MoonBounce is a UEFI firmware-based rootkit. It is linked to Chinese APT41 hacker group. MoonBounce was discovered by the researchers at Kaspersky in 2021.[1] It can disable Windows security tools and bypass User Account Control.[2]
The data shows that the attacks are highly targeted.[3] It is a landmark in a UEFI rootkit evolution.[4] It is the third known malware UEFI bootkit found.
Infection edit
Kaspersky has detected the firmware rootkit in only one case so they didn't reveal much about its infection method. It is believed that it had been installed remotely.[5]
The SPI flash memory on the motherboard is the implanting location. CORE_DXE is the firmware laced component which is used during the first phases of the UEFI boot sequence. It hooks EFI Boot Services functions and inject more malware into a svchost.exe process during boot.[6]
It resides on a low level portion of the hard drive. It operates in memory only which makes it undetectable on the HDD.[7]
References edit
- ^ "New MoonBounce UEFI malware used by APT41 in targeted attacks". BleepingComputer. Archived from the original on 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
- ^ Yusaf, Mansoor (2023-09-18). "MoonBounce UEFI Bootkit Malware". Propelex. Archived from the original on 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
- ^ CG (2022-02-06). 電腦1週: PCStation Issue 1109 (in Chinese). Creative Games Limited.
- ^ Olyniychuk, Daryna (2023-03-14). "BlackLotus UEFI Bootkit Detection: Exploits CVE-2022-21894 to Bypass UEFI Secure Boot and Disables OS Security Mechanisms". SOC Prime. Archived from the original on 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
- ^ Paulina, Adam (2023-11-14). "Running Malware Below the OS - The State of UEFI Firmware Exploitation". Binary Defense. Archived from the original on 2023-12-09. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
- ^ "MoonBounce: the dark side of UEFI firmware". securelist.com. 2022-01-20. Archived from the original on 2024-02-01. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
- ^ Yurchenko, Alla (2022-01-25). "The Most Refined UEFI Firmware Implant: MoonBounce Detection". SOC Prime. Archived from the original on 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2024-03-21.