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MSIX installer malware delivery on the rise across multiple campaigns

We’ve seen multiple distinct adversaries leveraging MSIX installers to deliver a variety of malware payloads in recent months.

Tony Lambert Tyler Bohlmann Christina Johns Frank Lee
Originally published . Last modified .

Starting in July 2023, Red Canary began investigating a series of attacks by adversaries leveraging MSIX files to deliver malware. MSIX is a Windows application package installation format that IT teams and developers increasingly use to deliver Windows applications within enterprises.

The adversary in each intrusion appeared to be using malicious advertising or SEO poisoning to draw in victims, who believed that they were downloading legitimate software such as Grammarly, Microsoft Teams, Notion, and Zoom. Victims span multiple industries, suggesting that the adversary’s attacks are opportunistic rather than targeted.

Threat clusters abusing MSIX installers to deliver malware

Analysis of the intrusions revealed three clusters of activity stretching from July to December 2023.

Cluster 1: FIN7

The first cluster of activity we’ve observed seems to bear the hallmarks of a financially motivated threat group known as FIN7 that’s been active since at least 2015. They’ve leveraged many malicious tools over the years and represent a significant risk to organizations, in part because FIN7 activity has frequently preceded ransomware deployment. We’ve detected activity within this cluster attempting to install malicious instances of NetSupport Manager RAT.

In the detections we’ve observed within this cluster, the adversary leverages the MSIX-PackageSupportFramework tool to create their malicious MSIX files. When the victim opens the MSIX, the StartingScriptWrapper.ps1 component of the MSIX package support framework launches an embedded PowerShell script.

The PowerShell script employs process injection to execute POWERTRASH and Carbanak malware, which in turn deliver NetSupport Manager RAT as a follow-on payload. Notably, the NetSupport RAT binaries in these intrusions contain metadata associated with an entity called “Crosstec Corporation” rather than the expected “NetSupport Corporation.” Recent research from Microsoft corroborates our assessment that FIN7, which Microsoft tracks as Sangria Tempest, may be behind these incidents.

Cluster 2: Zloader

The adversary in Cluster 2 uses Advanced Installer—a development utility widely used for building software installation packages—to create MSIX files. These MSIX files leverage the legitimate Advanced Installer binary AiStub.exe to execute the malicious payload inside.

The payload is named Install.exe and is constructed using compiled Python code. Red Canary’s analysis of the Python payloads reveal at least some consistent overlap with Zloader (aka BatLoader), including using OpenSSL commands to decrypt components and the use of GetAdmin.vbs scripts. The same research from Microsoft (referenced above) suggests this cluster also overlaps or aligns with a group Microsoft identifies as Storm-0569.

Cluster 3: FakeBat

Similar to Cluster 2, the adversary in Cluster 3 also uses Advanced Installer to create MSIX files. The Cluster 3 payload is a malicious PowerShell script, which AiStub.exe executes via the legitimate component StartingScriptWrapper.ps1.

Adversaries in Cluster 3 intrusions have used ArechClient2 or Redline stealer in the same chain of activity. The adversary’s packages have also delivered a DLL-sideloading payload consistent with GHOSTPULSE, as well as using GPG decryption tools and tar to decompress files in a manner consistent with FakeBat. FakeBat has also been used in MSIX packages to distribute additional payloads in the past, notably IcedID. Research from Microsoft suggests this cluster overlaps or aligns with a group they call Storm-1113.

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Why should organizations care about this?

Security is a cat-and-mouse game between adversaries and defenders, and the intrusions Red Canary observed and responded to demonstrate that preventative security controls alone are not adequate.

Following an uptick of malware delivered via MSIX, Microsoft disabled the ms-appinstaller protocol from February 2022 up until August 2022 to address a vulnerability that allowed attackers to distribute remote MSIX packages that appear to be from a trusted source. While this mitigated some threats, other security researchers noted that legitimate code-signing certificate services could be acquired illicitly from criminal forums, and that MSIX installers could still distribute malware if they were downloaded locally to a victim’s system first.

In December 2023, Microsoft again disabled the protocol to address increased MSIX use to distribute malware from remote URLs. In this case, Microsoft chose to leave the protocol disabled by default, requiring a configuration change to enable it. As with previous encounters with MSIX files, this disabling solution does not fully eliminate the threat of MSIX files, it merely requires the malicious MSIX files to be intentionally downloaded to disk before execution.

Preventative security controls alone are not adequate.

Since at least December 2022, adversaries have also abused advertisement solutions such as Google Ads to deliver malware of various types, including MSIX files, posing as legitimate software. Google Ads provide methods for companies to advertise using their product—namely, by putting promoted advertisements ahead of organic results. While Google and other search companies have attempted to curb SEO poisoning and malicious advertising, adversaries have continued to modify their tactics to evade anti-SEO poisoning efforts.

Victims of the malware distributed using these MSIX installers are often prime targets for follow-on activity through persistent access via remote access tools or credential access attempts with stealers.

What can you do about malicious MSIX installers?

While the increase in abuse of malicious MSIX installers is certainly an emergent trend, the adversaries behind it are still at least partially reliant on fairly well understood tradecraft. Fortunately, we can share a few pseudo-detectors that have helped us catch these and other threats. For prevention, organizations that use application allow-listing solutions such as AppLocker can explore allowing or denying MSIX execution with AppLocker policies.

 


Detection opportunity 1: Launching PowerShell scripts from windowsapps directory

This pseudo-detector looks for the execution of PowerShell scripts from the windowsapps directory. There are instances where benign PowerShell scripts run from this directory, but analysts can sort out malicious or suspicious activity by investigating follow-on actions and network connections. However, in this case we see the adversary calling StartingScriptWrapper.ps1 from the windowsapps directory to execute their malicious payload script.

parent_process_path_includes (‘\\windowsapps\\’)

&&

process == (‘powershell.exe’)

&&

command_includes (‘windowsapps' && '-file ' && '.ps1')

Detection opportunity 2: NetSupport running from unexpected directory

In the instances where the adversary delivered NetSupport Manager RAT as a follow-on payload, our existing detection coverage for malicious NetSupport installation served us well. Under normal circumstances, you should expect NetSupport Manager to run from the program files directory. If you find NetSupport Manager—often identifiable as client32.exe—running outside the program files directory, particularly from the programdata directory, then it’s worth investigating.

 


Detection opportunity 3: Abusing PowerShell to disable Defender components

We also observed at least one of these adversaries abusing PowerShell to exclude certain files or processes from Windows Defender scanning. Luckily, this is common tradecraft for which we’ve shared similar detection ideas on multiple occasions. The following may unearth this and other threats:

process == (‘powershell.exe’)

&&

command_line_includes (‘Set-MpPreference’ || ‘Add-MpPreference’)

&&

command_line_includes (‘ExclusionProcess’ || ’ExclusionPath’)

Detection opportunity 4: PowerShell -encodedcommand switch

We also observed at least one of these adversaries abusing the shortened -encoded PowerShell command switch to encode PowerShell commands. This is another common bit of tradecraft that we’ve discussed many times on the Red Canary blog, in the Threat Detection Report, and elsewhere. The following should help detect it.

process == ('powershell.exe')

&&

command_includes ('-e' || '-en' || '-enc' || '-enco'|| [any variation of the encoded command switch])*

*Note that PowerShell will recognize anything from the shortened -e to the full -encodedcommand and encode commands accordingly.

 


Detection opportunity 5: MSBuild without commands

In some detections, we observed the Microsoft Build Engine (msbuild.exe) making outbound network connections to IPs associated with the ArechClient2 remote access tool. In general, it is suspicious for msbuild.exe to execute without a corresponding command line, which is precisely what we observed here. Simply looking for execution of msbuild.exe without a corresponding command line and examining surrounding activity for suspicious network connections and child processes could help detect this threat.

 


 

In the tables below, you’ll find indicators of compromise (IOC) and MITRE mappings for each of the three activity clusters.

IOCContext
IOC:

grammarly.yesofts[.]com

Context :

Typosquatted Grammarly domain

IOC:

storageplace[.]pro

Context :

Resolves to 193.233.22[.]126, hosted POWERTRASH malware

IOC:

sun47281[.]space

Context :

PowerShell made a network connection to this domain.

IOC:

zatravnik1[.]com

Context :

Resolves to 166.1.160[.]205, NetSupport RAT C2

IOC:

01cp.txt

Context :

Filename for Active Directory information export

IOC:

01ema.txt

Context :

Filename for Active Directory information export

IOC:

01usr.txt

Context :

Filename for Active Directory information export

IOC:

C:\ProgramData\Crosstec\client32.exe

Context :

Path on disk for NetSupport RAT

IOC:

001c68b2f71d1fcb9cea1bc42ed0b4c2b6d9fce4b4754d05d6a5a1f28573373a

Context :

Malicious MSIX

IOC:

1aec04bbf32d06b9cc032755c70103673f1137371a9d4f4608b4a309467943ed

Context :

Malicious PowerShell Script

IOC:

1b63f83f06dbd9125a6983a36e0dbd64026bb4f535e97c5df67c1563d91eff89

Context :

NetSupport RAT

IOC:

21903b51f23f7af681a9f69aa066753b202af6c537b97a247d98cfbdec150d63

Context :

NetSupport RAT

IOC:

6ca002e77ed2c70dd265bea42b89d969

Context :

Malicious MSIX file

IOC:

e14c3224215ea91587e96b995861e8966166dfc08ab4d409bd729770815b3b81

Context :

NetSupport RAT

IOC:

166.1.160[.]205

Context :

Hosts zatravnik1[.]com domain, NetSupport RAT C2

IOC:

193.233.22[.]126

Context :

Hosted malicious storageplace[.]pro domain, hosted POWERTRASH malware

IOC:

94.131.107[.]181

Context :

Hosts typosquatted Grammarly domains

IOCContext
IOC:

1204knos[.]ru

Context :

Python reached out to this domain

IOC:

1204networks[.]ru

Context :

Python reached out to this domain

IOC:

48aa2393ef590bab4ff2fd1e7d95af36e5b6911348d7674347626c9aaafa255e

Context :

Install.exe

IOCContext
IOC:

4sync[.]com

Context :

Malicious PowerShell reached out to this domain

IOC:

623start[.]site

Context :

Malicious PowerShell reached out to this domain. Resolves to 195.161.114[.]3

IOC:

756-ads-info[.]xyz

Context :

Malicious PowerShell reached out to this domain

IOC:

cdn-dwnld[.]ru

Context :

Resolves to 195.161.114[.]3, which is a ArechClient2 C2

IOC:

clk-info[.]ru

Context :

Malicious PowerShell reached out to this domain. Resolves to 81.177.140[.]69

IOC:

eventbox[.]com

Context :

Resolves to 31.172.76[.]107, which is a ArechClient2 C2

IOC:

fullpower682[.]store

Context :

Resolves to 81.177.140[.]69, has hosted ArechClient2 in the past

IOC:

next-traf623[.]site

Context :

Malicious Powershell reached out to this domain

IOC:

notio-apps[.]cloud

Context :

Malicious PowerShell reached out to this domain

IOC:

shaadidates[.]com

Context :

Malicious PowerShell reached out to this domain

IOC:

tatmacerasi[.]com

Context :

Malicious domain associated with ArechClient2 and Redline

IOC:

tombeaux-saadiens[.]com

Context :

PowerShell made a network connection to this domain

IOC:

09b7d9976824237fc2c5bd461eab7a22

Context :

Malicious MSIX

IOC:

1f64f01063b26bf05d4b076d54816e54dacd08b7fd6e5bc9cc5d11a548ff2215

Context :

This hash was seen with two different names: AcroBroker.exe and VBoxSVC.exe. Both binaries were signed by Adobe PDF Broker Process for Internet Explorer .

IOC:

4f5e36e74b318c2aab027bc01e093f210a20e911dc5c15f7c6462d8243f09246

Context :

Malicious RAR downloaded from fullpower682[.]store

IOC:

5cf033157f63781a190b43d5dde427ccbe16ecda7cab4ccee617bd2d24e6a081

Context :

Malicious PowerShell script

IOC:

7bef661ffc9788b5c54e0f98728f34155d7a713f2bfffeb0ef5dc7e33d52aca1

Context :

Redline Stealer

IOC:

a58ebff4519a8af8ec4111e232be13b12bb41bf5f9a8bf9436ba6c5afe292f8f

Context :

Hash for a file named sqlite.dll that was used in search order hijacking

IOC:

f433a5982dfa78a47c826ccd0c5b0b8d7a8f8fc34dfdb403f171543f5fc09ba8

Context :

Malicious PowerShell

IOC:

f5244c0d5c537efb24c9103e866eea26

Context :

Malicious MSIX

IOC:

f57a22a7b0b28d0636cf0a9f79754778ea8660946db8236fcdab335d0335aec4

Context :

Malicious PowerShell script

IOC:

185.197.75[.]191

Context :

ArechClient2 C2

IOC:

194.26.135[.]119

Context :

Malicious PowerShell reached out to this IP

IOC:

195.161.114[.]3

Context :

ArechClient2 C2

IOC:

31.172.76[.]107

Context :

ArechClient2 C2

IOC:

77.246.101[.]46

Context :

Redline C2

IOC:

81.177.140[.]69

Context :

This IP has hosted numerous malicious domains, including clk-info[.]ru and fullpower682[.]store

IOC:

81.177.140[.]194

Context :

Hosts numerous malicious domains, including next-traf623[.]site

MITRE subtechniqueCategoryExample
MITRE subtechnique:

T1204.002 User Execution: Malicious File

Category:

Execution

Example:

Usage of malicious MSIX files

MITRE subtechnique:

T1036.005 - Masquerading: Match Legitimate Name or Location

Category:

Defense Evasion

Example:

Malicious MSIX masquerade as legitimate Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Grammarly installers

MITRE subtechnique:

T1570 - Lateral Tool Transfer

Category:

Lateral Movement

Example:

"xcopy.exe" "C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming" "C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Packages\manager_c4g82jgbfsn1c\LocalCache\Roaming" /e /s /y /c /h /q /i /k

MITRE subtechnique:

T1059.001 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell

Category:

Execution

Example:

Powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -file '.\kjlalsndlkasndaskjdn.ps1'

MITRE subtechnique:

T1105 - Ingress Tool Transfer

Category:

Command and Control

Example:

Adversaries use PowerShell to load POWERTRASH and Carbanak malware.

MITRE subtechnique:

T1219 - Remote Access Software

Category:

Command and Control

Example:

Usage of NetSupport RAT

MITRE subtechnique:

T1547.001 - Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder

Category:

Persistence

Example:

Modifying AutoRun key at \registry\user\\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run\googleupdate

MITRE subtechnique:

T1069.002 Permission Groups Discovery: Domain Groups

Category:

Discovery

Example:

net group "Domain Admins" /domain

MITRE subtechnique:

T1482 - Domain Trust Discovery

Category:

Discovery

Example:

nltest /domain_trusts /all_trusts

MITRE subtechnique:

T1087.002 Account Discovery: Domain Account

Category:

Discovery

Example:

csvde.exe -r "(&(objectClass=Computer))" -l samAccountName,description,IPv4Address,info,operatingSystem -f 01cp.txt csvde.exe -r "(&(objectCategory=person)(objectClass=User))" -l samAccountName,description,info,mail,middleName,displayName,title,department,lastLogon -f 01usr.txt

MITRE subtechniqueCategoryExample
MITRE subtechnique:

T1204.002 User Execution: Malicious File

Category:

Execution

Example:

Usage of malicious MSIX files

MITRE subtechnique:

T1036.005 - Masquerading: Match Legitimate Name or Location

Category:

Defense Evasion

Example:

Malicious MSIX masquerade as legitimate Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Grammarly installers

MITRE subtechnique:

T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter

Category:

Execution

Example:

Execution of malicious BAT, Python, and EXE files

MITRE subtechnique:

T1047 - Windows Management Instrumentation T1046 Network Service Discovery

Category:

Execution Discovery

Example:

wmic computersystem get domain

MITRE subtechnique:

T1033 - System Owner/User Discovery

Category:

Discovery

Example:

whoami /groups

MITRE subtechnique:

T1547.001 - Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder

Category:

Persistence

Example:

Modifying AutoRun key at \registry\user\\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run\loader.py

MITRE subtechnique:

T1140 Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information

Category:

Defense Evasion

Example:

openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -d -in code9.exe.enc -out code9.exe -pbkdf2 -pass pass:[redacted]

MITRE subtechnique:

T1562.001 - Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools

Category:

Defense Evasion

Example:

Adversaries executed PowerShell commands to exclude Windows Defender from scanning the contents of various locations and extensions such as %TEMP%, %UserProfile%\*, .bat and .ps1.

MITRE subtechniqueCategoryExample
MITRE subtechnique:

T1204.002 User Execution: Malicious File

Category:

Execution

Example:

Usage of malicious MSIX files

MITRE subtechnique:

T1036.005 - Masquerading: Match Legitimate Name or Location

Category:

Defense Evasion

Example:

Malicious MSIX masquerade as legitimate Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Grammarly installers

MITRE subtechnique:

T1570 - Lateral Tool Transfer

Category:

Lateral Movement

Example:

"xcopy.exe" "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\GoogleLLC.Chrome_115.0.5790.173_x64__cvpb331a1f8hw\VFS\AppData" "C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Packages\GoogleLLC.Chrome_cvpb331a1f8hw\LocalCache\Roaming" /e /s /y /c /h /q /i /k

MITRE subtechnique:

T1027.010 - Obfuscated Files or Information: Command Obfuscation

Category:

Defense Evasion

Example:

Adversaries used encoded PowerShell write malicious data to a LNK file.

MITRE subtechnique:

T1059.001 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell

Category:

Execution

Example:

Powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -file 'C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\GoogleLLC.Chrome_115.0.5790.173_x64__cvpb331a1f8hw\kin_mix+notion _new_21.08.ps1

MITRE subtechnique:

T1574.002 - Hijack Execution Flow: DLL Side-Loading

Category:

Persistence, Privilege Escalation, Defense Evasion

Example:

Malicious vboxsvc.exe binary loaded a DLL named sqlite.dll.

MITRE subtechnique:

T1518.001 - Software Discovery: Security Software Discovery

Category:

Discovery

Example:

Red Canary observed a malicious PowerShell script use WMI to query for antivirus products on an endpoint.

MITRE subtechnique:

T1555.003 - Credentials from Password Stores: Credentials from Web Browsers

Category:

Credential Access

Example:

Redline stealer and other infostealers steal credentials from web browsers.

MITRE subtechnique:

T1105 - Ingress Tool Transfer

Category:

Command and Control

Example:

Adversaries use PowerShell to download ArechClient2 or Redline stealer.

 

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