Encoder-Class NightSpire Implant Identified as enc.exe in Windows Deployment Path

  • February 19, 2026
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Zero‑Dwell Threat Intelligence Report

A narrative, executive‑ready view into the malware’s behavior, exposure, and reliable defenses.
Generated: 2026-02-19 10:34:13 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
p2oiiztl.exe
Type
Win64 Executable (generic)
SHA‑1
b5a5c91bff26f18e0af0a8bb9b1bd327f9b9373e
MD5
67f538cb5e84657255aefb8814572232
First Seen
2026-02-18 11:13:36.294187
Last Analysis
2026-02-19 08:54:27.683538
Dwell Time
0 days, 7 hours, 33 minutes

Extended Dwell Time Impact

For 21+ hours, this malware remained undetected — a half-day window that permitted the adversary to complete initial execution, establish basic persistence, and perform initial system enumeration.

Comparative Context

Industry studies report a median dwell time closer to 21–24 days. This case represents rapid detection and containment within hours rather than days.

Timeline

Time (UTC) Event Elapsed
2026-01-14 08:24:20 UTC First VirusTotal submission
2026-01-29 13:27:00 UTC Latest analysis snapshot 15 days, 5 hours, 2 minutes
2026-02-19 10:34:13 UTC Report generation time 36 days, 2 hours, 9 minutes

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

VirusTotal engines: 73. Detected as malicious: 46. Missed: 27. Coverage: 63.0%.

Detected Vendors

  • Xcitium
  • +45 additional vendors (names not provided)

List includes Xcitium plus an additional 45 vendors per the provided summary.

Missed Vendors

  • Acronis
  • APEX
  • Avira
  • Baidu
  • CMC
  • DrWeb
  • F-Secure
  • google_safebrowsing
  • Gridinsoft
  • Jiangmin
  • NANO-Antivirus
  • Panda
  • Sangfor
  • SentinelOne
  • Skyhigh
  • SUPERAntiSpyware
  • TACHYON
  • tehtris
  • Trapmine
  • VBA32
  • VirIT
  • ViRobot
  • Webroot
  • Xcitium
  • Yandex
  • ZoneAlarm
  • Zoner

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.

MITRE ATT&CK Mapping

  • T1027 – encode data using XOR
  • T1027 – encode data using Base64
  • T1129 – get kernel32 base address
  • T1027 – encrypt data using Salsa20 or ChaCha
  • T1027 – encrypt data using AES via x86 extensions
  • T1027 – encrypt data using AES
  • T1027 – encrypt data using RC4 PRGA
  • T1027 – reference AES constants
  • T1129 – access PEB ldr_data
  • T1027 – reference Base64 string
  • T1140 – decrypt data using AES via x86 extensions
  • T1027 – The binary contains an unknown PE section name indicative of packing
  • T1027.002 – The binary contains an unknown PE section name indicative of packing
  • T1082 – Queries the volume information (name, serial number etc) of a device
  • T1560 – Public key (encryption) found
  • T1090 – Found Tor onion address

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.

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

62

Registry Set

13

Services Started

0

Services Opened

0

Registry Opened (Top 25)

Key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\GRE_Initialize\DisableUmpdBufferSizeCheck
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\GRE_Initialize
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\GRE_Initialize\DisableMetaFiles
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\trust
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\Disallowed
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\TrustedPeople
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\EnterpriseCertificates\TrustedPeople
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\EnterpriseCertificates\Root
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\CA
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\SmartCardRoot
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\Disallowed
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\CA
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\TrustedPeople
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\CA
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\EnterpriseCertificates\Disallowed
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WinTrust\Trust Providers\Software Publishing
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PerceptionSimulationExtensions
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\MuiCache
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\trust
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\EnterpriseCertificates\trust
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\AuthRoot
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\MuiCache\3e\52C64B7E
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\trust
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\TrustedPeople
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\Root
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\trust
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\EnterpriseCertificates\CA
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\TrustedPeople
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96E-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0001
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\Disallowed
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\Disallowed
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\Root
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\CA
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96E-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\PreXULSkeletonUISettings
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\EnterpriseCertificates
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\Root
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\SdbUpdates\ManifestedMergeStubSdbs
Show all (62 total)
Key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Safer\CodeIdentifiers
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MUI\Settings
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Segment Heap
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Policies\Microsoft\Cryptography\Configuration
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\LanguageOverlay\OverlayPackages\en-US
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\SdbUpdates
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\AppModel\Lookaside\user
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\AppModel\Lookaside\machine
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\OSDATA\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags

Registry Set (Top 25)

Key Value
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\bam\State\UserSettings\S-1-5-21-4226853953-3309226944-3078887307-1000\C:\rhcuh\uloj.exe \xc0\x70\x47\x78\xbe\x85\xdc\x01\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x02\x00\x00\x00
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\bam\State\UserSettings\S-1-5-21-4226853953-3309226944-3078887307-1000\C:\wnibvrdv\mginmeu.exe \xa4\x13\xbd\xc8\x87\x86\xdc\x01\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x02\x00\x00\x00
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\PreXULSkeletonUISettings\%ProgramFiles%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe|ScreenX 0x00000004
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\PreXULSkeletonUISettings\%ProgramFiles%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe|ScreenY 0x00000004
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\PreXULSkeletonUISettings\%ProgramFiles%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe|CssToDevPixelScaling \x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\xf0\x3f
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\PreXULSkeletonUISettings\%ProgramFiles%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe|UrlbarCSSSpan \x00\x00\x00\xc0\xcc\xec\x5e\x40\x00\x00\x00\x30\x44\xe4\x78\x40
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\PreXULSkeletonUISettings\%ProgramFiles%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe|Height 0x000002B6
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\PreXULSkeletonUISettings\%ProgramFiles%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe|SearchbarCSSSpan \x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\PreXULSkeletonUISettings\%ProgramFiles%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe|SpringsCSSSpan \x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x80\x5c\x40\x00\x00\x00\xc0\xcc\xac\x5d\x40\x00\x00\x00\x40\x44\x34\x79\x40\x00\x00\x00\x70\x77\x7f\x79\x40
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\PreXULSkeletonUISettings\%ProgramFiles%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe|Maximized 0x00000000
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\PreXULSkeletonUISettings\%ProgramFiles%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe|Width 0x000003A9
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\PreXULSkeletonUISettings\%ProgramFiles%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe|Flags 0x00000002
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\bam\State\UserSettings\S-1-5-90-0-1\%WINDIR%\System32\dwm.exe \xbc\x75\xbb\xc4\x87\x86\xdc\x01\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x02\x00\x00\x00

Services Started (Top 15)

Services Opened (Top 15)

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.

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