Cyber Risks · Unit 42 Palo Alto Networks

Downeks and Quasar RAT Used in Recent Targeted Attacks Against Governments

Summary: Unit 42 reported that attacks it attributes to the DustySky campaign, which others have linked to the Gaza Cybergang group targeting government interests in the region, install the Downeks downloader, which in turn infects victims with the Quasar RAT. The attackers modified the open-source .NET Quasar RAT and its server and used an obfuscator and packer to hide the tool, and Unit 42 observed Quasar being blocked on a Traps-protected client in September 2016.

Bottom line: The attackers' own Quasar command-and-control server was found vulnerable to remote code execution, meaning a second attacker could install their own RAT on it - a reminder that the infrastructure behind these government-targeting intrusions is itself exposed.

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Topics
Malware
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