Cerberus Android Banking Malware Mimic as Currency Converter App Found on Google Play

Cerberus Android banking malware found on Google play targeting Android users, particularly in Spain. Cerberus spotted first in the year 2019, it is known for stealing various sensitive information.

It is capable of stealing of logging all keystrokes and stealing @FA tokens from Google Authenticator and SMS messages.

The malware gives attacker full control of the device, allows an attacker to conduct overlay attacks, gain SMS control, and harvest the victim’s contact list.

The malware also rented (Malware-as-a-service) on underground forums for the last two years and the malware used for various private operations.

Cerberus Android Banking Malware

Researchers from Avast observed the malware on Google mimic as a currency converter app that downloaded for more than 10,000 times.

A Spanish currency convertor app dubbed “Calculadora de Moneda” available on Google Play since March. Since uploaded it hides the malicious intensions for a week to acquire users before starting any malicious activities and to hide from Google’s Play Protect team.

In the initial phase, ‘Calculadora de Moneda’ app didn’t perform any harmful activity or use any additional data.

But in the later stage, it turns as a ‘dropper’ that silently downloads apps and installs onto a device without user permission.

“In this final stage, the banker app can sit over an existing banking app and wait for the user to log into their bank account.”

The malware creates an overlay on other banking apps creating a layover over your login screen and steals all your access data.

In a short period, the C&C server stopped of the app stopped working and the currency converter app on Google Play doesn’t contain the Trojan malware.

Possibly it is a tactic followed by the threat actors to evade detection and to fly under the radar. Avast reported the findings to Google play security team.

At the time of writing the app is still available on Google Play and in the reviews, no users mentioned the malicious activity.

You can follow us on Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook for daily Cybersecurity and hacking news updates.