Categories: MalwareSecurity

Trend Micro detected AutoCAD Malware for long term cyber espionage

Security experts at Trend Micro detected a new variant of AutoCAD Malware that leaves victims hackable for further cyber attacks.

Malware researchers at Trend Micro spotted AutoCAD Malware codenamed ACM_SHENZ.A. It’s not first time that a malware was specifically designed to steal AutoCAD project, last years security specialists at ESET detected a malicious code dubbed “ACAD/Medre.A” specialized in the theft of AutoCAD files. The virus has been developed to steal the blueprints from private companies mostly based in Peru according the security firm ESET, the virus was able to locate AutoCAD file on infected machines and to send them via e-mail to accounts provided by two Chinese internet firms, 163.com and qq.com

The choice to steal this particular type of file is motivated by the consideration that AutoCAD is one of the most used application for 2D and 3D computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting and it is widespread in principal industries.

Once infected the AutoCAD Malware creates an administrative account and unlocks the ports with the (SMB) Server Message Block protocol.

” It appears to be a legitimate AutoCAD component with a .FAS extension, but on analysis it actually opens up systems to exploits, specifically those targeting old vulnerabilities.” “It then creates network shares for all drives from C: to I:. It then opens four ports on the system: ports 137-139, and port 445. “reported the blog post published by Trend Micro.

The administrative account lets attacker to serve malicious code and steal documents from victims’PC , the cybercriminals behind the malware exploit unpatched SMB flaw to open the SMB ports and control the targeted system. The ports opened provides access to files, printers, serial ports, and miscellaneous communications between nodes on a network running on Windows.

“By opening the ports, exploits that target SMB can successfully run on affected systems, provided that the relevant vulnerabilities have not yet been patched. Security bulletins that cover the SMB vulnerabilities include MS10-020and MS11-043.”

Analyzing the structure of the agent the experts believe that ACM_SHENZ.A may have been designed to launch further attacks.
The AutoCAD Malware also allows attackers to disable certain AutoCAD functions and modify all AutoCAD files to spread malware.

The AutoCAD Malware ACM_SHENZ.A is quite different from the one detected by ESET last year, the malicious agent discovered by Trend Micro was designed with leaves the compromised machine open for further exploitation and could be used for long term cyber espionage operation.

Global VP of Trend Micro’s Security Research, Rik Ferguson, to the answer if the two malware are different replied:

“Yep, ‘its different’.”

As usual the best way to keep the system protected  from infection of AutoCAD Malware ACM_SHENZ. A is to keep updated anti-virus software and fix all unpatched vulnerabilities to reduce the surface of attack of the cyber threat.

Pierluigi Paganini

(Security Affairs –  Cyber espionage, AutoCAD malware)

Pierluigi Paganini

Pierluigi Paganini is member of the ENISA (European Union Agency for Network and Information Security) Threat Landscape Stakeholder Group and Cyber G7 Group, he is also a Security Evangelist, Security Analyst and Freelance Writer. Editor-in-Chief at "Cyber Defense Magazine", Pierluigi is a cyber security expert with over 20 years experience in the field, he is Certified Ethical Hacker at EC Council in London. The passion for writing and a strong belief that security is founded on sharing and awareness led Pierluigi to find the security blog "Security Affairs" recently named a Top National Security Resource for US. Pierluigi is a member of the "The Hacker News" team and he is a writer for some major publications in the field such as Cyber War Zone, ICTTF, Infosec Island, Infosec Institute, The Hacker News Magazine and for many other Security magazines. Author of the Books "The Deep Dark Web" and “Digital Virtual Currency and Bitcoin”.

Recent Posts

American fast-fashion firm Hot Topic hit by credential stuffing attacks

Hot Topic suffered credential stuffing attacks that exposed customers' personal information and partial payment data.…

2 hours ago

Cisco addressed high-severity flaws in IOS and IOS XE software

Cisco addressed multiple vulnerabilities in IOS and IOS XE software that can be exploited to…

16 hours ago

Google: China dominates government exploitation of zero-day vulnerabilities in 2023

Google's Threat Analysis Group (TAG) and Mandiant reported a surge in the number of actively…

22 hours ago

Google addressed 2 Chrome zero-days demonstrated at Pwn2Own 2024

Google addressed two zero-day vulnerabilities in the Chrome web browser that have been demonstrated during…

1 day ago

INC Ransom stole 3TB of data from the National Health Service (NHS) of Scotland

The INC Ransom extortion group hacked the National Health Service (NHS) of Scotland and is threatening…

2 days ago

CISA adds Microsoft SharePoint bug disclosed at Pwn2Own to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) adds a Microsoft SharePoint vulnerability disclosed at the…

2 days ago

This website uses cookies.