Categories: BackdoorMalware

New Microsoft Office Vulnerabilities Used to Distribute Zyklon Malware that Creating Backdoor

Recently patched critical Microsoft office vulnerabilities are used for distributing powerful Zyklon Malware that has some sophisticated functionalities such as creating a backdoor in victims machine.

Zyklon Malware has widely spread across the world since 2016 and its mainly targeting Telecommunications, Insurance, Financial Services.

A Backdoor that creates by Zyklon Malware has capable of keylogging, password harvesting, downloading and executing additional plugins, conducting distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, and self-updating and self-removal.

Zyklon Malware Http being advertised in a popular underground marketplace with following Prices.

  • Normal build: $75 (USD)
  • Tor-enabled build: $125 (USD)
  • Rebuild/Updates: $15 (USD)
  • Payment Method: Bitcoin (BTC)

This malware downloads several plugins in a browser that will be later performing cryptocurrency mining and password recovery.

Also Read: Skygofree – Highly Sophisticated Android Spyware Discovered that Almost Steal Everything in Your Mobile

How does Microsoft Office Vulnerabilities Exploited

Zyklon malware initially delivering through malicious spam emails that contain attached Zip file that has embedded malicious DOC file.

Once victims click the email, malware exploits 3 known Microsoft office vulnerabilities and PowerShell payload takes over the victims computer.

Later PowerShell script will communicate with Command & Control server and download the final payload and execute it in a victims machine.

According to FireEye Report, its exploit 3  Following Critical vulnerabilities,

  • CVE-2017-879
  • CVE-2017-11882
  • Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) Mechanism
The CVE-2017-879 vulnerability that discovered in September 2017 exploit using DOC file contains an embedded OLE Object that, upon execution, triggers the download of an additional DOC file from the stored URL.
CVE-2017-1188 exploit the MS office using  embedded OLE Object downloaded file, doc.doc, is XML-based and contains a PowerShell command and execute the payload
Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) is the interprocess communication mechanism that is exploited to perform remote code execution. With the help of a PowerShell script

All these vulnerabilities are using same domain is used to download the next level payload using another PowerShell script and it is responsible for resolving the APIs required for code injection.

It also contains the injectable shellcode. The APIs contain VirtualAlloc(), memset(), and CreateThread(). Figure 9 shows the decoded Base64 code.

The malware may communicate with its command and control (C2) server over The Onion Router (Tor) network and the malware sends a POST request to the C2 server.

Also, this Malware performing additional capabilities such as  Browser Password Recovery, FTP Password Recovery, Gaming Software Key Recovery, Email Password Recovery, License Key Recovery.

Balaji

BALAJI is an Ex-Security Researcher (Threat Research Labs) at Comodo Cybersecurity. Editor-in-Chief & Co-Founder - Cyber Security News & GBHackers On Security.

Recent Posts

LightSpy iOS Malware Enhanced with 28 New Destructive Plugins

The LightSpy threat actor exploited publicly available vulnerabilities and jailbreak kits to compromise iOS devices.…

17 hours ago

ATPC Cyber Forum to Focus on Next Generation Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence Issues

White House National Cyber Director, CEOs, Key Financial Services Companies, Congressional and Executive Branch Experts…

2 days ago

New PySilon RAT Abusing Discord Platform to Maintain Persistence

Cybersecurity experts have identified a new Remote Access Trojan (RAT) named PySilon. This Trojan exploits…

3 days ago

Konni APT Hackers Attacking Organizations with New Spear-Phishing Tactics

The notorious Konni Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) group has intensified its cyber assault on organizations…

3 days ago

Google Chrome Security, Critical Vulnerabilities Patched

Google has updated its Chrome browser, addressing critical vulnerabilities that posed potential risks to millions…

3 days ago

Notorious WrnRAT Delivered Mimic As Gambling Games

WrnRAT is a new malware attack that cybercriminals have deployed by using popular gambling games…

4 days ago