neshta | 4f9a3f74fb2cfa5b9e3cb5f00de44e28a44695ab7244900db2eaa9efc494f06a

Analysis

max time kernel
118s
max time network
119s
platform
windows7_x64
resource
win7-20240903-en
resource tags

arch:x64arch:x86image:win7-20240903-enlocale:en-usos:windows7-x64system
submitted
06-02-2025 18:43

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General

Target

DefenderControl.exe
Size

863KB
MD5

8d12786d8e9477b36557a4c1e35bbb09
SHA1

a26c718f62b8b6729a16e35a7b68afee101903c6
SHA256

4f9a3f74fb2cfa5b9e3cb5f00de44e28a44695ab7244900db2eaa9efc494f06a
SHA512

232a440f8946e6993f3acc57766f50c2bade37b3dc95f0bbbdaf284b169baf258d92a896d7f9df5ae7f889091772b27b856d93f5db64edbea619e03fa159732e
SSDEEP

12288:jiqSqzU7rOv/O6/NH90u9KIyburq6fAdAYmyy1OgLdw:jaIO6/LXEYr8dAByy1OYdw

Score

10^/10

neshta discovery persistence spyware stealer

Malware Config

Signatures

Detect Neshta payload 3 IoCs

resource	yara_rule
behavioral1/files/0x0001000000010314-17.dat	family_neshta
behavioral1/memory/2452-161-0x0000000000400000-0x000000000041B000-memory.dmp	family_neshta
behavioral1/memory/2452-163-0x0000000000400000-0x000000000041B000-memory.dmp	family_neshta

Neshta
Malware from the neshta family is designed to infect itself into other files to spread itself and cause damage.
persistence spyware neshta
Neshta family
neshta

Executes dropped EXE 1 IoCs

pid	Process
1736	DefenderControl.exe

Loads dropped DLL 6 IoCs

pid	Process
2452	DefenderControl.exe
2452	DefenderControl.exe
1736	DefenderControl.exe
1736	DefenderControl.exe
1736	DefenderControl.exe
2452	DefenderControl.exe

Modifies system executable filetype association 2 TTPs 1 IoCs

persistence

Modify Registry

T1112

Change Default File Association

T1546.001

description	ioc	Process
Set value (str)	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\exefile\shell\open\command\ = "C:\\Windows\\svchost.com \"%1\" %*"	DefenderControl.exe

Reads user/profile data of web browsers 3 TTPs
Infostealers often target stored browser data, which can include saved credentials etc.
spyware stealer

Data from Local System
T1005

Credentials In Files
T1552.001

Credentials from Web Browsers
T1555.003

Drops file in Program Files directory 64 IoCs

description	ioc	Process
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\POWERPNT.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\VPREVIEW.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\DW\DWTRIG20.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\OFFICE14\MSOICONS.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\CNFNOT32.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\MSOHTMED.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\WI54FB~1\WMPDMC.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\Adobe\READER~1.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\Adobe\READER~1.0\SETUPF~1\{AC76B~1\Setup.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\Adobe\Updater6\ADOBEU~1.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\EQUATION\EQNEDT32.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\OFFICE14\MSOXMLED.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\Google\Update\1336~1.151\GOF5E2~1.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\INFOPATH.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\WI54FB~1\wmprph.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\MSQRY32.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\ONENOTE.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\OFFICE14\FLTLDR.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\Google\Update\1336~1.151\GOOGLE~1.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\1033\ONELEV.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\GROOVEMN.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\ADOBEA~1\Versions\1.0\ADOBEA~1.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\NAMECO~1.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\SELFCERT.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\PPTICO.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\XLICONS.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\WINDOW~1\wabmig.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\WI54FB~1\setup_wm.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\Adobe\READER~1.0\Reader\ACROBR~1.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\OFFICE14\LICLUA.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\Google\Update\1336~1.151\GOOGLE~3.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\ACCICONS.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\ink\mip.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\TextConv\WksConv\Wkconv.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\WINDOW~1\WinMail.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~3\PACKAG~1\{CA675~1\VCREDI~1.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\Adobe\READER~1.0\Reader\Eula.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\CLVIEW.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\WI54FB~1\wmlaunch.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~3\PACKAG~1\{4D8DC~1\VC_RED~1.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\DW\DW20.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\GRAPH.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\WINDOW~1\wab.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~3\PACKAG~1\{EF6B0~1\VCREDI~1.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\INTERN~1\ieinstal.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\MSOSYNC.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\WI54FB~1\wmpconfig.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\WINDOW~4\ImagingDevices.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\MSTORDB.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\WINDOW~2\ACCESS~1\wordpad.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~3\PACKAG~1\{57A73~1\VC_RED~1.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\Adobe\READER~1.0\Reader\LOGTRA~1.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\OFFICE14\Oarpmany.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\Google\Update\1336~1.151\GOOGLE~4.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\BCSSync.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\Adobe\READER~1.0\Resource\Icons\SC_REA~1.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\OFFICE14\OFFICE~1\ODeploy.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~1\Office14\WINWORD.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\WI4223~1\sidebar.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\Google\Update\DISABL~1.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\INTERN~1\ielowutil.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~3\PACKAG~1\{33D1F~1\VCREDI~1.EXE	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\MSInfo\msinfo32.exe	DefenderControl.exe
File opened for modification	C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\OFFICE14\OFFICE~1\Setup.exe	DefenderControl.exe

Drops file in Windows directory 1 IoCs

description	ioc	Process
File opened for modification	C:\Windows\svchost.com	DefenderControl.exe

Enumerates physical storage devices 1 TTPs
Attempts to interact with connected storage/optical drive(s).

System Information Discovery
T1082

System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery 1 TTPs 4 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

description	ioc	Process
Key opened	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\NLS\Language	DefenderControl.exe
Key opened	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\NLS\Language	DefenderControl.exe
Key opened	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\NLS\Language	cmd.exe
Key opened	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\NLS\Language	choice.exe

Modifies registry class 1 IoCs

description	ioc	Process
Set value (str)	\REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\exefile\shell\open\command\ = "C:\\Windows\\svchost.com \"%1\" %*"	DefenderControl.exe

Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory 21 IoCs

description	pid	Process	procid_target
PID 2452 wrote to memory of 1736	2452	DefenderControl.exe	31
PID 2452 wrote to memory of 1736	2452	DefenderControl.exe	31
PID 2452 wrote to memory of 1736	2452	DefenderControl.exe	31
PID 2452 wrote to memory of 1736	2452	DefenderControl.exe	31
PID 2452 wrote to memory of 1736	2452	DefenderControl.exe	31
PID 2452 wrote to memory of 1736	2452	DefenderControl.exe	31
PID 2452 wrote to memory of 1736	2452	DefenderControl.exe	31
PID 1736 wrote to memory of 2580	1736	DefenderControl.exe	32
PID 1736 wrote to memory of 2580	1736	DefenderControl.exe	32
PID 1736 wrote to memory of 2580	1736	DefenderControl.exe	32
PID 1736 wrote to memory of 2580	1736	DefenderControl.exe	32
PID 1736 wrote to memory of 2580	1736	DefenderControl.exe	32
PID 1736 wrote to memory of 2580	1736	DefenderControl.exe	32
PID 1736 wrote to memory of 2580	1736	DefenderControl.exe	32
PID 2580 wrote to memory of 2640	2580	cmd.exe	34
PID 2580 wrote to memory of 2640	2580	cmd.exe	34
PID 2580 wrote to memory of 2640	2580	cmd.exe	34
PID 2580 wrote to memory of 2640	2580	cmd.exe	34
PID 2580 wrote to memory of 2640	2580	cmd.exe	34
PID 2580 wrote to memory of 2640	2580	cmd.exe	34
PID 2580 wrote to memory of 2640	2580	cmd.exe	34

C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\DefenderControl.exe
"C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\DefenderControl.exe"
1⤵
- Loads dropped DLL
- Modifies system executable filetype association
- Drops file in Program Files directory
- Drops file in Windows directory
- System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
- Modifies registry class
- Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
PID:2452
- C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\3582-490\DefenderControl.exe
  "C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\3582-490\DefenderControl.exe"
  2⤵
  - Executes dropped EXE
  - Loads dropped DLL
  - System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
  - Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
  PID:1736
- - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cmd.exe
    cmd /c .\Script_Run.bat
    3⤵
    - System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
    - Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
    PID:2580
  - - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\choice.exe
      choice /C:yas /N
      4⤵
      System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
      PID:2640

Network

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v15

Reconnaissance

Resource Development

Initial Access

Execution

Persistence

Event Triggered Execution

T1546

Change Default File Association

T1546.001

Privilege Escalation

Event Triggered Execution

T1546

Change Default File Association

T1546.001

Defense Evasion

Modify Registry

T1112

Credential Access

Credentials from Password Stores

T1555

Credentials from Web Browsers

T1555.003

Unsecured Credentials

T1552

Credentials In Files

T1552.001

Discovery

System Information Discovery

T1082

System Location Discovery

T1614

System Language Discovery

T1614.001

Lateral Movement

Collection

Data from Local System

T1005

Command and Control

Exfiltration

Impact

Replay Monitor

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Downloads

C:\MSOCache\ALLUSE~1\{90140~1\dwtrig20.exe

Filesize
547KB

MD5
cf6c595d3e5e9667667af096762fd9c4

SHA1
9bb44da8d7f6457099cb56e4f7d1026963dce7ce

SHA256
593e60cc30ae0789448547195af77f550387f6648d45847ea244dd0dd7abf03d

SHA512
ff4f789df9e6a6d0fbe12b3250f951fcf11e857906c65e96a30bb46266e7e1180d6103a03db2f3764e0d1346b2de7afba8259ba080057e4a268e45e8654dfa80

Download Submit
C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\7zSD401.tmp\Script_Run.bat

Filesize
9KB

MD5
f5f2b8421012d9ce3dec75b23d6d3dac

SHA1
62bb1f88eb6207caa946eb101d8e5c5a2c56df7f

SHA256
ada4a79590a11e83cc9c99266fdebe23e5cbfe15aee08cc260668a9956fa21d2

SHA512
d6ad16a7b69637a49464e1556631f853b85bb12548613c29247c9cf832c1cd0b77d0f2e3ef60cb84e378a3f1cb29870e110b9dbf1b8d4426ea665b14d8ef592d

Download Submit
\PROGRA~2\Adobe\READER~1.0\Reader\LOGTRA~1.EXE

Filesize
252KB

MD5
9e2b9928c89a9d0da1d3e8f4bd96afa7

SHA1
ec66cda99f44b62470c6930e5afda061579cde35

SHA256
8899b4ed3446b7d55b54defbc1acb7c5392a4b3bc8ec2cdc7c31171708965043

SHA512
2ca5ad1d0e12a8049de885b90b7f56fe77c868e0d6dae4ec4b6f3bc0bf7b2e73295cc9b1328c2b45357ffb0d7804622ab3f91a56140b098e93b691032d508156

Download Submit
\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\3582-490\DefenderControl.exe

Filesize
823KB

MD5
879e3d30cc1392370ab0eec1601aa1b6

SHA1
c85e5eb120d860b0a67e3f091d5e7c29a7643bfd

SHA256
704ebc20fe0c7678a2b73d97ba6ad2945ece3a7d35ba0e0a394b629570af00ca

SHA512
71a5987a9f2fde213992be76865c0d57a4113027adf53aa515eaaa42c8f02e895297795a3c02f60ff837dcd045fa072814567ea1b65257c8006a0aa5f3e7bd44

Download Submit
memory/2452-161-0x0000000000400000-0x000000000041B000-memory.dmp

Filesize
108KB

Download
memory/2452-163-0x0000000000400000-0x000000000041B000-memory.dmp

Filesize
108KB

Download

Analysis

Sharing

General

Malware Config

Signatures

Processes

Network

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v15

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Downloads