HelloXD Ransomware Installing Backdoor on Targeted Systems

The ransomware family is no exception to the norm in that the operators follow the tried-and-tested approach of double extortion to demand cryptocurrency payments by exfiltrating a victim’s sensitive data in addition to encrypting it and threatening to publicize the information.

The implant in question, named MicroBackdoor, is an open-source malware that’s used for command-and-control (C2) communications, with its developer Dmytro Oleksiuk calling it a “really minimalistic thing with all of the basic features in less than 5,000 lines of code.”

Notably, different variants of the implant were adopted by the Belarusian threat actor dubbed Ghostwriter (aka UNC1151) in its cyber operations against Ukrainian state organizations in March 2022.

MicroBackdoor’s features allow an attacker to browse the file system, upload and download files, execute commands, and erase evidence of its presence from the compromise machines.
It’s suspected that the deployment of the backdoor is carried out to “monitor the progress of the ransomware.”

Unit 42 said it linked the likely Russian developer behind HelloXD – who goes by the online aliases x4k, L4ckyguy, unKn0wn, unk0w, _unkn0wn, and x4kme – to further malicious activities such as selling proof-of-concept (PoC) exploits and custom Kali Linux distributions by piecing together the actor’s digital trail.

“x4k has a very solid online presence, which has enabled us to uncover much of his activity in these last two years,” the researchers said.
“This threat actor has done little to hide malicious activity, and is probably going to continue this behavior.”

Sign Up For Threat Alerts

Loading...
Threats Icon

Mar 23, 2023

HiatusRAT Targets SOHO Routers

Business grade routers are being infected with the HiatusRAT Remote Access Trojan a variant of...

Threats Icon

Mar 23, 2023

HiatusRAT Targets SOHO Routers

Business grade routers are being infected with the HiatusRAT Remote Access Trojan a variant of...

Threats Icon

Mar 21, 2023

Dotrunpex – Demystifying new virtualized .net injector...

DotRunpeX is a new injector written in .NET using the Process Hollowing technique and used...

Threats Icon

Mar 21, 2023

GlobeImposter Ransomware With MedusaLocker Spreading Via RDP

A GlobeImposter ransomware campaign was discovered being carried out by the attackers behind MedusaLocker. The...

Threats Icon

Mar 20, 2023

Common credential stealers

FortiGuard Threat Research has observed an increasing threat arising from credential stealers. The most common...

Threats Icon

Mar 20, 2023

Sirattacker And ALC Ransomware Analysis

The Sirattacker and ALC ransomware families continue to gain traction and compromise Microsoft Windows devices....

Threats Icon

Mar 19, 2023

Google Advertising Used To Distribute RedLine Stealer

A malvertising campaign was discovered mimicking websites belonging to well-known software such as Notepad++ and...

Threats Icon

Mar 16, 2023

Microsoft Outlook Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability Exploit

Microsoft has posted a security vulnerability CVE-2023-23397, exploiting it allows attackers to gain elevated privileges...

Threats Icon

Mar 16, 2023

ImBetter Information Stealer Targets Cryptocurrency Users

Threat actors are targeting cryptocurrency users with the ImBetter information stealer malware. Adversaries are hosting...

Threats Icon

Mar 16, 2023

ImBetter Information Stealer Targets Cryptocurrency Users

Threat actors are targeting cryptocurrency users with the ImBetter information stealer malware. Adversaries are hosting...

Threats Icon

Mar 15, 2023

US Cert Alert – Threat Actors Exploit...

CISA and authoring organizations assess that, beginning as late as November 2022, threat actors successfully...

Threats Icon

Mar 15, 2023

Threat Actors Use ParallaxRAT For Targeting Cryptocurrency...

Threat actors are targeting organization in the cryptocurrency sector with spam and phishing campaigns that...

Threats Icon

Mar 13, 2023

Exposing The Lazarus Arsenal WinorDLL64 Backdoor

In 2021 the researchers discovered and dissected a tool from the Lazarus APTs arsenal named...

Threats Icon

Mar 12, 2023

Clasiopa New Group Targets Materials Research

A campaign targeting the materials research sector with custom and commodity utilities and malware is...

Threats Icon

Mar 09, 2023

New Emotet campaign

Emotet is a type of malware that is designed to steal sensitive information from infected...