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Calisto

Calisto is a macOS Trojan that opens a backdoor on the compromised machine. Calisto is believed to have first been developed in 2016. [1] [2]

ID: S0274
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Type: MALWARE
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Platforms: macOS
Contributors: Cody Thomas, SpecterOps
Version: 1.1
Created: 17 October 2018
Last Modified: 21 September 2023
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Enterprise Layer
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Techniques Used

Domain ID Name Use
Enterprise T1098 Account Manipulation

Calisto adds permissions and remote logins to all users.[2]
Enterprise T1560 .001 Archive Collected Data: Archive via Utility

Calisto uses the zip -r command to compress the data collected on the local system.[1][2]
Enterprise T1217 Browser Information Discovery

Calisto collects information on bookmarks from Google Chrome.[1]
Enterprise T1136 .001 Create Account: Local Account

Calisto has the capability to add its own account to the victim's machine.[2]
Enterprise T1543 .001 Create or Modify System Process: Launch Agent

Calisto adds a .plist file to the /Library/LaunchAgents folder to maintain persistence.[1]
Enterprise T1555 .001 Credentials from Password Stores: Keychain

Calisto collects Keychain storage data and copies those passwords/tokens to a file.[1][2]
Enterprise T1005 Data from Local System

Calisto can collect data from user directories.[1]
Enterprise T1074 .001 Data Staged: Local Data Staging

Calisto uses a hidden directory named .calisto to store data from the victim’s machine before exfiltration.[1][2]
Enterprise T1564 .001 Hide Artifacts: Hidden Files and Directories

Calisto uses a hidden directory named .calisto to store data from the victim’s machine before exfiltration.[1][2]
Enterprise T1070 .004 Indicator Removal: File Deletion

Calisto has the capability to use rm -rf to remove folders and files from the victim's machine.[1]
Enterprise T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer

Calisto has the capability to upload and download files to the victim's machine.[2]
Enterprise T1056 .002 Input Capture: GUI Input Capture

Calisto presents an input prompt asking for the user's login and password.[2]
Enterprise T1036 .005 Masquerading: Match Legitimate Name or Location

Calisto's installation file is an unsigned DMG image under the guise of Intego’s security solution for mac.[1]
Enterprise T1016 System Network Configuration Discovery

Calisto runs the ifconfig command to obtain the IP address from the victim’s machine.[1]
Enterprise T1569 .001 System Services: Launchctl

Calisto uses launchctl to enable screen sharing on the victim’s machine.[1]

References

  1. Kuzin, M., Zelensky S. (2018, July 20). Calisto Trojan for macOS. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  1. Pantig, J. (2018, July 30). OSX.Calisto. Retrieved September 7, 2018.