Qbot

Malware updated a month ago (2024-09-25T14:00:56.572Z)

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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 first known use of an ITG23 crypter with Qbot was identified by X-Force in late February 2022, and since then, attack chains featuring DLL hijacking have been steadily employed, primarily by state-sponsored actors such as Lazarus Group and Tropic Trooper, and occasionally by the cybercrime industry in conjunction with QBot infostealer and Dridex banking Trojan. Unit 42 observed the Black Basta ransomware group using QBot as an initial point of entry and to move laterally within compromised networks. This tactic is common among other ransomware operations, including Qbot and BlackBasta. In these attack chains, the infection begins with a QBot compromise, followed by the use of the post-exploitation tool Cobalt Strike to take over the machine and finally deploy the Black Basta ransomware. Trojans including Emotet and Qbot have spread via VBS and are known to install malware such as Trickbot and Qbot, which steal users’ bank data and carry out ransomware attacks. In August, Qbot was targeted by an international law enforcement operation named Operation Duck Hunt, which resulted in the dismantling of the botnet. U.S. authorities reported that it "ceased to operate" as a result of this antimalware campaign. Despite this, TA577, an initial access broker previously using QBot extensively, was identified by Proofpoint using Latrodectus in three separate intrusion campaigns in November 2023. The report also highlighted the prevalence of malware families such as FakeUpdates, Androxgh0st, and Qbot.

Description last updated: 2024-09-25T13:16:49.044Z

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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 Qbot. 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	15
Pinkslipbot is a possible alias for Qbot. Pinkslipbot, also known as Qakbot, QBot or QuackBot, is a modular information-stealing malware that has been active since 2008. Initially emerging in 2007 as a banking trojan, it targeted financial institutions to steal sensitive data. Over the years, however, its functionality evolved and diversifi	11
Emotet is a possible alias for Qbot. 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-infe	8
REvil is a possible alias for Qbot. 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	2

Miscellaneous Associations

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

Malware

Ransomware

Trojan

Windows

Exploit

Phishing

Loader

Cobalt Strike

Payload

Remcos

Exploits

Botnet

Spam

Vulnerability

Infostealer

Downloader

Clop

exploited

Kaspersky

Antivirus

Backdoor

Implant

Azure

Malware Loader

Cybercrime

Ransom

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 Qbot. 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	6
The IcedID Malware is associated with Qbot. IcedID is a prominent malware that has been utilized in various cyber-attacks. It functions as a malicious software designed to infiltrate and damage computer systems, often through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites. Once inside a system, IcedID can steal personal information, disrupt operat	Unspecified	4
The malware Qakbot (Qbot is associated with Qbot.	Unspecified	4
The Latrodectus Malware is associated with Qbot. Latrodectus is a malicious software (malware) first discovered in late 2023, which has been gaining momentum among threat actors. Named after a string of code found during analysis, the malware is not a variant of IcedID but shares similar characteristics. This led researchers to conclude that both	Unspecified	4
The Anubis Malware is associated with Qbot. Anubis, also known as IcedID or Bokbot, is a sophisticated piece of malware primarily functioning as a banking trojan. It was first discovered by X-Force in September 2017 and has since evolved to target a wide range of financial applications. Notably, Anubis has consistently ranked among the top fi	Unspecified	3
The Conti Malware is associated with Qbot. 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	3
The Egregor Malware is associated with Qbot. Egregor is a malicious software variant of the Sekhmet ransomware that operates on a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model. It is speculated to be associated with former Maze affiliates, and is notorious for its double extortion tactics, which involve not only encrypting the victim's data but also pu	Unspecified	3
The Formbook Malware is associated with Qbot. 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 Pikabot Malware is associated with Qbot. Pikabot is a type of malware that serves as a trojan, providing initial access to infected computers. This enables the execution of ransomware deployments, remote takeovers, and data theft. It is part of a wider array of malicious software, including IcedID, Qakbot, Gozi, DarkGate, AsyncRAT, JinxLoa	Unspecified	3
The MegaCortex Malware is associated with Qbot. MegaCortex is a type of malware known for its harmful effects on computer systems and devices. It was identified by Dragos, a cybersecurity firm, as having a relationship with another ransomware called EKANS. Both MegaCortex and EKANS have specific characteristics that pose unique risks to industria	Unspecified	2
The ProLock Malware is associated with Qbot. ProLock is a type of malware, specifically ransomware, that is designed to infiltrate computer systems, often unbeknownst to the user. It typically enters systems through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites. Once inside, ProLock can steal personal information, disrupt operations, and hold data	Unspecified	2
The Raspberry Robin Malware is associated with Qbot. Raspberry Robin is a sophisticated piece of malware that uses a variety of tactics to infiltrate and exploit computer systems. It employs the CPUID instruction to conduct several checks, enabling it to assess the system's characteristics and vulnerabilities. Furthermore, Raspberry Robin has been obs	Unspecified	2
The Brute Ratel Malware is associated with Qbot. Brute Ratel is a malicious software (malware) that has been increasingly used by cyber threat actors to exploit and damage computer systems. It is often delivered through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites and can infiltrate systems without the user's knowledge. Once inside, Brute Ratel can s	Unspecified	2
The Doppelpaymer Malware is associated with Qbot. 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 Fakeupdates Malware is associated with Qbot. FakeUpdates, a malicious software (malware), has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. It infiltrates systems through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites, often unbeknownst to the user, and can disrupt operations, steal personal information, or hold data hostage for ransom. In 2022, a	Unspecified	2
The Darkgate Malware is associated with Qbot. DarkGate is a multifunctional malware that poses significant threats to computer systems and networks. It has been associated with various malicious activities such as information theft, credential stealing, cryptocurrency theft, and ransomware delivery. DarkGate infiltrates systems through suspicio	Unspecified	2

Associated Threat Actors

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Alias Description	Association Type	Votes
The TA577 Threat Actor is associated with Qbot. TA577 is a threat actor, or malicious entity, known for its extensive use of QBot, a banking Trojan. In November 2023, Proofpoint's Threat Research Team identified TA577 as an initial access broker that began using Latrodectus, a new malware, in three separate intrusion campaigns. The group typicall	Unspecified	5

Associated Vulnerabilities

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Alias Description	Association Type	Votes
The vulnerability CVE-2022-41073 is associated with Qbot.	Unspecified	2
The Follina Vulnerability is associated with Qbot. Follina (CVE-2022-30190) is a software vulnerability that was discovered and exploited in the first half of 2022. It was weaponized by TA413, a malicious entity known for its cyber attacks, shortly after its discovery and publication. The vulnerability was used to target the Sophos Firewall product,	Unspecified	2

Source Document References

Information about the Qbot 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
Checkpoint	a month ago	10 Years of DLL Hijacking, and What We Can Do to Prevent 10 More - Check Point Research
Checkpoint	4 months ago	17th June – Threat Intelligence Report - Check Point Research
RIA - Information System Authority	5 months ago	Topics of RIA’s quarterly overview: a clever Trojan is taking over Estonians’ computers and the HOIA app is safe
Pulsedive	5 months ago	Pulsedive Blog \| Latrodectus Threat Research
BankInfoSecurity	5 months ago	Breach Roundup: Fluent Bit Flaw Is Risky for Cloud Providers
Securityaffairs	5 months ago	Blackbasta group claims to have hacked Atlas, one of the largest US oil distributors
BankInfoSecurity	5 months ago	Breach Roundup: Kimsuky Serves Linux Trojan
BankInfoSecurity	5 months ago	Microsoft Patches Zero-Day Exploited by QakBot
Krebs on Security	5 months ago	Patch Tuesday, May 2024 Edition
Securityaffairs	6 months ago	Blackbasta gang Synlab Italia attack
InfoSecurity-magazine	6 months ago	New Malware “Latrodectus” Linked to IcedID
BankInfoSecurity	7 months ago	Sophisticated Latrodectus Malware Linked to 2017 Strain
DARKReading	7 months ago	Latrodectus Downloader Picks Up Where QBot Left Off
CERT-EU	7 months ago	Cybersecurity threats escalate \| SC Media \| #ransomware \| #cybercrime \| National Cyber Security Consulting
CERT-EU	7 months ago	Cloud Account Attacks Surged 16-Fold in 2023
CERT-EU	7 months ago	New Email Scam Targets NTLM Hashes in Covert Data Theft Operation
CERT-EU	8 months ago	Kaspersky spam and phishing report for 2023
CERT-EU	8 months ago	Hackers steal Windows NTLM authentication hashes in phishing attacks
Malwarebytes	8 months ago	PikaBot malware on the rise: What organizations need to know \| Malwarebytes
BankInfoSecurity	8 months ago	BlackCat Pounces on Health Sector After Federal Takedown