:</li>
<li>Egress
egress:</li>
<li>to:</li>
<li>ipBlock:
cidr: 0.0.0.0/0
except: ["0.0.0.0/0"]</li>
<li>to:</li>
<li>ipBlock:
cidr: 54.0.0.0/8  Example OpenAI range, verify actual
  1. Use mTLS and workload identity instead of long‑lived API keys

– On AWS: attach IAM roles to EKS pods using IRSA. On GCP: workload identity federation.
– On Linux: use `curl` with metadata endpoint to verify identity token: `curl -H “Metadata-Flavor: Google” http://169.254.169.254/computeMetadata/v1/instance/service-accounts/default/identity?audience=ai-api`

3. Monitor for unexpected proxy environment variables

– Linux: `env | grep -i proxy`
– Windows (cmd): `set | findstr /i proxy` and check registry at `HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings`

4. Deploy an AI firewall that inspects API request patterns – open‑source tools like PromptGuard or commercial solutions can block prompt injection and anomalous request volumes.

6. Reversing the Backdoor: Persistence and Anti‑Forensics Techniques

The backdoor component – possibly named “PureClawService” – establishes persistence via scheduled tasks or systemd services, collects system information, and opens a reverse shell. It also clears logs and disables security tools. Understanding its indicators helps incident responders.

Step‑by‑step guide to remove backdoor and restore integrity:

  1. List all systemd timers and services for suspicious names

– Linux: systemctl list-timers --all; `systemctl list-units –type=service | grep -E “pure|claw|backdoor”`

2. Check for reverse shell listeners using `ss` and `netstat`
– Linux: `ss -tunap | grep ESTABLISHED | grep -E “:443|:8080|:4444″`
– Windows: `netstat -ano | findstr “ESTABLISHED” | findstr “:4444″`

3. Audit autoruns (Windows)

  • Download Sysinternals Autoruns: `autoruns64.exe -a -accepteula` – examine “Scheduled Tasks”, “Services”, “Logon” tabs for unsigned entries referencing temp paths.
  1. Restore clean systemd or registry files from backup or reinstall the OS if backdoor is deeply embedded. Always isolate the machine before cleanup.

What Undercode Say

  • Key Takeaway 1: Attackers are weaponizing AI hype through bulk‑registered lookalike domains and multi‑stage payloads that rotate to evade detection – static signatures are obsolete.
  • Key Takeaway 2: Real‑time monitoring of API calls and egress traffic, combined with host‑level commands (ps, netstat, ss, Sysmon), provides the best defense against rotating ransomware and backdoor implants.

Analysis: The “PureClaw” campaign marks a shift where threat actors not only impersonate brands but also adapt their final payload per victim. Defenders must move beyond traditional perimeter security and adopt behavioral detection – looking for unusual API requests, mass file renames, and persistence mechanisms across both Linux and Windows endpoints. The use of `.shop` domains, which are cheap and often overlooked, highlights the need for proactive domain monitoring. Moreover, the AI‑gateway implant is particularly dangerous because it can steal proprietary data and API keys from cloud‑native applications. Organizations training AI models should implement strict egress policies and rotate secrets automatically every few hours. Open source tools like dnstwist, mitmproxy, and Sysmon are invaluable for hunting these threats before they drop ransomware.

Prediction

Within the next 12 months, we will see a surge in “AI‑themed” malware campaigns that fully automate the payload rotation using generative AI to write polymorphic code. Attackers will also begin targeting AI model registries and CI/CD pipelines that deploy AI gateways, leading to supply‑chain compromises of machine learning components. Defenders will respond with AI‑driven security orchestration that can correlate domain impersonation, API abuse, and file encryption events in real time – shifting from reactive patching to predictive threat hunting. Organizations that fail to implement egress filtering and workload identity will become primary targets for ransomware gangs using AdamantiumLocker‑style attacks.

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Reported By: Clickfix UgcPost – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
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