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Snake

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IOCs

Snake is a modular keylogger written in .NET. Adversaries use this malware to exfiltrate confidential data, such as keystrokes, screen captures, and login credentials.

Keylogger
Type
Ex-USSR
Origin
15 August, 2019
First seen
29 March, 2022
Last seen
Also known as
404 Keylogger
404KeyLogger
Snake Keylogger

How to analyze Snake with ANY.RUN

Type
Ex-USSR
Origin
15 August, 2019
First seen
29 March, 2022
Last seen

IOCs

IP addresses
31.210.74.53
Hashes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cp5ua.hyperhost.ua
mail.stilltech.ro
mail.skyshine.com.my
smtp.ionos.mx
mail.valleycountysar.org
smtp.privateemail.com
mail.saadzakhary.com
mail.activeshipping.com
mail.yezinsaat.com.tr
mail.nclanka.lk
mail.alfalahchemicals.com
mail.prinutrition.com
posta.ni.net.tr
smtp.azebal.com
mail.sienkakupeste.com
mail.anatolia-mountains.com
mail.eversafe.pt
mail.rockglen.com
mail.alroman.com
mail.karacainsaat.com.tr
Last Seen at

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What is Snake malware

Snake is a modular infostealer and keylogger that was initially discovered in November 2020. Developed using the .Net programming language, it exhibits similarities with the AgentTesla, Formbook, and Matiex malware families, particularly in its staging mechanism.

Snake poses a significant risk to privacy due to its ability to exfiltrate a broad range of data. Its capabilities include:

  • Keyboard capturing
  • Clipboard hijacking
  • Credential theft
  • Screen recording

Snake is capable of stealing credentials from over 50 applications, including popular web browsers and file transfer clients, such as FileZilla. Notably, this malware is also able to steal wireless network profiles.

This keylogger is also notable due to its ability to exfiltrate that data through multiple protocols: FTP, SMTP, and Telegram.

Additionally, Snake collects system information including the hardware configuration, name, and operating system version of the infected machine.

Utilizing the system's IP address and date-time information, it identifies the geolocation of the machine it operates on. Some Snake samples, though not all, use this data to activate a kill switch. Such behavior is common for malware originating from the ex-USSR region, typically avoiding targets within nearby countries.

The threat of Snake infection is not confined to specific industries or geographical areas. According to some reports, it has the potential to infect all major platforms, including Windows, Linux, and more recently, MacOS. In addition, Snake is a highly popular malware — it often competes with AgentTesla for the top spot of various charts.

Snake is readily available as a Malware-as-a-Service on underground forums, with pricing options that range from 25 to 500 USD.

This infostealer comes equipped with anti-evasion capabilities. In some samples, its downloader component was found to sleep for a period of time to evade automatic sandboxes. It can also terminate processes related to AV and network analysis tools, such as Avast and Wireshark.

Upon completing the initial process, Snake secures its persistence by duplicating itself into the AppData folder under a random name, generating a scheduled task configuration within a temporary directory, and initiating a scheduled task. What’s more, it possesses the ability to self-delete from the system post data exfiltration, employing a deletion command with a 3-second timer.

Snake keylogger execution process

As a typical stealer, Snake keylogger doesn't produce a lot of noticeable activity, which makes its detection potentially tricky. However, once it's established on an infected machine, it may increase its activity — capturing more data and sending it to the command-and-control server.

In the majority of Snake versions, a single process is responsible for all malicious activities, which include stealing data from the compromised system. In the specific sample of Snake we've analyzed, this process was identified as arinzehfkd685371.exe.

snake keylogger main process

arinzehfkd685371.exe process details

The Snake malware uses a variety of tactics and techniques, as illustrated in the Mitre ATT&CK Matrix. Key strategies include:

  • exploiting client vulnerabilities for initial access
  • extracting credentials from files and password stores
  • querying the system registry
  • and collecting local emails.

It also uses tool transfers and mail protocols for command, control, and exfiltration purposes. Notably, a significant proportion of events (270) involved stealing credentials from files.

snake keylogger ATT&CK Matrix

The Mitre ATT&CK Matrix for Snake malware

During the analysis, ANY.RUN cloud interactive sandbox was able to retrieve Snake’s config automatically. The displayed configuration reveals the DES encryption key and the SMTP credentials used for data exfiltration.

snake keylogger configuration

Snake keylogger malware configuration

Network monitoring tools can use this SMTP information for detection, potentially flagging or blocking traffic associated with the host or email addresses.

Read a detailed analysis of Snake Keylogger in our blog.

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Distribution of Snake malware

As is common with Malware-as-a-Service families, Snake is distributed through mass email phishing campaigns and targeted spearphishing. It is known to arrive via infected Microsoft Office documents or PDFs, typically embedded in payment-related messages.

Upon the user extracting the executable, it proceeds to decode and decrypt the base-64 payload, which is contained within a string variable.

Users are recommended to remain vigilant when downloading payment receipts or any documents from unfamiliar senders. Key signs of phishing attempts to look out for include poor grammar, manipulative messaging, and an unusually high number of typos for a professional email.

Snake malware conclusions

In closing, Snake is a powerful infostealer and keylogger that targets various industries and platforms, capable of extracting a wide range of data. Its sandbox evasion capabilities only add to the challenge of detection and analysis.

Try analyzing Snake in ANY.RUN. Create a free account using your business email to try out our interactive cloud malware sandbox.

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