pythonw.exe

Malware updated 8 months ago (2024-11-29T14:02:31.561Z)
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Pythonw.exe, a malware that exploits and damages your computer or device, has been identified to execute malicious code on Windows systems. This harmful program infiltrates your system through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites without your knowledge, with the potential to steal personal information, disrupt operations, or hold your data hostage for ransom. The malware operates by writing two pieces of malicious code into temporary files and running them using pythonw.exe instead of python.exe, allowing the code to execute without opening a console window. This stealthy operation makes it difficult for users to detect its presence. The infection process involves installing a trojanized python310.dll and establishing persistence through a run key named "Python". Upon successful execution of pythonw.exe, a modified obfuscated python310.dll file is loaded. When pythonw.exe starts, it loads this modified/trojanized obfuscated python310.dll that contains a Cobalt Strike beacon, which enables it to connect to 167[.]88[.]164[.]141. The use of pythonw.exe allows the malware to run silently in the background, making detection and removal more challenging. The pythonw.exe malware also manipulates the system by loading a modified, obfuscated version of python310.dll with a Cobalt Strike beacon. This beacon establishes a connection to a command-and-control server address, giving the attacker remote access to the infected system. The constructed payload is then run as an argument to pythonw.exe, further enhancing the malware's capabilities. Given these findings, it is critical to employ robust security measures to protect against such sophisticated attacks.
Description last updated: 2024-06-05T23:15:37.637Z
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Possible Aliases / Cluster overlaps
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Alias DescriptionVotes
Cobalt Strike is a possible alias for pythonw.exe. Cobalt Strike is a powerful malware tool that has been used extensively by cybercriminals and threat actors worldwide. It operates through a built-in reflective loader that leverages the kernel32.LoadLibraryA API for DLL loading, which allows the beacon DLL to be loaded into virtual memory. This pro
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Miscellaneous Associations
Other elements of context that could aid in the identification of relevance
Cobalt Strike
Beacon
Windows
Analyst Notes & Discussion
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Associated Malware
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Alias DescriptionAssociation TypeVotes
The python310.dll Malware is associated with pythonw.exe. Python310.dll is a malicious software (malware) that infiltrates systems by installing a trojanized version of itself and establishing persistence through a run key named "Python". This is achieved by manipulating the value to be "C:\Users\Public\Music\python\pythonw.exe". The malware can enter yourUnspecified
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The Cobalt Strike Beacon Malware is associated with pythonw.exe. Cobalt Strike Beacon is a type of malware, a harmful software designed to exploit and damage computer systems. It is often loaded by HUI Loader through various files such as mpc.tmp, dlp.ini, vmtools.ini, and an encrypted file vm.cfg. The Insikt Group has identified six distinct Cobalt Strike BeaconUnspecified
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Source Document References
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