A brand new Python-based distant entry trojan has emerged, focusing on each Home windows and Linux programs with subtle surveillance and knowledge theft capabilities.
The malware operates by establishing command-and-control communication by means of unencrypted HTTP channels, permitting attackers to execute instructions, steal information, and seize screenshots remotely.
When executed, it instantly begins fingerprinting the sufferer’s system by gathering particulars equivalent to working system kind, hostname, and present username.
This info is then transmitted to the attacker’s server, enabling them to trace particular person victims throughout periods.
K7 Safety Labs researchers recognized the malware throughout routine investigations on VirusTotal, the place they found an ELF binary written fully in Python.
The trojan was packaged utilizing PyInstaller model 2.1 with Python 2.7, concealing its malicious code inside what gave the impression to be a reputable executable.
Imported modules (Supply – K7 Safety Labs)
Upon extraction utilizing specialised instruments, analysts uncovered the principle entry level in a file named agent-svc.pyc, which contained the entire distant entry performance organized beneath a single class known as “Agent.”
The malware achieves persistence in a different way relying on the working system. On Linux programs, it creates a misleading autostart entry at ~/.config/autostart/dpkgn.desktop, utilizing a reputation that mimics reputable Debian bundle instruments to keep away from detection.
This file executes mechanically when customers log in, sustaining the malware’s presence with out requiring administrator privileges.
Communication with C2 (Supply – K7 Safety Labs)
On Home windows programs, it provides a registry entry within the present consumer’s Run key beneath the identify “lee,” guaranteeing computerized execution at startup whereas staying inside user-level permissions.
Command-and-Management Infrastructure
The trojan communicates with its command server by means of fundamental HTTP POST requests directed at particular endpoints, transmitting system knowledge in plain JSON format with out encryption.
This design makes the site visitors extremely susceptible to community monitoring and detection.
The malware makes use of a semi-persistent identifier created by combining the sufferer’s username with their MAC handle, permitting attackers to trace particular person infections even when some system particulars change.
Communication frequency adapts based mostly on exercise state, with idle durations that includes longer intervals to scale back community visibility, whereas lively periods ballot quickly each half second to take care of responsiveness to incoming instructions.
Home windows Persistence (Supply – K7 Safety Labs)
The malware helps intensive file operations together with unrestricted uploads and downloads by means of multipart form-data encoding.
It may possibly enumerate total listing constructions, change working directories, and create ZIP archives for bulk knowledge exfiltration utilizing the DEFLATE compression algorithm.
Screenshot seize performance information your complete display screen by means of PIL’s ImageGrab module, saving photographs as non permanent JPEG information which might be mechanically uploaded to the attacker’s server.
All operations run in separate threads to stop blocking the principle communication loop, guaranteeing steady availability for receiving new instructions whereas executing present duties.
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