Agent.btz

Malware Profile Updated 3 months ago

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Agent.btz, also known as ComRAT v4, is a remote access trojan (RAT) developed using C++ and employing a virtual FAT16 file system. This malicious software was one of the earliest backdoors used by Pensive Ursa, a cyber-espionage group. Notably, the malware is frequently used to exfiltrate sensitive documents from infected systems. Turla, another advanced persistent threat (APT) group, reportedly uses the same filenames and encryption key as Agent.btz for its log files stored on compromised systems, indicating a shared lineage or inspiration between these cyber threats. The worm named Agent.btz caused a significant breach of U.S. military systems around 2008, exposing critical vulnerabilities and leading to the creation of the U.S. Cyber Command, a military command tasked with defending Department of Defense networks and conducting offensive cyber operations. The infection began when a flash drive carrying the malware was inserted into a laptop at a U.S. military base in the Middle East. From there, it spread undetected across the Department of Defense's network and into combat zones. The Pentagon spent nearly 14 months eradicating the worm from its networks, suggesting the scale and sophistication of the attack. Given the global reach and impact of the worm, it is believed that tens of thousands of USB flash drives worldwide contain files named "thumb.dd" created by Agent.btz, which hold information about infected systems. Russia is suspected of being behind the incident, although this has not been definitively proven. The malware was designed to steal documents from both classified and unclassified U.S. military networks. In summary, Agent.btz can be regarded as a starting point in the chain of creation of several different cyber-espionage projects, having had a profound influence on subsequent malware development and cyber warfare tactics.

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Possible Aliases / Cluster overlaps

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ID	Votes	Profile Description
ComRAT	3	ComRAT, also known as Agent.BTZ, is a potent malware that has evolved over the years to become a significant threat in the cybersecurity landscape. Developed using C++ and employing a virtual FAT16 file system, ComRAT is often used to exfiltrate sensitive documents. The malware is a remote access tr
Comrat V4	3	ComRAT v4, also known as Agent.BTZ, is a sophisticated malware developed using C++ and employing a virtual FAT16 file system. This malicious software is a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) primarily used by the Turla group, a cyber-espionage entity. The primary function of ComRAT v4 is to exfiltrate sensit
Epic Turla	1	Epic Turla, also known as Snake or Uroburos, is a sophisticated multi-stage malware attack that was extensively researched and documented in 2014. The campaign, dubbed "Epic Turla," was orchestrated by a group of attackers who utilized the Epic malware family, known for its dynamic and adaptive natu

Miscellaneous Associations

Other elements of context that could aid in the identification of relevance

Malware

Worm

Espionage

Trojan

Encryption

Pentagon

Encrypt

Vulnerability

Apt

Windows

Associated Malware

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ID	Type	Votes	Profile Description
Maze	Unspecified	2	Maze is a type of malware, specifically ransomware, that gained notoriety in 2019 for its double extortion tactic. This malicious software infects systems through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites and can steal personal information, disrupt operations, or hold data hostage for ransom. Maze w
Moonlight Maze	Unspecified	2	Moonlight Maze is a notorious malware that emerged in the 1990s, primarily targeting government, military, and defense sector entities. This malicious software was designed to exploit and damage computer systems, often infiltrating them through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites without the u
Flame	Unspecified	1	Flame is a sophisticated form of malware, designed to exploit and damage computer systems. It can infiltrate systems through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites, often unbeknownst to the user. Once embedded, Flame has the ability to steal personal information, disrupt operations, or hold data
Red October	Unspecified	1	Red October is a sophisticated malware, also known by aliases such as Clean Ursa, Inception, Oxygen, and Cloud Atlas. This malicious software has been utilized by an active cyber espionage group since at least 2014, targeting several countries including Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Slove
ANDROMEDA	Unspecified	1	Andromeda is a type of malware, or malicious software, designed to exploit and damage computer systems. It can infiltrate systems through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites, often without the user's knowledge. Once inside, it can steal personal information, disrupt operations, or hold data ho

Associated Threat Actors

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ID	Type	Votes	Profile Description
Turla	Unspecified	5	Turla, also known as Pensive Ursa, is a sophisticated threat actor linked to Russia that has been active for many years. The group is known for its advanced cyber-espionage capabilities and has been associated with numerous high-profile breaches. According to the MITRE ATT&CK and MITRE Ingenuity dat
Pensive Ursa	Unspecified	1	Pensive Ursa, also known as Turla, Uroburos, Venomous Bear, and Waterbug, is a Russian-based advanced persistent threat (APT) group that has been operating since at least 2004. The group, linked to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), is renowned for its sophisticated cyber-espionage activiti
Pensive	Unspecified	1	Pensive Ursa, also known as Turla or Uroburos, is a Russian-based threat group that has been active since at least 2004 and is linked to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). The group employs advanced and stealthy tools like Kazuar, a .NET backdoor used as a second stage payload. In 2023, Pen

Associated Vulnerabilities

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ID	Type	Votes	Profile Description
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Source Document References

Information about the Agent.btz Malware was read from the documents corpus below. This display is limited to 20 results, create a free account to see more

Source	CreatedAt	Title
Trend Micro	10 months ago	Examining the Activities of the Turla APT Group
Unit42	10 months ago	Threat Group Assessment: Turla (aka Pensive Ursa)
CERT-EU	a year ago	Connect the Dots on State-Sponsored Cyber Incidents - Agent.btz
CERT-EU	a year ago	Matthieu Faou \| WeLiveSecurity
MITRE	a year ago	Agent.btz: a Source of Inspiration?
MITRE	a year ago	The ‘Penquin’ Turla
CERT-EU	a year ago	Южнокорейские исследователи изобрели скрытый метод эксфильтрации CASPER, задействующий обычный компьютерный спикер
CERT-EU	a year ago	Air-Gapped Computers Vulnerable to Data Stealing Through Internal Speakers
CERT-EU	a year ago	FBI disrupts sophisticated Russian cyberespionage operation
BankInfoSecurity	a year ago	Feds Dismember Russia's 'Snake' Cyberespionage Operation
DARKReading	a year ago	FBI Disarms Russian FSB 'Snake' Malware Network
CERT-EU	a year ago	US, partners dismantle malware network used in 20-year Russian spy campaign
CERT-EU	a year ago	Министерство юстиции США заявило, что оно нарушило работу одного из самых сложных кибершпионских инструментов