Brute Ratel

Malware updated 11 hours ago (2024-11-20T18:05:34.536Z)

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Brute Ratel C4 (BRc4) is a potent malware that has been used in various cyber-attacks over the past 15 years. The malware infects systems through deceptive MSI installers, which deploy the BRc4 by disguising the payload as legitimate software such as vierm_soft_x64.dll under rundll32 execution. Various samples of this malware have been identified and analyzed to understand its structure and functioning better. Over time, many hosting providers have ceased support due to stricter no-malware policies, but the malware continues to evolve and find new ways to infiltrate systems. The malware came into the spotlight again on October 30, 2024, when EclecticIQ reported a campaign by LUNAR SPIDER that used Latrodectus, a heavily obfuscated JavaScript loader, to deliver Brute Ratel C4 payloads targeting the financial sector. The malicious files were also found to be delivering multiple payloads including Havoc and Brute Ratel post-exploitation frameworks and a new variant of the PhantomCore remote access trojan (RAT). A certificate was used to sign a dynamic-link library DLL that loaded the offensive security tool known as Brute Ratel C4. Attackers have been using lure documents to target diplomatic staff, attempting to deliver their custom loaders to drop public post-exploitation tools such as Cobalt Strike or Brute Ratel C4. Additionally, the SharpHound utility is run via Brute Ratel in an injected svchost.exe process to output JSON files that are ingested into BloodHound. ALPHV Blackcat affiliates have claimed to use Brute Ratel C4 and Cobalt Strike as beacons to command and control servers. These tools provide “beacons” to command and control servers, while open-source adversary-in-the-middle (AitM) attack framework Evilginx2 enables them to obtain multifactor authentication (MFA) credentials, login credentials, and session cookies.

Description last updated: 2024-11-15T16:06:06.656Z

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Possible Aliases / Cluster overlaps

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Alias Description	Votes
Brc4 is a possible alias for Brute Ratel. BRc4 is a malware associated with Brute Ratel C4, a new red-teaming and adversarial attack simulation tool. The malware operates by modifying the Windows registry to ensure persistence across reboots, specifically adding an entry under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.	2

Miscellaneous Associations

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

Cobalt Strike

Ransomware

Malware

Payload

Windows

Exploit

Implant

Apt

Spearphishing

Analyst Notes & Discussion

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Associated Malware

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Alias Description	Association Type	Votes
The Black Basta Malware is associated with Brute Ratel. Black Basta is a notorious malware group known for its sophisticated ransomware attacks, which have targeted numerous high-profile entities. The group has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt their tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), allowing them to effectively evade security defenses	Unspecified	5
The QakBot Malware is associated with Brute Ratel. Qakbot is a malicious software (malware) designed to exploit and damage computer systems. It infiltrates systems through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites, often unbeknownst to the user, with the potential to steal personal information, disrupt operations, or hold data for ransom. Built by d	Unspecified	5
The Qbot Malware is associated with Brute Ratel. Qbot, also known as Qakbot or Pinkslipbot, is a modular information stealer malware that first emerged in 2007 as a banking trojan. Its evolution has seen it become an advanced strain of malware used by multiple cybercriminal groups to prepare compromised networks for ransomware infestations. The fi	Unspecified	2
The Conti Malware is associated with Brute Ratel. Conti is a type of malware, specifically ransomware, that was designed to infiltrate computer systems, disrupt operations, and potentially hold data hostage for ransom. It has been linked to various ransomware groups such as Quantum, MountLocker, and the notorious Conti ransomware gang. The software	Unspecified	2
The PlugX Malware is associated with Brute Ratel. PlugX is a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) malware known for its stealthy operations and destructive capabilities. It is often used by threat actors to exploit and damage computer systems, steal personal information, disrupt operations, or hold data hostage for ransom. Its deployment has been linked to s	Unspecified	2

Associated Threat Actors

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Alias Description	Association Type	Votes
The Alphv Threat Actor is associated with Brute Ratel. Alphv, also known as BlackCat, is a notable threat actor in the cybersecurity landscape. Originating from Russia, this cybercriminal group has been involved in multiple high-profile ransomware attacks, specifically targeting healthcare providers. They gained significant attention after stealing 5TB	Unspecified	2
The The Dukes Threat Actor is associated with Brute Ratel. The Dukes, also known as APT29, Cozy Bear, Midnight Blizzard, Nobelium, and BlueBravo, is a threat actor associated with the Russian government. The group has been active since at least 2008 and has targeted various governments, think tanks, diplomatic entities, and political parties. Notably, in Se	Unspecified	2
The Sandworm Threat Actor is associated with Brute Ratel. Sandworm, a threat actor believed to be linked to Russia, has been identified as one of the most active groups supporting Russian military activities in Ukraine. Notorious for its sophisticated cyber-attacks, Sandworm has compromised 11 Ukrainian telecommunications providers, significantly disruptin	Unspecified	2

Source Document References

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

Source Link	CreatedAt	Title
Contagio	6 days ago	2024-10-30 Lunar Spider's Latrodectus JS loader samples
InfoSecurity-magazine	3 months ago	Red Teaming Tool Abused for Malware Deployment
DARKReading	a year ago	RedHotel Checks in as Dominant China-Backed Cyberspy Group
Securityaffairs	5 months ago	Russia-linked APT Nobelium targets French diplomatic entities
CERT-EU	9 months ago	ALPHV Blackcat, GCP-Native Attacks, Bandook RAT, NoaBot Miner, Ivanti Secure Vulnerabilities, and More: Hacker’s Playbook Threat Coverage Round-up: February 2024
CERT-EU	9 months ago	US Government Warns Healthcare is Biggest Target for BlackCat Affiliat
CERT-EU	9 months ago	CISA, FBI Warn of Continued BlackCat Ransomware Activity \| #hacking \| #cybersecurity \| #infosec \| #comptia \| #pentest \| #ransomware \| National Cyber Security Consulting
CERT-EU	9 months ago	US healthcare alerted against BlackCat amid targeted attacks \| #ransomware \| #cybercrime \| National Cyber Security Consulting
CISA	a year ago	#StopRansomware: ALPHV Blackcat \| CISA
DARKReading	a year ago	Qakbot Sightings Confirm Law Enforcement Takedown Was Only a Setback
MITRE	a year ago	BlackCat ransomware attacks not merely a byproduct of bad luck
MITRE	a year ago	PART 3: How I Met Your Beacon - Brute Ratel - MDSec
MITRE	a year ago	When Pentest Tools Go Brutal: Red-Teaming Tool Being Abused by Malicious Actors
MITRE	a year ago	Brute Ratel C4
MITRE	a year ago	Black Basta Ransomware Gang Infiltrates Networks via QAKBOT, Brute Ratel, and Cobalt Strike
MITRE	a year ago	Cracked Brute Ratel C4 framework proliferates across the cybercriminal underground \| SANS
CERT-EU	a year ago	Identification and Disruption of QakBot Infrastructure - KizzMyAnthia.com
Recorded Future	a year ago	From Direct to Distant: The Challenge of Third and Fourth-Party Digital Risk Management
BankInfoSecurity	a year ago	Cybercrime Tremors: Experts Forecast Qakbot Resurgence
CISA	a year ago	Identification and Disruption of QakBot Infrastructure \| CISA