Threat actors are targeting the education, government, and business services sectors with a remote access trojan called NetSupport RAT. VMware Carbon Black researchers have reported that the delivery mechanisms for the NetSupport RAT include fraudulent updates, drive-by downloads, utilization of malware loaders (such as GHOSTPULSE), and various forms of phishing campaigns. The cybersecurity firm has detected at least 15 new infections related to NetSupport RAT in the last few weeks.
NetSupport Manager, which originally served as a legitimate remote administration tool for technical assistance and support, has been misappropriated by malicious actors for their own advantage. They are using it as a beachhead for subsequent attacks. NetSupport RAT is typically downloaded onto a victim’s computer via deceptive websites and fake browser updates.
In August 2022, Sucuri detailed a campaign in which compromised WordPress sites were being used to display fraudulent Cloudflare DDoS protection pages that led to the distribution of NetSupport RAT. The use of bogus web browser updates is a tactic often associated with the deployment of a JavaScript-based downloader malware known as SocGholish (aka FakeUpdates), which has also been observed propagating a loader malware codenamed BLISTER.
The JavaScript payload subsequently invokes PowerShell to connect to a remote server and retrieve a ZIP archive file containing NetSupport RAT that, upon installation, beacons out to a command-and-control (C2) server. “Once installed on a victim’s device, NetSupport is able to monitor behavior, transfer files, manipulate computer settings, and move to other devices within the network,” the researchers said.
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