Mieter aus der Hölle: Prometeis unbefugter Aufenthalt auf Ihrem Windows-Server

Ruslan Mikhalov Leiter der Bedrohungsforschung bei SOC Prime

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Mieter aus der Hölle: Prometeis unbefugter Aufenthalt auf Ihrem Windows-Server

Detection stack

AIDR
Alert
ETL
Query

Bedrohungsbericht
Angriffsablauf
Erkennungen
Simulationen

Zusammenfassung

Prometei ist ein mit Russland in Verbindung stehendes Botnetz, das Windows-Server kompromittiert, einen persistenten Dienst installiert, Anmeldeinformationen stiehlt, Monero schürft und den Host verstärkt, um konkurrierende Eindringlinge zu blockieren. Es nutzt benutzerdefinierte XOR- und RC4-Verschlüsselungen, kommuniziert über klares HTTP und Tor und ruft zusätzliche Module über ein gestaffeltes 7-Zip-Archiv ab. Die Malware verlässt sich auf legitime Windows-Dienstprogramme für Sammlung und Persistenz.

Untersuchung

Die eSentire Threat Response Unit entdeckte die Infektion auf einem Windows-Server im Bausektor im Januar 2026. Eine bösartige Befehlsfolge erstellte eine XOR-Schlüsseldatei, lud eine Base64-Nutzlast herunter, entschlüsselte sie mit einer rollenden XOR-Routine und installierte den UPlugPlay-Dienst. Registrierungswerte speicherten Host-Identifikatoren und verschlüsselte Schlüssel, während ausgehender HTTP-GET-Datenverkehr verschlüsselte Systemdetails übertrug. Gestaffelte Downloads packten auch zusätzliche Komponenten aus, die zum Mining verwendet wurden.

Abschwächung

Erzwingen Sie starke, eindeutige RDP-Passwörter, aktivieren Sie MFA, deaktivieren Sie unnötige Remote-Dienste und setzen Sie Kontosperrrichtlinien durch. Verwenden Sie AppLocker oder WDAC, um den Missbrauch von LOLBins einzuschränken und die Ausführung nicht vertrauenswürdiger Werkzeuge zu blockieren. Implementieren Sie Windows Defender oder ein Next-Gen-AV mit maßgeschneiderten Signaturen und stellen Sie sicher, dass Firewall-Regeln nicht geändert werden können, um unautorisierten eingehenden Zugriff zu erlauben.

Antwort

Isolieren Sie den Host, beenden Sie UPlugPlay, entfernen Sie zugehörige Dateien und Registrierungsschlüssel und setzen Sie kompromittierte Anmeldeinformationen zurück. Scannen Sie nach anderen infizierten Systemen, blockieren Sie identifizierte IPs/Domains von Befehls- und Steuerungsservern (C2) und überwachen Sie auf wiederholte Prozess-Erstellungsmuster oder verdächtige Änderungen an Firewall-Regeln.

graph TB %% Klassendefinitionen classDef action fill:#99ccff classDef tool fill:#ffcc99 classDef malware fill:#ff9999 classDef process fill:#ccffcc %% Knoten-Definitionen initial_access[„Aktion – T1021.001 Remote Services: Remote Desktop Protocol Komprimierte RDP-Anmeldedaten zur Anmeldung an Windows Server verwendet“] class initial_access action tool_cmd[„Werkzeug – Name: cmd.exe Beschreibung: Windows-Befehlszeile“] class tool_cmd tool malware_xor_key[„Malware – Datei: C:\Windows\mshlpda32.dll Zweck: Speichert XOR-Schlüssel, geschrieben über cmd“] class malware_xor_key malware tool_powershell[„Werkzeug – Name: PowerShell Beschreibung: Führt Skripte aus und dekodiert base64-XOR-Payload“] class tool_powershell tool malware_zsvc[„Malware – Datei: C:\Windows\zsvc.exe Zweck: Entschlüsselte Payload geschrieben und gestartet“] class malware_zsvc malware malware_sqhost[„Malware – Datei: C:\Windows\sqhost.exe Zweck: Kopierte Payload für Dienstausführung“] class malware_sqhost malware service_node[„Aktion – T1569.002 System Services: Service Execution Windows-Dienst ‚UPlugPlay‘ erstellt, auf Autostart gesetzt“] class service_node action firewall_rule[„Aktion – T1562.004 Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify System Firewall Eingangsregel für sqhost.exe hinzugefügt und WinRM deaktiviert“] class firewall_rule action defender_exclusion[„Aktion – T1564.012 Hide Artifacts: File/Path Exclusions Microsoft Defender-Ausnahme für C:\Windows\dell hinzugefügt“] class defender_exclusion action tool_mimikatz[„Werkzeug – Name: Mimikatz (miWalk32/miWalk64) Beschreibung: Holt Anmeldeinformationen aus LSA Secrets“] class tool_mimikatz tool credential_dump[„Aktion – T1003.004 OS Credential Dumping: LSA Secrets Mimikatz-Binärdateien bereitgestellt, um Anmeldeinformationen zu stehlen“] class credential_dump action discovery[„Aktion – T1016 System Network Configuration Discovery Hostnamen, Domäne und IP-Konfiguration gesammelt“] class discovery action archive[„Aktion – T1560.003 Archive via Custom Method Daten vor der Exfiltration mit LZNT1 komprimiert“] class archive action obfuscation[„Aktion – T1027.015 Obfuscated Files or Information: Compression LZNT1-Kompression, RC4-Verschlüsselung und doppelte base64 verwendet“] class obfuscation action c2_web[„Aktion – T1102.002 Web Service: Bidirectional Communication HTTP GET/POST mit Parametern i r add h enckey answ“] class c2_web action c2_http[„Aktion – T1071.001 Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols HTTP-Verkehr über Clearweb und TOR“] class c2_http action c2_tor_proxy[„Aktion – T1090 Proxy C2-Verkehr über TOR-Hidden-Service geleitet“] class c2_tor_proxy action c2_multi_hop[„Aktion – T1090.003 Proxy: Multi-hop Proxy TOR-Netzwerk für Multi-Hop-Anonymität verwendet“] class c2_multi_hop action lateral_movement[„Aktion – T1021 Remote Services rdpcIip.exe heruntergeladen für RDP-Brute-Force-Schutz und mögliche laterale Bewegung“] class lateral_movement action tool_rdpcIip[„Werkzeug – Name: rdpcIip.exe Beschreibung: Überwacht RDP-Fehler und aktualisiert Firewall-Regeln“] class tool_rdpcIip tool netdefender[„Aktion – T1562.004 Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify System Firewall Überwacht Event-ID 4625 und fügt Firewall-Sperren für Brute-Force-IPs hinzu“] class netdefender action %% Flussverbindungen initial_access –>|executes| tool_cmd tool_cmd –>|writes| malware_xor_key initial_access –>|executes| tool_powershell tool_powershell –>|downloads_and_decrypts| malware_zsvc malware_zsvc –>|copies_to| malware_sqhost malware_sqhost –>|installs| service_node service_node –>|creates| firewall_rule service_node –>|adds_exclusion| defender_exclusion service_node –>|spawns| credential_dump credential_dump –>|uses| tool_mimikatz credential_dump –>|collects| discovery discovery –>|archives| archive archive –>|obfuscates| obfuscation obfuscation –>|sent_via| c2_web c2_web –>|communicates_via| c2_http c2_http –>|routed_through| c2_tor_proxy c2_tor_proxy –>|provides| c2_multi_hop c2_multi_hop –>|supports| lateral_movement lateral_movement –>|uses| tool_rdpcIip tool_rdpcIip –>|adds| netdefender

Angriffsablauf

Angriffs-Narrative & Befehle:
Der Angreifer hat Remote-Code-Ausführung auf dem Opfer-Host erlangt und möchte Hardware- und Betriebssystemversionsdetails auf niedriger Ebene für Bestandsaufnahme und zukünftige Nutzlastanpassung sammeln. Um ‚Living-off-the-Land‘ zu bleiben, verwendet der Akteur eingebaute Windows-Dienstprogramme, die wahrscheinlich nicht blockiert werden:
1. Abfrage des Betriebssystemversion – cmd.exe /c ver (klassische Versionszeichenfolge).
2. Hersteller der Hauptplatine ernten – wmic baseboard get Manufacturer.
3. Computermodell sammeln – wmic ComputerSystem get Model.
Diese Befehle werden in einem einzigen PowerShell-Skript der Reihe nach ausgeführt, um ein realistisches Post-Exploitation-Modul nachzubilden. Jeder Befehl erzeugt ein eigenes Prozess-Erstellungsereignis, das den Bedingungen der Sigma-Regel entspricht.

Regressionstest-Skript:

# Prometei-Art System-Fingerprinting-Simulation
# ------------------------------------------------
# 1. Betriebssystemversion
cmd.exe /c ver

# 2. Hersteller der Hauptplatine
wmic baseboard get Manufacturer

# 3. Computermodell
wmic ComputerSystem get Model

Bereinigungsbefehle:

# Entfernen von generierten Ereignisprotokollen vom lokalen Testgerät (optional)
wevtutil cl Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational
wevtutil cl Security

Ende des Berichts

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Name	Descripiton
PHPSESSID	Preserves user session state across page requests. Cookie generated by applications based on the PHP language. This is a general purpose identifier used to maintain user session variables. It is normally a random generated number, how it is used can be specific to the site, but a good example is maintaining a logged-in status for a user between pages.
sp_i	Used to store information about authenticated User.
sp_r	Used to store information about authenticated User.
sp_a	Used to store information about authenticated User.

Name	Descripiton
tuuid	Collects anonymous data related to the user's visits to the website, such as the number of visits, average time spent on the website and what pages have been loaded.
tuuid_last_update	Collects anonymous data related to the user's visits to the website, such as the number of visits, average time spent on the website and what pages have been loaded.
um	Collects anonymous data related to the user's visits to the website, such as the number of visits, average time spent on the website and what pages have been loaded.
umeh	Collects anonymous data related to the user's visits to the website, such as the number of visits, average time spent on the website and what pages have been loaded.
na_sc_x	Used by the social sharing platform AddThis to keep a record of parts of the site that has been visited in order to recommend other parts of the site.
APID	Collects anonymous data related to the user's visits to the website.
IDSYNC	Collects anonymous data related to the user's visits to the website.
_cc_aud	Collects anonymous statistical data related to the user's website visits, such as the number of visits, average time spent on the website and what pages have been loaded. The purpose is to segment the website's users according to factors such as demographics and geographical location, in order to enable media and marketing agencies to structure and understand their target groups to enable customised online advertising.
_cc_cc	Collects anonymous statistical data related to the user's website visits, such as the number of visits, average time spent on the website and what pages have been loaded. The purpose is to segment the website's users according to factors such as demographics and geographical location, in order to enable media and marketing agencies to structure and understand their target groups to enable customised online advertising.
_cc_dc	Collects anonymous statistical data related to the user's website visits, such as the number of visits, average time spent on the website and what pages have been loaded. The purpose is to segment the website's users according to factors such as demographics and geographical location, in order to enable media and marketing agencies to structure and understand their target groups to enable customised online advertising.
_cc_id	Collects anonymous statistical data related to the user's website visits, such as the number of visits, average time spent on the website and what pages have been loaded. The purpose is to segment the website's users according to factors such as demographics and geographical location, in order to enable media and marketing agencies to structure and understand their target groups to enable customised online advertising.
dpm	Via a unique ID that is used for semantic content analysis, the user's navigation on the website is registered and linked to offline data from surveys and similar registrations to display targeted ads.
acs	Collects anonymous data related to the user's visits to the website, such as the number of visits, average time spent on the website and what pages have been loaded, with the purpose of displaying targeted ads.
clid	Collects anonymous data related to the user's visits to the website, such as the number of visits, average time spent on the website and what pages have been loaded, with the purpose of displaying targeted ads.
KRTBCOOKIE_#	Registers a unique ID that identifies the user's device during return visits across websites that use the same ad network. The ID is used to allow targeted ads.
PUBMDCID	Registers a unique ID that identifies the user's device during return visits across websites that use the same ad network. The ID is used to allow targeted ads.
PugT	Registers a unique ID that identifies the user's device during return visits across websites that use the same ad network. The ID is used to allow targeted ads.
ssi	Registers a unique ID that identifies a returning user's device. The ID is used for targeted ads.
_tmid	Registers a unique ID that identifies the user's device upon return visits. The ID is used to target ads in video clips.
wam-sync	Used by the advertising platform Weborama to determine the visitor's interests based on pages visits, content clicked and other actions on the website.
wui	Used by the advertising platform Weborama to determine the visitor's interests based on pages visits, content clicked and other actions on the website.
AFFICHE_W	Used by the advertising platform Weborama to determine the visitor's interests based on pages visits, content clicked and other actions on the website.
B	Collects anonymous data related to the user's website visits, such as the number of visits, average time spent on the website and what pages have been loaded. The registered data is used to categorise the users' interest and demographical profiles with the purpose of customising the website content depending on the visitor.
1P_JAR	These cookies are used to gather website statistics, and track conversion rates.
APISID	Google set a number of cookies on any page that includes a Google reCAPTCHA. While we have no control over the cookies set by Google, they appear to include a mixture of pieces of information to measure the number and behaviour of Google reCAPTCHA users.
HSID	Google set a number of cookies on any page that includes a Google reCAPTCHA. While we have no control over the cookies set by Google, they appear to include a mixture of pieces of information to measure the number and behaviour of Google reCAPTCHA users.
NID	Google set a number of cookies on any page that includes a Google reCAPTCHA. While we have no control over the cookies set by Google, they appear to include a mixture of pieces of information to measure the number and behaviour of Google reCAPTCHA users.
SAPISID	Google set a number of cookies on any page that includes a Google reCAPTCHA. While we have no control over the cookies set by Google, they appear to include a mixture of pieces of information to measure the number and behaviour of Google reCAPTCHA users.
SID	Google set a number of cookies on any page that includes a Google reCAPTCHA. While we have no control over the cookies set by Google, they appear to include a mixture of pieces of information to measure the number and behaviour of Google reCAPTCHA users.
SIDCC	Security cookie to protect users data from unauthorised access.
SSID	Google set a number of cookies on any page that includes a Google reCAPTCHA. While we have no control over the cookies set by Google, they appear to include a mixture of pieces of information to measure the number and behaviour of Google reCAPTCHA users.
__utmx	This cookie is associated with Google Website Optimizer, a tool designed to help site owners improve their wbesites. It is used to distinguish between two varaitions a webpage that might be shown to a visitor as part of an A/B split test. This helps site owners to detemine which version of a page performs better, and therefore helps to improve the website.
__utmxx	This cookie is associated with Google Website Optimizer, a tool designed to help site owners improve their wbesites. It is used to distinguish between two varaitions a webpage that might be shown to a visitor as part of an A/B split test. This helps site owners to detemine which version of a page performs better, and therefore helps to improve the website.

Name	Descripiton
_hjid	Hotjar cookie. This cookie is set when the customer first lands on a page with the Hotjar script. It is used to persist the random user ID, unique to that site on the browser. This ensures that behavior in subsequent visits to the same site will be attributed to the same user ID.
_hjIncludedInSample	This cookie is associated with web analytics functionality and services from Hot Jar, a Malta based company. It uniquely identifies a visitor during a single browser session and indicates they are included in an audience sample.
intercom-id-[xxx]	This cookie is used by Intercom as a session so that users can continue a chat as they move through the site.
intercom-session-[xxx]	Used to keeping track of sessions and remember logins and conversations.
demdex	Via a unique ID that is used for semantic content analysis, the user's navigation on the website is registered and linked to offline data from surveys and similar registrations to display targeted ads.
CookieConsent	Stores the user's cookie consent state for the current domain.
__cfduid	Used by the content network, Cloudflare, to identify trusted web traffic.
ss	These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation . They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. These services may include the Live Chat facility, Contact Us form(s), the Product Quotation forms and submission process, and the Email Newsletter sign up functionality .

Name	Descripiton
_ga	This cookie name is asssociated with Google Universal Analytics - which is a significant update to Google's more commonly used analytics service. This cookie is used to distinguish unique users by assigning a randomly generated number as a client identifier. It is included in each page. Registers a unique ID that is used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website. request in a site and used to calculate visitor, session and campaign data for the sites analytics reports. By default it is set to expire after 2 years, although this is customisable by website owners.
_gat	Used by Google Analytics to throttle request rate. This cookie name is associated with Google Universal Analytics, according to documentation it is used to throttle the request rate - limiting the collection of data on high traffic sites. It expires after 10 minutes.
_gid	This cookie name is asssociated with Google Universal Analytics. This appears to be a new cookie and as of Spring 2017 no information is available from Google. It appears to store and update a unique value for each page visited. Registers a unique ID that is used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website.
IDE	Used by Google DoubleClick to register and report the website user's actions after viewing or clicking one of the advertiser's ads with the purpose of measuring the efficacy of an ad and to present targeted ads to the user.
r/collect	Used by Google DoubleClick to register and report the website user's actions after viewing or clicking one of the advertiser's ads with the purpose of measuring the efficacy of an ad and to present targeted ads to the user.
test_cookie	Used to check if the user's browser supports cookies.
collect	Used to send data to Google Analytics about the visitor's device and behaviour. Tracks the visitor across devices and marketing channels.
ads/user-lists/#	These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites.
c	Registers anonymised user data, such as IP address, geographical location, visited websites, and what ads the user has clicked, with the purpose of optimising ad display based on the user's movement on websites that use the same ad network.
khaos	Registers anonymised user data, such as IP address, geographical location, visited websites, and what ads the user has clicked, with the purpose of optimising ad display based on the user's movement on websites that use the same ad network.
put_#	Registers anonymised user data, such as IP address, geographical location, visited websites, and what ads the user has clicked, with the purpose of optimising ad display based on the user's movement on websites that use the same ad network.
rpb	Registers anonymised user data, such as IP address, geographical location, visited websites, and what ads the user has clicked, with the purpose of optimising ad display based on the user's movement on websites that use the same ad network.
rpx	Registers anonymised user data, such as IP address, geographical location, visited websites, and what ads the user has clicked, with the purpose of optimising ad display based on the user's movement on websites that use the same ad network.
tap.php	Registers anonymised user data, such as IP address, geographical location, visited websites, and what ads the user has clicked, with the purpose of optimising ad display based on the user's movement on websites that use the same ad network.