Black friday Up to 3 extra licenses FOR FREE + Special offer for TI LOOKUP Get it now

Latrodectus

114
Global rank
83 infographic chevron month
Month rank
54 infographic chevron week
Week rank
0
IOCs

Latrodectus is a malicious loader that is used by threat actors to gain a foothold on compromised devices and deploy additional malware. It has been associated with the IcedID trojan and has been used by APT groups in targeted attacks. The malware can gather system information, launch executables, and detect sandbox environments. It uses encryption and obfuscation to evade detection and can establish persistence on the infected device.

Loader
Type
Unknown
Origin
1 August, 2023
First seen
15 March, 2025
Last seen
Also known as
Unidentified 111
BLACKWIDOW
IceNova

How to analyze Latrodectus with ANY.RUN

Type
Unknown
Origin
1 August, 2023
First seen
15 March, 2025
Last seen

IOCs

IP addresses
185.196.10.2
185.208.158.34
217.195.153.246
172.64.80.1
188.114.97.7
190.211.254.75
85.209.128.31
46.19.143.133
31.214.157.25
45.155.120.130
45.155.121.157
213.232.235.220
85.239.34.69
194.110.247.73
151.236.9.226
5.230.41.133
185.36.143.155
193.203.203.40
193.168.141.27
146.19.254.207
Domains
locatedblsoqp.shop
intellisense.live
digitalflwr.com
vivaforevew.com
apworsindos.com
ypredoninen.com
reminasolirol.com
wersogkiwgow.com
piloferstaf.com
gmsmwil.org
dimozti1.org
saicetyapy.space
hejoweo.org
adzacrwlv5.org
simplyfitphilly.com
atqawa.org
zehowyy.org
crdektvlab.org
antyparkov.site
nurunia.org
Last Seen at

Recent blog posts

post image
New Pre-Installed Dev Tools for Deep Sandbox...
watchers 334
comments 0
post image
AI Safety: Key Threats and Solutions 
watchers 444
comments 0
post image
5 Common Evasion Techniques in Malware 
watchers 599
comments 0

What is Latrodectus malware?

Latrodectus is a type of malware known as a "loader," which is designed to download and install additional malicious software onto a compromised computer. It is believed to have been developed by the same individuals or group behind the IcedID trojan, a sophisticated and widespread banking malware.

Since 2023, Latrodectus has been extensively used by a variety of threat actors, including advanced persistent threat (APT) groups such as TA578 and TA577, which was previously observed delivering the Qbot malware, a banking trojan family.

Latrodectus is typically delivered as part of multi-stage attacks, which often begin with a phishing email containing a malicious JavaScript file attachment. However, it has also been known to be dropped by other malware, including the DanaBot trojan.

One of the key features that has allowed security researchers to link Latrodectus to the IcedID authors is the use of a similar command and control (C2) infrastructure. C2 servers are used by malware to communicate with their operators, receive instructions, and exfiltrate data.

Get started today for free

Analyze malware and phishing in a fully-interactive sandbox

Create free account

Latrodectus malware technical details

The primary functionality of Latrodectus is to receive commands from the attackers and perform them.

Some of the key capabilities of Latrodectus include:

  • Getting a list of filenames of files located on the desktop of the infected machine.
  • Listing all the processes currently running on the device.
  • Gathering and transmitting additional system information about the endpoint, such as the OS version and hardware specs.
  • Launching of executable files to install malware or to perform other malicious actions.
  • Detonating dynamic link library (DLL) files.
  • Using Windows command prompt to execute commands.

A typical Latrodectus infection chain begins with a JavaScript file that is responsible for downloading a malicious .msi file, which then leads to the deployment of the final payload on the system.

The malware implements obfuscation techniques, such as encrypting strings, to make it more difficult for researchers to analyze. It communicates with its command and control (C2) server via HTTPS, with both requests and responses encrypted using RC4 and base64 encoding.

Furthermore, Latrodectus has a built-in sandbox detection mechanism that works by enumerating the number of active processes on the device and checking for the presence of a MAC address.

The malware can establish a scheduled task for persistence, ensuring that it remains active on the infected machine even after a reboot. It also verifies if the computer is already infected with Latrodectus and exits execution if the result is positive.

Latrodectus execution process

Let’s detonate a sample of the Latrodectus malware in the ANY.RUN sandbox to observe its execution chain.

The infiltration process of the Latrodectus malware involves a sequence of steps that ultimately lead to its successful operation on a target system.

Upon launching a JavaScript file, it automatically retrieves an installer MSI. This MSI file implants a Latrodectus Dynamic Link Library (DLL) onto the system, allowing the malware to maintain persistence even after the system is rebooted.

Latrodectus process graph in ANY.RUN Latrodectus process graph in ANY.RUN

Once implanted, the Latrodectus malware establishes communication with its command-and-control (C2) server, providing remote access to the infected device for malicious actors.

Gathering threat intelligence on Latrodectus malware

To collect up-to-date intelligence on Latrodectus, use Threat Intelligence Lookup.

This service gives you access to a vast database filled with insights from millions of malware analysis sessions conducted in the ANY.RUN sandbox.

With over 40 customizable search parameters, including IPs, domains, file names, and process artifacts, you can efficiently gather relevant data on threats like Latrodectus.

Latrodectus ANY.RUN Search results for Latrodectus in Threat Intelligence Lookup

For example, you can search directly for the threat name or use related indicators like hash values or network connections. Submitting a query such as threatName:"latrodectus" AND domainName:"" will generate a list of other data extracted from Lumma samples along with sandbox sessions that you can explore in detail to gain comprehensive insights into this malware’s behavior.

Integrate ANY.RUN’s threat intelligence solutions in your company

Contact us

Latrodectus malware distribution methods

Phishing emails are the most common attack vector by threat actors for distributing Latrodectus malware. These emails are typically designed to appear as if they have been sent from a legitimate organization or individual, to trick the recipient into opening an attached file or clicking on a malicious link.

In one particular campaign, the threat actor group TA578 was observed to be spreading Latrodectus as part of a scheme that involved accusing target companies of copyright infringement. The phishing emails in this campaign were designed to look like they were sent from a legitimate organization.

In another instance, a fake Azure page was used to initiate the infection chain.

Conclusion

Latrodectus is a noteworthy loader that presents a challenge due to its widespread use by professional cyber criminal groups. Its capacity to deploy payloads, along with its advanced obfuscation and evasion methods, as well as continuous development contribute to its potential to become an even more serious threat.

ANY.RUN is a cloud-based service that can be used to safely analyze suspicious files and URLs, including Latrodectus malware. It allows you to observe malware behavior and collect indicators of compromise in a secure environment. Using ANY.RUN can help you understand Latrodectus's tactics and improve your defenses against it.

Create your ANY.RUN account – it’s free!

HAVE A LOOK AT

Cerber screenshot
Cerber
cerber
Cerber is a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) that appeared in 2016, spread quickly and has been evolving since. It became well-known for its file encryption, offline capabilities, and sophisticated evasion techniques. It primarily targets enterprises, financial institutions, and government entities, encrypting their data and demanding ransom payments in Bitcoin. It also targets everyday users encrypting personal files (photos, documents) with the risk of their permanent loss.
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
Akira Ransomware screenshot
Akira Ransomware emerged in March 2023 and compromised over 250 organizations by January 2024 with approximately $42 million in ransom payments. It employs double extortion tactics exfiltrating data before encryption and threatening to publish it on a dedicated website.
Read More