Remote malware has been around for almost the entire history of computers. Attackers are always looking for ways to exfiltrate data from systems and be able to control their malware from a remote location. The Command & Control (C2) devices are usually servers controlled by the attacker, but a new malware dubbed by Juniper researchers as Masad has taken a different approach: using the messaging app Telegram for its C2 functions.
Telegram is a popular messaging and Voice-over-IP (VoIP) app with over 200 million active monthly users. This makes it a pretty good place to try and hide malicious activity. Masad uses the sendDocument API of Telegram to exfiltrate data stolen from victims as a 7zip archive. Juniper has detected over 1,000 variants of Masad in the wild, as well as 338 unique Telegram C2 bots related to its use. Due to the malware being sold as a product rather than kept to a particular group, multiple groups can be using Masad for different campaigns. The developers of Masad have even created a group within Telegram with over 300 members, designed for potential clients and tech support.
Masad’s attack vectors include disguising itself as a legitimate tool or hiding itself in other third-party tools. For instance, it has been seen mimicking CCleaner, Utilman, Whoami, ProxySwitcher, a Samsung Galaxy software update, and many others. The developers have also included current trends in gaming, especially for younger internet users that may not be security conscious, by hiding Masad as Fortniteaimbot 2019.exe and an EXEA HACK CRACKED executable claiming to be for PUBG, CounterStrike Global Offensive, Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto 5, and DOTA.
The malware also has the capability to download additional malicious tools, usually more cryptominers. Masad has a wide array of abilities for information stealing in addition to its cryptomining. It can steal system information including running processes, desktop files and screenshots, browser information such as cookies, passwords, credit cards, and AutoFill data, as well as Steam, FileZilla, and Discord files. Masad is also being advertised as a Clipper which looks for cryptocurrency wallet information in the system’s clipboard and replaces it with the attacker’s wallet information. It searches for over two dozen different flavors of cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin, Litecoin, Monero, Ethereum, and DogeCoin.
Juniper researchers recommend locking down the Telegram communication protocol at the firewall level provided there is no legitimate business use that this would interrupt. They also suggest using a next-generation firewall with Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) protection to help counteract the malware if it gets inside the organization.
Sources
• https://threatpost.com/masad-spyware-telegram-bots/148759/
• https://coingeek.com/new-malware-uses-telegram-app-to-replace-cryptoaddresses/
• https://forums.juniper.net/t5/Threat-Research/Masad-Stealer-Exfiltratingusing-Telegram/ba-p/468559