Analysis

  • max time kernel
    148s
  • max time network
    140s
  • platform
    windows11-ltsc_2024_x64
  • resource
    win11ltsc2024-20260709-en
  • resource tags

    arch:x64arch:x86image:win11ltsc2024-20260709-enlocale:en-usos:windows11-ltsc_2024-x64systemwindows
  • submitted
    18/08/2026, 12:45

General

  • Target
    2026-08-18_d72100f7b65825dd3ce045ff67089cd5_amadey_darkgate_elex_smoke-loader_stop.exe
  • Size 1.9MB
  • Sample260818-py9sdatwhv
  • SHA256 f867d168e567fd9e9f1cec0ae2a73f8aa735fcfcffce1fc6d9cdc7b4b6fab6c3
  • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

Malware Config

Signatures

  • Executes dropped EXE 3 IoCs
  • Reads user/profile data of web browsers 3 TTPs

    Infostealers often target stored browser data, which can include saved credentials etc.

  • Checks whether UAC is enabled 1 TTPs 1 IoCs
  • Drops file in Program Files directory 64 IoCs
  • Enumerates physical storage devices 1 TTPs

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

  • 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
  • Suspicious use of SetWindowsHookEx 5 IoCs
  • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory 3 IoCs

Processes

  • C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2026-08-18_d72100f7b65825dd3ce045ff67089cd5_amadey_darkgate_elex_smoke-loader_stop.exe
    "C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2026-08-18_d72100f7b65825dd3ce045ff67089cd5_amadey_darkgate_elex_smoke-loader_stop.exe"
    1⤵
    • Drops file in Program Files directory
    • System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
    • Suspicious use of SetWindowsHookEx
    • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
    PID:4852
    • C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2026-08-18_d72100f7b65825dd3ce045ff67089cd5_amadey_darkgate_elex_smoke-loader_stop.exe.exe
      C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp/2026-08-18_d72100f7b65825dd3ce045ff67089cd5_amadey_darkgate_elex_smoke-loader_stop.exe.exe
      2⤵
      • Executes dropped EXE
      • Checks whether UAC is enabled
      • System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
      • Suspicious use of SetWindowsHookEx
      • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
      PID:5920
      • C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\Reader\Reader_sl.exe
        "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
        3⤵
        • Executes dropped EXE
        • System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
        • Suspicious use of SetWindowsHookEx
        • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
        PID:708
        • C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\Reader\Reader_sl.exe.exe
          "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\Reader/Reader_sl.exe.exe"
          4⤵
          • Executes dropped EXE
          • System Location Discovery: System Language Discovery
          • Modifies registry class
          PID:5052

Network

        MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v16

        Replay Monitor

        Loading Replay Monitor...

        Downloads

        RdrCEF.exe

        • Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\Reader\AcroCEF\RdrCEF.exe
        • Size 10.1MB
        • SHA256 6c86a664e11dabb19f0f4625054b28ad7e3e24b1d1ce554bcfa227874177d04b
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        AcroRd32.exe

        • Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\Reader\AcroRd32.exe
        • Size 3.2MB
        • SHA256 c2d1650077a84b53cf6fa0daf601c92e90c65f828f7fabbf210b4957a48d34aa
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        Reader_sl.exe

        • Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\Reader\Reader_sl.exe
        • Size 852KB
        • SHA256 84f7e163c8e138c20f487da6a98ac5d64cfd7e0a6edb56253f832b97bede1d8f
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        Reader_sl.exe.exe

        • Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\Reader\Reader_sl.exe.exe
        • Size 60KB
        • SHA256 6e1541dff76f28a917d606a396304df754c0f0085dfa0a92d0f419c75af2d38c
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        32BitMAPIBroker.exe

        • Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\Reader\plug_ins\pi_brokers\32BitMAPIBroker.exe
        • Size 902KB
        • SHA256 a6f3426df0b64f5125720f1a7d21ecc7f530a2132e924e697ce5587296460f51
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        AdobeARM.exe

        • Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe
        • Size 1.9MB
        • SHA256 e8bee0a9b74599e51663b254a53f18129ed82832d2e1d02a0e59602c5293c266
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        pwahelper.exe

        • Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeCore\122.0.2365.106\pwahelper.exe
        • Size 1.9MB
        • SHA256 08740b5d7411a3f875f75238b1735315594479ba93f5e5a7f6173cc2d05d1dfe
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        cookie_exporter.exe

        • Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeCore\139.0.3405.125\cookie_exporter.exe
        • Size 914KB
        • SHA256 805e34d8b710808206193ce5a5cc4fd2ea3fa4a8102728156d7cf23bbf6fda1a
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        msedge_proxy.exe

        • Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeCore\139.0.3405.125\msedge_proxy.exe
        • Size 2.2MB
        • SHA256 ff9d125d30fa06c168cd521bee2c4a67f830dbbf3b3410a9cd211be3d293cbf5
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        MicrosoftEdgeUpdate.exe

        • Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate_bk\MicrosoftEdgeUpdate.exe
        • Size 1001KB
        • SHA256 7b1b201fef1c96a2964e12c2708e47cc3b88223db232614f1902107aa3977187
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        MicrosoftEdgeUpdate.exe.ico

        • Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate_bk\MicrosoftEdgeUpdate.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 2e039a7ce5af3783a3d522d27112bfe7a1dac319ed5061de3bef89790d5ad63e
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        setup.exe.ico

        • Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\139.0.3405.125\Installer\setup.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 3d275500cf3ebda5e878d81dcbbaa53528397ccbe631aae8fae60de1ffefccf7
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        elevated_tracing_service.exe

        • Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\139.0.3405.125\elevated_tracing_service.exe
        • Size 4.5MB
        • SHA256 0896837fed8c8590b00d964f57932407fec9f1bdd62c390ebdd83c0e90be9a01
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        msedge.exe

        • Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\139.0.3405.125\msedge.exe
        • Size 4.7MB
        • SHA256 ad6752c9070daf2552f4a7dfc5b444ab4ce3fdc20d4dea024375c29b83b0dcba
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        msedge_pwa_launcher.exe.ico

        • Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\139.0.3405.125\msedge_pwa_launcher.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 4785d266a2c476e0948100ea80f927d16389f7718b540daf0488457ba01958b0
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        Uninstall.exe.ico

        • Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Maintenance Service\Uninstall.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 44ae793c391e8578709e181e83cb820caaa10c08844440885d969a6c839b8a2b
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        MpCmdRun.exe.ico

        • Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Defender\MpCmdRun.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 02221d573edefa486ba8fe5aee3c8a10c8c7e3188914c0f22df06bb1338db790
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        OfficeClickToRun.exe.ico

        • Path C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun\OfficeClickToRun.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 19306f3f899e8bae15a744924f1ebf2ce88624f5dd297e3993645fe8453adaa9
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        appvcleaner.exe.ico

        • Path C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun\appvcleaner.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 463b6e99198762de39ea3c9156504527673355f452c17063d0fcc34caa3cfded
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        iexplore.exe.ico

        • Path C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 dd8074940b2a1e8d0ad513e7c6e2a0d0b11a857893f11dc77387800ca272e970
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        javaws.exe.ico

        • Path C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-1.8\bin\javaws.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 6c3d33a5119708abbf19b802f0908183037cd57a6394e45b7b234a76ef4b46c5
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        XLICONS.EXE.ico

        • Path C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\XLICONS.EXE.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 6454633b8c6a69aad48c3fc556c5e81cb5362db0c449b3f543bddfa41eba8d6b
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        joticon.exe

        • Path C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\vfs\Windows\Installer\{90160000-000F-0000-1000-0000000FF1CE}\joticon.exe
        • Size 1.5MB
        • SHA256 2d7a813368728c8c5584d8d2a82af8ef5335c159d2644597e96f70a83fab0a41
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        misc.exe.ico

        • Path C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\vfs\Windows\Installer\{90160000-000F-0000-1000-0000000FF1CE}\misc.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 df2cca9b322f9432b3f3aa7b91a12dd5f22fd50e589e3107e066d99bdb071176
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        ohub32.exe.ico

        • Path C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\vfs\Windows\Installer\{90160000-000F-0000-1000-0000000FF1CE}\ohub32.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 063c8f44d23e1ebbe390ea320eee672c449f47333120b7abbd4a78094c613113
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        pptico.exe.ico

        • Path C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\vfs\Windows\Installer\{90160000-000F-0000-1000-0000000FF1CE}\pptico.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 3b07d1aaa1c9c27082d7811d694aae3d422d5d965a91b2d4b8ecda3a79f760a2
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        sscicons.exe.ico

        • Path C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\vfs\Windows\Installer\{90160000-000F-0000-1000-0000000FF1CE}\sscicons.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 b2a350ffac5074add67fe974467351777915de5a319be7879ba15d1f6915a092
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        wordicon.exe.ico

        • Path C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\vfs\Windows\Installer\{90160000-000F-0000-1000-0000000FF1CE}\wordicon.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 5bd706a18e0cf54197df7f1d5239f3e058652bfde372afcab230ee9b95ba14a5
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        RCX262C.tmp

        • Path C:\Program Files\RCX262C.tmp
        • Size 796KB
        • SHA256 6377f065f72974468e2fa92aefa59a76bfbc0e7be207c2d90b5e5f327be39356
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        vlc.exe.ico

        • Path C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 3b17b29b6c4e39fc36571f8e0795eae6559637529602ae7a37d5f8f6254d0500
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        OfflineScannerShell.exe.ico

        • Path C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\Offline\OfflineScannerShell.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 9e3f1f8e5166514df44b02a1e0bf7474708dafba161e263cff087af62ba89ae5
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        wmplayer.exe.ico

        • Path C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 a32208cf5c16d7223999e6ecf1c185bc88d519483ff56ad5ca5f2cc00e677307
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        ArmReport.ini

        • Path C:\ProgramData\Adobe\ARM\ArmReport.ini
        • Size 782B
        • SHA256 8395f93b0e0240f5c79ce70bc2257f9cb0d92227b15f7724ba65b1c5c0b19625
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        AdobeARMHelper.exe

        • Path C:\ProgramData\Adobe\ARM\S\25337\AdobeARMHelper.exe
        • Size 1.2MB
        • SHA256 40c93e0a94bce20245fcfd717486d109771d5100cf2e2d3b8e4ade19c62391a0
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        AdobeARMHelper.exe.ico

        • Path C:\ProgramData\Adobe\ARM\S\25337\AdobeARMHelper.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 2f33dacaebb8bdf6d2d88550cce349c09b51dfeb4f499796f32bd30e14aab86c
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        RdrManifest2.msi

        • Path C:\ProgramData\Adobe\ARM\{291AA914-A987-4CE9-BD63-AC0A92D435E5}\RdrManifest2.msi
        • Size 18KB
        • SHA256 0abcb8b7c0bda3128316b3e4f4a5857e9c8194105043a0c0e9801a1a96105d01
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        VC_redist.x86.exe

        • Path C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\{4d8dcf8c-a72a-43e1-9833-c12724db736e}\VC_redist.x86.exe
        • Size 1.4MB
        • SHA256 71e1e6c52bb04ab52aa6b628d74d0195ff5eb4cca3e2f5c0081bb947f06f4f53
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        VC_redist.x86.exe.ico

        • Path C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\{4d8dcf8c-a72a-43e1-9833-c12724db736e}\VC_redist.x86.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 6ed1664d7718a68084ea1a4abb1d9621a6ae8da8e19db35cfca13aaa4c05eb33
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        vcredist_x86.exe

        • Path C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\{61087a79-ac85-455c-934d-1fa22cc64f36}\vcredist_x86.exe
        • Size 1.2MB
        • SHA256 d7b8c9865faeaeb8cc6cbfedae6feb5d215c305f4e71e1b720038ea0fb234d96
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        vcredist_x64.exe

        • Path C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\{ef6b00ec-13e1-4c25-9064-b2f383cb8412}\vcredist_x64.exe
        • Size 1.2MB
        • SHA256 a12f3ca14701510942b315657c4837384e3376032ba662a1477d871aa9aab128
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        OneDriveSetup.exe.ico

        • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive\18.151.0729.0013\OneDriveSetup.exe.ico
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 3a2d7fd9799178af58fbd08a2fffc56398cbf289c7ddd5c5f0fb2e241395261e
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        2026-08-18_d72100f7b65825dd3ce045ff67089cd5_amadey_darkgate_elex_smoke-loader_stop.exe.exe

        • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\2026-08-18_d72100f7b65825dd3ce045ff67089cd5_amadey_darkgate_elex_smoke-loader_stop.exe.exe
        • Size 1.1MB
        • SHA256 2283ff140b35f04e6690de07f3585a4e05f26dfd61c63854180df142db5ad30a
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        ArmUI.ini

        • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\ArmUI.ini
        • Size 251KB
        • SHA256 b4d4dcd9594d372d7c0c975d80ef5802c88502895ed4b8a26ca62e225f2f18b0
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        Tmp60F2.tmp

        • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\Tmp60F2.tmp
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 ff9b4cf04e3202f150f19c1711767361343935da7841c98b876c42fd2cabce9b
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        Tmp8FF4.tmp

        • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\Tmp8FF4.tmp
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 19fe53c801ad7edc635f61e9e28d07da31780c2480e6f37ecfc63fffe1b250fe
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        Tmp9033.tmp

        • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\Tmp9033.tmp
        • Size 3KB
        • SHA256 dcc9d2695125406282ba990fec39403c44b12964acf51b5e0dc7f2080d714398
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        UnpublishMerge.exe

        • Path C:\Users\Admin\Music\UnpublishMerge.exe
        • Size 1.2MB
        • SHA256 bc1609f20ff33a81fe446e22ee3b7f822f9a5a6982f9a43aafa0633eb87454d4
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        memory/708-2750-0x0000000000400000-0x00000000004EA000-memory.dmp

        memory/708-2766-0x0000000000400000-0x00000000004EA000-memory.dmp

        memory/4852-1001-0x0000000000400000-0x00000000004E9000-memory.dmp

        memory/4852-0-0x0000000000400000-0x00000000004E9000-memory.dmp