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Ghostpulse, a stealthy malware strain, has gained notoriety for its sophisticated methods of evasion and its ability to hide in plain sight within PNG image files. This article delves into the world of Ghostpulse, exploring its tactics, techniques, and impacts on global cybersecurity.
Ghostpulse malware strain is a sophisticated threat that uses PNG pixels to hide its main payload. The use of PNG pixels makes it difficult for malware scanners to detect, as it is a lossless format that retains key details like smooth text outlines. Ghostpulse uses the GdiPlus library to construct a byte array by extracting pixel values sequentially and searches for encrypted configuration data. The malware also employs social engineering tactics, including tricking victims into visiting an attacker-controlled website and validating CAPTCHA keys. The combination of evasion techniques and social engineering makes Ghostpulse a formidable threat to global cybersecurity. The sophistication of Ghostpulse's techniques surpasses that of early versions of Lumma infostealer campaign, making it a rising concern in the cybersecurity landscape. Ghostpulse has been linked to other malicious activities, such as the use of Chinese chipmaker Loongson for its development. Security professionals are urging organizations and individuals to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to protect themselves against Ghostpulse and similar threats.
The world of cybersecurity is constantly evolving, with new threats emerging every day. One such threat that has caught the attention of security experts is the Ghostpulse malware strain. This particular strain of malware has gained notoriety for its sophisticated methods of evasion and its ability to hide in plain sight within PNG image files.
According to recent reports, Ghostpulse has made significant changes since its release in 2023. One of these changes involves the use of PNG pixels as a means of hiding its main payload. This development has been hailed by security experts as one of the most significant changes made by the crooks behind it.
The use of PNG pixels is a clever tactic that has proven to be difficult for malware scanners to detect. The image file format is popularly used for web graphics and is often preferred over a lossy compression JPG file because it is a lossless format and retains key details such as smooth text outlines. This makes it an ideal platform for hiding malicious data.
Ghostpulse malware uses the GdiPlus(GDI+) library to construct a byte array by extracting each pixel's red, green, and blue (RGB) values sequentially. Once this byte array is built, the malware searches for the start of a structure that contains the encrypted Ghostpulse configuration, including the XOR key needed for decryption.
This process involves looping through the byte array in 16-byte blocks, with the first four bytes representing a CRC32 hash, and the next 12 bytes being the data to be hashed. The malware computes the CRC32 of the 12 bytes and checks if it matches the hash. If a match is found, it extracts the offset of the encrypted Ghostpulse configuration, its size, and the four-byte XOR key, and then XOR decrypts it.
The use of social engineering techniques has also become an integral part of Ghostpulse's tactics. According to Elastic Security Labs' Salim Bitam, victims are tricked into visiting an attacker-controlled website and validating what appears to be a routine CAPTCHA. Instead of checking a box or a series of images matching a prompt, victims are instructed to enter specific keyboard shortcuts that copy malicious JavaScript to the user's clipboard.
From there, a PowerShell script is run that downloads and executes the Ghostpulse payload. This combination of evasion techniques and social engineering tactics makes Ghostpulse a formidable threat to global cybersecurity.
The use of such sophisticated methods has also led to comparisons with other malware strains. According to McAfee researchers, the same method being used by Ghostpulse was recently spotted in the Lumma infostealer campaign. However, the sophistication of Ghostpulse's techniques far surpasses that of early versions of Lumma, which relied on victims downloading dodgy executables following SEO poisoning or malvertising efforts.
The rising threat of Ghostpulse has also been linked to other malicious activities, such as the use of Chinese chipmaker Loongson for its development. Furthermore, reports have emerged of a GoldenJackal gang using custom malware to strike air-gapped systems in Moscow-adjacent regions.
In addition to these threats, recent announcements from major cybersecurity vendors, including Microsoft and Google Cloud, have highlighted the growing importance of staying vigilant against emerging threats like Ghostpulse. According to Darktrace experts, access to Lumma can be purchased for as little as $250 – a price that can rise to $20,000 for the source code.
In light of these developments, security professionals are urging organizations and individuals alike to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to protect themselves against Ghostpulse and other similar threats. As Elastic's Salim Bitam noted, "As attackers continue to innovate, defenders must adapt by utilizing updated tools and techniques to mitigate these threats effectively."
In conclusion, the rise of Ghostpulse malware strain is a stark reminder of the ever-evolving nature of cybersecurity threats. Its sophisticated methods of evasion and social engineering tactics make it a formidable threat to global cybersecurity. It is essential for organizations and individuals to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to protect themselves against such threats.
Ghostpulse, a stealthy malware strain, has gained notoriety for its sophisticated methods of evasion and its ability to hide in plain sight within PNG image files. This article delves into the world of Ghostpulse, exploring its tactics, techniques, and impacts on global cybersecurity.
Related Information:
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/10/22/ghostpulse_malware_loader_png/
Published: Tue Oct 22 01:52:50 2024 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
