July 2024’s Most Wanted Malware: Remcos and RansomHub Run Rampant

Check Point’s latest Threat Index has revealed RansomHub has remained the most prevalent Ransomware group. Meanwhile, researchers identified a Remcos Windows malware campaign exploiting a recent security software update

Our last Global Threat Index for June 2024 revealed significant changes in ransomware rankings. Despite a significant drop in June, LockBit re-emerged last month to become the second most prevalent ransomware group, while RansomHub retained the top spot. Meanwhile, researchers identified both a campaign distributing Remcos malware following a CrowdStrike update issue, and a series of new FakeUpdates tactics, which once again ranked first on the top malware list for July.

An issue in the CrowdStrike Falcon sensor for Windows led to cybercriminals distributing a malicious ZIP file named crowdstrike-hotfix.zip. This file contained HijackLoader, which subsequently activated Remcos malware, ranked as the seventh most wanted malware in July. The campaign targeted businesses using Spanish-language instructions and involved the creation of fake domains for phishing attacks.

Meanwhile, researchers uncovered a series of new tactics employing FakeUpdates, which topped the malware ranking for another month. Users visiting compromised websites encountered fake browser update prompts, leading to the installation of Remote Access Trojans (RATs) like AsyncRAT, currently ranked ninth on Check Point’s index. Alarmingly, cyber criminals have now started exploiting BOINC, a platform meant for volunteer computing, to gain remote control over infected systems.

Cyber criminals are always looking for ways to innovate malware distribution to bypass security measures and take advantage of vulnerabilities. It is important that organizations take extra precautions to avoid downtime, such as implementing preventative security measures and keeping offline back-ups for quicker recovery.

Top malware families

*The arrows relate to the change in rank compared to the previous month.

FakeUpdates was the most prevalent malware last month with an impact of 7% worldwide organizations, followed by Androxgh0st with a global impact of 5%, and AgentTesla with a global impact of 3%.

1. ↔ FakeUpdates – FakeUpdates (AKA SocGholish) is a downloader written in JavaScript. It writes the payloads to disk prior to launching them. FakeUpdates led to further compromise via many additional malware, including GootLoader, Dridex, NetSupport, DoppelPaymer, and AZORult.
2. ↔ Androxgh0st – Androxgh0st is a botnet that targets Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms. For initial infection, Androxgh0st exploits multiple vulnerabilities, specifically targeting- the PHPUnit, Laravel Framework, and Apache Web Server. The malware steals sensitive information such as Twilio account information, SMTP credentials, AWS key, etc. It uses Laravel files to collect the required information. It has different variants which scan for different information.
3. ↔ AgentTesla – AgentTesla is an advanced RAT functioning as a keylogger and information stealer, which is capable of monitoring and collecting the victim’s keyboard input, system keyboard, taking screenshots, and exfiltrating credentials to a variety of software installed on a victim’s machine (including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and the Microsoft Outlook email client).
4. ↑ Formbook – Formbook is an Infostealer targeting the Windows OS and was first detected in 2016. It is marketed as Malware as a Service (MaaS) in underground hacking forums for its strong evasion techniques and relatively low price. FormBook harvests credentials from various web browsers, collects screenshots, monitors and logs keystrokes, and can download and execute files according to orders from its C&C.
5. ↓ Qbot – Qbot AKA Qakbot is a multipurpose malware that first appeared in 2008. It was designed to steal a user’s credentials, record keystrokes, steal cookies from browsers, spy on banking activities, and deploy additional malware. Often distributed via spam email, Qbot employs several anti-VM, anti-debugging, and anti-sandbox techniques to hinder analysis and evade detection. Commencing in 2022, it emerged as one of the most prevalent Trojans.
6. ↔ Remcos – Remcos is a RAT that first appeared in the wild in 2016. Remcos distributes itself through malicious Microsoft Office documents, which are attached to SPAM emails, and is designed to bypass Microsoft Windows UAC security and execute malware with high-level privileges.
7. ↔ Phorpiex – Phorpiex is a botnet known for distributing other malware families via spam campaigns as well as fueling large scale Sextortion campaigns.
8. ↑ Vidar- Vidar is an infostealer malware operating as malware-as-a-service that was first discovered in the wild in late 2018. The malware runs on Windows and can collect a wide range of sensitive data from browsers and digital wallets. Additionally, malware is used as a downloader for ransomware.
9. ↓ AsyncRat – Asyncrat is a Trojan that targets the Windows platform. This malware sends out system information about the targeted system to a remote server. It receives commands from the server to download and execute plugins, kill processes, uninstall/update itself, and capture screenshots of the infected system.
10. ↓ NJRat – NJRat is a remote accesses Trojan, targeting mainly government agencies and organizations in the Middle East. The Trojan has first emerged on 2012 and has multiple capabilities: capturing keystrokes, accessing the victim’s camera, stealing credentials stored in browsers, uploading and downloading files, performing process and file manipulations, and viewing the victim’s desktop. NJRat infects victims via phishing attacks and drive-by downloads, and propagates through infected USB keys or networked drives, with the support of Command & Control server software.

Top exploited vulnerabilities 

1. ↑ Command Injection Over HTTP (CVE-2021-43936,CVE-2022-24086) – A command Injection over HTTP vulnerability has been reported. A remote attacker can exploit this issue by sending a specially crafted request to the victim. Successful exploitation would allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target machine.
2. ↑ Zyxel ZyWALL Command Injection (CVE-2023-28771( – A command injection vulnerability exists in Zyxel ZyWALL. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability would allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands in the effected system.
3. ↔ HTTP Headers Remote Code Execution (CVE-2020-10826,CVE-2020-10827,CVE-2020-10828,CVE-2020-1375) – HTTP headers let the client and the server pass additional information with an HTTP request. A remote attacker may use a vulnerable HTTP Header to run arbitrary code on the victim machine.
4. ↔ Apache HTTP Server Directory Traversal (CVE-2021-41773) – A directory traversal vulnerability exists in Apache HTTP Server. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to access arbitrary files on the affected system.
5. ↓ Web Servers Malicious URL Directory Traversal (CVE-2010-4598,CVE-2011-2474,CVE-2014-0130,CVE-2014-0780,CVE-2015-0666,CVE-2015-4068,CVE-2015-7254,CVE-2016-4523,CVE-2016-8530,CVE-2017-11512,CVE-2018-3948,CVE-2018-3949,CVE-2019-18952,CVE-2020-5410,CVE-2020-8260) – There exists a directory traversal vulnerability On different web servers. The vulnerability is due to an input validation error in a web server that does not properly sanitize the URI for the directory traversal patterns. Successful exploitation allows unauthenticated remote attackers to disclose or access arbitrary files on the vulnerable server.
6. ↓ TP-Link Archer AX21 Command Injection (CVE-2023-1389) – A command injection vulnerability exists in TP-Link Archer AX21. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system.
7. ↑ MVPower CCTV DVR Remote Code Execution (CVE-2016-20016) – A remote code execution vulnerability exists in MVPower CCTV DVR. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected system.
8. ↓ Dasan GPON Router Authentication Bypass (CVE-2024-3273) – A command injection vulnerability exists in PHPUnit. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability would allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands in the affected system.
9. ↔ PHP Easter Egg Information Disclosure (CVE-2015-2051) – An information disclosure vulnerability has been reported in the PHP pages. The vulnerability is due to incorrect web server configuration. A remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted URL to an affected PHP page.
10. ↑ NETGEAR DGN Command Injection- A command injection vulnerability exists in NETGEAR DGN. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected system.

Top Mobile Malwares

Last month Joker was in 1^st place in the most prevalent Mobile malware, followed by Anubis and AhMyth.

1. ↔ Joker – An android Spyware in Google Play, designed to steal SMS messages, contact lists and device information. Furthermore, the malware signs the victim silently for premium services in advertisement websites.
2. ↔ Anubis – Anubis is a banking Trojan malware designed for Android mobile phones. Since it was initially detected, it has gained additional functions including Remote Access Trojan (RAT) functionality, keylogger, audio recording capabilities and various ransomware features. It has been detected on hundreds of different applications available in the Google Store.
3. ↔   AhMyth – AhMyth is a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) discovered in 2017. It is distributed through Android apps that can be found on app stores and various websites. When a user installs one of these infected apps, the malware can collect sensitive information from the device and perform actions such as keylogging, taking screenshots, sending SMS messages, and activating the camera, which is usually used to steal sensitive information.

Top-Attacked Industries Globally

Last month Education/Research remained in the 1st place in the attacked industries globally, followed by Government/Military and Communications.

1. Education/Research
2. Government/Military
3. Communications

Top Ransomware Groups

The data is based on insights from ransomware “shame sites” run by double-extortion ransomware groups which posted victim information. RansomHub is the most prevalent ransomware group this month, responsible for 11% of the published attacks, followed by Lockbit3 with 8% and Akira with 6% .

1. RansomHub – RansomHub is a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) operation that emerged as a rebranded version of the previously known Knight ransomware. Surfacing prominently in early 2024 in underground cyber crime forums, RansomHub has quickly gained notoriety for its aggressive campaigns targeting various systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, and particularly VMware ESXi environments. This malware is known for employing sophisticated encryption methods.
2. Lockbit3 – LockBit is a ransomware, operating in a RaaS model, first reported in September 2019. LockBit targets large enterprises and government entities from various countries and does not target individuals in Russia or the Commonwealth of Independent States.
3. Akira – Akira Ransomware, first reported in the beginning of 2023, targets both Windows and Linux systems. It uses symmetric encryption with CryptGenRandom() and Chacha 2008 for file encryption and is similar to the leaked Conti v2 ransomware. Akira is distributed through various means, including infected email attachments and exploits in VPN endpoints. Upon infection, it encrypts data and appends a “.akira” extension to file names, then presents a ransom note demanding payment for decryption.