New Noodlophile Stealer Distributes Via Fake AI Video Generation Platforms
Summary:
A novel malware campaign has been uncovered by Morphisec researchers, leveraging the popularity of artificial intelligence to distribute a new information stealer named Noodlophile Stealer that's often bundled with XWorm to establish deeper control. Cybercriminals are creating deceptive fake AI platforms, advertised on social media platforms like Facebook, to lure unsuspecting users with promises of free AI video and image generation. Victims are tricked into downloading a malicious ZIP archive from the fake AI site, which ultimately installs the Noodlophile Stealer and XWorm loader. Noodlophile is designed to steal browser credentials, cryptocurrency wallets, and other sensitive data and will deploy XWorm to establish deeper control of the system. Stolen data is exfiltrated via a Telegram bot. Open-source intelligence has potentially identified the developer, believed to be of Vietnamese origin, who has been observed promoting these malicious tools and techniques on social media and cybercrime marketplaces. The attack chain involves a multi-stage infection process characterized by the use of a legitimate but repurposed application (CapCut: video editing tool), masqueraded malicious files, and in-memory execution of final payloads to evade detection. XWorm loader employs techniques like shellcode injection and PE hollowing. Using CapCut, the adversary launches a .bat script that decodes the zip archive and downloads and executes the Python payload containing the Noodlophile Stealer and the XWorm loader.
Security Officer Comments:
The emergence of the Noodlophile Stealer campaign highlights the evolving tactics of cybercriminals. They increasingly exploiting current trends, such as the widespread interest in AI, to enhance the effectiveness of their social engineering attacks. The use of convincing fake AI platforms advertised on popular social media groups demonstrates a calculated effort to target a potentially less security-aware audience, including creators and small businesses exploring new technologies to improve their business. The multi-stage infection process, involving the embedding of malicious code within a legitimate application and the use of techniques like process hollowing and in-memory execution, indicates a degree of sophistication aimed at evading traditional security measures. The reliance on Telegram for data exfiltration highlights another trend in cybercrime. This incident serves as a critical reminder for users to exercise extreme caution when downloading software, especially from social media or unverified sources, and to prioritize obtaining software from official vendor websites. Furthermore, the recommendation from Hackread to scan downloaded files with reputable online services before execution remains a helpful preventative measure against similar threats.
Suggested Corrections:
IOCs are available here.
Users should always be cautious of individuals or organizations that ask for personal information. Most companies will not ask for sensitive data from their customers. If in doubt, users should verify with the company itself to avoid any potential issues.
Users should always take a close look at the sender’s display name when checking the legitimacy of an email. Most companies use a single domain for their URLs and emails, so a message that originates from a different domain is a red flag.
As a general rule, users should not click links or download files even if they come from seemingly “trustworthy” sources.
Check for mismatched URLs. While an embedded URL might seem perfectly valid, hovering above it might show a different web address. In fact, users should avoid clicking links in emails unless they are certain that it is a legitimate link.
Users should always be on the lookout for any grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Legitimate companies will often employ proofreaders and editors who ensure that the materials they send out are error-free.
Users should not be frightened or intimidated by messages that have an alarmist tone. They should double check with the company if they are uncertain about the status of their accounts.
Phishing emails are designed to be sent to a large number of people, so they need to be as impersonal as possible. Users should check whether the message contains a generic subject and greeting, as this can be a sign of a phishing attempt.
Although not every end user has access to advanced anti-phishing software, they can still use the built-in protection of their email clients to filter messages. One example is setting the email client to block all images unless approved.
Legitimate companies will never send confirmation emails unless there are specific reasons for doing so. In fact, most companies will avoid sending unsolicited messages unless it’s for company updates, newsletters, or advertising purposes.
Users should always take the context of an email or message into account. For example, most online accounts do away with viewable member numbers, so users should be wary if they receive emails containing a “member number” for services that generally don’t use them.
It is important to take note of unusual information in the text of the message. Any mentions of operating systems and software that are not typically used by consumers can often be indicators of a phishing attempt.
If it seems suspicious, it probably is. Users should always err on the side of caution when it comes to sending out personally identifiable information through messages and emails.
Link(s):
https://www.morphisec.com/blog/new-noodlophile-stealer-fake-ai-video-generation-platforms/
A novel malware campaign has been uncovered by Morphisec researchers, leveraging the popularity of artificial intelligence to distribute a new information stealer named Noodlophile Stealer that's often bundled with XWorm to establish deeper control. Cybercriminals are creating deceptive fake AI platforms, advertised on social media platforms like Facebook, to lure unsuspecting users with promises of free AI video and image generation. Victims are tricked into downloading a malicious ZIP archive from the fake AI site, which ultimately installs the Noodlophile Stealer and XWorm loader. Noodlophile is designed to steal browser credentials, cryptocurrency wallets, and other sensitive data and will deploy XWorm to establish deeper control of the system. Stolen data is exfiltrated via a Telegram bot. Open-source intelligence has potentially identified the developer, believed to be of Vietnamese origin, who has been observed promoting these malicious tools and techniques on social media and cybercrime marketplaces. The attack chain involves a multi-stage infection process characterized by the use of a legitimate but repurposed application (CapCut: video editing tool), masqueraded malicious files, and in-memory execution of final payloads to evade detection. XWorm loader employs techniques like shellcode injection and PE hollowing. Using CapCut, the adversary launches a .bat script that decodes the zip archive and downloads and executes the Python payload containing the Noodlophile Stealer and the XWorm loader.
Security Officer Comments:
The emergence of the Noodlophile Stealer campaign highlights the evolving tactics of cybercriminals. They increasingly exploiting current trends, such as the widespread interest in AI, to enhance the effectiveness of their social engineering attacks. The use of convincing fake AI platforms advertised on popular social media groups demonstrates a calculated effort to target a potentially less security-aware audience, including creators and small businesses exploring new technologies to improve their business. The multi-stage infection process, involving the embedding of malicious code within a legitimate application and the use of techniques like process hollowing and in-memory execution, indicates a degree of sophistication aimed at evading traditional security measures. The reliance on Telegram for data exfiltration highlights another trend in cybercrime. This incident serves as a critical reminder for users to exercise extreme caution when downloading software, especially from social media or unverified sources, and to prioritize obtaining software from official vendor websites. Furthermore, the recommendation from Hackread to scan downloaded files with reputable online services before execution remains a helpful preventative measure against similar threats.
Suggested Corrections:
IOCs are available here.
Users should always be cautious of individuals or organizations that ask for personal information. Most companies will not ask for sensitive data from their customers. If in doubt, users should verify with the company itself to avoid any potential issues.
Users should always take a close look at the sender’s display name when checking the legitimacy of an email. Most companies use a single domain for their URLs and emails, so a message that originates from a different domain is a red flag.
As a general rule, users should not click links or download files even if they come from seemingly “trustworthy” sources.
Check for mismatched URLs. While an embedded URL might seem perfectly valid, hovering above it might show a different web address. In fact, users should avoid clicking links in emails unless they are certain that it is a legitimate link.
Users should always be on the lookout for any grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Legitimate companies will often employ proofreaders and editors who ensure that the materials they send out are error-free.
Users should not be frightened or intimidated by messages that have an alarmist tone. They should double check with the company if they are uncertain about the status of their accounts.
Phishing emails are designed to be sent to a large number of people, so they need to be as impersonal as possible. Users should check whether the message contains a generic subject and greeting, as this can be a sign of a phishing attempt.
Although not every end user has access to advanced anti-phishing software, they can still use the built-in protection of their email clients to filter messages. One example is setting the email client to block all images unless approved.
Legitimate companies will never send confirmation emails unless there are specific reasons for doing so. In fact, most companies will avoid sending unsolicited messages unless it’s for company updates, newsletters, or advertising purposes.
Users should always take the context of an email or message into account. For example, most online accounts do away with viewable member numbers, so users should be wary if they receive emails containing a “member number” for services that generally don’t use them.
It is important to take note of unusual information in the text of the message. Any mentions of operating systems and software that are not typically used by consumers can often be indicators of a phishing attempt.
If it seems suspicious, it probably is. Users should always err on the side of caution when it comes to sending out personally identifiable information through messages and emails.
Link(s):
https://www.morphisec.com/blog/new-noodlophile-stealer-fake-ai-video-generation-platforms/