ATT&CKSoftwareDarkWatchman

DarkWatchman

S0673

Malware.View on attack.mitre.org

About this malware

DarkWatchman is a lightweight JavaScript-based remote access tool (RAT) that avoids file operations; it was first observed in November 2021.

Techniques used34

Procedure examples34

TechniqueProcedure example
T1005
Data from Local System

DarkWatchman can collect files from a compromised host.

T1010
Application Window Discovery

DarkWatchman reports window names along with keylogger information to provide application context.

T1012
Query Registry

DarkWatchman can query the Registry to determine if it has already been installed on the system.

T1027.004
Compile After Delivery

DarkWatchman has used the csc.exe tool to compile a C# executable.

T1027.010
Command Obfuscation

DarkWatchman has used Base64 to encode PowerShell commands.

T1027.011
Fileless Storage

DarkWatchman can store configuration strings, keylogger, and output of components in the Registry.

T1027.015
Compression

DarkWatchman has been delivered as compressed RAR payloads in ZIP files to victims.

T1033
System Owner/User Discovery

DarkWatchman has collected the username from a victim machine.

T1036
Masquerading

DarkWatchman has used an icon mimicking a text file to mask a malicious executable.

T1047
Windows Management Instrumentation

DarkWatchman can use WMI to execute commands.

T1053.005
Scheduled Task

DarkWatchman has created a scheduled task for persistence.

T1056.001
Keylogging

DarkWatchman can track key presses with a keylogger module.

T1059.001
PowerShell

DarkWatchman can execute PowerShell commands and has used PowerShell to execute a keylogger.

T1059.003
Windows Command Shell

DarkWatchman can use `cmd.exe` to execute commands.

T1059.007
JavaScript

DarkWatchman uses JavaScript to perform its core functionalities.

View all 34 procedure examples

Groups that use it0

None recorded.

Campaigns0

None recorded.

References1

  1. Prevailion DarkWatchman 2021 Open source
    Smith, S., Stafford, M. (2021, December 14). DarkWatchman: A new evolution in fileless techniques. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

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