Inside the most innocent appearance, an exciting landscape or a ridiculous meme, can hide something dangerous, waiting for its moment to hit.
No amazing file names. No antivirus warnings. Just a harmless picture, secretly hiding the useful load that can steal the data, perform malicious software and capture your system without traces.
This is Steganography, a secret weapon weapon to conceal malicious code inside the harmless files. By built data into the images, the attackers eliminate the detection, relying on individual scenarios or processes for extracting and performing a hidden useful load.
Let’s figure out how it works, why it’s so dangerous, and most importantly how to stop it is not too late.
What is stegonography in cybersecurity?
Stegonography is the practice of concealing data in another file or environment. Unlike encryption that sortes out the data to make them unreadable, Steganography masks the malicious code within the harmless images, videos or audio files, making it almost invisible to traditional security tools.
In cyberattacks, the opponents built useful loads in the image files that are later extracted and performed in the victim system.
Why cybercrime use stegography:
- Evasion from safety tools: The hidden code inside the images bypass the antivirus and firewall.
- No suspicious files: The attackers do not need obvious files.
- Low detection speed: Traditional security checks rarely inspect the images on malicious software.
- Delivery hidden useful load: The malicious software remains hidden until it is obtained and executed.
- Bypass filters by email: Malicious images do not cause standard phishing detections.
- Universal Attack Method: You can use in phishing, delivery of malware and data exports.
As Xworm uses stegography to avoid detection
Let’s look at the malicious program analyzed inside Any.Run interactive sand box This demonstrates exactly how stegography can be used for multi -stage harmful infection.
View the analysis session with xworm
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| Stegonography Company starting with phishing PDF |
Step 1: Attack begins with Phishing PDF
We see inside any sandbox session. It all starts with pdf attachment. The document includes a malicious link that cheat on users in the download file (Windows Registry).
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At first glance, this may not seem dangerous. But the opening file modifies the system register, planting a hidden scenario that is automatically performed when restarting the computer.
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| .Reg -theil used to change the registry in any. Run Sandbox |
Step 2: Registry Scenario adds a hidden launch process
After executing the .Reg file he silently inserts the script to the Windows Autorun registry key. This ensures that malicious software is running the next time the system is restarted.
At this stage, the actual malicious software has not yet been loaded, just a calm scenario that awaits activation. This is what makes the attack such a sneaky.
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| Changing the value of the autoraph in the registry, revealed by any.Run |
Step 3: Fulfillment PowerShell
After rebooting the system, the registry script launches PowerShell, which downloads the VBS file from the remote server.
Inside the sandbox Any.Run this process is visible on the right side of the screen. By clicking on PowerShell.exe, shows the name of the file loaded.
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| PowerShell.exe Loading VBS file in a safe environment |
At this stage, there is no obvious malicious software, just a scenario that seems to be a harmless file. However, the real threat is hidden at the next step where stegography is used to hide the useful load inside the image.
Step 4: Activation of Stegonography
Instead of uploading the executable file, the VBS scenario receives an image file. But hidden in this picture is a harmful useful load of DLL.
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| Image with the malicious useful load dll, detected by any.Run |
Using the displacement 000D3D80 Inside any.Run we can accurately determine where the malicious dll is built into the image file.
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| A static analysis of a malicious image |
With a static analysis, the image looks legal, but when we inspect the Hex tab and scroll down, we find
Immediately after this flag, we see “TVQ”, encoded by the Base64 MZ signature. This confirms that Steganography has been used to conceal the useful XWORM load inside the image, allowing it to bypass the security detection until it is obtained and is fulfilled.
Step 5: Xworm deployed inside the system
The final stage of the attack includes the performance of the extracted DLL, which introduces the XWOMM into the system process AddinProcess32.
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| Malicious Xworm software detected by any.Run Sandbox |
At this point, the attacker gets distant access to the infected machine that allows them:
- Steal sensitive data
- Complete the team deleted
- Deploy additional malicious programs
- Use the infected system as a launch location for further attacks
Reveal hidden threats before they strike
Steganography-based attacks are an increasing problem for business, as traditional safety tools often produce hidden malware inside images and other media files. This allows the cybercriminators to bypass the detection, steal the data and penetrate the system without causing the alarm.
Using tools such as any interactive sandy boxes, security commands can visually track each stage of the attack, identify hidden useful loads and analyze the suspicious files in real time:
- Take the time using a quick tire analysis: Get the initial results in just 10 seconds and arrange the threat assessment process.
- To cooperate effectively: Share the results instantly and work together at real -time sessions to accelerate command tasks.
- SIRPLY THE SHUTS: Use intuitive interface and real -time designation to reduce the load and increase performance.
- Get effective ideas: The lever has gained poppy and MITER ATT & CK display for an effective trial, response and threat.
- Improve the reaction: Improved data transfer from SOC 1 level SOC 2 level with comprehensive reports for more efficient escalation.
Active observation of suspicious activity and testing of potential threats in controlled conditions is key to strengthen your cybersecurity posture.
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