donex
Group profile
DoNex is a ransomware strain that emerged in March 2024 as the latest rebrand of a lineage beginning with Muse (2022) → DarkRace (2023) → DoNex, targeting enterprises in the US and Europe using double-extortion; Avast released a free decryptor in July 2024 after discovering a cryptographic flaw.
MITRE ATT&CK TTPs
Execution
T1047Windows Management Instrumentation
The ransomware uses wmic.exe to query the OS.
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter
Apparent internal use of CMD.exe.
T1064Scripting
Performs batch file execution.
T1106Native API
The process attempted to delete shadow volume copies (VSS).
T1129Shared Modules
The ransomware tries to carry out process loader, malicious functions.
Persistence
T1543.003Windows Services
Paralyzes some types of services.
Defense Evasion
T1027Obfuscated Files or Information
Uses payload data encoding.
T1027.005Indicator Removal from Tools
Contains obfuscated stackstrings.
T1027.009Embedded Payloads
Discards interesting files and uses them in its execution.
T1036Masquerading
Creates files within the user directory. Adversaries use it for purposes of manipulating characteristics of their artifacts to make them appear legitimate.
T1064Scripting
Execute files in bat.
T1070.001Clear Windows Event Logs
Clears the Windows Operating System event logs.
T1070.004File Deletion
Performs the deletion of shadow file data and also self-exclusion.
T1202Indirect Command Execution
The adversary abuses utilities that allow the execution of commands to bypass security controls.
T1222File and Directory Permissions Modification
Retrieves and sets file attributes.
T1548Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism
The threat actor uses privilege control mechanisms to bypass privilege control mechanisms to obtain permissions.
T1562.001Disable or Modify Tools
Uses taskkill to terminate processes.
T1564.003Hidden Window
Graphical window operation.
Credential Access
T1056Input Capture
Creates an object generally used for keystroke capture purposes.
Discovery
T1007System Service Discovery
List some services and check their status.
T1010Application Window Discovery
The threat actor attempts to obtain a list of open applications and processes.
T1016System Network Configuration Discovery
Uses ping.exe to check the status of network devices.
T1018Remote System Discovery
Uses ping.exe to check the status of network devices.
T1057Process Discovery
Malware attempts to obtain information about the processes running on a system.
T1082System Information Discovery
Searches and collects information related to the Operating System.
T1083File and Directory Discovery
Reads the files, gets the size and enumerates according to Windows.
T1135Network Share Discovery
Enumerates the victim's network shares.
T1518.001Security Software Discovery
Attempts to detect the virtual machine to make analysis more difficult.
Collection
Impact
T1485Data Destruction
The ransomware deletes various types of user files.
T1486Data Encrypted for Impact
The ransomware renames files according to their variant and writes a file for ransom note purposes.
T1489Service Stop
Paralyzes some types of services.
T1490Inhibit System Recovery
The cmd.exe process invoked by the malware performs the deletion of Windows volume shadow copies.
Recent victims
| Date | Website / victim | Sector | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-02-22 | vdhelmvanderhelmlogistics.com | Technology | NL |
| 2024-02-23 | PFLEETpfleet.com | Transportation/Logistics | US |
| 2024-02-24 | elsapspaelsap.it | Technology | IT |
| 2024-02-27 | CHOCOTOPIAchocotopia.cz | Agriculture and Food Production | CZ |
| 2024-02-27 | mirelmirelasbl.be | Business Services | BE |

