{
  "timestamp": "2025-02-05T23:04:14.076817",
  "model": "deepseek/deepseek-r1-distill-llama-70b",
  "request": {
    "messages": [
      {
        "role": "system",
        "content": "You are a security advisor providing end-user guidance on data security and protection.\n            Focus on practical, easy-to-follow security recommendations."
      },
      {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "\n            Provide clear security guidance based on:\n            \n            Content to reference:\n            Search Free Trial Get Demo The Resurgence of Emotet May 12, 2022 Password Protected Docs One of the most recent Emotet samples we received were emails with password protected attachments. Although the malicious document needs an extra step to be accessed compared to just being attached as it is, the additional layer of security may cause an unsuspecting user to think that this came from a legitimate source. Figure 1. Email sample Same Code, Different Types Emotet downloaders are leveraging the different file types of excel. The two examples below have the same macro code but one is an OLE format Excel file .XLS and the other is an XML-based Excel file .XLSM. The difference between the two is the URL list it will use to download the main Emotet payload. As for your typical macro malware, an image is used to convey the instruction to enable macros. Figure 2. Both samples included prompts for the user to enable macros. The left image is OLE format and the right image is XML format. Figure 3. Both samples contained a hidden sheet with similar names Figure 4. Macro source code The font in red Figure 4 is the malicious macro code found in the AUTO_OPEN of both Excel files. The font in green is the decoded excerpt of the code. They both have similar macro code but use differrent URLs to download the main binary payload. Evasion Aside from changing the download URLs of the emotet binary payload, the strings used by the malware are modified from time to time to evade detection that relies on matching strings to identify malware. The images below are from a sample associated with an earlier wave and the other sample is from a more recent wave of attacks. Both samples have the same instruction message and hidden sheets. The newer sample splits the string for regsvr.exe and joins the substrings upon execution. Figure 5. The left image is from an older sample. The right image is from recent samples. Figure 6. The recent samples use a new image for the user prompt Figure 7. The recent samples also use new sheet names Figure 8. The left image is of the seemingly empty sheet. The right image reveals the hidden strings when the font color is changes from white to red. Figure 9. The URLs were placed in the Sheet tab with the image used to prompt the user to enable the macro. The URL and other strings were hidden using white font color. Guidance, Detection and IOCs Its important to note this Emotet campaign includes the use of email to deliver the payload. Its important to understand the limits of your current detection capabilities  including employees. If you havent evaluated your cyber threat intelligence providers recently, its never a bad time to survey the market for sources with more timely, more accurate, and more comprehensive malware threat intelligence. Make sure your malware detection engines are always using up to date definition files. Cyren detects these samples as XLSMDownldr.A.aggr!Camelot XFEmotet.B.gen!Eldorado Indicators of Compromise file hashes 01019e5d292134b5cc7d04107e71eee5bbb96c9607686ad40a7092011593b5b3 6309a7e12e3647f12f50ff5bdf3450ffe9855ca062cf34fd5537bb91da74d22d bbd95b19e8cf7b776b69062e99cb2609568ba23050a93904c46306827b82949d 234efc5c5c355aaa375461b56eef44a2b509dd25968fc76eb2e7f3e6396c2f40 db36207307284a28ac838dc4eb20ed98f2be8d31327504646229b0c11675efbd Try it for Free Instant Data Classification Cyren URL Category Chacker Prev Malicious Excel Add-in Variant Delivers Malware How the War in Ukraine Has Influenced the Scammers Underground Next Company Partners Resources Investor Relations Products Freeware Demo Solutions Contact Us Privacy Management Service by Data443\n            \n            Your guidance should include:\n            1. Easy-to-follow security best practices\n            2. Data protection recommendations\n            3. Safe usage guidelines\n            4. Common security risks and prevention\n            5. Privacy protection measures\n            6. When to seek additional security support\n            "
      }
    ],
    "model": "deepseek/deepseek-r1-distill-llama-70b"
  },
  "response": {
    "content": "### Comprehensive Security Guidance in Response to Emotet Malware\n\n#### 1. **Security Best Practices**\n   - **Exercise Caution with Emails**: Be wary of unexpected emails, especially those with password-protected attachments. Avoid opening such emails unless you can verify the sender.\n   - **Verify Senders**: Confirm the authenticity of the sender by contacting them directly before interacting with the email content.\n   - **Avoid Password Entry**: Never enter passwords provided in emails to access attachments, as this could be a phishing attempt.\n\n#### 2. **Macro Settings Management**\n   - **Disable Macros by Default**: Keep macros disabled in Excel unless absolutely necessary.\n   - **Enable Macros with Caution**: Only enable macros for trusted sources and when required. Be cautious of prompts to enable macros, as they may indicate malicious activity.\n\n#### 3. **Backup and Software Updates**\n   - **Regular Backups**: Schedule regular backups of critical data to mitigate potential losses from malware attacks.\n   - **Stay Updated**: Ensure all software, including antivirus, is updated regularly to protect against known vulnerabilities.\n\n#### 4. **Data Protection Measures**\n   - **Encrypt Sensitive Data**: Use encryption for sensitive files to safeguard against unauthorized access.\n   - **Implement Access Controls**: Restrict access to sensitive files to essential personnel to limit the spread of malware.\n\n#### 5. **Safe Usage Guidelines**\n   - **Avoid Suspicious Downloads**: Refrain from downloading attachments or clicking links from unfamiliar sources.\n   - **Use Antivirus Tools**: Employ reputable antivirus software to scan attachments and detect threats.\n   - **Educate on Phishing**: Train users to recognize phishing attempts, such as emails urging immediate action or requesting sensitive information.\n\n#### 6. **Common Risks and Prevention**\n   - **Phishing Awareness**: Be vigilant against phishing emails that mimic legitimate communications.\n   - **Social Engineering Vigilance**: Watch for psychological manipulation tactics aimed at gaining trust and eliciting confidential information.\n\n#### 7. **Privacy Protection Measures**\n   - **Encrypt Communications**: Use VPNs for remote work to secure data transmission.\n   - **Guard Personal Information**: Avoid sharing personal details casually online to prevent exploitation by attackers.\n\n#### 8. **When to Seek Help**\n   - **Report Suspicious Activity**: If suspicious activity is encountered, such as unexpected prompts or system behavior, report it immediately.\n   - **Seek Assistance Promptly**: If a user suspects they have clicked on a malicious link or downloaded malware, contact IT support without delay.\n\nBy following these guidelines, users can significantly enhance their security posture and reduce the risk of falling victim to Emotet and similar threats.",
    "usage": {
      "prompt_tokens": 963,
      "completion_tokens": 1008,
      "total_tokens": 1971
    },
    "model": "deepseek/deepseek-r1-distill-llama-70b"
  }
}