A newly identified multi-stage trojan, dubbed “Orcinius,” has been reported to exploit popular cloud services Dropbox and Google Docs as part of its attack strategy.
The sophisticated malware begins its assault with an innocuous-looking Excel spreadsheet, which contains a VBA macro modified through a technique known as ‘VBA stomping’.
Upon execution, this macro hooks into the Windows operating system, enabling the trojan to monitor and capture keystrokes and active windows.
How Orcinius Operates
According to Broadcom reports, the initial attack vector of Orcinius is particularly insidious.
The Excel spreadsheet, once opened, triggers the VBA macro, which then initiates the download of secondary payloads from Dropbox and Google Docs.
This multi-stage approach allows the malware to evade traditional detection methods, making it a formidable threat.
The trojan’s ability to hook into the Windows OS and capture sensitive information like keystrokes and active windows further amplifies its danger, potentially leading to significant data breaches and financial losses for affected users.
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Symantec has identified several indicators of this threat, including ISB.Downloader!gen60, ISB.Downloader!gen68, X97M.Zorex, Web.Reputation.1, and WS.Malware.1.
These indicators are crucial for detecting and mitigating the impact of Orcinius.
VMware Carbon Black products have also been updated to block and detect associated malicious indicators through existing policies.
The recommended policy includes blocking all types of malware from executing, whether known, suspect, or potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) and delaying execution for cloud scans to leverage the VMware Carbon Black Cloud reputation service fully.
As cyber threats evolve, individuals and organizations must stay vigilant and adopt robust cybersecurity measures.
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