hijackloader | 318a4e426669f90ff9b6107f56f0ed47616d9da1335473c8f9f41073ca2d694d

General

Target

neroAacEnc.exe
Size

15.2MB
MD5

9bf782afcc591d031b253116ac34051b
SHA1

901764258a8f7322c9a4155f70e48e9676c7691e
SHA256

318a4e426669f90ff9b6107f56f0ed47616d9da1335473c8f9f41073ca2d694d
SHA512

dacc38e7d1fd9d60b6700ed5d28d2aa3283766157e84399f9e6b98161d399b32a8c8ea6846ec932b4c8a13e3690c7b2bc6db17d62f47d9ac22f74cf8dc59400c
SSDEEP

393216:Lwi3tIkSzBOms76P5jAkCQBIVO3JDps+ziMlbMhrC+lFaiNFjU7AWt:BtuOu5AFQ+0ps++MlAn61

Score

10^/10

hijackloader discovery execution loader persistence

Malware Config

Signatures

Detects HijackLoader (aka IDAT Loader) 1 IoCs

Processes:

resource	yara_rule
behavioral2/memory/1544-0-0x0000000000400000-0x0000000001484000-memory.dmp	family_hijackloader

HijackLoader
HijackLoader is a multistage loader first seen in 2023.
loader hijackloader
Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell 1 TTPs 1 IoCs
Run Powershell to modify Windows Defender settings to add exclusions for file extensions, paths, and processes.
execution

PowerShell
T1059.001

Processes:

powershell.exe

pid process

792 powershell.exe

pid	process
792	powershell.exe

Sets service image path in registry 2 TTPs 1 IoCs

persistence

Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder

T1547.001

Modify Registry

T1112

Processes:

explorer.exe

description	ioc	process
Set value (str)	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\0BB94212\ImagePath = "C:\\Windows\\SysWOW64\\explorer.exe"	explorer.exe

Deletes itself 1 IoCs

Processes:

cmd.exe

pid process

3352 cmd.exe

pid	process
3352	cmd.exe

Drops file in System32 directory 3 IoCs

Processes:

explorer.exe

description	ioc	process
File created	C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\ExplorerStartupLog.etl	explorer.exe
File created	C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\1033\StructuredQuerySchema.bin	explorer.exe
File opened for modification	C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Caches\cversions.3.db	explorer.exe

Suspicious use of SetThreadContext 1 IoCs

Processes:

neroAacEnc.exe

description pid process target process

PID 1544 set thread context of 3352 1544 neroAacEnc.exe cmd.exe
Drops file in Program Files directory 1 IoCs

Processes:

explorer.exe

description ioc process

File opened for modification C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe explorer.exe
Enumerates physical storage devices 1 TTPs
Attempts to interact with connected storage/optical drive(s).

System Information Discovery
T1082

description	pid	process	target process
PID 1544 set thread context of 3352	1544	neroAacEnc.exe	cmd.exe

description	ioc	process
File opened for modification	C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe	explorer.exe

System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery 1 TTPs 5 IoCs

Attempt gather information about the system language of a victim in order to infer the geographical location of that host.

discovery

System Language Discovery

T1614.001

Processes:

neroAacEnc.execmd.exeexplorer.exeexplorer.exepowershell.exe

description	ioc	process
Key opened	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\NLS\Language	neroAacEnc.exe
Key opened	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\NLS\Language	cmd.exe
Key opened	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\NLS\Language	explorer.exe
Key opened	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\NLS\Language	explorer.exe
Key opened	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\NLS\Language	powershell.exe

Checks processor information in registry 2 TTPs 22 IoCs

Processor information is often read in order to detect sandboxing environments.

Query Registry

T1012

System Information Discovery

T1082

Processes:

explorer.exeexplorer.exe

description	ioc	process
Key value queried	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0\VendorIdentifier	explorer.exe
Key value queried	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\1\Identifier	explorer.exe
Key value queried	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\1\Update Revision	explorer.exe
Key value queried	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\1\~MHz	explorer.exe
Key opened	\Registry\Machine\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0	explorer.exe
Key opened	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor	explorer.exe
Key enumerated	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor	explorer.exe
Key value queried	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0\Configuration Data	explorer.exe
Key value queried	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\1\Component Information	explorer.exe
Key value queried	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0\~MHz	explorer.exe
Key opened	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0	explorer.exe
Key value enumerated	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0	explorer.exe
Key value queried	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0\Identifier	explorer.exe
Key value queried	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0\FeatureSet	explorer.exe
Key value queried	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0\Component Information	explorer.exe
Key value queried	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0\ProcessorNameString	explorer.exe
Key value queried	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\1\FeatureSet	explorer.exe
Key opened	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\1	explorer.exe
Key value enumerated	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\1	explorer.exe
Key value queried	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0\Update Revision	explorer.exe
Key value queried	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\1\VendorIdentifier	explorer.exe
Key value queried	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\1\ProcessorNameString	explorer.exe

Modifies data under HKEY_USERS 8 IoCs

Processes:

explorer.exe

description	ioc	process
Set value (int)	\REGISTRY\USER\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\TelemetrySalt = "0"	explorer.exe
Key created	\REGISTRY\USER\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer	explorer.exe
Set value (int)	\REGISTRY\USER\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ExplorerStartupTraceRecorded = "1"	explorer.exe
Key created	\REGISTRY\USER\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Cached	explorer.exe
Set value (data)	\REGISTRY\USER\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Cached\{470C0EBD-5D73-4D58-9CED-E91E22E23282} {000214E4-0000-0000-C000-000000000046} 0xFFFF = 0100000000000000c135975360e0da01	explorer.exe
Set value (data)	\REGISTRY\USER\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Cached\{23170F69-40C1-278A-1000-000100020000} {000214E4-0000-0000-C000-000000000046} 0xFFFF = 01000000000000007d5c9c5360e0da01	explorer.exe
Set value (data)	\REGISTRY\USER\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\SlowContextMenuEntries = 6024b221ea3a6910a2dc08002b30309d420200000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000	explorer.exe
Set value (data)	\REGISTRY\USER\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Cached\{11DBB47C-A525-400B-9E80-A54615A090C0} {7F9185B0-CB92-43C5-80A9-92277A4F7B54} 0xFFFF = 0100000000000000d159fb5360e0da01	explorer.exe

Suspicious behavior: EnumeratesProcesses 64 IoCs

Processes:

neroAacEnc.execmd.exeexplorer.exepowershell.exe

pid	process
1544	neroAacEnc.exe
1544	neroAacEnc.exe
3352	cmd.exe
3352	cmd.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
792	powershell.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
792	powershell.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe
4836	explorer.exe

Suspicious behavior: MapViewOfSection 2 IoCs

Processes:

neroAacEnc.execmd.exe

pid process

1544 neroAacEnc.exe
3352 cmd.exe
Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken 1 IoCs

Processes:

powershell.exe

description pid process

Token: SeDebugPrivilege 792 powershell.exe

description	pid	process
Token: SeDebugPrivilege	792	powershell.exe

Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory 13 IoCs

Processes:

neroAacEnc.execmd.exeexplorer.exe

description	pid	process	target process
PID 1544 wrote to memory of 3352	1544	neroAacEnc.exe	cmd.exe
PID 1544 wrote to memory of 3352	1544	neroAacEnc.exe	cmd.exe
PID 1544 wrote to memory of 3352	1544	neroAacEnc.exe	cmd.exe
PID 1544 wrote to memory of 3352	1544	neroAacEnc.exe	cmd.exe
PID 3352 wrote to memory of 4836	3352	cmd.exe	explorer.exe
PID 3352 wrote to memory of 4836	3352	cmd.exe	explorer.exe
PID 3352 wrote to memory of 4836	3352	cmd.exe	explorer.exe
PID 3352 wrote to memory of 4836	3352	cmd.exe	explorer.exe
PID 3352 wrote to memory of 4836	3352	cmd.exe	explorer.exe
PID 3352 wrote to memory of 4836	3352	cmd.exe	explorer.exe
PID 4836 wrote to memory of 792	4836	explorer.exe	powershell.exe
PID 4836 wrote to memory of 792	4836	explorer.exe	powershell.exe
PID 4836 wrote to memory of 792	4836	explorer.exe	powershell.exe

C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\neroAacEnc.exe
"C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\neroAacEnc.exe"
1⤵
- Suspicious use of SetThreadContext
- System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
- Suspicious behavior: EnumeratesProcesses
- Suspicious behavior: MapViewOfSection
- Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
PID:1544

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cmd.exe
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cmd.exe
2⤵
- Deletes itself
- System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
- Suspicious behavior: EnumeratesProcesses
- Suspicious behavior: MapViewOfSection
- Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
PID:3352

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\explorer.exe
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\explorer.exe
3⤵
- Sets service image path in registry
- Drops file in Program Files directory
- System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
- Checks processor information in registry
- Suspicious behavior: EnumeratesProcesses
- Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
PID:4836

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
"C:\Windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe" Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath C:\Windows\SysWOW64\explorer.exe
4⤵
- Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell
- System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
- Suspicious behavior: EnumeratesProcesses
- Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
PID:792

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\explorer.exe
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\explorer.exe
1⤵
- Drops file in System32 directory
- System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
- Checks processor information in registry
- Modifies data under HKEY_USERS
PID:3304

C:\Windows\explorer.exe
C:\Windows\explorer.exe /factory,{682159d9-c321-47ca-b3f1-30e36b2ec8b9} -Embedding
1⤵
PID:1128

Network

MITRE ATT&CK Matrix ATT&CK v13

Initial Access

Execution

Command and Scripting Interpreter

1

T1059

PowerShell

1

T1059.001

Persistence

Boot or Logon Autostart Execution

1

T1547

Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder

1

T1547.001

Privilege Escalation

Boot or Logon Autostart Execution

1

T1547

Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder

1

T1547.001

Defense Evasion

Modify Registry

1

T1112

Credential Access

Discovery

System Information Discovery

2

T1082

System Location Discovery

1

T1614

System Language Discovery

Query Registry

Lateral Movement

Collection

Exfiltration

Command and Control

Impact

Resource Development

Reconnaissance

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Downloads

C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2738778d
Filesize
14.6MB

MD5
61aa8acf927cbad9f4ca0acd6292a3ba

SHA1
c3b35f5ac2b84feb6a9dea742b26580bef92ccb0

SHA256
b19eba3e540bdb64f4f751153d21ce767e405f210689591636ecd3ed2c90206f

SHA512
d981110333fa531be5aa134769607ef58987bafab92a8dd755d130ef8af1603302d49a9c816e75e600d1ffc1284f07f2d79fda02fb3a608ba3df0db6a8cd28fd

Download Submit
C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\__PSScriptPolicyTest_1draqwe5.afm.ps1
Filesize
60B

MD5
d17fe0a3f47be24a6453e9ef58c94641

SHA1
6ab83620379fc69f80c0242105ddffd7d98d5d9d

SHA256
96ad1146eb96877eab5942ae0736b82d8b5e2039a80d3d6932665c1a4c87dcf7

SHA512
5b592e58f26c264604f98f6aa12860758ce606d1c63220736cf0c779e4e18e3cec8706930a16c38b20161754d1017d1657d35258e58ca22b18f5b232880dec82

Download Submit
memory/792-58-0x0000000007A90000-0x000000000810A000-memory.dmp

Filesize
6.5MB

Download
memory/792-41-0x0000000005C50000-0x0000000005FA4000-memory.dmp

Filesize
3.3MB

Download
memory/792-29-0x0000000005A70000-0x0000000005AD6000-memory.dmp

Filesize
408KB

Download
memory/792-30-0x0000000005AE0000-0x0000000005B46000-memory.dmp

Filesize
408KB

Download
memory/792-66-0x0000000007770000-0x0000000007778000-memory.dmp

Filesize
32KB

Download
memory/792-65-0x0000000007790000-0x00000000077AA000-memory.dmp

Filesize
104KB

Download
memory/792-64-0x0000000007690000-0x00000000076A4000-memory.dmp

Filesize
80KB

Download
memory/792-63-0x0000000007680000-0x000000000768E000-memory.dmp

Filesize
56KB

Download
memory/792-62-0x0000000007650000-0x0000000007661000-memory.dmp

Filesize
68KB

Download
memory/792-61-0x00000000076D0000-0x0000000007766000-memory.dmp

Filesize
600KB

Download
memory/792-60-0x00000000074C0000-0x00000000074CA000-memory.dmp

Filesize
40KB

Download
memory/792-59-0x0000000007450000-0x000000000746A000-memory.dmp

Filesize
104KB

Download
memory/792-57-0x0000000007330000-0x00000000073D3000-memory.dmp

Filesize
652KB

Download
memory/792-56-0x0000000006710000-0x000000000672E000-memory.dmp

Filesize
120KB

Download
memory/792-46-0x0000000075A20000-0x0000000075A6C000-memory.dmp

Filesize
304KB

Download
memory/792-45-0x00000000066D0000-0x0000000006702000-memory.dmp

Filesize
200KB

Download
memory/792-43-0x0000000006170000-0x00000000061BC000-memory.dmp

Filesize
304KB

Download
memory/792-26-0x0000000004B80000-0x0000000004BB6000-memory.dmp

Filesize
216KB

Download
memory/792-27-0x00000000052D0000-0x00000000058F8000-memory.dmp

Filesize
6.2MB

Download
memory/792-28-0x0000000005160000-0x0000000005182000-memory.dmp

Filesize
136KB

Download
memory/792-42-0x0000000006120000-0x000000000613E000-memory.dmp

Filesize
120KB

Download
memory/1544-0-0x0000000000400000-0x0000000001484000-memory.dmp

Filesize
16.5MB

Download
memory/1544-1-0x0000000075750000-0x00000000758CB000-memory.dmp

Filesize
1.5MB

Download
memory/1544-5-0x0000000075750000-0x00000000758CB000-memory.dmp

Filesize
1.5MB

Download
memory/1544-4-0x0000000075750000-0x00000000758CB000-memory.dmp

Filesize
1.5MB

Download
memory/1544-2-0x00007FF80F250000-0x00007FF80F445000-memory.dmp

Filesize
2.0MB

Download
memory/1544-3-0x0000000075762000-0x0000000075764000-memory.dmp

Filesize
8KB

Download
memory/3352-9-0x00007FF80F250000-0x00007FF80F445000-memory.dmp

Filesize
2.0MB

Download
memory/3352-16-0x0000000075750000-0x00000000758CB000-memory.dmp

Filesize
1.5MB

Download
memory/3352-7-0x0000000075750000-0x00000000758CB000-memory.dmp

Filesize
1.5MB

Download
memory/3352-11-0x0000000075750000-0x00000000758CB000-memory.dmp

Filesize
1.5MB

Download
memory/3352-12-0x0000000075750000-0x00000000758CB000-memory.dmp

Filesize
1.5MB

Download
memory/4836-44-0x0000000001200000-0x0000000002011000-memory.dmp

Filesize
14.1MB

Download
memory/4836-17-0x0000000001200000-0x0000000002011000-memory.dmp

Filesize
14.1MB

Download
memory/4836-18-0x00007FF80F250000-0x00007FF80F445000-memory.dmp

Filesize
2.0MB

Download
memory/4836-21-0x0000000001200000-0x0000000002011000-memory.dmp

Filesize
14.1MB

Download
memory/4836-19-0x0000000063280000-0x00000000634BE000-memory.dmp

Filesize
2.2MB

Download
memory/4836-23-0x0000000001200000-0x0000000002011000-memory.dmp

Filesize
14.1MB

Download
memory/4836-24-0x0000000001200000-0x0000000002011000-memory.dmp

Filesize
14.1MB

Download
memory/4836-20-0x000000006E600000-0x000000006E69D000-memory.dmp

Filesize
628KB

Download
memory/4836-69-0x0000000001200000-0x0000000002011000-memory.dmp

Filesize
14.1MB

Download
memory/4836-71-0x0000000001200000-0x0000000002011000-memory.dmp

Filesize
14.1MB

Download
memory/4836-76-0x0000000001200000-0x0000000002011000-memory.dmp

Filesize
14.1MB

Download

Analysis

Sharing

General

Malware Config

Signatures

Processes

Network

MITRE ATT&CK Matrix ATT&CK v13

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Downloads