Hackers are deploying the Gh0stCringe remote support trojans on vulnerable computers by inadequately targeting secured Microsoft SQL and MySQL database servers.
Gh0stCringe, also known as CirenegRAT, is a Gh0st RAT malware variant that was most recently used in Chinese cyber-espionage activities in 2020, however, it has been around since 2018. The malware has several instructions and functionalities which can be activated after the malware connects to its command and control server, or through data stored in the virus's settings.
Attackers can use Gh0stCringe to download payloads like crypto miners from C2 servers, access specified websites via the Internet Explorer web browser, and even wipe the start-up disk's Master Boot Record (MBR). The malware includes a keylogger, which records input data in the Default. key file in the Windows System directory if it is activated.
Threat actors are infiltrating database servers and writing the malicious'mcsql.exe' executable to disc utilizing the mysqld.exe, mysqld-nt.exe, and sqlserver.exe processes. These assaults are comparable to the Microsoft SQL server attempts, which used the Microsoft SQL xp cmdshell command to drop Cobalt Strike beacons. In addition to Gh0stCringe, AhnLab's study notes the presence of numerous malware samples on the investigated servers, implying potentially competing threat actors are infiltrating the same servers to drop payloads with its own operations.
Gh0stCringe RAT is a strong virus that can connect to a C2 server to receive custom commands or exfiltrate stolen data to the enemies. For an endless loop, the keylogging component uses the Windows Polling method (GetAsyncKeyState API) to ask the state of each key. This otherwise dependable recording mechanism carries the risk of very high CPU utilization, however, this is unlikely to cause issues for threat actors on poorly maintained servers. The malware will also record keystrokes for the previous three minutes and send them to the infection's command and control servers along with basic system and network information.
Threat actors will be able to steal login passwords and other sensitive information that logged-in users entered on the device using these logged keystrokes. CirenegRAT has four operational modes: 0, 1, 2, and a specific Windows 10 mode which the threat actor can choose from during deployment.
Update your server software to install the most recent security upgrades, which can help you avoid a variety of attacks to make use of known flaws.
It's also critical to use a secure admin password that can't be brute-forced.
The most important step is to put the database server behind a firewall to only allow authorized devices to connect to it.
