Analysis

  • max time kernel
    148s
  • max time network
    135s
  • platform
    windows11-ltsc_2024_x64
  • resource
    win11ltsc2024-20260709-en
  • resource tags

    arch:x64arch:x86image:win11ltsc2024-20260709-enlocale:en-usos:windows11-ltsc_2024-x64systemwindows
  • submitted
    23/07/2026, 12:24

General

  • Target
    KOTON.exe
  • Size 2.2MB
  • Sample260723-pk72macl4x
  • SHA256 e75b2167147b4f63599579aace6c19e7453624423a17fff91685cf87407b0b8a
  • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

Malware Config

Signatures

  • Family: DcRat

    DarkCrystal(DC) is a new .NET RAT active since June 2019 capable of loading additional plugins.

  • DCRat payload 2 IoCs

    Detects payload of DCRat, commonly dropped by NSIS installers.

  • Process spawned unexpected child process 33 IoCs

    This typically indicates the parent process was compromised via an exploit or macro.

  • UAC bypass 3 TTPs 3 IoCs
  • Disables Task Manager via registry modification
  • Executes dropped EXE 13 IoCs
  • Checks whether UAC is enabled 1 TTPs 2 IoCs
  • Executes a VBScript file via the Windows Script Host. 1 TTPs 1 IoCs
  • SmartAssembly .NET packer 4 IoCs

    Detects SmartAssembly .NET packer.

  • Drops file in Program Files directory 12 IoCs
  • Drops file in Windows directory 6 IoCs
  • Enumerates physical storage devices 1 TTPs

    Attempts to interact with connected storage/optical drive(s).

  • Executes a command shell one-liner 1 TTPs 1 IoCs

    Execution of a cmd.exe one-liner (/c "close" or /k "keep") is a common script/loader stage.

  • 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.

  • Modifies registry class 1 IoCs
  • Modifies registry key 1 TTPs 1 IoCs
  • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task 1 TTPs 33 IoCs

    Schtasks is often used by malware for persistence or to perform post-infection execution.

  • Suspicious behavior: EnumeratesProcesses 10 IoCs
  • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken 13 IoCs
  • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory 5 IoCs
  • System policy modification 1 TTPs 3 IoCs
  • Uses Task Scheduler COM API 1 TTPs

    The Task Scheduler COM API can be used to schedule applications to run on boot or at set times.

Processes

  • C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\KOTON.exe
    "C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\KOTON.exe"
    1⤵
    • System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
    • Modifies registry class
    • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
    PID:5496
    • C:\Windows\SysWOW64\WScript.exe
      "C:\Windows\System32\WScript.exe" "C:\BridgeSurrogateMonitorsvc\fIlHIZkglX1kUdt8Xa.vbe"
      2⤵
      • Executes a VBScript file via the Windows Script Host.
      • System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
      • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
      PID:2332
      • C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cmd.exe
        C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe /c ""C:\BridgeSurrogateMonitorsvc\2dpWBxRtSgaMG0J7d8jyl7GGR2DE.bat" "
        3⤵
        • Executes a command shell one-liner
        • System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
        • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
        PID:5964
        • C:\BridgeSurrogateMonitorsvc\agentSessionnet.exe
          "C:\BridgeSurrogateMonitorsvc\agentSessionnet.exe"
          4⤵
          • UAC bypass
          • Executes dropped EXE
          • Checks whether UAC is enabled
          • Drops file in Program Files directory
          • Drops file in Windows directory
          • Suspicious behavior: EnumeratesProcesses
          • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
          • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
          • System policy modification
          PID:1616
          • C:\Windows.old\OfficeClickToRun.exe
            "C:\Windows.old\OfficeClickToRun.exe"
            5⤵
            • Executes dropped EXE
            • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
            PID:3352
        • C:\Windows\SysWOW64\reg.exe
          reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableTaskMgr /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
          4⤵
          • System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
          • Modifies registry key
          PID:5432
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "upfcu" /sc MINUTE /mo 8 /tr "'C:\Recovery\WindowsRE\upfc.exe'" /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:2160
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "upfc" /sc ONLOGON /tr "'C:\Recovery\WindowsRE\upfc.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:3364
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "upfcu" /sc MINUTE /mo 12 /tr "'C:\Recovery\WindowsRE\upfc.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:968
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "WUDFHostW" /sc MINUTE /mo 13 /tr "'C:\Program Files\Uninstall Information\WUDFHost.exe'" /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:4612
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "WUDFHost" /sc ONLOGON /tr "'C:\Program Files\Uninstall Information\WUDFHost.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:3112
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "WUDFHostW" /sc MINUTE /mo 11 /tr "'C:\Program Files\Uninstall Information\WUDFHost.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:4816
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "WmiPrvSEW" /sc MINUTE /mo 11 /tr "'C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero\es-ES\WmiPrvSE.exe'" /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:1780
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "WmiPrvSE" /sc ONLOGON /tr "'C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero\es-ES\WmiPrvSE.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:3352
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "WmiPrvSEW" /sc MINUTE /mo 11 /tr "'C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero\es-ES\WmiPrvSE.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:2060
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "StartMenuExperienceHostS" /sc MINUTE /mo 14 /tr "'C:\Users\Public\Downloads\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe'" /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:3532
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "StartMenuExperienceHost" /sc ONLOGON /tr "'C:\Users\Public\Downloads\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:2608
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "StartMenuExperienceHostS" /sc MINUTE /mo 7 /tr "'C:\Users\Public\Downloads\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:3656
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "OfficeClickToRunO" /sc MINUTE /mo 13 /tr "'C:\Windows.old\OfficeClickToRun.exe'" /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:2736
  • C:\Recovery\WindowsRE\upfc.exe
    "C:\Recovery\WindowsRE\upfc.exe"
    1⤵
    • Executes dropped EXE
    • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
    PID:5400
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "OfficeClickToRun" /sc ONLOGON /tr "'C:\Windows.old\OfficeClickToRun.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:1952
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "OfficeClickToRunO" /sc MINUTE /mo 10 /tr "'C:\Windows.old\OfficeClickToRun.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:4628
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "servicess" /sc MINUTE /mo 12 /tr "'C:\Users\Admin\Application Data\services.exe'" /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:1236
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "services" /sc ONLOGON /tr "'C:\Users\Admin\Application Data\services.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:3140
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "servicess" /sc MINUTE /mo 10 /tr "'C:\Users\Admin\Application Data\services.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:4400
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "servicess" /sc MINUTE /mo 14 /tr "'C:\BridgeSurrogateMonitorsvc\services.exe'" /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:4788
  • C:\Program Files\Uninstall Information\WUDFHost.exe
    "C:\Program Files\Uninstall Information\WUDFHost.exe"
    1⤵
    • Executes dropped EXE
    • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
    PID:1620
  • C:\Windows.old\OfficeClickToRun.exe
    "C:\Windows.old\OfficeClickToRun.exe"
    1⤵
    • Executes dropped EXE
    • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
    PID:1860
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "services" /sc ONLOGON /tr "'C:\BridgeSurrogateMonitorsvc\services.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:5208
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "servicess" /sc MINUTE /mo 11 /tr "'C:\BridgeSurrogateMonitorsvc\services.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:3876
  • C:\Users\Public\Downloads\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe
    "C:\Users\Public\Downloads\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe"
    1⤵
    • Executes dropped EXE
    • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
    PID:2912
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "conhostc" /sc MINUTE /mo 12 /tr "'C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Maintenance Service\logs\conhost.exe'" /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:2052
  • C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero\es-ES\WmiPrvSE.exe
    "C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero\es-ES\WmiPrvSE.exe"
    1⤵
    • Executes dropped EXE
    • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
    PID:1304
  • C:\Users\Admin\Application Data\services.exe
    "C:\Users\Admin\Application Data\services.exe"
    1⤵
    • Executes dropped EXE
    • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
    PID:5136
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "conhost" /sc ONLOGON /tr "'C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Maintenance Service\logs\conhost.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:3492
  • C:\BridgeSurrogateMonitorsvc\services.exe
    "C:\BridgeSurrogateMonitorsvc\services.exe"
    1⤵
    • Executes dropped EXE
    • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
    PID:2360
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "conhostc" /sc MINUTE /mo 8 /tr "'C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Maintenance Service\logs\conhost.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:4660
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "csrssc" /sc MINUTE /mo 5 /tr "'C:\Recovery\WindowsRE\csrss.exe'" /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:708
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "csrss" /sc ONLOGON /tr "'C:\Recovery\WindowsRE\csrss.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:4848
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Maintenance Service\logs\conhost.exe
    "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Maintenance Service\logs\conhost.exe"
    1⤵
    • Executes dropped EXE
    • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
    PID:1376
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "csrssc" /sc MINUTE /mo 5 /tr "'C:\Recovery\WindowsRE\csrss.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:3528
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "agentSessionneta" /sc MINUTE /mo 13 /tr "'C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Update\agentSessionnet.exe'" /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:3248
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "agentSessionnet" /sc ONLOGON /tr "'C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Update\agentSessionnet.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:3036
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "agentSessionneta" /sc MINUTE /mo 8 /tr "'C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Update\agentSessionnet.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:2732
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "RuntimeBrokerR" /sc MINUTE /mo 8 /tr "'C:\Recovery\WindowsRE\RuntimeBroker.exe'" /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:4224
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "RuntimeBroker" /sc ONLOGON /tr "'C:\Recovery\WindowsRE\RuntimeBroker.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:5704
  • C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe
    schtasks.exe /create /tn "RuntimeBrokerR" /sc MINUTE /mo 10 /tr "'C:\Recovery\WindowsRE\RuntimeBroker.exe'" /rl HIGHEST /f
    1⤵
    • Process spawned unexpected child process
    • Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
    PID:4764
  • C:\Recovery\WindowsRE\csrss.exe
    "C:\Recovery\WindowsRE\csrss.exe"
    1⤵
    • Executes dropped EXE
    • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
    PID:3488
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Update\agentSessionnet.exe
    "C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Update\agentSessionnet.exe"
    1⤵
    • Executes dropped EXE
    • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
    PID:3836
  • C:\Recovery\WindowsRE\RuntimeBroker.exe
    "C:\Recovery\WindowsRE\RuntimeBroker.exe"
    1⤵
    • Executes dropped EXE
    • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
    PID:3156

Network

        MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v16

        Replay Monitor

        Loading Replay Monitor...

        Downloads

        2dpWBxRtSgaMG0J7d8jyl7GGR2DE.bat

        • Path C:\BridgeSurrogateMonitorsvc\2dpWBxRtSgaMG0J7d8jyl7GGR2DE.bat
        • Size 162B
        • SHA256 b3d43858b280ea3fac9680332c0143b5d2285103a6840d562e5f1e7e5a464f13
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        agentSessionnet.exe

        • Path C:\BridgeSurrogateMonitorsvc\agentSessionnet.exe
        • Size 1.8MB
        • SHA256 3ccdd6525912d45e7af0ae3fb59cbbc4ad4d34b0febe98626f81f30d4a40c7c7
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        fIlHIZkglX1kUdt8Xa.vbe

        • Path C:\BridgeSurrogateMonitorsvc\fIlHIZkglX1kUdt8Xa.vbe
        • Size 230B
        • SHA256 655edb2acc457ca13b24b73af52257fcf87d2895e3606aec5726c58b39ce4469
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        memory/1616-20-0x0000000002C00000-0x0000000002C16000-memory.dmp

        memory/1616-23-0x000000001B500000-0x000000001B50A000-memory.dmp

        memory/1616-16-0x0000000002BE0000-0x0000000002BFC000-memory.dmp

        memory/1616-19-0x0000000002AB0000-0x0000000002AC0000-memory.dmp

        memory/1616-18-0x0000000002950000-0x0000000002958000-memory.dmp

        memory/1616-17-0x000000001B540000-0x000000001B590000-memory.dmp

        memory/1616-21-0x000000001B4F0000-0x000000001B502000-memory.dmp

        memory/1616-14-0x00000000006C0000-0x00000000008A0000-memory.dmp

        memory/1616-22-0x000000001B520000-0x000000001B530000-memory.dmp

        memory/1616-15-0x00000000012B0000-0x00000000012BE000-memory.dmp

        memory/1616-24-0x000000001B510000-0x000000001B522000-memory.dmp

        memory/1616-26-0x000000001B530000-0x000000001B53C000-memory.dmp

        memory/1616-25-0x000000001C420000-0x000000001C948000-memory.dmp

        memory/1616-29-0x000000001B5D0000-0x000000001B5DE000-memory.dmp

        memory/1616-28-0x000000001B5C0000-0x000000001B5CE000-memory.dmp

        memory/1616-27-0x000000001B5B0000-0x000000001B5BA000-memory.dmp

        memory/1616-30-0x000000001BEF0000-0x000000001BEFC000-memory.dmp