AbstractEmu Android malware “roots” smartphones and evades detection

黑尔加·史密斯十月 31, 2021最後更新: 十月 31, 2021
101 1 分鐘閱讀

Researchers at Lookout Threat Labs 發現 a new Android malware called AbstractEmu, which “roots” infected devices, which has become a rather rare practice for such malware in recent years.

AbstractEmu came bundled with 19 apps distributed through Google Play and third-party app stores (including Amazon Appstore, Samsung Galaxy Store, Aptoide, and APKPure).

This is an important find as rooted malware has become a rarity over the past five years. By using “rooting” to gain privileged access to the operating system, an attacker can discreetly grant himself dangerous permissions or install additional malware, although such steps usually require user interaction.the experts say.

The infected applications were password managers and various system tools, including tools for saving data and launching applications. At the same time, in order to avoid suspicion, they all really worked and had the declared functionality.

The malicious apps have now been removed from the Google Play Store, but other app stores are probably still distributing them. Researchers say that only one of the infected applications, Lite Launcher, had over 10,000 downloads when it was removed from Google Play.

AbstractEmu does not have complex functionality and does not use the ‘clickless’ remote exploits that are found in sophisticated APT attacks. [惡意軟件] is simply activated by the user who opened the application. Since the malware is disguised as running applications, most users are likely to interact with it shortly after downloading.the researchers write

After installation AbstractEmu starts collecting and sending various system information to its command and control server and waits for further commands.

AbstractEmu sending system information

然之後, AbstractEmu operators can give the malware various commands, 例如, get root privileges, collect and steal files depending on how new they are or match a given pattern, and install new applications.

AbstractEmu commands

AbstractEmu has exploits for several known vulnerabilities in its arsenal to gain root privileges on infected devices. An expert report notes that one of the bugs, CVE-2020-0041, has never been used by Android apps before.

The malware also uses in attacks publicly available exploits for problems CVE-2019-2215 和 CVE-2020-0041, and vulnerability CVE-2020-0069, found in MediaTek chips, widely used by dozens of smartphone manufacturers and installed on millions of devices.

After rooting the device, AbstractEmu can track notifications, take screenshots and record video of the screen, or even block the device or reset its password.

The researchers say that they have not yet been able to determine what kind of malicious activity the malware will perform after installation, but judging by the permissions received, it can be assumed that AbstractEmu has similarities with banking Trojans and spyware (such as Anatsa, Vultur 和 Mandrake).

Let me remind you that we also wrote that Android malware GriftHorse infected over 10 million devices.

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黑尔加·史密斯十月 31, 2021最後更新: 十月 31, 2021
101 1 分鐘閱讀

黑尔加·史密斯

我一直對電腦科學感興趣, 尤其是數據安全和主題, 而家被稱為 "數據科學", 由我十幾歲開始. 在進入病毒清除團隊擔任主編之前, 我曾喺多傢公司擔任網絡安全專家, 包括亞馬遜嘅承包商之一. 另一種體驗: 我在雅頓大學同雷丁大學任教.

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