IPsec Helper
IPsec Helper is a post-exploitation remote access tool linked to Agrius operations. This malware shares significant programming and functional overlaps with Apostle ransomware, also linked to Agrius. IPsec Helper provides basic remote access tool functionality such as uploading files from victim systems, running commands, and deploying additional payloads.[1]
Techniques Used
| Domain | ID | Name | Use | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | T1071 | .001 | Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols |
IPsec Helper connects to command and control servers via HTTP POST requests based on parameters hard-coded into the malware.[1] |
| Enterprise | T1059 | .001 | Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell |
IPsec Helper can run arbitrary PowerShell commands passed to it.[1] |
| .003 | Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell |
IPsec Helper can run arbitrary commands passed to it through |
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| .005 | Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic |
IPsec Helper can run arbitrary Visual Basic scripts and commands passed to it.[1] |
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| Enterprise | T1005 | Data from Local System |
IPsec Helper can identify specific files and folders for follow-on exfiltration.[1] |
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| Enterprise | T1041 | Exfiltration Over C2 Channel |
IPsec Helper exfiltrates specific files through its command and control framework.[1] |
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| Enterprise | T1070 | Indicator Removal |
IPsec Helper can delete various registry keys related to its execution and use.[1] |
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| .004 | File Deletion |
IPsec Helper can delete itself when given the appropriate command.[1] |
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| .009 | Clear Persistence |
IPsec Helper can delete various service traces related to persistent execution when commanded.[1] |
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| Enterprise | T1570 | Lateral Tool Transfer |
IPsec Helper can download additional payloads from command and control nodes and execute them.[1] |
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| Enterprise | T1112 | Modify Registry |
IPsec Helper can make arbitrary changes to registry keys based on provided input.[1] |
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| Enterprise | T1027 | .013 | Obfuscated Files or Information: Encrypted/Encoded File |
IPsec Helper contains an embedded XML configuration file with an encrypted list of command and control servers. These are written to an external configuration file during execution.[1] |
| Enterprise | T1057 | Process Discovery |
IPsec Helper can identify the process it is currently running under and its number, and pass this back to a command and control node.[1] |
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| Enterprise | T1569 | .002 | System Services: Service Execution |
IPsec Helper is run as a Windows service in victim environments.[1] |
| Enterprise | T1497 | .003 | Virtualization/Sandbox Evasion: Time Based Evasion |
IPsec Helper will sleep for a random number of seconds, iterating 200 times over sleeps between one to three seconds, before continuing execution flow.[1] |
Groups That Use This Software
| ID | Name | References |
|---|---|---|
| G1030 | Agrius |
Agrius uses IPsec Helper as a post-exploitation remote access tool framework.[1] |