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49
Global rank
42
Month rank
57
Week rank
313
IOCs

Glupteba is a loader with information-stealing and traffic routing functionality. It is designed primarily to install other viruses on infected PCs but can do much more than that. In addition, it is being constantly updated, making this virus one to watch out for.

Loader
Type
Unknown
Origin
1 January, 2011
First seen
25 November, 2023
Last seen

How to analyze Glupteba with ANY.RUN

Type
Unknown
Origin
1 January, 2011
First seen
25 November, 2023
Last seen

IOCs

Hashes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c2ca148808057b9e2dded5c6b887c3f700d5b35344b49c6fbe012451a09b7b62
cfcee9378aacb84c082b3e8e6f249baa66f9758ecd0709e8d1a5b618396a1d5e
URLs
https://server9.zaoshanghaoz.net/api/signature/8e67f58837092385dcf01e8a2b4f5783
https://server9.zaoshanghaoz.net/api/restriction-us
https://server9.zaoshanghaoz.net/api/cdn
https://server6.zaoshang.ooo/api/poll
https://server10.zaoshang.ooo/api/poll
https://server10.zaoshang.ooo/api/signature/8e67f58837092385dcf01e8a2b4f5783
https://server10.zaoshang.ooo/api/restriction-us
https://server10.zaoshang.ooo/api/cdn
https://server13.zaoshang.ooo/api/poll
https://server13.zaoshang.ooo/api/restriction-us
https://server13.zaoshang.ooo/api/signature/8e67f58837092385dcf01e8a2b4f5783
https://server13.zaoshang.ooo/api/cdn
https://server3.mastiakele.xyz/api/signature/1bf850b4d9587c1017a75a47680584c4
https://server3.mastiakele.xyz/api/signature/2dbc44aae677e2661475da5b2a3aac2e
https://server3.mastiakele.xyz/api/signature/7507ffc9a340f774985cb5ca11ca78c4
https://server3.mastiakele.xyz/api/poll
https://server3.mastiakele.xyz/api/signature/dcb505dc2b9d8aac05f4ca0727f5eadb
https://server3.mastiakele.xyz/api/cdn
https://server3.mastiakele.xyz/api/restriction-us
Last Seen at

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What is Glupteba malware?

Glupteba is a dropper — it is commonly used to install other malware samples on infected machines. Although it was initially thought that Glupteba was developed to be a part of a malicious campaign codenamed Operation Windigo, researchers now believe that it is independent malware.

Although Glupteba trojan classifies as a dropper it has some additional dangerous functions. For example, it has the ability to steal information from infected systems. In addition, it can download a component that is able to control routers and relay traffic.

Furthermore, it seems that this malware is under active development and creators employ dangerous and rarely used techniques to keep their creation active despite various malware removal programs. The reason is probably behind their presumable move to a pay-per-install distribution scheme which means that they must keep the malware relevant to profit from it.

General description of Glupteba dropper

Glupteba malware was first spotted in the wild in 2011 when it was distributed by TDL-4 bootkit among a series of other malware types. The virus went quite for a long time thanks to the malware removal tools until it surfaced again three years later. This time Glupteba was seen in Operation Windigo.

In addition, researchers discovered that command and control domains of Glupteba dropper were hosted on the same machines that powered parts of the Operation Windigo infrastructure. However, the exact connection between Glupteba and Windigo is unclear.

Until recently we didn’t hear much about Glupteba trojan anymore before it surfaced again carrying new, dangerous functionally.

Today, apart from the main dropper functionality Glupteba malware comes with two components: the browsers stealer component and the router exploiter.

The browser stealer comes in two versions that target Chrome, Opera, and the Yandex browser. The malware is capable of stealing cookies and browser history as well as private login credentials.

Then there is the router exploiter component. It exploits the CVE-2018-14847 vulnerability to take control of the routers. This allows attackers to turn compromised routers into SOCKS proxies, which redirect traffic from compromised machines. Thus, infected routers can become relay points for spam distribution and more.

For instance, there is a theory that some of the relayed traffic is part of an attack on Instagram, though it is impossible to tell for sure due to the HTTP encryption.

Malware analysis of Glupteba

The video generated by the ANY.RUN interactive malware hunting service shows the execution process of Glupteba. You can also analyze other malicious objects like Ave Maria and Smoke Loader.

process graph of the glupteba execution Figure 1: This graph generated by the ANY.RUN malware hunting service shows processes started by Glupteba Trojan

text report of the glupteba analysis Figure 2: A customizable text report created by ANY.RUN

Glupteba trojan execution process

After Glupteba makes its way into the system it's starts CMD.exe process to run CompMgmtLauncher.exe ("Computer Management Snapin Launcher"). The malware uses CompMgmtLauncher.exe to bypass UAC and run itself with administrative privileges. After that, it typically adds itself to autorun in the registry, renames an executable file and copies it to Windows subdirectories. Glupteba also checks the system for anti-malware solutions, adds firewall rules and defender exclusions. In addition to the above, this malware also adds itself to Schedule Tasks to persistence in the infected system. Throughout its lifecycle, Glupteba exchanges packets with the C2 server and has the ability to download other malware.

Glupteba C&C communication

Glupteba has a rather unique trick up its sleeve that involves no other than the Bitcoin blockchain. It can use transactions in the Bitcoin network to receive C&C domains. This function is triggered on schedule or by demand if there is a need.

It enables the attackers to pass new C&C domains to the malware, allowing it to restore operation by reconnecting to a new domain if something happens to the old one.

Glupteba malware distribution

It should be noted that Glupteba has a very wide distribution range. Since 2017 it has been spotted in 180 countries, though almost one-third of the attacks were concentrated in Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey.

In the past, the malware was distributed using the infrastructure provided by Windigo’s, however, currently, it is using its own botnet and employes CsdiMonetize adware. The latter downloads another dropper which, in turn, installs the trojan itself.

How to detect Glupteba using ANY.RUN?

Since Glupteba adds records into the registry, analysts can detect it by looking at registry keys. To do so, choose the process by clicking on it in the process tree of the task then click on the "More info" button. In "Advanced details of process" window switch to the "Registry changes" tab and take a closer look. If the analyzed sample writes a key with the name "UUID" into the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp, you are dealing with Glupteba and it's time to get the malware removal program ready.

how to detect glupteba Figure 3: Changes Glupteba made in the registry

Conclusion

Glupteba is proving to be a rather dangerous malware that researchers and cybersecurity specialists should not take lightly. Besides its ability to install other malware samples on infected machines, the malware is capable of stealing information from web browser applications. It can also download a component that reroutes traffic by taking control of web-routers.

We also know that this malware uses unique techniques when it comes to C&C communication. And if that was not enough, evidence suggests that it is in active development and attackers seem to be adding more potentially destructive features.

ANY.RUN has prepared a selection of advanced tools that allow to dissect and study a sample of Glupteba in an interactive sandbox environment which gives the researcher an ability to pause the simulation and make corrections at any time. Hopefully, by studying this threat along with many others we will be able to medicate the consensus of future malicious attacks.

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