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Remsec

Remsec is a modular backdoor that has been used by Strider and appears to have been designed primarily for espionage purposes. Many of its modules are written in Lua. [1]

ID: S0125
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Associated Software: Backdoor.Remsec, ProjectSauron
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Type: MALWARE
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Platforms: Windows
Version: 1.3
Created: 31 May 2017
Last Modified: 11 April 2024

Associated Software Descriptions

Name Description
ProjectSauron

ProjectSauron is used to refer both to the threat group also known as G0041 as well as the malware platform also known as S0125. [2]
Enterprise Layer
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Techniques Used

Domain ID Name Use
Enterprise T1087 .001 Account Discovery: Local Account

Remsec can obtain a list of users.[3]
Enterprise T1071 .001 Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols

Remsec is capable of using HTTP and HTTPS for C2.[4][5][3]
.003 Application Layer Protocol: Mail Protocols

Remsec is capable of using SMTP for C2.[4][5][3][6]
.004 Application Layer Protocol: DNS

Remsec is capable of using DNS for C2.[4][5][3]
Enterprise T1025 Data from Removable Media

Remsec has a package that collects documents from any inserted USB sticks.[3]
Enterprise T1652 Device Driver Discovery

Remsec has a plugin to detect active drivers of some security products.[3]
Enterprise T1048 .003 Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol: Exfiltration Over Unencrypted Non-C2 Protocol

Remsec can exfiltrate data via a DNS tunnel or email, separately from its C2 channel.[5]
Enterprise T1052 .001 Exfiltration Over Physical Medium: Exfiltration over USB

Remsec contains a module to move data from airgapped networks to Internet-connected systems by using a removable USB device.[5]
Enterprise T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Remsec has a plugin to drop and execute vulnerable Outpost Sandbox or avast! Virtualization drivers in order to gain kernel mode privileges.[3]
Enterprise T1083 File and Directory Discovery

Remsec is capable of listing contents of folders on the victim. Remsec also searches for custom network encryption software on victims.[4][5][3]
Enterprise T1562 .004 Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify System Firewall

Remsec can add or remove applications or ports on the Windows firewall or disable it entirely.[3]
Enterprise T1070 .004 Indicator Removal: File Deletion

Remsec is capable of deleting files on the victim. It also securely removes itself after collecting and exfiltrating data.[4][5][3]
Enterprise T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer

Remsec contains a network loader to receive executable modules from remote attackers and run them on the local victim. It can also upload and download files over HTTP and HTTPS.[4][3]
Enterprise T1056 .001 Input Capture: Keylogging

Remsec contains a keylogger component.[4][3]
Enterprise T1036 .005 Masquerading: Match Legitimate Name or Location

The Remsec loader implements itself with the name Security Support Provider, a legitimate Windows function. Various Remsec .exe files mimic legitimate file names used by Microsoft, Symantec, Kaspersky, Hewlett-Packard, and VMWare. Remsec also disguised malicious modules using similar filenames as custom network encryption software on victims.[7][5]
Enterprise T1556 .002 Modify Authentication Process: Password Filter DLL

Remsec harvests plain-text credentials as a password filter registered on domain controllers.[5]
Enterprise T1046 Network Service Discovery

Remsec has a plugin that can perform ARP scanning as well as port scanning.[3]
Enterprise T1095 Non-Application Layer Protocol

Remsec is capable of using ICMP, TCP, and UDP for C2.[4][5]
Enterprise T1027 .013 Obfuscated Files or Information: Encrypted/Encoded File

Some data in Remsec is encrypted using RC5 in CBC mode, AES-CBC with a hardcoded key, RC4, or Salsa20. Some data is also base64-encoded.[4][3]
Enterprise T1003 .002 OS Credential Dumping: Security Account Manager

Remsec can dump the SAM database.[3]
Enterprise T1057 Process Discovery

Remsec can obtain a process list from the victim.[3]
Enterprise T1055 .001 Process Injection: Dynamic-link Library Injection

Remsec can perform DLL injection.[3]
Enterprise T1018 Remote System Discovery

Remsec can ping or traceroute a remote host.[3]
Enterprise T1053 Scheduled Task/Job

Remsec schedules the execution one of its modules by creating a new scheduler task.[3]
Enterprise T1518 .001 Software Discovery: Security Software Discovery

Remsec has a plugin detect security products via active drivers.[3]
Enterprise T1082 System Information Discovery

Remsec can obtain the OS version information, computer name, processor architecture, machine role, and OS edition.[3]
Enterprise T1016 System Network Configuration Discovery

Remsec can obtain information about network configuration, including the routing table, ARP cache, and DNS cache.[3]
Enterprise T1049 System Network Connections Discovery

Remsec can obtain a list of active connections and open ports.[3]
Enterprise T1033 System Owner/User Discovery

Remsec can obtain information about the current user.[3]

Groups That Use This Software

ID Name References
G0041 Strider

[1][2]

References

  1. Symantec Security Response. (2016, August 7). Strider: Cyberespionage group turns eye of Sauron on targets. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  2. Kaspersky Lab's Global Research & Analysis Team. (2016, August 8). ProjectSauron: top level cyber-espionage platform covertly extracts encrypted government comms. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  3. Kaspersky Lab's Global Research & Analysis Team. (2016, August 9). The ProjectSauron APT. Technical Analysis. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  4. Symantec Security Response. (2016, August 8). Backdoor.Remsec indicators of compromise. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  1. Kaspersky Lab's Global Research & Analysis Team. (2016, August 9). The ProjectSauron APT. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  2. Michael Mimoso. (2016, August 8). ProjectSauron APT On Par With Equation, Flame, Duqu. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  3. Warwick Ashford. (2016, August 8). Strider cyber attack group deploying malware for espionage. Retrieved January 10, 2024.