Vault 7: AfterMidnight & Assassin Frameworks
WHISTLEBLOWING - SURVEILLANCE, 15 May 2017
WikiLeaks – TRANSCEND Media Service
Today, May 12th 2017, WikiLeaks publishes “AfterMidnight” and “Assassin”, two CIA malware frameworks for the Microsoft Windows platform.
“AfterMidnight” allows operators to dynamically load and execute malware payloads on a target machine. The main controller disguises as a self-persisting Windows Service DLL and provides secure execution of “Gremlins” via a HTTPS based Listening Post (LP) system called “Octopus”. Once installed on a target machine AM will call back to a configured LP on a configurable schedule, checking to see if there is a new plan for it to execute. If there is, it downloads and stores all needed components before loading all new gremlins in memory. “Gremlins” are small AM payloads that are meant to run hidden on the target and either subvert the functionality of targeted software, survey the target (including data exfiltration) or provide internal services for other gremlins. The special payload “AlphaGremlin” even has a custom script language which allows operators to schedule custom tasks to be executed on the target machine.
“Assassin” is a similar kind of malware; it is an automated implant that provides a simple collection platform on remote computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system. Once the tool is installed on the target, the implant is run within a Windows service process. “Assassin” (just like “AfterMidnight”) will then periodically beacon to its configured listening post(s) to request tasking and deliver results. Communication occurs over one or more transport protocols as configured before or during deployment. The “Assassin” C2 (Command and Control) and LP (Listening Post) subsystems are referred to collectively as” The Gibson” and allow operators to perform specific tasks on an infected target.
Leaked Documents:
AfterMidnight v1.0 Users Guide
AlphaGremlin v0.1.0 Users Guide
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All Releases:
Vault 7: Archimedes – 5 May 2017
Vault 7: Scribbles Project – 28 Apr 2017
Vault 7: Weeping Angel – 21 Apr 2017
Vault 7: Hive Project – 14 Apr 2017
Vault 7: Grasshopper Framework – 7 Apr 2017
Vault 7: Marble Framework – 31 Mar 2017
Vault 7: Project Dark Matter – 23 Mar 2017
Vault 7: CIA Hacking Tools Revealed – 7 Mar 2017
Go to Original – wikileaks.org
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