TrickBot
Intelligence Profile
A financial Trojan believed to be a derivative of Dyre: the bot uses very similar code, web injects, and operational tactics. Has multiple modules including VNC and Socks5 Proxy. Uses SSL for C2 communication.
- Q4 2016 - Detected in wild
Oct 2016 - 1st Report
2017 - Trickbot primarily uses Necurs as vehicle for installs.
Jan 2018 - Use XMRIG (Monero) miner
Feb 2018 - Theft Bitcoin
Mar 2018 - Unfinished ransomware module
Q3/4 2018 - Trickbot starts being spread through Emotet.
Infection Vector
1. Phish > Link MS Office > Macro Enabled > Downloader > Trickbot
2. Phish > Attached MS Office > Macro Enabled > Downloader > Trickbot
3. Phish > Attached MS Office > Macro enabled > Trickbot installed
Threat Analysis
TrickBot is a malware family tracked by threat intelligence researchers and catalogued in the Malpedia dataset. It represents a distinct malicious software lineage with identifiable code characteristics, behaviors, and victimology.
Financially motivated threat actors like TrickBot prioritize monetary gain through methods such as ransomware deployment, banking trojans, cryptocurrency theft, BEC scams, or credential harvesting for resale on underground markets.
With high sophistication, TrickBot is capable of targeted intrusions using adapted commodity tools alongside custom implants, maintaining operational security and evading standard detection mechanisms.