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    Luna Moth: The Threat Actors Behind Recent False Subscription Scams

    July 1, 2022

    Over the last few months, Sygnia’s Incident Response team has been methodically tracking the 'Luna Moth' ransom group. Their modus-operandi resembles scammers, with the twist of corporate data theft, leveraging the threat of publication to demand millions of dollars in ransom.

    key points

    • The Sygnia Incident Response team identified a relatively new threat group, which has been operating since the end of March 2022. Sygnia refers to this threat actor as 'Luna Moth' or TG2729.
    • 'Luna Moth' focuses on Data Breach extortion attacks, threatening to leak stolen information if the demanded ransom is not paid.
    • The initial compromise is achieved by deceiving victims in a phishing campaign under the theme of Zoho MasterClass and Duolingo subscriptions, leading to the installation of an initial tool on the compromised host.
    • The group uses commercial remote administration tools (RATs) and publicly available tools to operate on compromised devices and maintain persistency, demonstrating once more the simplicity and effectiveness of ransom attacks.
    • The group acts and operates in an opportunistic way: even if there are no assets or devices to compromise in the network, they exfiltrate any data that is accessible; this emphasizes the importance of managing sensitive corporate information.

    the 'luna moth' group 

    With the rise in ransomware activity over the past years, the security industry has become used to hearing about double extortion, and even triple extortion attacks, and new crime groups of all kinds. In this blog post, we shed light on a relatively new threat actor which goes by the name of the ‘Silent Ransom Group’ (or ‘SRG’) and was dubbed 'Luna Moth' by Sygnia. By launching a phishing campaign with a wide coverage area, 'Luna Moth' infiltrates and compromises victim devices. These attacks can be categorized as data breach ransom attacks, in which the main focus of the group is to gain access to sensitive documents and information, and demand payment to withhold publication of the stolen data. Simple as they may be, these attacks can create serious issues for victims if sensitive data and information is stolen in this way.

    Although the group is not widely known, they have been active in the past months, attempting to build their reputation as a ransom gang. Their modus-operandi resembles scammers, with the twist of corporate data theft, leveraging the threat of publication to demand millions of dollars in ransom.

    gaining initial accesss 

    Over the past three months, the ‘Luna Moth' group operated a large-scale phishing campaign under the theme of MasterClass and Duolingo subscriptions, by impersonating Zoho MasterClass Inc and Duolingo. Although claiming to be related to the Zoho Corporation or Duolingo, the phishing emails are sent from Gmail addresses that are altered to resemble the legitimate company email addresses:

    • {FIRST-NAME}.{LAST-NAME}.zohomasterclass@gmail.com
    • {FIRST-NAME}.{LAST-NAME}.duolingo@gmail.com

    This is a classic phishing scam: the email claims that the recipient of the email purchased a subscription to a legitimate service, and that payment is due. To complete the scam, an invoice PDF file is attached to the email, and the victim is recommended to call a phone number, which the email states can be found within the attached file, if there are any issues with the subscription.


    Luna Moth - Threat Actor - phishing email

    Image 1: An example of a Zoho Masterclass themed phishing email

    PDFInvoices

    Image 2-5: Examples of invoices attached as PDF files to the phishing emails

    If the victim wishes to refute the purchase, they are required to join a Zoho remote support session. At this point, the threat actor uses the native Zoho Assist functionality to send another email, entitled “Zoho Assist - Remote Support session”, which guides the user to download and install the Zoho Assist application. The group then invites the victim to the support session using Zoho Assist accounts that are tied to protonmail emails.

    During this short yet effective Zoho Assist session, the threat actor is able to trick the user into downloading and installing Atera on their device; this is a remote administration tool commonly used by threat actors. Once Atera is installed on the device, the threat actor can access the device and operate freely.

    tools in the arsenal

    The examples shown above demonstrate that both the activities and the toolset of 'Luna Moth' are fairly unsophisticated. The main tools used by the threat actor consist of remote administration tools (RATs) that allow them to control compromised devices; these include Atera, Splashtop, Syncro, and AnyDesk. These tools also provide the threat actors with some redundancy and persistence: if one of the RATs is removed from the system, it can be reinstalled by the others.

    Additional tools used by the group include off-the-shelf tools such as SoftPerfect Network Scanner, SharpShares, and
    Rclone. The tools are stored on compromised machines under false names masquerading as legitimate binaries. These tools, in addition to the RATs, provide the threat actors with the means to conduct basic reconnaissance activities, access additional available assets, and exfiltrate data from compromised networks.

    campaign infrastructure

    The infrastructure used by 'Luna Moth' as part of the subscription scams can be mapped to two main clusters of domains and IPs: 

    • Exfiltration domains: Domains under the XYZ TLD, such as maaays[.]xyz. These domains are used by the group as part of the Rclone exfiltration process; the domains are the target to which the exfiltrated data is sent.
    • Phishing domains that appear to be related to Zoho or Duolingo – for example, masterzohoclass[.]com. Most of these domains have a very short lifespan of about four hours.

    The first identified domain related to the campaign was registered during April 2022. Both the exfiltration and phishing domains are hosted by the provider Hostwinds, and registered under Namecheap.


    Domain

    IP Address

    Registration Date

    Type

    dictumst[.]xyz

    23[.]254[.]229[.]90

    18/04/2022 08:46

    Exfiltration Server

    tincidunt[.]xyz

    192[.]119[.]110[.]47

    18/04/2022 08:53

    Exfiltration Server

    deserunt[.]xyz

    192[.]119[.]110[.]22

    18/04/2022 08:54

    Exfiltration Server

    mczoho[.]com

    192[.]119[.]111[.]25

    18/04/2022 14:27

    Infrastructure

    masterzohoclass[.]com

    192[.]236[.]178[.]3

    19/04/2022 13:54

    Infrastructure

    zohocook[.]com

    192[.]236[.]177[.]251

    20/04/2022 10:42

    Infrastructure

    molestie[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]193[.]152

    21/04/2022 07:21

    Exfiltration Server

    adipiscing[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]193[.]150

    21/04/2022 07:21

    Exfiltration Server

    fringilla[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]193[.]148

    21/04/2022 13:18

    Exfiltration Server

    volutpat[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]193[.]151

    21/04/2022 13:19

    Exfiltration Server

    ultrices[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]193[.]149

    21/04/2022 13:19

    Exfiltration Server

    cookwithzoho[.]com

    192[.]236[.]193[.]141

    21/04/2022 13:34

    Infrastructure

    cookingbyzoho[.]com

    192[.]236[.]193[.]140

    22/04/2022 12:15

    Infrastructure

    massay[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]177[.]20

    25/04/2022 11:28

    Exfiltration Server

    masaay[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]176[.]79

    25/04/2022 11:28

    Exfiltration Server

    myaaas[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]192[.]84

    25/04/2022 11:29

    Exfiltration Server

    myaasa[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]179[.]76

    25/04/2022 11:29

    Exfiltration Server

    myasaa[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]178[.]135

    25/04/2022 11:29

    Exfiltration Server

    masyaa[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]193[.]86

    25/04/2022 11:30

    Exfiltration Server

    maysaa[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]193[.]81

    25/04/2022 11:30

    Exfiltration Server

    msaaay[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]192[.]215

    25/04/2022 11:30

    Exfiltration Server

    maaays[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]194[.]2

    25/04/2022 11:35

    Exfiltration Server

    maaasy[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]194[.]31

    25/04/2022 11:36

    Exfiltration Server

    cookingzoho[.]com

    192[.]236[.]195[.]42

    25/04/2022 12:50

    Infrastructure

    zohomclass[.]com

    192[.]236[.]195[.]83

    26/04/2022 13:02

    Infrastructure

    zohocooking[.]com

    192[.]236[.]198[.]22

    27/04/2022 12:12

    Infrastructure

    studyzoho[.]com

    192[.]236[.]198[.]23

    28/04/2022 11:02

    Infrastructure

    molesste[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]208[.]56

    28/04/2022 20:53

    Exfiltration Server

    zohocookingmeals[.]com

    192[.]236[.]199[.]2

    29/04/2022 10:49

    Infrastructure

    zohokitchen[.]com

    192[.]236[.]192[.]2

    02/05/2022 13:12

    Infrastructure

    ullamm[.]xyz

    23[.]254[.]227[.]79

    02/05/2022 16:36

    Exfiltration Server

    zohokitchenmaster[.]com

    192[.]236[.]192[.]9

    03/05/2022 10:54

    Infrastructure

    zohoteachingmaster[.]com

    192[.]236[.]192[.]69

    04/05/2022 12:42

    Infrastructure

    zohoteaching[.]com

    192[.]236[.]192[.]73

    05/05/2022 14:02

    Infrastructure

    tincidut[.]xyz

    142[.]11[.]215[.]104

    06/05/2022 13:48

    Exfiltration Server

    masterclassgold[.]com

    142[.]11[.]215[.]25

    09/05/2022 14:42

    Infrastructure

    proodee[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]179[.]217

    09/05/2022 16:07

    Exfiltration Server

    zohocookingclass[.]com

    198[.]54[.]117[.]244

    10/05/2022 07:53

    Infrastructure

    zohoclasspro[.]com

    142[.]11[.]215[.]212

    10/05/2022 11:42

    Infrastructure

    deerunt[.]xyz

    142[.]11[.]206[.]153

    14/05/2022 08:40

    Exfiltration Server

    nostuud[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]147[.]234

    14/05/2022 14:27

    Exfiltration Server

    aliuuip[.]xyz

    23[.]254[.]228[.]211

    14/05/2022 14:28

    Exfiltration Server

    zohoduolingo[.]com

    192[.]236[.]209[.]36

    16/05/2022 13:11

    Infrastructure

    duolingoclass[.]com

    192[.]236[.]209[.]34

    17/05/2022 13:24

    Infrastructure

    acsyruse[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]155[.]81

    17/05/2022 20:56

    Exfiltration Server

    zoholanguageclass[.]com

    142[.]11[.]209[.]198

    18/05/2022 12:40

    Infrastructure

    zoholanguage[.]com

    104[.]168[.]164[.]244

    19/05/2022 13:40

    Infrastructure

    duo-lingo-class[.]com

    104[.]168[.]204[.]231

    23/05/2022 12:27

    Infrastructure

    caaom[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]155[.]151

    23/05/2022 14:04

    Exfiltration Server

    caaof[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]155[.]106

    23/05/2022 14:05

    Exfiltration Server

    caaog[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]155[.]138

    23/05/2022 14:05

    Exfiltration Server

    caaor[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]155[.]103

    23/05/2022 14:06

    Exfiltration Server

    caaon[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]155[.]102

    23/05/2022 14:28

    Exfiltration Server

    duolingo-class[.]com

    192[.]236[.]192[.]33

    24/05/2022 12:29

    Infrastructure

    studyduolingo[.]com

    192[.]236[.]177[.]18

    25/05/2022 12:32

    Infrastructure

    masterclass-cook[.]com

    192[.]236[.]193[.]171

    31/05/2022 13:43

    Infrastructure

    duuis[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]249[.]78

    01/06/2022 09:43

    Exfiltration Server

    eeeaa[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]249[.]80

    01/06/2022 09:43

    Exfiltration Server

    veelit[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]249[.]79

    01/06/2022 09:44

    Exfiltration Server

    eesse[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]249[.]76

    01/06/2022 09:44

    Exfiltration Server

    moolit[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]249[.]75

    01/06/2022 09:45

    Exfiltration Server

    premiumduolingo[.]com

    104[.]168[.]201[.]129

    01/06/2022 12:49

    Infrastructure

    cook-masterclass[.]com

    104[.]168[.]201[.]121

    01/06/2022 12:50

    Infrastructure

    yourduolingo[.]com

    104[.]168[.]201[.]87

    02/06/2022 11:55

    Infrastructure

    masterclasscooking[.]com

    192[.]119[.]111[.]51

    03/06/2022 12:20

    Infrastructure

    duolingoeducation[.]com

    192[.]119[.]111[.]21

    03/06/2022 12:20

    Infrastructure

    educationduolingo[.]com

    192[.]119[.]111[.]197

    06/06/2022 11:32

    Infrastructure

    masterclass-chef[.]com

    104[.]168[.]201[.]100

    06/06/2022 11:33

    Infrastructure

    allduolingo[.]com

    192[.]236[.]194[.]113

    07/06/2022 13:02

    Infrastructure

    allredoo[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]194[.]42

    07/06/2022 16:02

    Exfiltration Server

    aredo[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]160[.]132

    07/06/2022 16:03

    Exfiltration Server

    aeedo[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]193[.]182

    07/06/2022 16:03

    Exfiltration Server

    allreedo[.]xyz

    104[.]168[.]218[.]242

    07/06/2022 16:04

    Exfiltration Server

    alloout[.]xyz

    104[.]168[.]135[.]71

    07/06/2022 17:16

    Exfiltration Server

    subscriptionduolingo[.]com

    192[.]236[.]195[.]74

    08/06/2022 12:33

    Infrastructure

    germanbyduolingo[.]com

    192[.]236[.]208[.]44

    10/06/2022 11:59

    Infrastructure

    duolingo-italianclass[.]com

    104[.]168[.]171[.]231

    21/06/2022 12:43

    Infrastructure

    aeecc[.]xyz

    23[.]238[.]40[.]29

    22/06/2022 19:25

    Exfiltration Server

    eceee[.]xyz

    23[.]238[.]40[.]28

    22/06/2022 19:25

    Exfiltration Server

    aeocc[.]xyz

    23[.]238[.]40[.]31

    22/06/2022 19:26

    Exfiltration Server

    aedcc[.]xyz

    23[.]238[.]40[.]30

    22/06/2022 19:26

    Exfiltration Server

    aeucc[.]xyz

    23[.]238[.]40[.]32

    22/06/2022 19:27

    Exfiltration Server

    duolingoitalian[.]com

    192[.]236[.]155[.]243

    23/06/2022 13:05

    Infrastructure

    duolingoit[.]com

    192[.]236[.]176[.]197

    24/06/2022 12:48

    Infrastructure

    duolingoitclass[.]com

    104[.]168[.]171[.]104

    27/06/2022 13:09

    Infrastructure

     duolingo-it[.]com

     192[.]236[.]176[.]199

     28/06/2022  13:07

     Infrastructure

     italian-duolingo[.]com

     192[.]119[.]110[.]112

     29/06/2022 13:27

     Infrastructure

     masterclass-design[.]com

     192[.]119[.]110[.]166

     29/06/2022 15:26

     Infrastructure

     masterclass-design[.]com

     192[.]119[.]110[.]166

     29/06/2022 15:26

     Infrastructure

     masterclass-design[.]com

     192[.]119[.]110[.]166

     29/06/2022 15:26

     Infrastructure

     masterclass-design[.]com

     192[.]119[.]110[.]166

     29/06/2022 15:26

     Infrastructure

     masterclass-design[.]com

     192[.]119[.]110[.]166

     29/06/2022 15:26

     Infrastructure

     masterclass-design[.]com

     192[.]119[.]110[.]166

     29/06/2022 15:26

     Infrastructure

    aaeece[.]xyz

    142[.]11[.]210[.]14

    15/08/2022 10:27

    Exfiltration Server

    aaeeci[.]xyz

    108[.]174[.]195[.]199

    15/08/2022 10:27

    Exfiltration Server

    aaeeco[.]xyz

    108[.]174[.]197[.]196

    15/08/2022 10:29

    Exfiltration Server

    aaeecu[.]xyz

    104[.]168[.]145[.]45

    15/08/2022 10:27

    Exfiltration Server

    aaeecy[.]xyz

    142[.]11[.]194[.]201

    15/08/2022 10:27

    Exfiltration Server

    eebna[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]194[.]76

    08/09/2022 9:52

    Exfiltration Server

    eecna[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]194[.]77

    08/09/2022 9:52

    Exfiltration Server

    eedna[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]194[.]78

    08/09/2022 9:52

    Exfiltration Server

    eegna[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]194[.]80

    08/09/2022 9:53

    Exfiltration Server

    eetna[.]xyz

    192[.]236[.]194[.]81

    08/09/2022 9:53

    Exfiltration Server

    brightmasterclass[.]com

    192[.]236[.]192[.]193

    06/09/2022 12:29

    Infrastructure

    effectivemasterclass[.]com

    192[.]236[.]176[.]143

    24/08/2022 06:32

    Infrastructure

    happymasterclass[.]com

    192[.]119[.]110[.]131

    07/09/2022 13:25

    Infrastructure

    masterclass-business[.]com

    192[.]119[.]110[.]166

    16/08/2022 09:13

    Infrastructure

    masterclasscources[.]com

    23[.]254[.]225[.]145

    01/09/2022 13:22

    Infrastructure

    masterclassworld[.]com

    192[.]236[.]198[.]164

    09/09/2022 13:51

    Infrastructure

    rainbowmasterclass[.]com

    192[.]236[.]192[.]192

    02/09/2022 13:47

    Infrastructure

    strongmasterclass[.]com

    23[.]254[.]227[.]9

    25/08/2022 12:52

    Infrastructure

    unitedmasterclass[.]com

    192[.]236[.]179[.]2

    31/08/2022 14:02

    Infrastructure

    westsidemasterclass[.]com

    23[.]254[.]228[.]85

    08/09/2022 13:18

    Infrastructure

    westernmasterclass[.]com

    23[.]254[.]225[.]145

    01/09/2022 16:52

    Infrastructure


    If you were impacted by this attack or are seeking guidance on how to prevent similar attacks, please contact us at contact@sygnia.co or our 24-hour hotline +1-877-686-8680.

    Contributors: Oren Biderman, Tomer Lahiyani, Noam Lifshitz, Ori Porag. 

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