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3 malware familiesExploits CVEs in the wild

DarkCasino

Also known asDarkCasino
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MITRE ATT&CK

Tradecraft

29 distinct techniques observed across reporting, grouped by tactic. Hover any cell for the evidence excerpt; click through for MITRE's full description.

12 of 15 tactics50 techniques×N= number of intelligence reports citing this technique
MITRE ATT&CK
TA0042
Resource Development
2 techniques
T1583
Acquire Infrastructure
T1583.003
Virtual Private Server
T1588
Obtain Capabilities
T1588.004
Digital Certificates
TA0001
Initial Access
1 technique
T1566
Phishing
T1566.002
Spearphishing Link
TA0002
Execution
4 techniques
T1053
Scheduled Task/Job
T1053.005
Scheduled Task
T1059
Command and Scripting Interpreter
T1059.001×2
PowerShell
T1059.005
Visual Basic
T1059.007
JavaScript
T1203
Exploitation for Client Execution
T1204
User Execution
T1204.002
Malicious File
TA0003
Persistence
3 techniques
T1053
Scheduled Task/Job
T1053.005
Scheduled Task
T1112
Modify Registry
T1547
Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
T1547.001
Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
TA0004
Privilege Escalation
2 techniques
T1053
Scheduled Task/Job
T1053.005
Scheduled Task
T1547
Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
T1547.001
Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
TA0005
Stealth
4 techniques
T1027
Obfuscated Files or Information
T1036
Masquerading
T1036.001
Invalid Code Signature
T1140
Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information
T1218
System Binary Proxy Execution
T1218.005
Mshta
T1218.011
Rundll32
TA0112
Defense Impairment
2 techniques
T1112
Modify Registry
T1553
Subvert Trust Controls
T1553.005×2
Mark-of-the-Web Bypass
TA0006
Credential Access
2 techniques
T1056
Input Capture
T1056.001×2
Keylogging
T1555
Credentials from Password Stores
T1555.003
Credentials from Web Browsers
TA0008
Lateral Movement
1 technique
T1021
Remote Services
T1021.005
VNC
TA0009
Collection
3 techniques
T1056
Input Capture
T1056.001×2
Keylogging
T1113
Screen Capture
T1560
Archive Collected Data
TA0011
Command and Control
3 techniques
T1105
Ingress Tool Transfer
T1219
Remote Access Tools
T1573
Encrypted Channel
T1573.001
Symmetric Cryptography
T1573.002
Asymmetric Cryptography
TA0010
Exfiltration
1 technique
T1567
Exfiltration Over Web Service
ARSENAL

Associated malware families

3 malware families attributed to this actor across reporting.

FamilyContextEvidenceLast seen
DarkMeThe group's DarkMe VB6 builder -- compiled in May 2022 -- is still producing active malware in March 2026, and their C2 at 91.124.98.29:2626 was confirmed live at time of investigation.3Apr 25, 2026
QuasarRATQuasarRAT v1.4.1.0 serves as the primary implant -- a full-featured .NET RAT with credential stealing via browser password databases, keylogging through the Gma.System.MouseKeyHook library, registry manipulation, and file management capabilities. A second variant, QuasarRAT v1.8.8 "Sentinel", was discovered packed with Costura and bundled with six DLLs providing HVNC (Hidden Virtual Network Computing), dedicated keylogging, and browser credential theft modules.3Apr 25, 2026
DarkMe RATDarkMe RAT is the signature malware of the WaterHydra/DarkCasino APT group. Seven DarkMe samples were found sharing the same C2 IP as the QuasarRAT deployment. DarkMe is a custom VB6 RAT with reversed UTF-16LE command strings, a SOCKET_WINDOW class for asynchronous C2 communication, and a command set including shell execution (SHLEXE), file operations, directory mapping, ZIP archive creation, and system reconnaissance.1Apr 25, 2026
WEAPONIZED

Associated vulnerabilities

2 CVEs this actor has used in observed campaigns. 2 of them exploited in the wild.

CVE-2023-38831Arbitrary Code Execution in WinRAR Archive File HandlingIn the wildEvidence2

WaterHydra/DarkCasino APT group -- the financially-motivated crew behind ... CVE-2023-38831 (WinRAR zero-day)... 2023-04 WaterHydra exploits CVE-2023-38831 (WinRAR 0-day) 130+ trader devices confirmed infected

CVE-2024-21412Windows Internet Shortcut Files SmartScreen Security Feature BypassIn the wildEvidence2

WaterHydra/DarkCasino APT group -- the financially-motivated crew behind CVE-2024-21412 (Windows SmartScreen zero-day)... 2023-12-31 WaterHydra exploits CVE-2024-21412 (SmartScreen 0-day) ... 2024-02-13 Microsoft patches CVE-2024-21412

IOCS

Observables

25 indicators attributed to this actor: domains, IPs, hashes, and other artifacts pulled from reporting. View more in app.

25 IOCsView more in app

IOC values are gated. View more in Mallory for domains, IPs, hashes, and other artifacts, or pipe them straight into your SIEM.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

No public activity tracked yet. Mallory keeps watching.

0 SOURCESView more in app

No public activity observed for this threat actor.

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Target overlap

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Tradecraft mapping29

Every observed MITRE ATT&CK technique, grouped by tactic.

Malware arsenal3

Families this actor is known to deploy, with IOCs and behavior.

Exploited CVEs2

CVEs this actor has used in known campaigns.

Detection signatures

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Observables25

Domains, IPs, and hashes tied to this actor, refreshed continuously.