Description of Campaign
The supply chain attack targeted users who own ASUS computers with malware injected in the ASUS Live Update Utility. The threat actors behind the operation used stolen digital certificates to sign the malicious software to appear legitimate to end users. The campaign targeted users across the globe with a majority of the infections appearing in Russia, Germany, and France.
Our Threat Research team gathers and analyzes information from multiple open and closed sources before disseminating intelligence reports. This campaign was researched by Kaspersky and shared publicly.
How to use this article:
- If a Threat Hunting table has been created, use the rules contained to search for malware related to this campaign.
- Review the product detection table and confirm that your environment is at least on the specified content version.
To download the latest content versions, go to the Security Updates page.
- Scroll down and review the "Product Countermeasures" section of this article. Consider implementing them if they are not already in place.
- Review KB91836 - Countermeasures for entry vector threats.
- Review KB87843 - Dynamic Application Containment rules and best practices.
- Review KB82925 - Identify what rule corresponds to an Adaptive Threat Protection and Threat Intelligence Exchange event.
Threat Hunting
YARA |
rule MAL_APT_Operation_ShadowHammer_MalSetup {
meta:
description = "Detects a malicious file used by BARIUM group in Operation ShadowHammer"
date = "2019-03-25"
author = "Florian Roth"
license = "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/"
score = 80
hash1 = "ac0711afee5a157d084251f3443a40965fc63c57955e3a241df866cfc7315223"
hash2 = "9acd43af36f2d38077258cb2ace42d6737b43be499367e90037f4605318325f8"
hash3 = "bca9583263f92c55ba191140668d8299ef6b760a1e940bddb0a7580ce68fef82"
hash4 = "c299b6dd210ab5779f3abd9d10544f9cae31cd5c6afc92c0fc16c8f43def7596"
hash5 = "6aedfef62e7a8ab7b8ab3ff57708a55afa1a2a6765f86d581bc99c738a68fc74"
hash6 = "cfbec77180bd67cceb2e17e64f8a8beec5e8875f47c41936b67a60093e07fcfd"
reference = "https://securelist.com/operation-shadowhammer/89992/"
strings:
$x1 = "\\AsusShellCode\\Release" ascii
$x2 = "\\AsusShellCode\\Debug"
condition:
uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and 1 of them
} |
YARA |
rule shadowhammer_patch
{
strings:
$str_msi = "\\419.msi" ascii wide nocase
$str_upd = "ASUS Live Updata" ascii wide nocase
$str_ins = "Asusaller Application" ascii wide nocase
condition:
2 of them
} |
YARA |
rule shadowhammer_pdb
{
strings:
$str_pdb = "AsusShellCode.pdb" ascii nocase
condition:
all of them
} |
This Knowledge Base article discusses a specific threat that's being tracked. The list of IOCs will change over time; check Trellix Insights for the latest IOCs.
Campaign IOC
Type |
Value |
SHA256 |
682FC8CCFC9316C54F02AE7865EEE553AD0211031D4D80BB9C4365FBBC74049A |
SHA256 |
A911BEC0C307F542990016ED3CB15BAE7A61D489278800F111794387F7995E2E |
SHA256 |
BCA9583263F92C55BA191140668D8299EF6B760A1E940BDDB0A7580CE68FEF82 |
SHA256 |
AC0711AFEE5A157D084251F3443A40965FC63C57955E3A241DF866CFC7315223 |
SHA256 |
E78E8D384312B887C01229A69B24CF201E94997D975312ABF6486B3363405E9D |
SHA256 |
9A72F971944FCB7A143017BC5C6C2DB913BBB59F923110198EBD5A78809EA5FC |
SHA256 |
CFBEC77180BD67CCEB2E17E64F8A8BEEC5E8875F47C41936B67A60093E07FCFD |
SHA256 |
1BB53937FA4CBA70F61DC53F85E4E25551BC811BF9821FC47D25DE1BE9FD286A |
SHA256 |
12899E504B4583821D950B242614EDB078E2A5604B1801EEB90AA91F634D1EED |
SHA256 |
357632EE16707502DDB74497748AF0EC1DEC841A5460162CB036CFBF3901AC6F |
SHA256 |
9842B08E0391F3FE11B3E73CA8FA97F0A20F90B09C83086AD0846D81C8819713 |
SHA256 |
9BAC5EF9AFBFD4CD71634852A46555F0D0720B8C6F0B94E19B1778940EDF58F6 |
SHA256 |
BEBB16193E4B80F4BC053E4FA818AA4E2832885392469CD5B8ACE5CEC7E4CA19 |
SHA256 |
6EDC5578D824F42A6DD34664284179060F5595310FCB437A184F1AC0FC4FB1B4 |
SHA256 |
9ACD43AF36F2D38077258CB2ACE42D6737B43BE499367E90037F4605318325F8 |
SHA256 |
736BDA643291C6D2785EBD0C7BE1C31568E7FA2CFCABFF3BD76E67039B71D0A8 |
SHA256 |
6AEDFEF62E7A8AB7B8AB3FF57708A55AFA1A2A6765F86D581BC99C738A68FC74 |
SHA256 |
C299B6DD210AB5779F3ABD9D10544F9CAE31CD5C6AFC92C0FC16C8F43DEF7596 |
DOMAIN |
asushotfix.com |
DOMAIN |
homeabcd.com |
DOMAIN |
simplexoj.com |
URL |
http://asushotfix.com/ |
URL |
http://asushotfix.com/logo2.jpg |
URL |
https://asushotfix.com/logo.jpg |
HOSTNAME |
www.asushotfix.com |
Minimum Content Versions
Content Type |
Version |
V2 DAT (VirusScan Enterprise) |
9217 |
V3 DAT (Endpoint Security) |
3667 |
Detection Summary
IOC |
Scanner |
Detection |
682FC8CCFC9316C54F02AE7865EEE553AD0211031D4D80BB9C4365FBBC74049A |
AVEngine V2 |
Shadow-Hammer!06C19CD73471 |
AVEngine V3 |
Shadow-Hammer!06C19CD73471 |
JTI (ATP Rules) |
JTI/Suspect.196612!06c19cd73471 |
RP Static |
- |
RP Dynamic |
- |
IOC |
Scanner |
Detection |
A911BEC0C307F542990016ED3CB15BAE7A61D489278800F111794387F7995E2E |
AVEngine V2 |
Shadow-Hammer!63F2FE96DE33 |
AVEngine V3 |
Shadow-Hammer!63F2FE96DE33 |
JTI (ATP Rules) |
ATP/Suspect!e01c10470012 |
RP Static |
- |
RP Dynamic |
- |
IOC |
Scanner |
Detection |
BCA9583263F92C55BA191140668D8299EF6B760A1E940BDDB0A7580CE68FEF82 |
AVEngine V2 |
Shadow-Hammer!FA83FFDE24F1 |
AVEngine V3 |
Shadow-Hammer!FA83FFDE24F1 |
JTI (ATP Rules) |
ATP/Suspect!5039ff974a81 |
RP Static |
- |
RP Dynamic |
- |
IOC |
Scanner |
Detection |
AC0711AFEE5A157D084251F3443A40965FC63C57955E3A241DF866CFC7315223 |
AVEngine V2 |
Shadow-Hammer!CB3F78D3FF77 |
AVEngine V3 |
Shadow-Hammer!CB3F78D3FF77 |
JTI (ATP Rules) |
ATP/Suspect!0595e34841bb |
RP Static |
- |
RP Dynamic |
- |
IOC |
Scanner |
Detection |
E78E8D384312B887C01229A69B24CF201E94997D975312ABF6486B3363405E9D |
AVEngine V2 |
Shadow-Hammer!5220C683DE5B |
AVEngine V3 |
Shadow-Hammer!5220C683DE5B |
JTI (ATP Rules) |
JTI/Suspect.196612!5220c683de5b |
RP Static |
- |
RP Dynamic |
- |
IOC |
Scanner |
Detection |
9A72F971944FCB7A143017BC5C6C2DB913BBB59F923110198EBD5A78809EA5FC |
AVEngine V2 |
Shadow-Hammer!55A7AA5F0E52 |
AVEngine V3 |
Shadow-Hammer!55A7AA5F0E52 |
JTI (ATP Rules) |
- |
RP Static |
- |
RP Dynamic |
- |
IOC |
Scanner |
Detection |
CFBEC77180BD67CCEB2E17E64F8A8BEEC5E8875F47C41936B67A60093E07FCFD |
AVEngine V2 |
Shadow-Hammer!5855CE7C4A31 |
AVEngine V3 |
Shadow-Hammer!5855CE7C4A31 |
JTI (ATP Rules) |
ATP/Suspect!0d9d48a45451 |
RP Static |
- |
RP Dynamic |
- |
IOC |
Scanner |
Detection |
1BB53937FA4CBA70F61DC53F85E4E25551BC811BF9821FC47D25DE1BE9FD286A |
AVEngine V2 |
Shadow-Hammer!63F2FE96DE33 |
AVEngine V3 |
Shadow-Hammer!63F2FE96DE33 |
JTI (ATP Rules) |
JTI/Suspect.196612!63f2fe96de33 |
RP Static |
- |
RP Dynamic |
- |
IOC |
Scanner |
Detection |
12899E504B4583821D950B242614EDB078E2A5604B1801EEB90AA91F634D1EED |
AVEngine V2 |
Shadow-Hammer!C0116D877D04 |
AVEngine V3 |
Shadow-Hammer!C0116D877D04 |
JTI (ATP Rules) |
ATP/Suspect!c6bd8969513b |
RP Static |
- |
RP Dynamic |
- |
IOC |
Scanner |
Detection |
357632EE16707502DDB74497748AF0EC1DEC841A5460162CB036CFBF3901AC6F |
AVEngine V2 |
Shadow-Hammer!8756BAFA7F0A |
AVEngine V3 |
Shadow-Hammer!8756BAFA7F0A |
JTI (ATP Rules) |
- |
RP Static |
- |
RP Dynamic |
- |
IOC |
Scanner |
Detection |
9842B08E0391F3FE11B3E73CA8FA97F0A20F90B09C83086AD0846D81C8819713 |
AVEngine V2 |
Shadow-Hammer!8BAA46D0E0FA |
AVEngine V3 |
Shadow-Hammer!8BAA46D0E0FA |
JTI (ATP Rules) |
JTI/Suspect.196612!8baa46d0e0fa |
RP Static |
- |
RP Dynamic |
- |
IOC |
Scanner |
Detection |
9BAC5EF9AFBFD4CD71634852A46555F0D0720B8C6F0B94E19B1778940EDF58F6 |
AVEngine V2 |
Shadow-Hammer!915086D90596 |
AVEngine V3 |
Shadow-Hammer!915086D90596 |
JTI (ATP Rules) |
ATP/Suspect!8e0dfaf40174 |
RP Static |
- |
RP Dynamic |
- |
IOC |
Scanner |
Detection |
BEBB16193E4B80F4BC053E4FA818AA4E2832885392469CD5B8ACE5CEC7E4CA19 |
AVEngine V2 |
Backdoor-ShadowHammer |
AVEngine V3 |
Backdoor-ShadowHammer |
JTI (ATP Rules) |
ATP/Suspect!2c591802d874 |
RP Static |
- |
RP Dynamic |
- |
IOC |
Scanner |
Detection |
6EDC5578D824F42A6DD34664284179060F5595310FCB437A184F1AC0FC4FB1B4 |
AVEngine V2 |
Shadow-Hammer!C0116D877D04 |
AVEngine V3 |
Shadow-Hammer!C0116D877D04 |
JTI (ATP Rules) |
ATP/Suspect!d5957725aeea |
RP Static |
- |
RP Dynamic |
- |
IOC |
Scanner |
Detection |
9ACD43AF36F2D38077258CB2ACE42D6737B43BE499367E90037F4605318325F8 |
AVEngine V2 |
Shadow-Hammer!CB3F78D3FF77 |
AVEngine V3 |
Shadow-Hammer!CB3F78D3FF77 |
JTI (ATP Rules) |
ATP/Suspect!ffdb4f49a96f |
RP Static |
- |
RP Dynamic |
- |
IOC |
Scanner |
Detection |
736BDA643291C6D2785EBD0C7BE1C31568E7FA2CFCABFF3BD76E67039B71D0A8 |
AVEngine V2 |
Shadow-Hammer!CDB0A0906787 |
AVEngine V3 |
Shadow-Hammer!CDB0A0906787 |
JTI (ATP Rules) |
ATP/Suspect!e793c89ecf7e |
RP Static |
- |
RP Dynamic |
- |
IOC |
Scanner |
Detection |
6AEDFEF62E7A8AB7B8AB3FF57708A55AFA1A2A6765F86D581BC99C738A68FC74 |
AVEngine V2 |
Shadow-Hammer!5855CE7C4A31 |
AVEngine V3 |
Shadow-Hammer!5855CE7C4A31 |
JTI (ATP Rules) |
ATP/Suspect!2c591802d874 |
RP Static |
- |
RP Dynamic |
- |
IOC |
Scanner |
Detection |
C299B6DD210AB5779F3ABD9D10544F9CAE31CD5C6AFC92C0FC16C8F43DEF7596 |
AVEngine V2 |
Shadow-Hammer!FA83FFDE24F1 |
AVEngine V3 |
Shadow-Hammer!FA83FFDE24F1 |
JTI (ATP Rules) |
JTI/Suspect.196612!fa83ffde24f1 |
RP Static |
- |
RP Dynamic |
- |
Minimum set of Manual Rules to improve protection to block this campaign:
IMPORTANT: Always follow best practices when you enable new rules and signatures.
When you implement new rules or signatures, always set them to Report mode first and check the alerts generated. Resolve any issues that arise and then set the rules to Block. This step mitigates against triggering false positives and allows you to refine your configuration.
For more information, see KB87843 - List of and best practices for Endpoint Security Dynamic Application Containment rules.
Endpoint Security - Advanced Threat Protection:
Rule ID: 4 Use GTI file reputation to identify trusted or malicious files
Aggressive set of Manual Rules to improve protection to block this campaign:
IMPORTANT: Always follow best practices when you enable new rules and signatures.
When you implement new rules or signatures, always set them to Report mode first and check the alerts generated. Resolve any issues that arise and then set the rules to Block. This step mitigates against triggering false positives and allows you to refine your configuration.
For more information, see KB87843 - List of and best practices for Endpoint Security Dynamic Application Containment rules.
VirusScan Enterprise - Access Protection Rules:
Prevent programs registering as a service
Host Intrusion Prevention:
Rule ID: 2806 Attempt to create a hardlink to a file
Rule ID: 6010 Generic Application Hooking Protection
Endpoint Security - Access Protection Rules:
Running files from common user folders