Emotet

Malware updated 3 days ago (2024-10-15T10:01:03.894Z)

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Emotet is a particularly dangerous and insidious type of malware that has reemerged as a significant threat. This malicious software, which infects systems through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites, can steal personal information, disrupt operations, or even hold data for ransom. Emotet-infected computers form botnets, large networks of compromised machines under the control of criminals that can be used to execute large-scale attacks. Despite efforts by coalitions of police forces and cybersecurity authorities to disrupt these botnets, they often prove resilient and capable of causing further incidents after initial disruptions. ITG23, a cybercriminal group, has a history of seeding Emotet malware and using it in conjunction with other harmful programs like Trickbot, BazarLoader, IcedID, Conti, and Cobalt Strike. The group uses crypters to conceal their malware, which have been observed within payloads of the aforementioned malwares. ITG23 also provides crypting services to other groups, including IcedID and Emotet, indicating a collaborative relationship. To hide its activities, Emotet employs a 32-bit hashing routine similar to those used back in 2021. Emotet is not only a threat in itself but also serves as a gateway for other malicious groups. After infecting a system, it provides a service to these groups, allowing them to use Emotet's infrastructure to send their malware to a computer to steal sensitive data or mailbox contents, or later infect the computer with ransomware that encrypts files. This dynamic nature of Emotet makes it highly potent, as evidenced by reports of its widespread use in countries like Finland and Latvia. It has also been leveraged by ALPHV affiliates to initiate first-stage system breaches and suspected successors to DarkSide and BlackMatter to distribute ransomware.

Description last updated: 2024-10-15T09:24:33.276Z

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Possible Aliases / Cluster overlaps

It's hard to track cluster overlaps and naming conventions between vendors, so here are some possible overlapping names / profiles you also may want to look at. Create a free account to see the source evidence for each alias, and help fix any errors.

Alias Description	Votes
QakBot is a possible alias for Emotet. Qakbot is a potent piece of malware, or malicious software, that infiltrates computer systems through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites. Once installed, it can steal personal information, disrupt operations, or even hold data hostage for ransom. This malware, built by various groups includin	9
IcedID is a possible alias for Emotet. IcedID is a type of malware, malicious software designed to exploit and damage computer systems. It has been identified in association with various other malwares such as Qakbot, BazarLoader, CobaltStrike, Conti, Gozi, Trickbot, Quantum, Emotet, and Pikabot. The IcedID IntBot Loader (int-bot.dll) is	8
Qbot is a possible alias for Emotet. 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	8
Ta542 is a possible alias for Emotet. TA542, also known as Mealybug or Mummy Spider, is a notable threat actor in the cybersecurity landscape that operates the Emotet malware family. Active since 2014, this group has evolved the initial banking Trojan into a sophisticated and profitable malware delivery vehicle. The group's operations a	4

Miscellaneous Associations

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

Malware

Ransomware

Botnet

Trojan

Phishing

Spam

Payload

Loader

Cybercrime

Outlook

Windows

Infostealer

Downloader

Exploit

Dropper

Cobalt Strike

Polymorphic

Denial of Se...

Bot

exploitation

Antivirus

Crypter

Worm

Police

Malware Loader

Financial

Fraud

Malwarebytes

Banking

Encrypt

Eset

Ddos

Proxy

DNS

Analyst Notes & Discussion

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Associated Malware

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Alias Description	Association Type	Votes
The TrickBot Malware is associated with Emotet. TrickBot is a notorious malware that has been used extensively by cybercriminals to exploit and damage computer systems. It operates as a crimeware-as-a-service platform, infecting systems through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites, often without the user's knowledge. Once inside, it can stea	Unspecified	13
The Ryuk Malware is associated with Emotet. Ryuk is a type of malware known as ransomware, which has been utilized by the threat group ITG23 for several years. This group has been notorious for crypting their malware, with crypters seen in use with other malware such as Trickbot, Emotet, Cobalt Strike, and Ryuk. In 2019, most ransomware inves	Unspecified	6
The Dridex Malware is associated with Emotet. Dridex is a notorious malware, specifically a banking Trojan, designed to exploit and damage computer systems, often infiltrating through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites. This malicious software was primarily used by the Russian cybercriminal group, Evil Corp, founded in 2014. The group ta	Unspecified	6
The Conti Malware is associated with Emotet. Conti is a notorious type of malware, specifically ransomware, that infiltrates computer systems to steal data and disrupt operations. The malicious software often spreads through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites, and once inside, it can hold data hostage for ransom. The Conti ransomware op	Unspecified	6
The Bazarloader Malware is associated with Emotet. BazarLoader is a form of malware that has been utilized extensively by ITG23, a cybercriminal group. This harmful software infiltrates systems via suspicious downloads, emails, or websites, potentially stealing personal information, disrupting operations, or holding data for ransom. ITG23 has used B	Unspecified	4
The Formbook Malware is associated with Emotet. Formbook is a type of malware, malicious software designed to exploit and damage computer systems. It infects systems through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites and can steal personal information, disrupt operations, or hold data hostage for ransom. Formbook has been linked with other forms o	Unspecified	3
The Dave Loader Malware is associated with Emotet. Dave Loader, also known as Domino Backdoor, is a potent malware that has been utilized in various cybercrime operations. This malicious software is designed to infiltrate computer systems and compromise user data, often without the victim's knowledge. It can be delivered through dubious downloads, e	Unspecified	2
The Darkgate Malware is associated with Emotet. DarkGate is a multifunctional malware known for its capabilities in information and credential stealing, cryptocurrency theft, and ransomware delivery. A recent campaign has seen it exploit a zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft Windows, allowing it to infiltrate systems undetected. DarkGate can be d	Unspecified	2
The Lokibot Malware is associated with Emotet. LokiBot is a malicious software, or malware, that was first reported on October 24, 2020. It is designed to exploit and damage computer systems by infiltrating them through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites, often without the user's knowledge. Once inside, LokiBot steals personal information	Unspecified	2
The Agent Tesla Malware is associated with Emotet. Agent Tesla is a well-known malware that primarily targets systems through phishing attacks, exploiting an outdated Microsoft Office vulnerability (CVE-2017-11882). This malicious software is designed to infiltrate computer systems, often without the user's knowledge, and can steal personal informat	Unspecified	2
The Lockbit Malware is associated with Emotet. LockBit is a notorious malware that operates on a ransomware-as-a-service model, which has been responsible for significant cyber attacks across the globe. One of its most high-profile targets was Boeing, from whom the LockBit gang claimed to have stolen data. This incident not only disrupted operat	Unspecified	2
The Hive Malware is associated with Emotet. Hive is a malicious software (malware) known for its ransomware capabilities, which has been highly active in numerous countries, including the US. This malware infects systems often through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites, disrupting operations and stealing personal information. Notably,	Unspecified	2
The Zloader Malware is associated with Emotet. ZLoader is a form of malware, or malicious software, that is designed to exploit and damage computer systems. This harmful program can infiltrate a device through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites, often without the user's knowledge. Once inside, it has the potential to steal personal inform	Unspecified	2
The Cobaltstrike Malware is associated with Emotet. CobaltStrike is a type of malware, or malicious software, that infiltrates systems to exploit and damage them. It can gain access via suspicious downloads, emails, or websites and then steal personal information, disrupt operations, or hold data for ransom. CobaltStrike has been observed in conjunct	Unspecified	2
The Ursnif Malware is associated with Emotet. Ursnif, also known as Gozi or ISFB, is a type of malware that has been distributed by threat actor group TA551. This harmful software can infiltrate systems via suspicious downloads, emails, or websites, and once inside, it can steal personal information, disrupt operations, or even hold data for ra	Unspecified	2
The Doppelpaymer Malware is associated with Emotet. DoppelPaymer is a type of malware, specifically ransomware, that was initially developed and operated by the GOLD DRAKE threat group under the name BitPaymer. The software was later reworked and renamed to DoppelPaymer by another threat group, GOLD HERON. This malicious software first appeared in mi	Unspecified	2
The Black Basta Malware is associated with Emotet. Black Basta is a notorious malware and ransomware group known for its high-profile attacks on various sectors. The group, also known as Storm-0506, has been active since at least early 2022 and has accumulated over $107 million in Bitcoin ransom payments. It deploys malicious software to exploit vul	Unspecified	2
The Mirai Malware is associated with Emotet. Mirai is a type of malware that specifically targets Internet of Things (IoT) devices to create a botnet, which can then be used for various malicious activities. The Mirai botnet had a significant impact in early 2022, accounting for over 7 million botnet detections globally. However, there was a 9	Unspecified	2
The GuLoader Malware is associated with Emotet. GuLoader is a potent malware that has been causing significant cybersecurity concerns. It operates by infecting systems through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites and then proceeds to exploit the system, often stealing personal information, disrupting operations, or holding data hostage for r	Unspecified	2
The REvil Malware is associated with Emotet. REvil is a notorious malware, specifically a type of ransomware, that gained prominence in the cybercrime world as part of the Ransomware as a Service (RaaS) model. This model became increasingly popular in 2020, establishing relationships between first-stage malwares and subsequent ransomware attac	Unspecified	2
The malware Emotet, Trickbot is associated with Emotet.	Unspecified	2

Associated Threat Actors

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Alias Description	Association Type	Votes
The Mealybug Threat Actor is associated with Emotet. Mealybug, a cybercrime group also known as TA542, has been operating the Emotet malware family since 2014. In recent years, Mealybug has significantly enhanced its malicious activities by updating the Emotet malware to a 64-bit architecture and implementing multiple new obfuscations to protect their	Unspecified	3
The Alphv Threat Actor is associated with Emotet. AlphV, also known as BlackCat, is a notorious threat actor that has been active since November 2021. This group pioneered the public leaks business model and has been associated with various ransomware families, including Akira, LockBit, Play, and Basta. AlphV gained significant attention for its la	Unspecified	3
The MUMMY SPIDER Threat Actor is associated with Emotet. Mummy Spider, a known eCrime group, is recognized for its development of the Emotet malware. This threat actor has been linked to various names such as Gold Crestwood, TA542, and Mealbug, showcasing its extensive reach and influence in cybercrime activities. The cybersecurity industry has identified	Unspecified	3

Source Document References

Information about the Emotet 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
Unit42	2 months ago	Spoofed GlobalProtect Used to Deliver Unique WikiLoader Variant
ESET	2 months ago	Old devices, new dangers: The risks of unsupported IoT tech
CERT-EU	10 months ago	ALPHV Second Most Prominent Ransomware Strain Before Reported Downtime \| #ransomware \| #cybercrime
BankInfoSecurity	4 months ago	Millions Affected by Prudential Ransomware Hack in February
RIA - Information System Authority	4 months ago	A new wave of the malware network Emotet has arrived in Estonia
RIA - Information System Authority	4 months ago	The Emotet malware may steal your data
RIA - Information System Authority	4 months ago	Topics of RIA’s quarterly overview: a clever Trojan is taking over Estonians’ computers and the HOIA app is safe
RIA - Information System Authority	4 months ago	Estonia was hit by a third wave of malware – always verify the sender’s address before clicking!
RIA - Information System Authority	4 months ago	November 2020 in the Estonian cyberspace: attacks on government networks and DDoS attacks for extortion
RIA - Information System Authority	4 months ago	The new yearbook of the Information System Authority (RIA) on cyber security summarises the most influential incidents in cyber space
DARKReading	4 months ago	Europol's Hunt Begins for Emotet Malware Mastermind
BankInfoSecurity	5 months ago	European Police Take Down Botnet Servers, Make Arrests
BankInfoSecurity	5 months ago	Breach Roundup: Fluent Bit Flaw Is Risky for Cloud Providers
Securelist	5 months ago	Financial threat report 2023: phishing, PC and mobile malware
DARKReading	6 months ago	LockBit Ransomware Takedown Strikes Deep Into Brand's Viability
CERT-EU	7 months ago	Cybercrime on Main Street – Sophos News \| #cybercrime \| #infosec \| National Cyber Security Consulting
CERT-EU	7 months ago	Cybercrime on Main Street – Sophos News \| #cybercrime \| #computerhacker - Am I Hacker Proof
CERT-EU	8 months ago	Secure email gateways struggle to keep pace with sophisticated phishing campaigns - Help Net Security
DARKReading	9 months ago	Threat Actors Team Up for Post-Holiday Phishing Email Surge
CERT-EU	9 months ago	Destroying a Botnet - Panda Security Mediacenter