Threat intelligence experts at Perplexity uncovered an advanced variant of the SpyMax/SpyNote family of Android spyware, cleverly disguised as the official application of the Chinese Prosecutor’s Office (检察院).
This malicious software was targeting Chinese-speaking users in mainland China and Hong Kong in what appears to be a sophisticated cyber espionage campaign.
Exploiting Android Accessibility Services
The campaign’s standout feature is its exploitation of Android Accessibility Services through robust social engineering techniques and a deceptive user interface.
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Unlike typical malware, which often looks like a piece of generic software, this spyware presents a convincing fake app interface.
Once users grant permissions, the spyware gains nearly omnipotent control over the device, accessing everything from messages to GPS data, camera, and microphone, even with the screen off.
According to the researchers, this level of access allows for extensive surveillance and data theft.
With an MD5 hash cc7f1343574f915318148cde93a6dfbc and discovered on April 4, 2025, this variant uses an APK named “检察院” to distribute itself through counterfeit official stores.
Its modular architecture includes modules for command execution via Runtime APIs, control of camera and microphone, data exfiltration over encrypted HTTPS, and dynamic behavior triggered by system states like screen status, battery levels, or network changes.
Stolen data is systematically stored in categorized files, encrypted, and traces are wiped post-transmission.
Highly Abused Permissions and Social Engineering Tactics
The spyware’s permissions list is alarmingly broad, encompassing SMS and camera access, silent app installation, and system overlay control.
These permissions, when combined, enable the attackers to conduct full surveillance, launch phishing overlay attacks, perform unauthorized transactions, engage in premium SMS fraud, track location, and leak data.
According to the Report, Making the attack even more insidious, the perpetrators created an interactive HTML interface mimicking Android’s accessibility settings page, using realistic animations and layouts to deceive users into granting critical permissions.
To identify this variant, researchers developed a dedicated YARA rule and compiled a list of Indicators of Compromise (IOCs).
These include a Command and Control server, 165.154.110.64, with identifiable network behavior such as ICMP pings and encrypted data transfers. Suspicious file paths and application components were also noted.
Organizations are advised to fortify their mobile security protocols by implementing Mobile Device Management (MDM) policies, blocking known IOCs at the firewall level, and educating their workforce on the dangers of mobile phishing and fake apps.
Continuous monitoring of device behavior for anomalies in background activities, coupled with network segmentation for mobile devices, will help in maintaining a robust defense against such sophisticated threats.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the evolving landscape of mobile threats, urging organizations and individuals alike to be vigilant and adapt to these ever-increasing security challenges.
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