Malware Families

According to Nextron, Lynx ransomware is a sophisticated malware threat that has been active since mid-2024. Lynx has claimed over 20 victims across a range of industries. Once it infiltrates a system, it encrypts critical files, appending a ‘.lynx’ extension, and deletes backup files like shadow copies to hinder recovery. Uniquely, it also sends the ransom note to available printers, adding an unexpected element to its attack strategy. This malware shares similarities with previous INC ransomware, indicating that they bought INC ransomware source code.

aka LIGHTSHOW

FudModule is a user-mode DLL that gets the ability to read and write arbitrary kernel memory via the BYOVD technique. Its main goal is to turn off Windows system monitoring features, which is done by modifying kernel variables and removing kernel callbacks. Its actions may very likely affect various types of security products, e.g. EDRs, firewalls, antimalware and even digital forensics tools.

aka Unidentified 081

Kaspersky Labs observed Andariel to drop this ransomware in one case within a series of attacks carried out against targets in South Korea in April 2021.

Ransomware. Uses dropper written in JavaScript to deploy a .NET payload.

aka CLEANBOOST, CleanUp, CleanUpLoader +1

Oyster is a backdoor malware written in C++ that first appeared in July 2023. It allows for remote sessions, supporting tasks such as file transfer and command-line processing. This malware has been used by numerous threat actors as a tool to facilitate ransomware intrusions. The distribution of Oyster has likely occurred through various methods, as suggested by the build identifiers found in examined samples. Additionally, Oyster is capable of collecting basic system data and communicates with a command-and-control (C2) server. It can execute commands via cmd.exe and run additional files. In August 2024, a new version of Oyster was discovered that featured a new command-and-control (C2) communication protocol format. This 2024 version contained plaintext strings and lacked code obfuscation, suggesting it was still in development. In contrast to the 2024 version, the new 2025 Oyster version does not send C2 messages in plaintext, instead reintroducing the substitution cipher that was present in earlier versions of Oyster.

According to Cyble, PhantomCore is a backdoor utilized by the hacktivist group Head Mare. It has been active since 2023 and is known for consistently targeting Russia. PhantomCore collects the victim’s information, including the public IP address, to gain detailed insights into the target before deploying the final-stage payload or executing additional commands on the compromised system. PhantomCore is known to deploy ransomware payloads such as LockBit and Babuk, inflicting significant damage on the victim’s systems.

FDMTP is a newly discovered hacking tool developed in .NET, used by Earth Preta. It functions as a simple malware downloader and is based on the TouchSocket framework over the Duplex Message Transport Protocol (DMTP). In one campaign, threat actors embedded FDMTP in the data section of a DLL. This allows it to be launched through DLL side-loading. The embedded network configurations are encoded and encrypted to enhance security and evade detection, utilizing Base64 and DES encryption methods. It has been observed to serve as a secondary control tool, often deployed by the PUBLOAD backdoor.

Mozi is a IoT botnet, that makes use of P2P for communication and reuses source code of other well-known malware families, including Gafgyt, Mirai, and IoT Reaper.

aka Trik, phorphiex

Proofpoint describes Phorpiex/Trik as a SDBot fork (thus IRC-based) that has been used to distribute GandCrab, Pushdo, Pony, and coinminers. The name Trik is derived from PDB strings.

According to Silent Push, this malware exists in multiple versions, including .NET, PowerShell, and JScript. They believe it is part of an IAB toolset or used by a affiliate with ties to LockBit, BlackBasta, and Qilin ransomware groups. CountLoader was also recently used in a PDF-based phishing lure targeting individuals in Ukraine, in a campaign that impersonated the Ukrainian police.

According to Google, GHOSTBLADE is delivered via the DarkSword exploit chain. GHOSTBLADE is a dataminer written in JavaScript that collects and exfiltrates a wide variety of data from a compromised device. Data collected by GHOSTBLADE is exfiltrated to an attacker-controlled server over HTTP(S). Unlike GHOSTKNIFE and GHOSTSABER, GHOSTBLADE is less capable and does not support any additional modules or backdoor-like functionality; it also does not operate continuously. However, similar to GHOSTKNIFE, GHOSTBLADE also contains code to delete crash reports, but targets a different directory where they may be stored.

According to PCrisk, Trigona is ransomware that encrypts files and appends the "._locked" extension to filenames. Also, it drops the "how_to_decrypt.hta" file that opens a ransom note. An example of how Trigona renames files: it renames "1.jpg" to "1.jpg._locked", "2.png" to "2.png._locked", and so forth. It embeds the encrypted decryption key, the campaign ID, and the victim ID in the encrypted files.

The 8Base ransomware group has remained relatively unknown despite the massive spike in activity in Summer of 2023. The group utilizes encryption paired with “name-and-shame” techniques to compel their victims to pay their ransoms. 8Base has an opportunistic pattern of compromise with recent victims spanning across varied industries. Despite the high amount of compromises, the information regarding identities, methodology, and underlying motivation behind these incidents still remains a mystery. Samples of their ransomware show they are using customized Phobos with SmokeLoader.

According to Orange Cyberdefense, MintsLoader is a little-known, multi-stage malware loader that has been used since at least February 2023. It has been observed in widespread distribution campaigns between July and October 2024. The name comes from a very characteristic use of an URL parameter “1.php?s=mintsXX" (with XX being numbers). MintsLoader primarily delivers malicious RAT or infostealing payloads such as AsyncRAT and Vidar through phishing emails, targeting organizations in Europe (Spain, Italy, Poland, etc.). Written in JavaScript and PowerShell, MintsLoader operates through a multi-step infection process involving several URLs and domains, most of which use a domain generation algorithm (DGA) with .top TLD.

aka PureHVNC, ResolverRAT

According to Morphisec, this RAT combines advanced in-memory execution, API and resource resolution at runtime, and layered evasion techniques. They have named it ‘Resolver’ due to its heavy reliance on runtime resolution mechanisms and dynamic resource handling, which make static and behavioral analysis significantly more difficult.

According to Cisco Talos, DriveSwitch is a launcher for SilentRaid.

aka BUGJUICE

aka ChronosRAT

According to Cisco Talos, RushDrop is a dropper used by UAT-7290 for deploying SilentRaid

According to Mandiant, POORTRY is a malware written as a driver, signed with a Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Authenticode signature. This malware has been observed being used by UNC3944.

aka SophosKill

According to Sophos, the AuKill tool abuses an outdated version of the driver used by version 16.32 of the Microsoft utility, Process Explorer, to disable EDR processes before deploying either a backdoor or ransomware on the target system.

According to Checkpoint Research, GRAPELOADER is a newly observed initial-stage tool used for fingerprinting, persistence, and payload delivery. Despite differing roles, it shares similarities in code structure, obfuscation, and string decryption with WINELOADER. GRAPELOADER refines WINELOADER’s anti-analysis techniques while introducing more advanced stealth methods.

TONEDEAF is a backdoor that communicates with Command and Control servers using HTTP or DNS. Supported commands include system information collection, file upload, file download, and arbitrary shell command execution. When executed, this variant of TONEDEAF wrote encrypted data to two temporary files – temp.txt and temp2.txt – within the same directory of its execution.

aka ROOTSAW

aka MystRodX

According to Cisco Talos, SilentRaid is a primary implant used by UAT-7290 in intrusions meant to establish persistent access to compromised endpoints. It communicates with its command-and-control server (C2) and carries out tasks defined in the malware.