China-Linked APT GopherWhisper Abuses Legitimate Services in Government Attacks

Another tool in GopherWhisper’s arsenal is RatGopher, a Go-based backdoor. Unlike LaxGopher, it uses Discord for C&C communication. It can open new instances of the command prompt and upload or download files from file.io.The APT also relies on a C++ backdoor called SSLORDoor, which uses OpenSSL BIO for communication via raw TCP sockets. The malware can spawn a hidden command prompt process, enumerate drives, execute commands related to file manipulation, and create new socket connections.ESET’s investigation uncovered two additional tools that GopherWhisper deployed against the same Mongolian government organization, namely the BoxOfFriends Go backdoor that relies on the Microsoft Graph API for communication via draft Outlook messages, and the FriendDelivery DLL injector that loads it.The BoxOfFriends backdoor can exfiltrate files, manipulate ports, and execute supplied commands through a shell opened on the host.The China-linked APT infected roughly 12 systems within the victim Mongolian governmental institution. According to ESET, dozens of other victims were likely targeted as well.“Due to the lack of similarities in code, TTPs, and targeting to any existing APT group, we have created GopherWhisper as a new group and attribute the described toolset to it,” ESET notes.Related:US Federal Agency’s Cisco Firewall Infected With ‘Firestarter’ BackdoorRelated:Trump Administration Vows Crackdown on Chinese Companies ‘Exploiting’ AI Models Made in USRelated:Chinese Cybersecurity Firm’s AI Hacking Claims Draw Comparisons to Claude MythosRelated:New Wiper Malware Targeted Venezuelan Energy Sector Prior to US Intervention

The APT also relies on a C++ backdoor called SSLORDoor, which uses OpenSSL BIO for communication via raw TCP sockets. The malware can spawn a hidden command prompt process, enumerate drives, execute commands related to file manipulation, and create new socket connections.ESET’s investigation uncovered two additional tools that GopherWhisper deployed against the same Mongolian government organization, namely the BoxOfFriends Go backdoor that relies on the Microsoft Graph API for communication via draft Outlook messages, and the FriendDelivery DLL injector that loads it.The BoxOfFriends backdoor can exfiltrate files, manipulate ports, and execute supplied commands through a shell opened on the host.The China-linked APT infected roughly 12 systems within the victim Mongolian governmental institution. According to ESET, dozens of other victims were likely targeted as well.“Due to the lack of similarities in code, TTPs, and targeting to any existing APT group, we have created GopherWhisper as a new group and attribute the described toolset to it,” ESET notes.Related:US Federal Agency’s Cisco Firewall Infected With ‘Firestarter’ BackdoorRelated:Trump Administration Vows Crackdown on Chinese Companies ‘Exploiting’ AI Models Made in USRelated:Chinese Cybersecurity Firm’s AI Hacking Claims Draw Comparisons to Claude MythosRelated:New Wiper Malware Targeted Venezuelan Energy Sector Prior to US Intervention

ESET’s investigation uncovered two additional tools that GopherWhisper deployed against the same Mongolian government organization, namely the BoxOfFriends Go backdoor that relies on the Microsoft Graph API for communication via draft Outlook messages, and the FriendDelivery DLL injector that loads it.The BoxOfFriends backdoor can exfiltrate files, manipulate ports, and execute supplied commands through a shell opened on the host.The China-linked APT infected roughly 12 systems within the victim Mongolian governmental institution. According to ESET, dozens of other victims were likely targeted as well.“Due to the lack of similarities in code, TTPs, and targeting to any existing APT group, we have created GopherWhisper as a new group and attribute the described toolset to it,” ESET notes.Related:US Federal Agency’s Cisco Firewall Infected With ‘Firestarter’ BackdoorRelated:Trump Administration Vows Crackdown on Chinese Companies ‘Exploiting’ AI Models Made in USRelated:Chinese Cybersecurity Firm’s AI Hacking Claims Draw Comparisons to Claude MythosRelated:New Wiper Malware Targeted Venezuelan Energy Sector Prior to US Intervention

The BoxOfFriends backdoor can exfiltrate files, manipulate ports, and execute supplied commands through a shell opened on the host.The China-linked APT infected roughly 12 systems within the victim Mongolian governmental institution. According to ESET, dozens of other victims were likely targeted as well.“Due to the lack of similarities in code, TTPs, and targeting to any existing APT group, we have created GopherWhisper as a new group and attribute the described toolset to it,” ESET notes.Related:US Federal Agency’s Cisco Firewall Infected With ‘Firestarter’ BackdoorRelated:Trump Administration Vows Crackdown on Chinese Companies ‘Exploiting’ AI Models Made in USRelated:Chinese Cybersecurity Firm’s AI Hacking Claims Draw Comparisons to Claude MythosRelated:New Wiper Malware Targeted Venezuelan Energy Sector Prior to US Intervention

The China-linked APT infected roughly 12 systems within the victim Mongolian governmental institution. According to ESET, dozens of other victims were likely targeted as well.“Due to the lack of similarities in code, TTPs, and targeting to any existing APT group, we have created GopherWhisper as a new group and attribute the described toolset to it,” ESET notes.Related:US Federal Agency’s Cisco Firewall Infected With ‘Firestarter’ BackdoorRelated:Trump Administration Vows Crackdown on Chinese Companies ‘Exploiting’ AI Models Made in USRelated:Chinese Cybersecurity Firm’s AI Hacking Claims Draw Comparisons to Claude MythosRelated:New Wiper Malware Targeted Venezuelan Energy Sector Prior to US Intervention

“Due to the lack of similarities in code, TTPs, and targeting to any existing APT group, we have created GopherWhisper as a new group and attribute the described toolset to it,” ESET notes.Related:US Federal Agency’s Cisco Firewall Infected With ‘Firestarter’ BackdoorRelated:Trump Administration Vows Crackdown on Chinese Companies ‘Exploiting’ AI Models Made in USRelated:Chinese Cybersecurity Firm’s AI Hacking Claims Draw Comparisons to Claude MythosRelated:New Wiper Malware Targeted Venezuelan Energy Sector Prior to US Intervention

Related:US Federal Agency’s Cisco Firewall Infected With ‘Firestarter’ BackdoorRelated:Trump Administration Vows Crackdown on Chinese Companies ‘Exploiting’ AI Models Made in USRelated:Chinese Cybersecurity Firm’s AI Hacking Claims Draw Comparisons to Claude MythosRelated:New Wiper Malware Targeted Venezuelan Energy Sector Prior to US Intervention

Related:Trump Administration Vows Crackdown on Chinese Companies ‘Exploiting’ AI Models Made in USRelated:Chinese Cybersecurity Firm’s AI Hacking Claims Draw Comparisons to Claude MythosRelated:New Wiper Malware Targeted Venezuelan Energy Sector Prior to US Intervention

Related:Chinese Cybersecurity Firm’s AI Hacking Claims Draw Comparisons to Claude MythosRelated:New Wiper Malware Targeted Venezuelan Energy Sector Prior to US Intervention

Related:New Wiper Malware Targeted Venezuelan Energy Sector Prior to US Intervention

Source: SecurityWeek