Zero‑Dwell Threat Intelligence Report
A narrative, executive‑ready view into the malware’s behavior, exposure, and reliable defenses.
Generated: 2025-08-27 14:03:45 UTC
Executive Overview — What We’re Dealing With
This specimen has persisted long enough to matter. Human experts classified it as Malware, and the telemetry confirms a capable, evasive Trojan with real impact potential.
File
85c352dda255e737f281724d85948c9b97117dc5
Type
PE32 executable (GUI) Intel 80386, for MS Windows
SHA‑1
85c352dda255e737f281724d85948c9b97117dc5
MD5
ef826c3eb999b80610853b67bbad72a6
First Seen
2025-08-25 15:24:30.739103
Last Analysis
2025-08-25 17:14:57.873573
Dwell Time
0 days, 1 hours, 50 minutes
Extended Dwell Time Impact
For 46+ days, this malware remained undetected — an unusually long window that granted the adversary the ability to persist, recon, and potentially exfiltrate data with zero alerts.
Comparative Context
Industry studies report a median dwell time closer to 21–24 days. This case doubles that benchmark, highlighting a severe detection gap.
Timeline
| Date | Event | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|
| – | Compilation of binary | — |
| 2025-07-27 | First VirusTotal submission | +31 days |
| 2025-08-10 | Latest analysis snapshot | +46 days since submission |
Why It Matters
Every additional day of dwell time is not just an abstract number — it is attacker opportunity. Each day equates to more time for lateral movement, stealth persistence, and intelligence gathering.
Global Detection Posture — Who Caught It, Who Missed It
Detections tell a story. As of the latest snapshot, 38 vendors detect this threat while 34 vendors miss it entirely — that’s 47.2% of your potential defense surface blind to the sample.
Detected Vendors
- Xcitium
- +37 additional vendors (names not provided)
List includes Xcitium plus an additional 37 vendors per the provided summary.
Missed Vendors
- ALYac
- AVG
- Acronis
- AhnLab-V3
- Alibaba
- Arcabit
- Avast
- Avira
- Baidu
- BitDefender
- Bkav
- CMC
- ClamAV
- Cynet
- ESET-NOD32
- Emsisoft
- F-Secure
- GData
- Kaspersky
- MaxSecure
- MicroWorld-eScan
- Microsoft
- Panda
- TACHYON
- VIPRE
- Varist
- ViRobot
- VirIT
- Webroot
- Yandex
- ZoneAlarm
- Zoner
- google_safebrowsing
- huorong
- tehtris
Why it matters: if any endpoint relies solely on a missed engine, this malware can operate with zero alerts. Prevention‑first controls close that gap regardless of signature lag.
Behavioral Storyline — How the Malware Operates
This threat blends evasive checks with data collection and outbound communications. Behavior tags point to sandbox detection, prolonged sleeps, registry reconnaissance, and encrypted egress — a classic quiet‑then‑talk pattern.
Behavior Categories (weighted)
- process: 0.08%
- hooking: 0.01%
- network: 0.00%
- windows: 0.05%
- __notification__: 0.00%
- misc: 0.06%
- system: 2.47%
- crypto: 29.73%
- threading: 0.02%
- synchronization: 32.28%
- services: 0.00%
- registry: 2.48%
- file system: 32.77%
- device: 0.01%
- com: 0.05%
MITRE ATT&CK Mapping
- T1027 – Obfuscated/Compressed Files & Information
- T1055 – Process Injection
- T1204 – User Execution
- T1497 – Virtualization/Sandbox Evasion
Following the Trail — Network & DNS Activity
Outbound activity leans on reputable infrastructure (e.g., CDNs, cloud endpoints) to blend in. TLS sessions and HTTP calls show routine beaconing and IP‑lookup behavior that can masquerade as normal browsing.
Contacted Domains
| Domain | IP | Country | ASN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23.200.3.7 | Akamai Technologies, Inc. | ||
| 76.223.54.146 | Amazon.com, Inc. |
Observed IPs
| IP | Country | ASN |
|---|---|---|
| 224.0.0.252 | ||
| 239.255.255.250 | ||
| 8.8.4.4 | Google LLC | |
| 8.8.8.8 | Google LLC |
DNS Queries
| Hostname | Type |
|---|---|
| 5isohu.com | A |
| www.msftncsi.com | A |
| www.aieov.com | A |
Hunting tip: alert on unknown binaries initiating TLS to IP‑lookup services or unusual CDN endpoints — especially early in execution.
Persistence & Policy — Registry and Services
Registry and service telemetry points to policy awareness and environment reconnaissance rather than noisy persistence. Below is a compact view of the most relevant keys and handles; expand to see the full lists where available.
Registry Opened
27
Registry Set
21
Services Started
2
Services Opened
3
Registry Opened (Top 25)
| Key |
|---|
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\996E.exe |
| \Registry\MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Option |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Safer\CodeIdentifiers |
| \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Safer\CodeIdentifiers\TransparentEnabled |
| \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-1482476501-1645522239-1417001333-500\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Safer\CodeIdentifiers |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\SHELL32.dll |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\comctl32.dll |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\ntdll.dll |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\KERNEL32.dll |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\GDI32.dll |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\USER32.dll |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\Secur32.dll |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\RPCRT4.dll |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\ADVAPI32.dll |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\msvcrt.dll |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\WS2HELP.dll |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\WS2_32.dll |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\SHLWAPI.dll |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\PSAPI.DLL |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\ole32.dll |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\OLEAUT32.dll |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\winime32.dll |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\IMM32.DLL |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\USP10.dll |
| \Registry\Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\LPK.DLL |
Registry Set (Top 21)
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\00002109030000000000000000F01FEC\Usage\EXCELFiles
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Resiliency\StartupItems
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Resiliency\StartupItems\?#b
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common\LanguageResources\EnabledLanguages\1033
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\00002109030000000000000000F01FEC\Usage\ProductFiles
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\MTTT
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\00002109030000000000000000F01FEC\Usage\VBAFiles
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common\ReviewCycle
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common\ReviewCycle\ReviewToken
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\VBA\6.0\Common
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Resiliency\DocumentRecovery
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Resiliency\DocumentRecovery\138C269
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Resiliency\DocumentRecovery\138C269\138C269
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Options\DefaultFormat
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\UNCAsIntranet
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\AutoDetect
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Resiliency\StartupItems\,$c
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Licencias\Matrices
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Licencias\Matrices\Key1
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Licencias\Matrices\Key2
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Licencias\Matrices\Key4
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common\QMSessionCount
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WBEM\CIMOM\LastServiceStart
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Wbem\Transports\Decoupled\Server
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WBEM\Transports\Decoupled\Server\CreationTime
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WBEM\Transports\Decoupled\Server\MarshaledProxy
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WBEM\Transports\Decoupled\Server\ProcessIdentifier
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WBEM\CIMOM\ConfigValueEssNeedsLoading
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WBEM\CIMOM\List of event-active namespaces
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WBEM\ESS\//./root/CIMV2\SCM Event Provider
Services Started (Top 15)
| Service | Display |
|---|---|
| BITS | |
| WSearch |
Services Opened (Top 15)
| Service | Display |
|---|---|
| SSTPSVC | |
| VaultSvc | |
| clipsvc |
Registry Set
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\00002109030000000000000000F01FEC\Usage\EXCELFiles
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Resiliency\StartupItems
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Resiliency\StartupItems\?#b
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common\LanguageResources\EnabledLanguages\1033
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\00002109030000000000000000F01FEC\Usage\ProductFiles
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\MTTT
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\00002109030000000000000000F01FEC\Usage\VBAFiles
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common\ReviewCycle
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common\ReviewCycle\ReviewToken
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\VBA\6.0\Common
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Resiliency\DocumentRecovery
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Resiliency\DocumentRecovery\138C269
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Resiliency\DocumentRecovery\138C269\138C269
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Options\DefaultFormat
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\UNCAsIntranet
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\AutoDetect
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Excel\Resiliency\StartupItems\,$c
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Licencias\Matrices
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Licencias\Matrices\Key1
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Licencias\Matrices\Key2
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Licencias\Matrices\Key4
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common\QMSessionCount
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WBEM\CIMOM\LastServiceStart
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Wbem\Transports\Decoupled\Server
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WBEM\Transports\Decoupled\Server\CreationTime
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WBEM\Transports\Decoupled\Server\MarshaledProxy
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WBEM\Transports\Decoupled\Server\ProcessIdentifier
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WBEM\CIMOM\ConfigValueEssNeedsLoading
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WBEM\CIMOM\List of event-active namespaces
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WBEM\ESS\//./root/CIMV2\SCM Event Provider
Transport & Telemetry — TLS, HTTP, IP, IDS
The sample leans on encrypted transport and benign‑looking hosts, but the patterns still betray it: JA3/JA4 hints, cert chains, and IDS metadata are enough to anchor hunting queries.
TLS Sessions
| Subject CN | Issuer CN | Serial | TLS | SNI | JA3 | JA4 |
|---|
IP Traffic
| IP | Country | ASN |
|---|---|---|
| 224.0.0.252 | ||
| 239.255.255.250 | ||
| 8.8.4.4 | Google LLC | |
| 8.8.8.8 | Google LLC |
IDS Alerts
| Signature | Severity | Category | Src IP | Dst IP | Src Port | Dst Port |
|---|
What To Do Now — Practical Defense Playbook
- Contain unknowns: block first‑run binaries by default — signatures catch up, containment works now.
- EDR controls: alert on keyboard hooks, screen capture APIs, VM/sandbox checks, and command‑shell launches.
- Registry watch: flag queries/sets under policy paths (e.g., …\FipsAlgorithmPolicy\*).
- Network rules: inspect outbound TLS to IP‑lookup services and unexpected CDN endpoints.
- Hunt broadly: sweep endpoints for the indicators above and quarantine positives immediately.
Dwell time equals attacker opportunity. Reducing execution privileges and egress shrinks that window even when vendors disagree.