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S1138 Gootloader

Gootloader is a Javascript-based infection framework that has been used since at least 2020 as a delivery method for the Gootkit banking trojan, Cobalt Strike, REvil, and others. Gootloader operates on an “Initial Access as a Service” model and has leveraged SEO Poisoning to provide access to entities in multiple sectors worldwide including financial, military, automotive, pharmaceutical, and energy.21

Item Value
ID S1138
Associated Names
Type MALWARE
Version 1.0
Created 28 May 2024
Last Modified 19 June 2024
Navigation Layer View In ATT&CK® Navigator

Techniques Used

Domain ID Name Use
enterprise T1547 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution -
enterprise T1547.001 Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder Gootloader can create an autorun entry for a PowerShell script to run at reboot.2
enterprise T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter -
enterprise T1059.001 PowerShell Gootloader can use an encoded PowerShell stager to write to the Registry for persistence.21
enterprise T1059.007 JavaScript Gootloader can execute a Javascript file for initial infection.21
enterprise T1584 Compromise Infrastructure -
enterprise T1584.001 Domains Gootloader has used compromised legitimate domains to as a delivery network for malicious payloads.1
enterprise T1584.006 Web Services Gootloader can insert malicious scripts to compromise vulnerable content management systems (CMS).1
enterprise T1132 Data Encoding -
enterprise T1132.001 Standard Encoding Gootloader can retrieve a Base64 encoded stager from C2.1
enterprise T1140 Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information Gootloader has the ability to decode and decrypt malicious payloads prior to execution.21
enterprise T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer Gootloader can fetch second stage code from hardcoded web domains.21
enterprise T1027 Obfuscated Files or Information
The Gootloader first stage script is obfuscated using random alpha numeric strings.21
enterprise T1069 Permission Groups Discovery -
enterprise T1069.002 Domain Groups Gootloader can determine if a targeted system is part of an Active Directory domain by expanding the %USERDNSDOMAIN% environment variable.1
enterprise T1055 Process Injection -
enterprise T1055.002 Portable Executable Injection
Gootloader can use its own PE loader to execute payloads in memory.2
enterprise T1055.012 Process Hollowing Gootloader can inject its Delphi executable into ImagingDevices.exe using a process hollowing technique.21
enterprise T1082 System Information Discovery Gootloader can inspect the User-Agent string in GET request header information to determine the operating system of targeted systems.2
enterprise T1614 System Location Discovery Gootloader can use IP geolocation to determine if the person browsing to a compromised site is within a targeted territory such as the US, Canada, Germany, and South Korea.1
enterprise T1614.001 System Language Discovery Gootloader can determine if a victim’s computer is running an operating system with specific language preferences.2
enterprise T1016 System Network Configuration Discovery Gootloader can use an embedded script to check the IP address of potential victims visiting compromised websites.1
enterprise T1204 User Execution -
enterprise T1204.001 Malicious Link Gootloader has been executed through malicious links presented to users as internet search results.21
enterprise T1497 Virtualization/Sandbox Evasion -
enterprise T1497.003 Time Based Checks Gootloader can designate a sleep period of more than 22 seconds between stages of infection.2

References

  1. Pirozzi, A. (2021, June 16). Gootloader: ‘Initial Access as a Service’ Platform Expands Its Search for High Value Targets. Retrieved May 28, 2024. ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩

  2. Szappanos, G. & Brandt, A. (2021, March 1). “Gootloader” expands its payload delivery options. Retrieved September 30, 2022. ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩