Categories: Malware

Duqu Trojan, Stuxnet-derived malware

The Duqu trojan main purpose is to obtain a remote access allowing an adversary to gather information from a compromised computer and of course to download and run arbitrary programs. Duqu malware spotted and identified by experts is based on the same Stuxnet code, however unlike Stuxnet, Duqu does not contain specific code related industrial control systems.

The excellent group CrySyS has located an installer for the malware threat; the installer file is a Microsoft Word document (.doc) that exploits a previously unknown kernel vulnerability that allows code execution. Opening the file a malicious code is able to executes Duqu binaries code.

From Symantec Corp. an interesting article related the malware and the exploit procedure found.

http://www.symantec.com/connect/w32-duqu_status-updates_installer-zero-day-exploit

From SecureWorks Counter Threat Unit Research Team more info regarding the threat and its features.

http://www.secureworks.com/research/threats/duqu/

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”.