Gootkit

43
Global rank
42
Month rank
41
Week rank
1276
IOCs

Gootkit is an advanced banking trojan. It is extremely good at evading detection and has an incredibly effective persistence mechanism, making it a dangerous malware that researchers and organizations should be aware of.

Trojan
Type
Unknown
Origin
1 June, 2014
First seen
24 May, 2023
Last seen
Also known as
Waldek
Xswkit
Talalpek

How to analyze Gootkit with ANY.RUN

Trojan
Type
Unknown
Origin
1 June, 2014
First seen
24 May, 2023
Last seen

IOCs

IP addresses
216.218.185.162
85.214.228.140
5.45.71.227
185.158.248.151
5.45.66.39
216.218.208.114
216.218.135.114
185.238.168.110
5.45.85.133
37.1.218.243
185.238.168.33
37.1.207.160
5.45.68.138
5.61.58.180
185.158.248.226
5.45.80.139
185.158.248.133
31.214.157.162
185.44.105.78
5.61.34.67
Hashes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elx01.knas.systems
njxyro.ddns.net
192-168-100-240.otmn.direct.quickconnect.to
192-168-100-240.otmn.direct.quickconnect.to
majul.com
qxq.ddns.net
isns.net
booking.msg.bluhotels.com
booking.msg.bluhotels.com
oththukaruva.com
obiavleniya.ru
activeterroristwarningcompany.com
ticket.ipv10.eu
3jkpvk2m8y.dattolocal.net
leijstrom.com
idaswar.xyz
1cbrljfyvue25161uk801p1eumk.org
1cbrljfyvue25161uk801p1eumk.org
gfjyjqpoherk.xyz
sfmj76sv7ls0kv3hw8oji.ddns.net
Last Seen at

Recent blog posts

recentPost
How to Create a Task in ANY.RUN:a Step-by-Ste...
watchers 308
comments 0
recentPost
ChatGPT for SOC and Malware Analysis professi...
watchers 5384
comments 0
recentPost
Deobfuscating the Latest GuLoader: Automating...
watchers 3237
comments 3

What is Gootkit malware?

Gootkit is a banking trojan – a malware created to steal banking credentials. In fact, Gootkit is classified as one top sophisticated banking trojan ever created. It relies on complex anti-evasion and persistence mechanisms, as well as complex techniques like dynamic web injections.

Since its initial discovery in 2014, Gootkit has been utilized in multiple attacks that targeted bank accounts across Europe, some of which were very destructive.

Gootkit is known to affect the most widely used web-browsers, namely IE, Firefox, and Chrome. Interestingly, this trojan is coded mostly using the node.js programming language – not the first choice for most operators. What’s more, while many similar malicious programs heavily utilize leaked source code of older samples, the virus appears to be written almost 100% from scratch.

General description of Gootkit

The roots of this malware go all the way back to 2010 when what can be called the predecessor of Gootkit was first documented. Classified at the time as an information stealer which did not pose a significant danger, Gootkit has since evolved into a full-fledged banking V.

The malware has been documented in its present form of a trojan since 2014, involved in attacks targeting both private and corporate victims in Europe, mainly targeting banks in France and England. However, Spanish and Italian banks have also been reportedly attacked.

Unlike some other trojan, Gootkit is not available for sale on the internet. Its code hasn’t been leaked, and a Russian-speaking group of hackers has carried out all attacks involving this malware.

Creators of the Gootkit trojan have implemented some of the most cutting-edge anti-evasion tricks to ensure the payload will stay hidden for as long as possible and prevent successful analysis by cybersecurity researchers. Comprised of two main parts, the dropper and the trojan itself – the virus carries out sandbox checks on every stage of its life cycle. Meaning that both the dropper and the actual trojan have unique anti-evasion procedures.

Once the dropper makes its way into a machine, it will conduct the initial VM check, making sure that the malware is not being launched in a virtual environment. This is achieved by verifying the system’s processor value inside the Windows Registry by checking for specific names of virtual servers. In addition, BIOS is also checked to find any values which could point at the malware being launched on a VM. If the malware detects that it is not being launched on a real machine, it terminates all activities and connects to the control server to blacklist the endpoint it was launched in.

However, if the initial test is passed, the loader installs the main Gootkit executable, which, in turn, repeats some of the previous checks while adding several new ones. In one of the new checks, the malware checks the whitelist of names admissible for the CPU to determine that a VM name is absent from the list. Following this test, the malware scans to find VMWare, VBOX, or SONI values on IDE/SCSI hard drives.

Such thorough virtual machine checks are not the only jack up the sleeve that Gootkit has regarding evasion. To increase the success rate of installs, the malware creators frequently make modifications to the generic trojan, changing the targeted processes for injections and filetypes of the executable.

For example, instead of running an .exe file, some samples of Gootkit load a DLL directly into a target process. What’s more, while the majority of malware select the explorer.exe process as their injection target, Gootkit targets a service host (svchost) process instead. Presumably, this is done to further evade detections since injecting into a process with several instances makes Gootkit easier to hide.

In addition to advanced anti-detection methods, Gootkit malware employs equally sophisticated persistence techniques to ensure that its deletion from an infected machine will prove as complicated as possible. The malware provides two main persistence mechanisms, which are used depending on the available system rights. When launched from an admin account, Gootkit can mimic a Windows service with a random name, which helps to confuse users. This way, it can launch before a victim logs on and continues running even after logging off.

However, if launched from a least-privilege user account, the virus writes itself as a scheduled task and a random name. This task is programmed to run every minute and on every boot, ensuring that the malware will remain on a machine after antivirus software scans and system reboots.

Gootkit malware analysis

A video of the simulation that was recorded in the ANY.RUN malware hunting service allows us to perform an analysis of the execution of Gootkit and see this virus in action as well as Danabot or Pony. Moreover, you can investigate the vast malware database in the public submissions, too. The video is available here.

gootkit execution process graph

Figure 1: the lifecycle of Gootkit can be viewed in a visual format on the process graph generated by the ANY.RUN online analysis sandbox.

text report of the gootkit malware analysis

Figure 2: This text report is available at this link provides more detailed information about Gootkit execution processes, artifacts, and more.

Gootkit execution process

Gootkit often gets into the system as an email attachment in the form of a Microsoft Word file. After the user opens the malicious file, it starts Powershell to download the main payload.

It should be noted that in some cases, Gootkit postpones the execution by putting itself in scheduled tasks. After the main payload execution starts, Gootkit unpacks and launches itself. This process provides the main malicious activity - stealing personal information, downloading other malware, grabbing video of the victim’s desktop, hijacking banking credentials, keys loading, connecting to C2 servers, and so on. In the given example, Gootkit also uses WMIC.EXE to obtain a list of AntiViruses.

Distribution of Gootkit trojan loader

Gootkit utilizes multiple attack vectors to infect its victims, including popular exploit kits like Neutrino and Angler, allowing the malware to get into machines with not-up-to-date operating systems.

The second used attack vector is email spam, where Gootkit is delivered to users as a malicious email attachment. Social engineering is used to trick the user into downloading the malicious file.

How to avoid infection by Gootkit?

Several online safety rules can be followed to greatly reduce the risk of infection by malware such as Gootkit. For instance, users are advised to install the freshest OS updates and update applications that users utilize regularly.

At the same time, those applications that are rarely opened should be deleted from the machine. In addition, it is advised to disable ads in the browser and avoid visiting suspicious websites. Furthermore, if a private inbox is used at work instead of a corporate one, a user should restrain from sending sensitive information to and from this personal email address.

It should be noted that opening email attachments in suspicious emails always poses a high risk of injection. Therefore users must never run suspicious programs downloaded from emails sent from unrecognized addresses.

How to export Gootkit data using ANY.RUN?

If the analyst wants to do additional work with events from tasks or share them with colleagues, they can export to different formats. Just click on the "Export" button and choose the most suitable format in the drop-down menu.

options for export events from tasks with gootkit Figure 3: Options for export events from tasks with Gootkit

Conclusion

Although Gootkit is responsible for a negligible percentage of the overall attacks by financial malware, this trojan should be considered an extremely high-risk danger. Thanks to its sophisticated persistence and anti-evasion functions, it is capable of potentially very damaging attacks.

What’s more, following the trojan development over the years, it is safe to assume that its evolution will continue. Cybercriminals behind the malware will keep producing ways to evade modern security solutions.

That’s why utilizing the most reliable and cutting edge analysis tools, such as the ANY.RUN malware hunting service can be a key to setting up a secure cyber defense against serious threats like Gootkit. Check the service's malware database to find out about other malicious programs.

HAVE A LOOK AT

Adwind screenshot
Adwind
adwind trojan
Adwind RAT, sometimes also called Unrecom, Sockrat, Frutas, jRat, and JSocket, is a Malware As A Service Remote Access Trojan that attackers can use to collect information from infected machines. It was one of the most popular RATs in the market in 2015.
Read More
Agent Tesla screenshot
Agent Tesla
agenttesla trojan rat stealer
Agent Tesla is spyware that collects information about the actions of its victims by recording keystrokes and user interactions. It is falsely marketed as a legitimate software on the dedicated website where this malware is sold.
Read More
Amadey screenshot
Amadey
amadey
Amadey is a formidable Windows infostealer threat, characterized by its persistence mechanisms, modular design, and ability to execute various malicious tasks.
Read More
Arkei screenshot
Arkei
arkei stealer
Arkei is a stealer type malware capable of collecting passwords, autosaved forms, cryptocurrency wallet credentials, and files.
Read More
AsyncRAT screenshot
AsyncRAT
asyncrat
AsyncRAT is a RAT that can monitor and remotely control infected systems. This malware was introduced on Github as a legitimate open-source remote administration software, but hackers use it for its many powerful malicious functions.
Read More
Ave Maria screenshot
Ave Maria
avemaria stealer trojan rat
Ave Maria malware is a Remote Access Trojan that is also called WARZONE RAT. Hackers use it to control the PCs of their victims remotely and steal information from infected PCs. For example, they can remotely activate the camera to take pictures of a victim and send them to a control server.
Read More

Our website uses cookies. By visiting the pages of the site, you agree to our Privacy Policy