Data from Local System
Sensitive data can be collected from local system sources, such as the file system or databases of information residing on the system.
Local system data includes information stored by the operating system. Access to local system data often requires escalated privileges (e.g. root access). Examples of local system data include authentication tokens, the device keyboard cache, Wi-Fi passwords, and photos.
Procedure Examples
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Anubis |
Anubis can exfiltrate files encrypted with the ransomware module from the device.[1] |
| Concipit1248 |
Concipit1248 can collect device photos.[2] |
| Corona Updates |
Corona Updates can collect voice notes, device accounts, and gallery images.[2] |
| Dendroid |
Dendroid can collect the device’s photos, browser history, bookmarks, and accounts stored on the device.[3] |
| Desert Scorpion |
Desert Scorpion can collect files located in external storage.[4] |
| eSurv | |
| Exodus |
Exodus Two can extract information on pictures from the Gallery, Chrome and SBrowser bookmarks, and the connected WiFi network's password.[6] |
| FlexiSpy |
FlexiSpy can monitor device photos and can also access browser history and bookmarks.[7] |
| Ginp | |
| GolfSpy |
GolfSpy can collect local accounts on the device, pictures, bookmarks/histories of the default browser, and files stored on the SD card. GolfSpy can list image, audio, video, and other files stored on the device. GolfSpy can copy arbitrary files from the device.[9] |
| Gooligan |
Gooligan steals authentication tokens that can be used to access data from multiple Google applications.[10] |
| Gustuff |
Gustuff can capture files and photos from the compromised device.[11] |
| INSOMNIA |
INSOMNIA can collect application database files, including Gmail, Hangouts, device photos, and container directories of third-party apps.[12] |
| Monokle |
Monokle can retrieve the salt used when storing the user’s password, aiding an adversary in computing the user’s plaintext password/PIN from the stored password hash. Monokle can also capture the user’s dictionary, user-defined shortcuts, and browser history, enabling profiling of the user and their activities.[13] |
| RCSAndroid |
RCSAndroid can collect passwords for Wi-Fi networks and online accounts, including Skype, Facebook, Twitter, Google, WhatsApp, Mail, and LinkedIn.[14] |
| SpyNote RAT |
SpyNote RAT can copy files from the device to the C2 server.[15] |
| Stealth Mango |
Stealth Mango collected and exfiltrated data from the device, including sensitive letters/documents, stored photos, and stored audio files.[16] |
| Tangelo | |
| TrickMo | |
| ViceLeaker |
ViceLeaker can copy arbitrary files from the device to the C2 server, can exfiltrate browsing history, can exfiltrate the SD card structure, and can exfiltrate pictures as the user takes them.[18][19] |
| ViperRAT |
ViperRAT can collect device photos, PDF documents, Office documents, browser history, and browser bookmarks.[20] |
| WolfRAT |
WolfRAT can collect user account, photos, browser history, and arbitrary files.[21] |
Mitigations
This type of attack technique cannot be easily mitigated with preventive controls since it is based on the abuse of system features.
Detection
Accessing data from the local system can be difficult to detect, and therefore enterprises may be better served focusing on detection at other stages of adversarial behavior.
References
- M. Feller. (2020, February 5). Infostealer, Keylogger, and Ransomware in One: Anubis Targets More than 250 Android Applications. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- T. Bao, J. Lu. (2020, April 14). Coronavirus Update App Leads to Project Spy Android and iOS Spyware. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
- Marc Rogers. (2014, March 6). Dendroid malware can take over your camera, record audio, and sneak into Google Play. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
- A. Blaich, M. Flossman. (2018, April 16). Lookout finds new surveillanceware in Google Play with ties to known threat actor targeting the Middle East. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- A. Bauer. (2019, April 8). Lookout discovers phishing sites distributing new iOS and Android surveillanceware. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- Security Without Borders. (2019, March 29). Exodus: New Android Spyware Made in Italy. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- FlexiSpy. (n.d.). FlexiSpy Monitoring Features. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ThreatFabric. (2019, November). Ginp - A malware patchwork borrowing from Anubis. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- E. Xu, G. Guo. (2019, June 28). Mobile Cyberespionage Campaign ‘Bouncing Golf’ Affects Middle East. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
- Check Point Research Team. (2016, November 30). More Than 1 Million Google Accounts Breached by Gooligan. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
- Vitor Ventura. (2019, April 9). Gustuff banking botnet targets Australia . Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- I. Beer. (2019, August 29). Implant Teardown. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
- Bauer A., Kumar A., Hebeisen C., et al. (2019, July). Monokle: The Mobile Surveillance Tooling of the Special Technology Center. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- Veo Zhang. (2015, July 21). Hacking Team RCSAndroid Spying Tool Listens to Calls; Roots Devices to Get In. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
- Shivang Desai. (2017, January 23). SpyNote RAT posing as Netflix app. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
- Lookout. (n.d.). Stealth Mango & Tangelo. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
- P. Asinovsky. (2020, March 24). TrickBot Pushing a 2FA Bypass App to Bank Customers in Germany. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
- GReAT. (2019, June 26). ViceLeaker Operation: mobile espionage targeting Middle East. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- L. Arsene, C. Ochinca. (2018, August 20). Triout – Spyware Framework for Android with Extensive Surveillance Capabilities. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
- M. Flossman. (2017, February 16). ViperRAT: The mobile APT targeting the Israeli Defense Force that should be on your radar. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- W. Mercer, P. Rascagneres, V. Ventura. (2020, May 19). The wolf is back... . Retrieved July 20, 2020.