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Valak

Valak is a multi-stage modular malware that can function as a standalone information stealer or downloader, first observed in 2019 targeting enterprises in the US and Germany.[1][2]

ID: S0476
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Type: MALWARE
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Platforms: Windows
Contributors: Cybereason Nocturnus, @nocturnus
Version: 1.3
Created: 19 June 2020
Last Modified: 24 March 2023
Enterprise Layer
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Techniques Used

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

Valak has the ability to enumerate local admin accounts.[1]
.002 Account Discovery: Domain Account

Valak has the ability to enumerate domain admin accounts.[1]
Enterprise T1071 .001 Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols

Valak has used HTTP in communications with C2.[1][2]
Enterprise T1119 Automated Collection

Valak can download a module to search for and build a report of harvested credential data.[3]
Enterprise T1059 .001 Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell

Valak has used PowerShell to download additional modules.[1]
.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript

Valak can execute JavaScript containing configuration data for establishing persistence.[1]
Enterprise T1555 .004 Credentials from Password Stores: Windows Credential Manager

Valak can use a .NET compiled module named exchgrabber to enumerate credentials from the Credential Manager.[3]
Enterprise T1132 .001 Data Encoding: Standard Encoding

Valak has returned C2 data as encoded ASCII.[2]
Enterprise T1140 Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information

Valak has the ability to decode and decrypt downloaded files.[1][2]
Enterprise T1114 .002 Email Collection: Remote Email Collection

Valak can collect sensitive mailing information from Exchange servers, including credentials and the domain certificate of an enterprise.[1]
Enterprise T1041 Exfiltration Over C2 Channel

Valak has the ability to exfiltrate data over the C2 channel.[1][2][3]
Enterprise T1008 Fallback Channels

Valak can communicate over multiple C2 hosts.[2]
Enterprise T1564 .004 Hide Artifacts: NTFS File Attributes

Valak has the ability save and execute files as alternate data streams (ADS).[1][2][3]
Enterprise T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer

Valak has downloaded a variety of modules and payloads to the compromised host, including IcedID and NetSupport Manager RAT-based malware.[2][1]
Enterprise T1559 .002 Inter-Process Communication: Dynamic Data Exchange

Valak can execute tasks via OLE.[3]
Enterprise T1112 Modify Registry

Valak has the ability to modify the Registry key HKCU\Software\ApplicationContainer\Appsw64 to store information regarding the C2 server and downloads.[1][2][3]
Enterprise T1104 Multi-Stage Channels

Valak can download additional modules and malware capable of using separate C2 channels.[2]
Enterprise T1027 Obfuscated Files or Information

Valak has the ability to base64 encode and XOR encrypt strings.[1][2][3]
.002 Software Packing

Valak has used packed DLL payloads.[3]
.011 Fileless Storage

Valak has the ability to store information regarding the C2 server and downloads in the Registry key HKCU\Software\ApplicationContainer\Appsw64.[1][2][3]
Enterprise T1566 .001 Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment

Valak has been delivered via spearphishing e-mails with password protected ZIP files.[2]
.002 Phishing: Spearphishing Link

Valak has been delivered via malicious links in e-mail.[3]
Enterprise T1057 Process Discovery

Valak has the ability to enumerate running processes on a compromised host.[1]
Enterprise T1012 Query Registry

Valak can use the Registry for code updates and to collect credentials.[2]
Enterprise T1053 .005 Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task

Valak has used scheduled tasks to execute additional payloads and to gain persistence on a compromised host.[1][2][3]
Enterprise T1113 Screen Capture

Valak has the ability to take screenshots on a compromised host.[1]

Enterprise T1518 .001 Software Discovery: Security Software Discovery

Valak can determine if a compromised host has security products installed.[1]
Enterprise T1218 .010 System Binary Proxy Execution: Regsvr32

Valak has used regsvr32.exe to launch malicious DLLs.[1][2]
Enterprise T1082 System Information Discovery

Valak can determine the Windows version and computer name on a compromised host.[1][3]
Enterprise T1016 System Network Configuration Discovery

Valak has the ability to identify the domain and the MAC and IP addresses of an infected machine.[1]
Enterprise T1033 System Owner/User Discovery

Valak can gather information regarding the user.[1]
Enterprise T1552 .002 Unsecured Credentials: Credentials in Registry

Valak can use the clientgrabber module to steal e-mail credentials from the Registry.[3]
Enterprise T1204 .002 User Execution: Malicious File

Valak has been executed via Microsoft Word documents containing malicious macros.[1][2][3]
Enterprise T1047 Windows Management Instrumentation

Valak can use wmic process call create in a scheduled task to launch plugins and for execution.[3]

Groups That Use This Software

ID Name References
G0127 TA551

[1][2][4][5]

References

  1. Salem, E. et al. (2020, May 28). VALAK: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE . Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  2. Duncan, B. (2020, July 24). Evolution of Valak, from Its Beginnings to Mass Distribution. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  3. Reaves, J. and Platt, J. (2020, June). Valak Malware and the Connection to Gozi Loader ConfCrew. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  1. Duncan, B. (2021, January 7). TA551: Email Attack Campaign Switches from Valak to IcedID. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  2. Secureworks. (n.d.). GOLD CABIN Threat Profile. Retrieved March 17, 2021.