MVISION Insights: ToxicEye RAT uses Telegram for Command and Control
Technical Articles ID:
KB94754
Last Modified: 8/10/2021
Last Modified: 8/10/2021
Environment
IMPORTANT: This Knowledge Base article discusses a specific threat that is being automatically tracked by MVISION Insights technology. The content is intended for use by MVISION Insights users, but is provided for general knowledge to all McAfee Enterprise customers. Contact McAfee Enterprise for more information about MVISION Insights.
Summary
Phishing emails containing a malicious .exe file was used to drop the multi-functional ToxicEye remote access trojan (RAT). The malware can steal data, delete, transfer, or encrypt files, kill processes, and record audio and video. The attackers behind the RAT used the Telegram cloud-based instant messaging application for command and control. The IM software has been used since at least 2017 to spread other remote access trojans including Telegram RAT and MASAD.
The McAfee Enterprise ATR Team gathers and analyzes information from multiple open and closed sources before disseminating intelligence reports.
This campaign was researched by Check Point and shared publicly at:
https://blog.checkpoint.com/2021/04/22/turning-telegram-toxic-new-toxiceye-rat-is-the-latest-to-use-telegram-for-command-control/.
How to use this article:
- If a Threat Hunting table has been created, use the rules contained to search for malware related to this campaign.
- Review the product detection table and confirm that your environment is at least on the specified content version.
To download the latest content versions, go to the Security Updates page.
- Scroll down and review the "Product Countermeasures" section of this article. Consider implementing them if they are not already in place.
- Review
KB91836 - Countermeasures for entry vector threats, which contains countermeasures . - Review KB87843 - List of and best practices for Endpoint Security Dynamic Application Containment rules.
- Review KB82925 - Identify what rule corresponds to an Adaptive Threat Protection and Threat Intelligence Exchange event.
This Knowledge Base article discusses a specific threat that is being tracked. The list of IOCs will change over time; check MVISION Insights for the latest IOCs.
Threat Hunting:
| YARA | rule Mal_Infostealer_Win32_ToxicEye { meta: description = "Detects W32 ToxicEye infostealer" author = "Blackberry Threat Research team" date = "2021-23-04" strings: //ToxicEye-master\TelegramRAT\TelegramRAT\obj\Release\TelegramRAT.pdb $x1 = { 546F7869634579652D6D61737465725C54656C656772616D5241545C54656C656772616D5241545C6F626A5C52656C656173655C54656C656772616D5241542E706462} //OVERWRITEBOOTSECTOR_CONFIRM $x2 = { 4F005600450052005700520049005400450042004F004F00540053004500430054004F0052005F0043004F004E004600490052004D00} //FORKBOMB $x3 = { 46004F0052004B0042004F004D004200} //SPYING: $x4 = { 53005000590049004E0047003A00} ///Webcam $x5 = { 2F00570065006200630061006D0020003C00630061006D006500720061003E0020003C00640065006C00610079003E00} ///Keylogger $x6 = { 2F004B00650079006C006F006700670065007200} ///ClipboardSet $x7 = { 2F0043006C006900700062006F0061007200640053006500740020003C0074006500780074003E00} ///ProcessKill $x8 = { 2F00500072006F0063006500730073004B0069006C006C0020003C00700072006F0063006500730073003E00} //STEALER: $x9 = { 53005400450041004C00450052003A00} ///GetPasswords $x10 = { 2F00470065007400500061007300730077006F00720064007300} ///GetCreditCards $x11 = { 2F0047006500740043007200650064006900740043006100720064007300} ///GetHistory $x12 = { 2F0047006500740048006900730074006F0072007900} ///GetBookmarks $x13 = { 2F0047006500740042006F006F006B006D00610072006B007300} ///GetCookies $x14 = { 2F0047006500740043006F006F006B00690065007300} ///GetDesktop $x15 = { 2F004700650074004400650073006B0074006F007000} ///GetFileZilla $x16 = { 2F00470065007400460069006C0065005A0069006C006C006100} ///GetDiscord $x17 = { 2F0047006500740044006900730063006F0072006400} ///GetTelegram $x18 = { 2F00470065007400540065006C0065006700720061006D00} ///GetSteam $x19 = { 2F0047006500740053007400650061006D00} ///DownloadFile $x20 = { 2F0044006F0077006E006C006F0061006400460069006C00650020003C00660069006C0065002F006400690072003E00} ///RunFileAdmin $x21 = { 2F00520075006E00460069006C006500410064006D0069006E0020003C00660069006C0065003E00} ///Shell $x22 = { 2F005300680065006C006C0020003C0063006F006D006D0061006E0064003E00} ///BlockInput $x23 = { 2F0042006C006F0063006B0049006E0070007500740020003C007300650063006F006E00640073003E00} ///Monitor $x24 = { 2F004D006F006E00690074006F00720020003C006F006E002F006F00660066002F007300740061006E006400620079003E00} ///EncryptFileSystem $x25 = { 2F0045006E0063007200790070007400460069006C006500530079007300740065006D0020003C00700061007300730077006F00720064003E00} ///DecryptFileSystem $x26 = { 2F004400650063007200790070007400460069006C006500530079007300740065006D0020003C00700061007300730077006F00720064003E00} ///BSoD $x27 = { 2F00420053006F004400} ///Shutdown $x28 = { 2F00530068007500740064006F0077006E00} //Installed antivirus: $x29 = { 49006E007300740061006C006C0065006400200061006E0074006900760069007200750073003A00} //VirtualBox: $x30 = { 5600690072007400750061006C0042006F0078003A00} condition: uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and pe.imphash() == "f34d5f2d4577ed6d9ceec516c1f5a744" and pe.number_of_sections == 3 and pe.section_index(".text") == 0 and pe.section_index(".rsrc") == 1 and pe.section_index(".reloc") == 2 and filesize < 180KB and all of ($x*) } |
| YARA | rule HKTL_NET_GUID_ToxicEye { meta: description = "Detects c# red/black-team tools via typelibguid" reference = "https://github.com/LimerBoy/ToxicEye" license = "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" author = "Arnim Rupp" date = "2020-12-13" strings: $typelibguid0 = "1bcfe538-14f4-4beb-9a3f-3f9472794902" ascii nocase wide condition: (uint16(0) == 0x5A4D and uint32(uint32(0x3C)) == 0x00004550) and any of them } |
Campaign IOC
| Type | Value |
| SHA256 | CD5D8D17BF344D1E3C8E80B069783C0C6EB5A3FE1E0325BA43B7D50782C97762 |
| SHA256 | 5E3B7C155D297D700EA55A5E4102221199F4BFFC4B5E929A18EE4F11A593BB0E |
| SHA256 | A88DBBFB6A10528194BE96395FD5E6EF97C2E8679E7DA94D8B77F63917A92157 |
| SHA256 | 627F94644366D8337953548A520ABCA840AFA1CBC7D278211B12EEBB29324117 |
| SHA256 | EDB00A0E5FF70E899857549E3263C887A799416C8BBAB43AB130CA1BE9BBD78C |
| SHA256 | 59FD6DF3F96FFF552FF8A4874B4D0C5ED2A77E07BA9B406E264A9F602241D4CD |
| SHA256 | 4322C4A2A674D48F67394897C483D9AE0E624A6E1D08D63B06763530EF97560B |
| SHA256 | C9B7567230206F52F560D5CCF21C9B2022AE65D0411B30B8E4374E64B34E7BD2 |
Minimum Content Versions:
| Content Type | Version |
| V2 DAT (VirusScan Enterprise) | 9998 |
| V3 DAT (Endpoint Security) | 4450 |
Detection Summary
| IOC | Scanner | Detection |
| CD5D8D17BF344D1E3C8E80B069783C0C6EB5A3FE1E0325BA43B7D50782C97762 | AVEngine V2 | GenericRXKK-BC!343E942C2E5C |
| AVEngine V3 | GenericRXKK-BC!343E942C2E5C | |
| JTI (ATP Rules) | JTI/Suspect.196612!343e942c2e5c | |
| RP Static | Real Protect-PEE!343E942C2E5C | |
| RP Dynamic | - |
| IOC | Scanner | Detection |
| 5E3B7C155D297D700EA55A5E4102221199F4BFFC4B5E929A18EE4F11A593BB0E | AVEngine V2 | PY/Backdoor.e |
| AVEngine V3 | PY/Backdoor.e | |
| JTI (ATP Rules) | JTI/Suspect.196612!3c35c4cb8b34 | |
| RP Static | - | |
| RP Dynamic | - |
| IOC | Scanner | Detection |
| A88DBBFB6A10528194BE96395FD5E6EF97C2E8679E7DA94D8B77F63917A92157 | AVEngine V2 | GenericRXLA-KY!8D950D6BE664 |
| AVEngine V3 | GenericRXLA-KY!8D950D6BE664 | |
| JTI (ATP Rules) | JTI/Suspect.196612!8d950d6be664 | |
| RP Static | Real Protect-PEE!8D950D6BE664 | |
| RP Dynamic | - |
| IOC | Scanner | Detection |
| 627F94644366D8337953548A520ABCA840AFA1CBC7D278211B12EEBB29324117 | AVEngine V2 | PY/Backdoor.e |
| AVEngine V3 | PY/Backdoor.e | |
| JTI (ATP Rules) | JTI/Suspect.196612!b7fa97fcc590 | |
| RP Static | - | |
| RP Dynamic | - |
| IOC | Scanner | Detection |
| EDB00A0E5FF70E899857549E3263C887A799416C8BBAB43AB130CA1BE9BBD78C | AVEngine V2 | Packed-FVB!C2722241F765 |
| AVEngine V3 | Packed-FVB!C2722241F765 | |
| JTI (ATP Rules) | JTI/Suspect.196612!c2722241f765 | |
| RP Static | - | |
| RP Dynamic | - |
| IOC | Scanner | Detection |
| 59FD6DF3F96FFF552FF8A4874B4D0C5ED2A77E07BA9B406E264A9F602241D4CD | AVEngine V2 | GenericRXKK-BC!C4DB00D94B30 |
| AVEngine V3 | GenericRXKK-BC!C4DB00D94B30 | |
| JTI (ATP Rules) | JTI/Suspect.196612!c4db00d94b30 | |
| RP Static | Real Protect-PEE!C4DB00D94B30 | |
| RP Dynamic | - |
| IOC | Scanner | Detection |
| 4322C4A2A674D48F67394897C483D9AE0E624A6E1D08D63B06763530EF97560B | AVEngine V2 | PY/Backdoor.e |
| AVEngine V3 | PY/Backdoor.e | |
| JTI (ATP Rules) | JTI/Suspect.196612!db7ac8606b6d | |
| RP Static | - | |
| RP Dynamic | - |
| IOC | Scanner | Detection |
| C9B7567230206F52F560D5CCF21C9B2022AE65D0411B30B8E4374E64B34E7BD2 | AVEngine V2 | GenericRXHU-YQ!ED813189205C |
| AVEngine V3 | GenericRXHU-YQ!ED813189205C | |
| JTI (ATP Rules) | JTI/Suspect.196612!ed813189205c | |
| RP Static | Real Protect-PENG4!ED813189205C | |
| RP Dynamic | - |
Minimum set of Manual Rules to improve protection to block this campaign
IMPORTANT: Always follow best practices when you enable new rules and signatures.
When you implement new rules or signatures, always set them to Report mode first and check the alerts generated. Resolve any issues that arise and then set the rules to Block. This step mitigates against triggering false positives and allows you to refine your configuration.
For more information, see KB87843 - List of and best practices for Endpoint Security Dynamic Application Containment rules.
Endpoint Security - Advanced Threat Protection:
Rule ID: 4 Use GTI file reputation to identify trusted or malicious files
Aggressive set of Manual Rules to improve protection to block this campaign
IMPORTANT: Always follow best practices when you enable new rules and signatures.
When you implement new rules or signatures, always set them to Report mode first and check the alerts generated. Resolve any issues that arise and then set the rules to Block. This step mitigates against triggering false positives and allows you to refine your configuration.
For more information, see KB87843 - List of and best practices for Endpoint Security Dynamic Application Containment rules.
Virusscan Enterprise - Access Protection Rules:
Prevent creation of new executable files in the Windows folder
Host Intrusion Prevention:
Rule ID: 6011 Generic Application Invocation Protection
Rule ID: 6010 Generic Application Hooking Protection
Rule ID: 1148 CMD Tool Access by a Network Aware Application
