Space Pirates

Space Pirates is a sophisticated malware that poses significant threats to network security and data integrity. This malicious software masquerades as legitimate software, injecting shellcode into other processes to stealthily infiltrate systems. It utilizes its own protocols for communication with the Command and Control (C2) server, and supports multiple C2s with the ability to update the C2 list through web pages. The malware also uses non-standard ports such as 8081, 5351, and 63514 for communication, making detection more challenging. Furthermore, it employs tools like atexec.py, psexec.rb, and dog-tunnel to traverse the network and tunnel traffic, respectively. The Space Pirates malware exhibits advanced capabilities in terms of data capture, encryption, compression, and exfiltration. It can capture user input, likely leading to the compromise of sensitive information. Network messages are encrypted using symmetric algorithms, ensuring secure communication with the C2 server. To reduce the size of these messages, the malware compresses them using the LZNT1 and LZW algorithms. Additionally, it downloads extra utilities from the C2 server using the certutil tool, further expanding its functionality and threat potential. In terms of data theft, Space Pirates specifically targets files with the masks *.doc and *.pdf, indicating a focus on potentially valuable documents. Once identified, these files are copied and compressed into password-protected archives using 7-Zip, facilitating secure and efficient data exfiltration. By employing these techniques, Space Pirates exemplifies the evolving sophistication and adaptability of malware threats, underscoring the need for robust cybersecurity measures and continual vigilance.