Kaspersky Lab Identifies 'MiniDuke', a New Malicious Program Designed for Spying on Multiple Government Entities and Institutions Across The World
Poster: SySAdmin
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 7:49:01 AM
Kaspersky Lab Identifies 'MiniDuke', a New Malicious Program Designed for Spying on Multiple Government Entities and Institutions Across The World
ABINGDON, England, February 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
New threat actors combine sophisticated "Old School" malware writing skills
with newly advanced exploits in Adobe Reader to collect geopolitical intelligence from
high profile targets
Today Kaspersky Lab's team of experts published a new research report that analysed a
series of security incidents involving the use of the recently discovered PDF exploit in
Adobe Reader (CVE-2013-6040) and a new, highly customised malicious program known as
MiniDuke. The MiniDuke backdoor was used to attack multiple government entities and
institutions worldwide during the past week. Kaspersky Lab's experts, in partnership with
CrySys Lab, analysed the attacks in detail and published their findings.
According to Kaspersky Lab's analysis, a number of high profile targets have already
been compromised by the MiniDuke attacks, including government entities in Ukraine,
Belgium, Portugal, Romania, the Czech Republic and Ireland. In addition, a research
institute, two think tanks, and healthcare provider in the United States were also
compromised, as was a prominent research foundation in Hungary.
"This is a very unusual cyberattack," said Eugene Kaspersky, Founder and CEO of
Kaspersky Lab. "I remember this style of malicious programming from the end of the 1990s
and the beginning of the 2000s. I wonder if these types of malware writers, who have been
in hibernation for more than a decade, have suddenly awoken and joined the sophisticated
group of threat actors active in the cyberworld. These elite, "old school" malware writers
were extremely effective in the past at creating highly complex viruses, and are now
combining these skills with the newly advanced sandbox-evading exploits to target
government entities or research institutions in several countries."
"MiniDuke's highly customised backdoor was written in Assembler and is very small in
size, being only 20kb," added Kaspersky. The combination of experienced old school malware
writers using newly discovered exploits and clever social engineering to compromise high
profile targets is extremely dangerous."
Kaspersky Lab's Primary Research Findings:
- The MiniDuke attackers are still active at this time and have created
malware as recently as February 20, 2013. To compromise victims, the attackers used
extremely effective social engineering techniques, which involved sending malicious
PDF documents to their targets. The PDFs were highly relevant - with well-crafted
content that fabricated human rights seminar information (ASEM) and Ukraine's foreign
policy and NATO membership plans. These malicious PDF files were rigged with exploits
attacking Adobe Reader versions 9, 10, and 11, bypassing its sandbox. A toolkit was
used to create these exploits and it appears to be the same toolkit that was used in
the recent attack reported by FireEye. However, the exploits used in the MiniDuke
attacks were for different purposes and had their own customised malware.
- Once the system is exploited, a very small downloader is dropped onto the
victim's disc that's only 20kb in size. This downloader is unique per system and
contains a customised backdoor written in Assembler. When loaded at system boot, the
downloader uses a set of mathematical calculations to determine the computer's unique
fingerprint, and in turn uses this data to uniquely encrypt its communications later.
It is also programmed to avoid analysis by a hardcoded set of tools in certain
environments like VMware. If it finds any of these indicators it will run idle in the
environment instead of moving to another stage and exposing more of its functionality
by decrypting itself further; this indicates the malware writers know exactly what
antivirus and IT security professionals are doing in order to analyse and identify
malware.
- If the target's system meets the pre-defined requirements, the malware
will use Twitter (unbeknownst to the user) and start looking for specific tweets from
pre-made accounts. These accounts were created by MiniDuke's Command and Control (C2)
operators, and the tweets maintain specific tags labeling encrypted URLs for the
backdoors. These URLs provide access to the C2s, which then provide potential commands
and encrypted transfers of additional backdoors onto the system via GIF files.
- Based on the analysis, it appears that MiniDuke's creators provide a
dynamic backup system that also can fly under the radar. If Twitter isn't working or
the accounts are down the malware can use Google Search to find the encrypted strings
to the next C2. This model is flexible and enables the operators to constantly change
how their backdoors retrieve further commands or malcode as needed.
- Once the infected system locates the C2, it receives encrypted backdoors
that are obfuscated within GIF files and disguised as pictures that appear on a
victim's machine. Once they are downloaded to the machine they can download a larger
backdoor that carries out several basic actions, such as copy file, move file, remove
file, make directory, kill process, and, of course, download and execute new malware.
- The malware backdoor connects to two servers, one in Panama and one in
Turkey, to receive instructions from the attackers.
Kaspersky Lab's system detects and neutralizes the MiniDuke malware, classified as
HEUR:Backdoor.Win32.MiniDuke.gen and Backdoor.Win32.Miniduke. Kaspersky Lab also detects
the exploits used in the PDF documents, classified as Exploit.JS.Pdfka.giy.
About Kaspersky Lab
Kaspersky Lab is the world's largest privately held vendor of endpoint protection
solutions. The company is ranked among the world's top four vendors of security solutions
for endpoint users*. Throughout its 15-year history Kaspersky Lab has remained an
innovator in IT security and provides effective digital security solutions for consumers,
SMBs and enterprises. The company currently operates in almost 200 countries and
territories across the globe, providing protection for over 300 million users worldwide.
Learn more at http://www.kaspersky.co.uk.
* The company was rated fourth in the IDC rating Worldwide Endpoint Security Revenue
by Vendor, 2011. The rating was published in the IDC report "Worldwide Endpoint Security
2012-2016 Forecast and 2011 Vendor Shares (IDC #235930, July 2012). The report ranked
software vendors according to earnings from sales of endpoint security solutions in 2011.
(c) 2013 Kaspersky Lab. The information contained herein is subject to change without
notice. The only warranties for Kaspersky Lab products and services are set forth in the
express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should
be construed as constituting an additional warranty. Kaspersky Lab shall not be liable for
technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.
Follow us on Twitter
http://www.twitter.com/kasperskyuk
Like us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/Kaspersky
Editorial contact:
Berkeley PR
Louise Mapp
kasperskylab@berkeleypr.co.uk
Telephone: +44(0)118-909-0909
1650 Arlington Business Park
RG7 4SA, Reading
Kaspersky Lab UK
Ruth Knowles
Ruth.Knowles@kasperskylab.co.uk
Telephone: +44(0)871-789-1633
Milton Business Park
OX14 4RY, Oxford
Kaspersky Lab
ABINGDON, England, February 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
New threat actors combine sophisticated "Old School" malware writing skills
with newly advanced exploits in Adobe Reader to collect geopolitical intelligence from
high profile targets
Today Kaspersky Lab's team of experts published a new research report that analysed a
series of security incidents involving the use of the recently discovered PDF exploit in
Adobe Reader (CVE-2013-6040) and a new, highly customised malicious program known as
MiniDuke. The MiniDuke backdoor was used to attack multiple government entities and
institutions worldwide during the past week. Kaspersky Lab's experts, in partnership with
CrySys Lab, analysed the attacks in detail and published their findings.
According to Kaspersky Lab's analysis, a number of high profile targets have already
been compromised by the MiniDuke attacks, including government entities in Ukraine,
Belgium, Portugal, Romania, the Czech Republic and Ireland. In addition, a research
institute, two think tanks, and healthcare provider in the United States were also
compromised, as was a prominent research foundation in Hungary.
"This is a very unusual cyberattack," said Eugene Kaspersky, Founder and CEO of
Kaspersky Lab. "I remember this style of malicious programming from the end of the 1990s
and the beginning of the 2000s. I wonder if these types of malware writers, who have been
in hibernation for more than a decade, have suddenly awoken and joined the sophisticated
group of threat actors active in the cyberworld. These elite, "old school" malware writers
were extremely effective in the past at creating highly complex viruses, and are now
combining these skills with the newly advanced sandbox-evading exploits to target
government entities or research institutions in several countries."
"MiniDuke's highly customised backdoor was written in Assembler and is very small in
size, being only 20kb," added Kaspersky. The combination of experienced old school malware
writers using newly discovered exploits and clever social engineering to compromise high
profile targets is extremely dangerous."
Kaspersky Lab's Primary Research Findings:
- The MiniDuke attackers are still active at this time and have created
malware as recently as February 20, 2013. To compromise victims, the attackers used
extremely effective social engineering techniques, which involved sending malicious
PDF documents to their targets. The PDFs were highly relevant - with well-crafted
content that fabricated human rights seminar information (ASEM) and Ukraine's foreign
policy and NATO membership plans. These malicious PDF files were rigged with exploits
attacking Adobe Reader versions 9, 10, and 11, bypassing its sandbox. A toolkit was
used to create these exploits and it appears to be the same toolkit that was used in
the recent attack reported by FireEye. However, the exploits used in the MiniDuke
attacks were for different purposes and had their own customised malware.
- Once the system is exploited, a very small downloader is dropped onto the
victim's disc that's only 20kb in size. This downloader is unique per system and
contains a customised backdoor written in Assembler. When loaded at system boot, the
downloader uses a set of mathematical calculations to determine the computer's unique
fingerprint, and in turn uses this data to uniquely encrypt its communications later.
It is also programmed to avoid analysis by a hardcoded set of tools in certain
environments like VMware. If it finds any of these indicators it will run idle in the
environment instead of moving to another stage and exposing more of its functionality
by decrypting itself further; this indicates the malware writers know exactly what
antivirus and IT security professionals are doing in order to analyse and identify
malware.
- If the target's system meets the pre-defined requirements, the malware
will use Twitter (unbeknownst to the user) and start looking for specific tweets from
pre-made accounts. These accounts were created by MiniDuke's Command and Control (C2)
operators, and the tweets maintain specific tags labeling encrypted URLs for the
backdoors. These URLs provide access to the C2s, which then provide potential commands
and encrypted transfers of additional backdoors onto the system via GIF files.
- Based on the analysis, it appears that MiniDuke's creators provide a
dynamic backup system that also can fly under the radar. If Twitter isn't working or
the accounts are down the malware can use Google Search to find the encrypted strings
to the next C2. This model is flexible and enables the operators to constantly change
how their backdoors retrieve further commands or malcode as needed.
- Once the infected system locates the C2, it receives encrypted backdoors
that are obfuscated within GIF files and disguised as pictures that appear on a
victim's machine. Once they are downloaded to the machine they can download a larger
backdoor that carries out several basic actions, such as copy file, move file, remove
file, make directory, kill process, and, of course, download and execute new malware.
- The malware backdoor connects to two servers, one in Panama and one in
Turkey, to receive instructions from the attackers.
Kaspersky Lab's system detects and neutralizes the MiniDuke malware, classified as
HEUR:Backdoor.Win32.MiniDuke.gen and Backdoor.Win32.Miniduke. Kaspersky Lab also detects
the exploits used in the PDF documents, classified as Exploit.JS.Pdfka.giy.
About Kaspersky Lab
Kaspersky Lab is the world's largest privately held vendor of endpoint protection
solutions. The company is ranked among the world's top four vendors of security solutions
for endpoint users*. Throughout its 15-year history Kaspersky Lab has remained an
innovator in IT security and provides effective digital security solutions for consumers,
SMBs and enterprises. The company currently operates in almost 200 countries and
territories across the globe, providing protection for over 300 million users worldwide.
Learn more at http://www.kaspersky.co.uk.
* The company was rated fourth in the IDC rating Worldwide Endpoint Security Revenue
by Vendor, 2011. The rating was published in the IDC report "Worldwide Endpoint Security
2012-2016 Forecast and 2011 Vendor Shares (IDC #235930, July 2012). The report ranked
software vendors according to earnings from sales of endpoint security solutions in 2011.
(c) 2013 Kaspersky Lab. The information contained herein is subject to change without
notice. The only warranties for Kaspersky Lab products and services are set forth in the
express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should
be construed as constituting an additional warranty. Kaspersky Lab shall not be liable for
technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.
Follow us on Twitter
http://www.twitter.com/kasperskyuk
Like us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/Kaspersky
Editorial contact:
Berkeley PR
Louise Mapp
kasperskylab@berkeleypr.co.uk
Telephone: +44(0)118-909-0909
1650 Arlington Business Park
RG7 4SA, Reading
Kaspersky Lab UK
Ruth Knowles
Ruth.Knowles@kasperskylab.co.uk
Telephone: +44(0)871-789-1633
Milton Business Park
OX14 4RY, Oxford
Kaspersky Lab