Remote Access Trojan Capable of Conducting Ransomware & DDOS Activities
A Remote Access Trojan or RAT is a tool used by Threat Actors (TAs) to gain full access and remote control on a user’s system, including mouse and keyboard control, files access, and network resources access.
During our regular OSINT research, Cyble Research Labs came across a new Remote Access Trojan (RAT) named Borat. Unlike other RATs, the Borat provides Ransomware, DDOS services, etc., to Threat Actors along with usual RAT features, further expanding the malware capabilities.
The developer named this RAT ‘Borat’ after a black comedy mockumentary film, and the photo used in the RAT is of actor Sacha Baron Cohen, who played the main role in the film Borat. The features claimed by the Borat RAT author are given in Figures 1 & 2 below.
The Borat RAT provides a dashboard to Threat Actors (TAs) to perform RAT activities and also has an option to compile the malware binary for performing DDoS and ransomware attacks on the victim’s machine, as shown in Figure 3.
Technical Analysis
In this analysis, we will take a look at Borat RAT and its features in detail. The Borat RAT comes as a package which includes builder binary, supporting modules, server certificate, etc., as shown in Figure 4.
The figure below shows the supporting modules responsible for executing the RAT features, as shown in Figure 5.
Keylogger
The module “keylogger.exe” is responsible for monitoring and storing the keystrokes in the victim’s machine. The below image shows the keyboard-related APIs used by the RAT for keylogging purposes. The captured keystrokes are saved in a file called “Sa8XOfH1BudXLog.txt” for exfiltration.
Ransomware
Interestingly, the RAT has an option to deliver a ransomware payload to the victim’s machine for encrypting users’ files as well as for demanding a ransom. Like other ransomware, this RAT also has the capability to create a ransom note on the victim’s machine.
The RAT has the code to decrypt files in the victim’s machine once the ransom is paid – as shown below.
DDOS
This RAT can also disrupt the normal traffic of a targeted server by performing a DDOS attack. The below figure shows the code used by RAT for the DDOS attack.
Audio Recording
Borat RAT can record the audio of a computer. Initially, it checks if a microphone is present in the victim’s machine. If it can find a connected microphone, the RAT records all audio and saves it in a file named micaudio.wav.
Webcam Recording
Borat RAT can capture videos through any webcam present in the victim’s machine. First, it identifies if a webcam is present in the victim’s machine, and then it starts recording the video if a webcam is available.
Remote Desktop
This malware takes the remote desktop of the infected machine. It then gives the Threat Actor (TA) the necessary rights to perform activities such as controlling the victim’s machine, mouse, keyboard, and capturing the screen. Controlling the victim’s machine can allow TAs to perform several activities such as deleting critical files, executing ransomware in the compromised machine, etc. The below figure shows the functions used by the RAT for performing Remote Desktop activities.
Reverse Proxy
The RAT has code to enable reverse proxy for performing RAT activities anonymously. The TAs can hide their identity using this option while communicating with the compromised servers.
Device Information
The RAT collects information from the victim’s machine, including OS Name, OS Version, System Model, etc. The below figure shows the command used for collecting the information.
Process hollowing
Using the RAT, the TAs can inject malicious code into the legitimate processes using the process hollowing technique. The below figure shows the APIs used by the RAT for process hollowing.
Browser Credential Stealing
Borat RAT can steal cookies, history, bookmarks, saved login credentials from chromium-based browsers like Google Chrome, Edge, etc. The below figure shows the functions used by the RAT for stealing browser credentials.
Discord token Stealing:
The RAT also steals Discord tokens and sends the stolen token information to the attacker.
Remote Activities:
The RAT performs the following activities to disturb the victims: Play Audio, Swap Mouse Buttons, Show/hide the Desktop, Show/hide the taskbar, Hold Mouse, Enable/Disable webcam light, Hang System, Monitor Off, Blank screen, etc.
Conclusion
The Borat RAT is a potent and unique combination of Remote Access Trojan, Spyware, and Ransomware, making it a triple threat to any machine compromised by it. With the capability to record audio and control the webcam and conduct traditional info stealing behavior, Borat is clearly a threat to keep an eye on. The added functionality to carry out DDOS attacks makes this an even more dangerous threat that organizations and individuals need to look out for. The Cyble Research Team is closely monitoring the RAT’s actions and will keep informing our clients and people worldwide.
Our Recommendations
We have listed some essential cybersecurity best practices that create the first line of control against attackers. We recommend that our readers follow the suggestions given below:
- Don’t keep important files in common locations such as the Desktop, My Documents, etc.
- Use strong passwords and enforce multi-factor authentication wherever possible.
- Turn on the automatic software update feature on your computer, mobile, and other connected devices wherever possible and pragmatic.
- Use a reputed anti-virus and Internet security software package on your connected devices, including PC, laptop, and mobile.
- Refrain from opening untrusted links and email attachments without verifying their authenticity.
- Conduct regular backup practices and keep those backups offline or in a separate network.
MITRE ATT&CK® Techniques
| Tactic | Technique ID | Technique Name |
| Execution | T1204 | User Execution |
| Discovery | T1518 | Security Software Discovery |
| T1087 | Account Discovery | |
| T1083 | File and Directory Discovery | |
| Collection | T1123 | Audio Capture |
| T1005 | Data from Local System | |
| T1056 .001 | Keylogging | |
| T1113 | Screen Capture | |
| T1125 | Video Capture | |
| Command and Control | T1132 | Data Encoding |
| T1219 | Remote Access Software | |
| Exfiltration | T1020 | Automated Exfiltration |
| Impact | T1485 | Data Destruction |
| T1486 | Data Encrypted for Impact | |
| T1565 | Data Manipulation | |
| T1499 | Endpoint Denial of Service |
Indicators Of Compromise (IoCs)
| Indicators | Indicator type | Description |
| d3559d9f1ca15f1706af9654fd2f4ccc | MD5 | Borat.zip |
| fb120d80a8c3e8891e22f20110c8f0aa59d1b036 | SHA1 | |
| d2ce3aa530ba6b6680759b79aa691260244ca91f5031aa9670248924cc983fb0 | SHA256 | |
| ddab2fe165c9c02281780f38f04a614e | MD5 | BoratRAT.exe |
| 2a5ad37e94037a4fc39ce7ba2d66ed8a424383e4 | SHA1 | |
| b47c77d237243747a51dd02d836444ba067cf6cc4b8b3344e5cf791f5f41d20e | SHA256 | |
| 3e645ccca1c44a00210924a3b0780955 | MD5 | BoratRat.exe.config |
| 5d8e8115489ac505c1d10fdd64e494e512dba793 | SHA1 | |
| f29e697efd7c5ecb928c0310ea832325bf6518786c8e1585e1b85cdc8701602f | SHA256 | |
| f41bfa672cca0ec7a2b30ecebf7eac7e | MD5 | ServerCertificate.p12 |
| d24d4fbd79967df196e77d127744659bbb2288d6 | SHA1 | |
| 8c300944ae62e17ab05ad408c5fb5473ebccac514c8ddc17c47bc9fda451c91b | SHA256 | |
| 9726d7fe49c8ba43845ad8e5e2802bb8 | MD5 | Audio.dll |
| 8bcdf790826a2ac7adfc1e8b214e8de43e086b97 | SHA1 | |
| df31a70ceb0c481646eeaf94189242200fafd3df92f8b3ec97c0d0670f0e2259 | SHA256 | |
| 7ee673594bbb20f65448aab05f1361d0 | MD5 | Discord.dll |
| 2a29736882439ef4c9088913e7905c0408cb2443 | SHA1 | |
| 8fa7634b7dca1a451cf8940429be6ad2440821ed04d5d70b6e727e5968e0b5f6 | SHA256 | |
| 62c231bafa469ab04f090fcb4475d360 | MD5 | Extra.dll |
| 82dda56bc59ac7db05eddbe4bcf0fe9323e32073 | SHA1 | |
| 6a4f32b0228092ce68e8448c6f4b74b4c654f40fb2d462c1d6bbd4b4ef09053d | SHA256 | |
| 4ccd3dfb14ffdddfa598d1096f0190ea | MD5 | FileManager.dll |
| c68c30355599461aca7205a7cbdb3bb1830d59c8 | SHA1 | |
| 7f8a306826fcb0ee985a2b6d874c805f7f9b2062a1123ea4bb7f1eba90fc1b81 | SHA256 | |
| 0b7c33c5739903ba4f4b78c446773528 | MD5 | FileSearcher.dll |
| b58555bebddf8e695880014d34a863a647da547e | SHA1 | |
| 2d9625f41793f62bfe32c10b2d5e05668e321bcaf8b73414b3c31ef677b9bff4 | SHA256 | |
| 499fc6ac30b3b342833c79523be4a60c | MD5 | Fun.dll |
| dcf1ed3fbc56d63b42c88ede88f9cad1d509e7ec | SHA1 | |
| dcac599b1bab37e1a388ac469e6cc5de1f35eb02beaa6778f07a1c090ce3ea04 | SHA256 | |
| 87651b12453131dafd3e91f60d8aef5a | MD5 | Information.dll |
| d5db880256bffa098718894edf684ea0dc4c335d | SHA1 | |
| a15d72d990686d06d89d7e11df2b16bcd5719a40298c19d046fa22c40d56af44 | SHA256 | |
| 0cd62cd02962be20ed92abcd0c9e9a25 | MD5 | ip2region.db |
| 69fbadc8a4461413c30cd0579d89f8668187e5a2 | SHA1 | |
| 5c124a7e35025d3e94df6b17dca5332e9a5aaabdca2355c113f3c93b572281b7 | SHA256 | |
| a45679bdcf30f068032bd37a194fa175 | MD5 | Keylogger.exe |
| f23fd98f28bb0b482f0aae028172e11536e4688c | SHA1 | |
| 16beb1ae2de2974ccc2371d9f619f492295e590abb65d3102e362c8ec27f2bbb | SHA256 | |
| 872145b37d107144894c9aa8729bad42 | MD5 | Logger.dll |
| 01610587bcfa7ac379b1f0169a2a9ab384b9116b | SHA1 | |
| 2f258949fd95da6cd912beb7203a9fd5e99d050309a40341de67537edb75aadc | SHA256 | |
| 590b00c87d5ff2ffe09079f0406eb2cd | MD5 | MessagePackLib.dll |
| 92c91f1db8c2c8cc34c2e1a26f4f970f1518a7ed | SHA1 | |
| adb00dee751b4ba620d3b0e002f5b6d8b89cf63b062f74ec65bba72294d553d1 | SHA256 | |
| 509d41da4a688a2e50fc8e3afca074c7 | MD5 | Miscellaneous.dll |
| 228de17938071733585842c59ffb99177831b558 | SHA1 | |
| f91973113fd01465999ce317f3e7a89df8c91a5efadcfa61e5ccce687bf3580a | SHA256 | |
| 509d41da4a688a2e50fc8e3afca074c7 | MD5 | Miscellaneous.dll |
| 228de17938071733585842c59ffb99177831b558 | SHA1 | |
| f91973113fd01465999ce317f3e7a89df8c91a5efadcfa61e5ccce687bf3580a | SHA256 | |
| 12911f5654d6346fe99ef91e90849c13 | MD5 | Netstat.dll |
| 1b8e63d03feb84d995c02dcbb74da7edfaa8c763 | SHA1 | |
| 7eed1b90946a6db1fe978d177a80542b5db0bf3156c979dc8a8869a94811bf4b | SHA256 | |
| 3a474b8dee059562b31887197d94f382 | MD5 | Options.dll |
| b31455f9583b89cac9f655c136801673fb7b4b9a | SHA1 | |
| c9b8e795c5a024f9e3c85ba64534b9bf52cc8c3d29b95ff6417dc3a54bc68b95 | SHA256 | |
| 91edcb945924df5fbf4ff123aa63199c | MD5 | ProcessManager.dll |
| d124869aaee9aa1a49def714774b834335aa746e | SHA1 | |
| 5b1f80ff787bdcd7ee12aa64be1f2f5f1f658bd644bbc5fd73527b51da6ce0d6 | SHA256 | |
| ef998529d037fcdb2bde6d046f99db45 | MD5 | Ransomware.dll |
| 1a38a1182155429ecc64c20ece46ec0836c32ec7 | SHA1 | |
| 54f554b9e330476b3903756f62b577bab35cdef941d3d0f6a3d607862762bf91 | SHA256 | |
| ea1ff113b847312d57fa8621f71f460f | MD5 | Recovery.dll |
| 535a4e525da7e98f4f4f69abc923a1065bd2d3fa | SHA1 | |
| 58f9e3c90446dfecfec64221eb11167dd41d0e8dedda2ea9f83d9dda2890e6f3 | SHA256 | |
| 8749c78b8ad09a3b240dd1384a17539b | MD5 | Regedit.dll |
| b9263ac725ccd8c664ae0f9da5fc0d00adcb8c5e | SHA1 | |
| 657e3f1f449c0b710b0c571ec8eee689ae16793fb63b996e0182420d768f89bd | SHA256 | |
| acbf0f8b09320f3e967ee83fcda26f5d | MD5 | RemoteCamera.dll |
| bbee0fa1c88edcd0469974223fb026e1176256dc | SHA1 | |
| 203300be75ad8f57972324519b2583a44e759cdd57390d6765df10288e249789 | SHA256 | |
| 0f93650dd78557f41b7c5467e3b6b6a7 | MD5 | RemoteDesktop.dll |
| 382bd4496eb7439fde85832abca87cc21cb7872f | SHA1 | |
| cc5b49d2a2821d4f6ef6af8a1e50994c6690d6a4daa41bd048fe79bd8b578988 | SHA256 | |
| e89a0b897f93d7d5cb433b3fd01764c9 | MD5 | ReverseProxy.dll |
| 9e72e85d13fe70c2518041e30d202f04b14324b6 | SHA1 | |
| d8a115310142f2e874dc7ea2a393fada679838bddb87f4cfd9aaef631641cb72 | SHA256 | |
| 7f3a6c23c979f840d98b8b04a583cde9 | MD5 | SendFile.dll |
| 941c50a425479c5f025fbb152a1a0754ac03c252 | SHA1 | |
| 0da1bd8e67d6f499cc3b296fc278103497f7ca2f692fe76e3c0413b0e14df777 | SHA256 | |
| d405b02cb6c624a7df4ebecefc5d23a9 | MD5 | SendMemory.dll |
| 0272d8cc3456a9bdfff7431f9ce238c93511cacd | SHA1 | |
| e06a66122af82580a883ce21609f89628e5dd648726307693d398c0661a1e5c1 | SHA256 |
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