Kapeka

Kapeka is a previously unknown malware that operates as a backdoor into systems, linked to the Russian Sandworm Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) group. The malicious software can infiltrate a system through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites, often without the user's knowledge. Once inside, it can disrupt operations, steal personal information, or even hold data hostage for ransom. Kapeka is a DLL file with a masqueraded extension to make it appear legitimate, and it contains a dropper that will launch a backdoor on a victim’s machine and then remove itself. There are several similarities and differences between Kapeka and other known malwares such as GreyEnergy. For instance, while GreyEnergy utilizes Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) to fingerprint victims, Kapeka uses Windows API and registry. In terms of persistence, Kapeka maintains its command and control (C2) configuration via the registry, whereas GreyEnergy does so via an on-disk file. The developers and operators of Kapeka may evolve the tool with newer versions or develop a new toolkit with threads of similarity to Kapeka, such as conceptual overlaps or code re-use, like those found between Kapeka and GreyEnergy. This suggests that Kapeka could be used in future attacks with similar strategies as seen in previous GreyEnergy and Prestige ransomware attacks. Thus, organizations need to stay vigilant and maintain robust cybersecurity measures to counter this threat.