Kaspersky malware researchers have discovered a new complex system developed and used by the National Security Service (NSA).
EquationDrug or the Equestre platform uses 116 modules to successfully track computers and steal for the secret information service.
"It's important to note that EquationDrug is not just a trojan, but a complete espionage platform, which includes a framework for conducting espionage activities by developing special modules to work better on the computers of selected victims," its researchers said. Kaspersky.
"The architecture of the whole framework looks like a mini-operating system that has a kernel-mode and user-mode kernel, and its components seem to interact very carefully through a personalized messaging interface."
The platform is part of its ongoing campaign NSA to infect the hard disk firmware. It replaces the older EquationLaser and is upgraded to the GrayFish platform.
Most of the unique identifiers and code names are tied to sections that have been encrypted and thus are obscure. Some modules may be identified by the unique identification number they use. Others again depend on others plugins to work.
Each Plugin has a unique identifier and a number versions that defines the set of functions it can offer.
Kaspersky researchers have been able to reveal 30 from the 116 modules that they believe are in NSA's super malware.
"The additives we discovered probably represent only a small fraction of the attack potential," the researchers said.
Units that have been detected so far in the NSA tool include malicious software for:
- Traffic Traffic Network for theft or re-routing
- DNS Reverse DNS (DNS PTR records)
- Computer Management
- Start procedures / stop
- Load drivers and libraries
- Manage files and directories
- Collection of system information
- Running version of the operating system
- Computer name detection
- Detect user name
- Location Detection
- Keyboard Layout Detection
- Time zone detection
- List of Procedures
- Browse network resource detection, enumeration and access in public areas
- WMI Information Collection
- Collection of cached passwords
- Counting processes and other system functions
- Tracking user activity from web browsers in real time
- Low-level NTFS file system access based on the popular Sleuthkit framework
- Monitor removable storage units
- Passive backdoor network (running Equation shellcode from raw traffic)
- HDD and SSD firmware manipulation
- Keylogging and clipboard tracking
- Browsing history, cached passwords, and auto-fill form data collection.
