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SectopRAT Remote Access Trojan

SectopRAT is a newly observed .NET-based remote access trojan sold through hacking forums. Despite its use in a number of ongoing campaigns, it appears to still be in active development, with a number of unusable features.

Report a cyber attack: call 0300 303 5222 or email [email protected]

Summary

SectopRAT is a newly observed .NET-based remote access trojan sold through hacking forums. Despite its use in a number of ongoing campaigns, it appears to still be in active development, with a number of unusable features.


Affected platforms

The following platforms are known to be affected:

Threat details

At the time of publication, it is unclear how SectopRat is delivered, although there are unconfirmed reports indicating it may be distributed via watering hole attacks or drive-by-downloads.

Once installed, SectopRAT will attempt to connect to a command and control server using a hard-coded IP address before awaiting further commands, which are sent as specific byte values within network packets. By default, Sectops is able to perform the following actions:

  • collect user and system information
  • monitor mouse and keyboard inputs
  • launch hidden web browser sessions
  • download and install secondary payloads

Remediation steps

Type Step

To prevent and detect a trojan infection, ensure that:

  • A robust program of education and awareness training is delivered to users to ensure they don’t open attachments or follow links within unsolicited emails.
  • All operating systems, anti-virus and other security products are kept up-to-date.
  • Regular anti-virus and security scans are performed on your organisation’s estate.
  • All day-to-day computer activities such as email and internet are performed using non-administrative accounts.
  • Strong password policies are in place.
  • Network, proxy and firewall logs should be monitored for suspicious activity.
  • User accounts accessed from affected devices should be reset on a clean computer.
  • Your organisation adopts a holistic all-round approach to Cyber Security as advocated by the 10 Steps to Cyber Security.

Last edited: 14 February 2020 2:59 pm