ValleyRAT malware is a sophisticated threat that targets Chinese speakers and industries such as e-commerce [1], finance [1] [2], sales [1] [2], and management enterprises [2].
Description
ValleyRAT malware uses multiple stages and techniques to monitor and control victims [2]. It employs shellcode executed in memory to reduce its footprint on systems [2]. To evade memory scanners [1], ValleyRAT utilizes sleep obfuscation [2], XOR encoding [1] [2], and AES-256 decryption [2]. The malware disguises malicious files as legitimate applications and creates a mutex to ensure a single instance runs [2]. It alters registry entries to communicate with its command-and-control server and checks for virtual machine environments to evade detection [2]. ValleyRAT also uses reflective DLL loading, API hashing [1] [2], and XORs shellcode with 0x60 before executing it using callback procedures [1], making detection more challenging [2].
Conclusion
ValleyRAT malware poses a significant threat to Chinese-speaking individuals and industries. Organizations should implement robust cybersecurity measures to detect and mitigate the impact of such advanced threats. As ValleyRAT continues to evolve, it is crucial for security professionals to stay vigilant and adapt their defenses accordingly to protect against future attacks.
References
[1] https://www.fortinet.com/blog/threat-research/valleyrat-campaign-targeting-chinese-speakers
[2] https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/valleyrat-campaign-hits-windows/
