Malware Analysis Report

2025-05-28 17:31

Sample ID 250518-mkg44abl51
Target 2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz
SHA256 1278d578de119be853467a5204054166f4b1568ce1a7a4eeee53b65d6087aab0
Tags
aresloader defense_evasion discovery loader persistence privilege_escalation
score
10/10

Table of Contents

Analysis Overview

MITRE ATT&CK

Enterprise Matrix V16

Analysis: static1

Detonation Overview

Signatures

Analysis: behavioral1

Detonation Overview

Command Line

Signatures

Processes

Network

Files

Analysis Overview

score
10/10

SHA256

1278d578de119be853467a5204054166f4b1568ce1a7a4eeee53b65d6087aab0

Threat Level: Known bad

The file 2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz was found to be: Known bad.

Malicious Activity Summary

aresloader defense_evasion discovery loader persistence privilege_escalation

AresLoader

Aresloader family

Downloads MZ/PE file

Manipulates Digital Signatures

Modifies Windows Firewall

Executes dropped EXE

Adds Run key to start application

System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery

Unsigned PE

Event Triggered Execution: Netsh Helper DLL

Suspicious use of SetWindowsHookEx

Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory

Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken

MITRE ATT&CK

Analysis: static1

Detonation Overview

Reported

2025-05-18 10:31

Signatures

Aresloader family

aresloader

Unsigned PE

Description Indicator Process Target
N/A N/A N/A N/A

Analysis: behavioral1

Detonation Overview

Submitted

2025-05-18 10:31

Reported

2025-05-18 10:33

Platform

win10v2004-20250502-en

Max time kernel

150s

Max time network

144s

Command Line

"C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe"

Signatures

AresLoader

loader aresloader

Aresloader family

aresloader

Manipulates Digital Signatures

Description Indicator Process Target
Set value (str) \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Cryptography\OID\EncodingType 0\CryptDllFindOIDInfo\1.3.6.1.4.1.311.60.3.2!7\Name = "szOID_ROOT_PROGRAM_AUTO_UPDATE_END_REVOCATION" C:\Windows\SysWOW64\certutil.exe N/A
Set value (str) \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Cryptography\OID\EncodingType 0\CryptDllFindOIDInfo\1.3.6.1.4.1.311.60.3.3!7\Name = "szOID_ROOT_PROGRAM_NO_OCSP_FAILOVER_TO_CRL" C:\Windows\SysWOW64\certutil.exe N/A
Set value (str) \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Cryptography\OID\EncodingType 0\CryptDllFindOIDInfo\1.3.6.1.4.1.311.60.3.1!7\Name = "szOID_ROOT_PROGRAM_AUTO_UPDATE_CA_REVOCATION" C:\Windows\SysWOW64\certutil.exe N/A

Modifies Windows Firewall

defense_evasion
Description Indicator Process Target
N/A N/A C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
N/A N/A C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
N/A N/A C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A

Executes dropped EXE

Description Indicator Process Target
N/A N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\EdgeUpdate.exe N/A

Adds Run key to start application

persistence
Description Indicator Process Target
Set value (str) \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\EdgeUpdate = "C:\\Users\\Admin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\EdgeUpdate.exe" C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe N/A

Event Triggered Execution: Netsh Helper DLL

persistence privilege_escalation
Description Indicator Process Target
Key value enumerated \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\NetSh C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key value enumerated \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\NetSh C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key queried \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\NetSh C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key value enumerated \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\NetSh C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key queried \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\NetSh C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key opened \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\NetSh C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key opened \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\NetSh C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key queried \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\NetSh C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key value enumerated \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\NetSh C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key opened \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\NetSh C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key queried \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\NetSh C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key opened \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\NetSh C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key value enumerated \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\NetSh C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key opened \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\NetSh C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key queried \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\NetSh C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A

System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery

discovery
Description Indicator Process Target
Key opened \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\NLS\Language C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\EdgeUpdate.exe N/A
Key opened \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\NLS\Language C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe N/A
Key opened \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\NLS\Language C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key opened \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\NLS\Language C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key opened \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\NLS\Language C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key opened \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\NLS\Language C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key opened \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\NLS\Language C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe N/A
Key opened \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\NLS\Language C:\Windows\SysWOW64\certutil.exe N/A

Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken

Description Indicator Process Target
Token: SeDebugPrivilege N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe N/A

Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory

Description Indicator Process Target
PID 3800 wrote to memory of 3880 N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe
PID 3800 wrote to memory of 3880 N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe
PID 3800 wrote to memory of 3880 N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe
PID 3800 wrote to memory of 1436 N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe
PID 3800 wrote to memory of 1436 N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe
PID 3800 wrote to memory of 1436 N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe
PID 3800 wrote to memory of 4872 N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe
PID 3800 wrote to memory of 4872 N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe
PID 3800 wrote to memory of 4872 N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe
PID 3800 wrote to memory of 4660 N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe
PID 3800 wrote to memory of 4660 N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe
PID 3800 wrote to memory of 4660 N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe
PID 3800 wrote to memory of 4856 N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe
PID 3800 wrote to memory of 4856 N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe
PID 3800 wrote to memory of 4856 N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe
PID 3800 wrote to memory of 5348 N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\certutil.exe
PID 3800 wrote to memory of 5348 N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\certutil.exe
PID 3800 wrote to memory of 5348 N/A C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\certutil.exe
PID 1788 wrote to memory of 3360 N/A C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\EdgeUpdate.exe
PID 1788 wrote to memory of 3360 N/A C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\EdgeUpdate.exe
PID 1788 wrote to memory of 3360 N/A C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\EdgeUpdate.exe

Processes

C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe

"C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe"

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe

netsh int ipv4 set dynamicport tcp start=10000 num=55000

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe

netsh int ipv6 set dynamicport tcp start=10000 num=55000

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe

netsh advfirewall firewall delete rule name=SunnyNet

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name=SunnyNet dir=in action=allow program=C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\netsh.exe

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name=SunnyNetOut dir=out action=allow program=C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2025-05-18_17bf4ae8f1cedd7057f29fbab982ede7_darkgate_elex_icedid_poet-rat_zxxz.exe

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\certutil.exe

certutil -addstore root C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\SunnyNet.crt

C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe

C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe /c C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\EdgeUpdate.exe

C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\EdgeUpdate.exe

C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\EdgeUpdate.exe

Network

Country Destination Domain Proto
US 8.8.8.8:53 g.bing.com udp
US 150.171.27.10:443 g.bing.com tcp
US 8.8.8.8:53 creator.douyin.com udp
GB 163.181.242.190:443 creator.douyin.com tcp
US 8.8.8.8:53 api.gzdata.io udp
HK 202.79.173.4:8081 api.gzdata.io tcp
GB 2.18.27.82:443 www.bing.com tcp
GB 2.18.27.82:443 www.bing.com tcp
US 8.8.8.8:53 tj.gzdata.io udp
US 192.151.151.46:80 192.151.151.46 tcp
US 192.151.151.43:81 tj.gzdata.io tcp
US 192.151.151.43:81 tj.gzdata.io tcp
N/A 224.0.0.251:5353 udp
US 192.151.151.46:80 192.151.151.46 tcp
N/A 127.0.0.1:2023 tcp
N/A 127.0.0.1:2023 tcp
US 192.151.151.46:81 192.151.151.46 tcp
N/A 127.0.0.1:2023 tcp
N/A 127.0.0.1:2023 tcp
N/A 127.0.0.1:2023 tcp
N/A 127.0.0.1:2023 tcp
N/A 127.0.0.1:2023 tcp
N/A 127.0.0.1:2023 tcp
US 8.8.8.8:53 c.pki.goog udp
GB 142.250.178.3:80 c.pki.goog tcp
N/A 127.0.0.1:2023 tcp
N/A 127.0.0.1:2023 tcp
N/A 127.0.0.1:2023 tcp
N/A 127.0.0.1:2023 tcp

Files

memory/3800-2-0x0000000000A80000-0x0000000000A81000-memory.dmp

memory/3800-1-0x0000000077092000-0x0000000077093000-memory.dmp

memory/3800-0-0x0000000077092000-0x0000000077093000-memory.dmp

memory/3800-3-0x000000006DFC0000-0x000000007029E000-memory.dmp

memory/3800-8-0x0000000077092000-0x0000000077093000-memory.dmp

memory/3800-7-0x000000006DFC0000-0x000000007029E000-memory.dmp

C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\SunnyNet.crt

MD5 29b54579baced4daf7153b961d02837d
SHA1 534e448e54a7ad827e48c97f631008b7001d5999
SHA256 9f42eb74eed9e79de2d2d9862676bcbd1043d74901813d01cb7fd5956bc4b55c
SHA512 dee57bad7afdf70c0ff8fd4b8794013b9bc2a4f1e3ccdd2af6b5f9f4c4e3128e2b0c50e2a73e02c86f1bb62a7828d1e80dce69cbf36b6d41762e72f83d64f16d

memory/3800-13-0x0000000000A80000-0x0000000000A81000-memory.dmp

C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\EdgeUpdate.exe

MD5 65ae25b599978a8b17988085614c4bef
SHA1 30ca008b71bc3178ec1079007767ff5eddeb67e3
SHA256 5f5949bec4679a0c01eef2c1d649704ea8e699c16037754345a6b4af2f8c0960
SHA512 99eaeca8e8100d0a4426ee9dae7850a1168829c0dfba2f5886dc736477b9098dda96b17eb28f93aeb0eb5aa6fc201a7df11f59779f09db0667918ea7d8f37ba6