Multiple Remote Access Trojan Campaigns Target Windows and Android via Phishing, App Stores, and Social Platforms
Threat researchers reported several unrelated RAT-focused malware campaigns using different delivery channels and evasion techniques. DEAD#VAX was described as a Windows phishing operation that delivers AsyncRAT via purchase-order lures, abusing IPFS-hosted VHD files disguised as PDFs; the mounted VHD drops a multi-stage chain using WSF, heavily obfuscated batch scripts, and PowerShell loaders to decrypt and execute x64 shellcode in memory by injecting into trusted Windows processes, minimizing on-disk artifacts. Separately, analysis of Pulsar RAT activity described persistence via the per-user Run key (HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run), an obfuscated batch dropper in AppData, PowerShell-based staging, and Donut-generated shellcode injection into processes such as explorer.exe, with anti-analysis features and data theft (credentials, wallets, tokens) exfiltrated via Discord webhooks.
On Android, two distinct campaigns were highlighted. Anatsa banking malware was found distributed through Google Play in a trojanized “document reader” app that exceeded 50,000 downloads before detection; the initial app acts as a loader that retrieves the full banking trojan and supports credential theft and C2-driven actions, with reporting attributing discovery and tracking to Zscaler ThreatLabz. Arsink RAT was reported spreading primarily via Telegram/Discord and file-sharing sites (e.g., MediaFire) through fake “mod/pro” apps impersonating major brands; research attributed to Zimperium cited ~45,000 victim IPs across 143 countries, 1,216 malicious APKs, and 317 Firebase Realtime Database C2 endpoints, with capabilities including SMS/OTP theft, call log and contact harvesting, location tracking, and microphone audio capture.
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