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The largest collection of malware source, samples, and papers on the internet. Password: infected https://vx-underground.org/
MalwareBytes has an local database on the machine. It is a SQLite database. It contains settings for various properties such as licensing, malware identified, and known-good and known-bad lists. This is standard anti-malware stuff. The database with "ThankYouForChoosingMalwarebytes" is the less interesting database, as it mostly contains settings (this can still be abused though).
Regardless, MalwareBytes does a couple of things with this SQLite stuff
MalwareBytes establishes a kernel-mode minifilter (mbam.sys). They setup minifilter callback routines to handle events on the system for process creation, process loading, and registry modification (Image 1)
In other words, MalwareBytes is notified immediately when a process is created or an executable image is loaded. When a process is created or an executable image is loaded, MalwareBytes has special functionality to temporarily "pause" execution so it can review it.
However, this "pause" happens faster than you or I can blink. Computers are fast.
The mbam.sys creates an internal record of all processes running. When a new process is loaded it is added to this internal record. When a program is closed, it is removed from the record. It does this so it doesn't accidentally review or "pause" the same process twice.
When a program is added to this list, the kernel-mode component communicates with the user-mode component that then signals and connects to a local SQLite database. The SQLite database then does a lookup to determine if the process "paused" is known or unknown (Image 2)
However, it should be noted, Image 2 is not the important SQLite instance I am looking for. This is something else MalwareBytes uses (and communicates to with kernel-mode components). The point still stands.
If it is known, it communicates back to the kernel-mode component that is it known. If it known, and known to be malicious, MalwareBytes takes action on the program attempting to run and immediately stops execution. If it is known to be good, MalwareBytes marks it internally as "seen" and keeps it in it's internal record.
Image 3 is from the internal database they use. It's fairly large and is mostly settings. I still haven't find where the really nice, big, and important dataset they use is. It requires more poking and more sticks.
You don't have to be a genius to see this and say "Oh, it's targeting cryptocurrencies"
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The thing I find most admirable about my colleagues and peers in the United Kingdom is that they too dislike and distrust the government.
I'm like, "wtf y'all don't trust mfers either?" then I ask if they want to party and almost always they agree.
Good people across the pond
Sabrina Thipdavone Rhodes, an Intelligence Analyst with the Nevada High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) working with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, plead guilty to theft of property of the United States.
Rhodes stole and converted to cash 243,199.0421 of the virtual currency Ripple (“XRP”) that had been seized by the DEA.
The value of the XRP stolen from the DEA Wallet would have been approximately $689,688.
When I shared that obfuscated Javascript payload that was targeting Grand Theft Auto V FiveM stuff, I had like 6 nerds pop out the bushes telling me how much they enjoy working with obfuscated payloads (Javascript, Lua, Powershell, etc).
WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE? WHO HURT YOU?
I was reverse engineering this Grand Theft Auto V malware that targets FiveM stuff. It was a big ol' mess of obfuscated Javascript. I hate obfuscated Javascript.
I posted I hated obfuscated Javascript.
Subsequently, a very nice person named nullableVoidPtr deobfuscated the massive code base for me when I was sleeping. Thank you. I love you.
Anyway, when I began poking it with a stick I discovered the malware connects to blum-panel(.)me. It registers there. It's the C2.
When you visit via HTTPS it notifies you of their Discord server (also references to their Discord in their code?)?
When you connect to their Discord they advertise security services for Grand Theft Auto V stuff ... ?
What the fuck.
Dawg, do you NOT run a malware campaign and advertise it on Discord like this. Are you OUT OF YOUR MIND?
It's 10pm and I'm reverse engineering Javascript malware targeting FiveM.
Why are people making malware for Grand Theft Auto V roleplay servers
Poking MalwareBytes with a stick continues. I fell down a weird rabbit hole.
MalwareBytes contains a file that is packaged with it called "malwarebytes_assistant.exe". This file is written in C#.NET, it subsequently loaded malwarebytes_assistant.dll.
As the name implies, it is indeed an assistant file. It accepts commands and does things based on the commands given to it. There's a lot of commands, but here are the interesting ones.
- AddExclusion (can't find it though)
- Deactivate
- DisableWebProtection
- StopService
- LaunchProcess
- SetRegistryValue
- CreateWFCRule
- ModifyWFCRule
- DeleteWFCRule
LaunchProcess and SetRegistryValue check the parent process of the invoker. If it is not from a process that is signed by MalwareBytes, it fails. However, everything else works. It does prompt UAC, but it says its coming from MalwareBytes.
tl;dr disable MalwareBytes, modify Windows Firewall, etc. It displays as MalwareBytes doing it.
We must continue poking it with a stick.
Imagine hearing this shit ALL DAY. I'm losing my mind. I've disconnected from reality. I don't know what's real and what isn't real.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOiYN7iU-W8
Lots of drama on the internet today as TESLA announces the self-driving functionality will now require you paying a monthly subscription.
Tesla lovers are absolutely furious.
Tesla stock owners are dancing in the streets
Today I experienced something I had never imagined myself experiencing.
My 9 month old makes a big mess while eating. He is still learning coordination to self-feed. He's improving. I'm proud of him.
Today he made a gigantic mess while trying Jello for the first time. He decided to put it in his hair and also his pants. We're still not sure how he got the Jello so far down his pants ... but he did.
We had to wash him. He was sticky and stinky.
Because he's getting bigger he gets the "big boy tub". In essence, my wife or get in the bathtub with him and bathe him. We set him in the tub and we both wash him. The parent in the tub with him holds him, rotates him around to get the hard to wash spots, or keeps him distracted by playing with him. He loves splashing the water.
Anyway, today when I was holding him he took a massive shit in the tub. I'll spare you the details. I wasn't angry, ... but being a first time parent has been a unique experience none of the books or classes prepared us for.
That's all. I just wanted to share that with someone.
I was requested to poke stuff with a stick because of stuff happening in r/PiratedGames
https://malwaresourcecode.com/home/my-projects/write-ups/r-piratedgames-drama.-is-it-malware-yes.-is-it-cool-malware-no
Hi
I've added more malware and malware accessories to the website you sometimes visit.
https://vx-underground.org/Updates
A sort of small, sort of long, observation or note, or something.
tldr nerds mad, touch grass
The internet (and humans in general, I suppose) love negativity and drama. There becomes a point though where negativity goes beyond spectacle and entertainment and it bleeds over into public anger and mass hysterics.
While I don't traditionally make political commentary (or try to rather, I'm human, make mistakes, or accidentally present bias), and stray away from political banter, my curated and compartmentalized information security feed has transformed into some pretty nasty dialogue regarding the recent United States governments actions both domestic and abroad. While some of my peers engage in political banter, an upward trend being observed, whereas even the "non-political" begin discussing things, is paramount and is an indicator that a profound event has occured.
This typically results in me saying "huh?" and acting like the cat in the attached image below.
Outside of this bubble I've made, it is chaotic (I'm sure you're well aware of what I'm addressing at this moment). Historically, it is unusual for this degree of anger and frustration to bleed into my bubble, previous and noteworthy "bleeds" include Mr. Rittenhouse, the death George Floyd, Ukraine-Russia conflict (beginning), Palestine-Israel conflicts (elevated, major event occuring), the COVID19 pandemic, January 6th, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, ... and now the recent events occuring.
I think being exposed to this polarization for too long is unhealthy, it makes people angrier, and deepens a divide. It's important to remember that political commentators profit off of outrage, it boosts their engagement and advertisement revenue, thus want to continually stoke the fire and ensure you're perpetually agitated.
I unironically recommend my colleagues and peers to touch grass. Disconnecting and disengaging with the internet hate machine puts things into perspective. Hug your children, pet a kitty cat, eat some junk food, go for a walk, ... do something other than being angry on the internet. There is a difference between being informed and being drawn into the political "event horizon".
Okay, back to kitty cat posting until morale improves and also nerd stuff.
Lots of negativity on social media the past few days.
Will continually post silly cat pictures until morale improves
> reverse engineer MalwareBytes
> find local sqlite db
> look inside
> password "VGhhbmtZb3VGb3JDaG9v"
> password: "c2luZ01hbHdhcmVieXRlcw"
> append
> base64
> decode
> "ThankYouForChoosingMalwarebytes"
Nerds online have identified a malware strain using "Deno", some fancy Javascript run-time thingy. I have no idea what this means. However, other malware nerds have identified this as unique.
The payload is a second stage which comes from a payload impersonating TopWebComics (???).
They're targeting WEB COMIC NERDS (or not, nobody really knows yet for sure). It was first identified by @malwrhunterteam
Cybersecurity vendor Cylerian identified a similar malware campaign using this exact malware technique in early January, 2026. This appears* to be a relatively novel malware campaign. Unfortunately, there is insufficient information to identify it more. It is difficult to ascertain for the time being if this is something truly unique or novel, or recycled stuff from a previous malware campaign.
tl;dr need to poke with stick. Not enough information. First glance looks interesting.
This payload is also interesting because it appears (at first glance) to contain mutation-like properties. When the first stage connects and downloads the second stage (in attached link is one of the mutated Javascript payloads), the code changes each time the loader connects to the URL. However, the core functionality (domains it connects to) seems* static.
tl;dr
Stage 1 - TopWebComicsv1.msi
Stage 2 - Weird URL, obfuscated Javascript payload
Stage 3 - ???
Stage 4 - Profit!!1
Stage 2 obfuscated Javascript changes each time it is downloaded, hence it's mutation characteristics.
Some researchers have identified the same weird URL it uses to delivery the Stage 2 payload as also hosting an Amadey panel. Amadey is a very common Malware-as-a-Service provider. However, it would be ... unusual ... for an obfuscated polymorphic multi-staged Javascript payload to delivery Amadey. It would be a ton of complexity and sophistication to then throw it all out of the window for some run-of-the-mill crimeware.
If you're a nerd who likes trying to reverse engineer obfuscated Javascript this is your time to shine because, as of this moment, nobody has de-obfuscated it or determined which malware campaign it is potentially associated.
Note: some of the obfuscation SUCKS. It's very clearly an information stealer. It targets cryptowallets, Discord (???), web browsers, etc.
tl;dr tl;dr crowdsourced malware reverse engineering for clout
https://gist.github.com/vxunderground/0d0c5f265d9f5248fa9dca171aec16ba
More information, courtesy of the wonderful people of CourtWatch
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cacd.989465/gov.uscourts.cacd.989465.3.0.pdf
There are people out there who unironically like deobfuscating stuff like this (see attached link).
Imagine that level of schizophrenia. Imagine waking up and enjoying pain and suffering.
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Linux123123/fivem-malware/refs/heads/main/second_stage/nulljj.js
X is offline.
Is it DDoS? Is it an oopsie doopsie? Did Elon Musk crash out? Find out next time on Dragon Ball Z
I fucking HATE this shit. I hate dealing with this type of obfuscating. Ugh.
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Linux123123/fivem-malware/refs/heads/main/second_stage/nulljj.js
tl;dr
"C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes\Anti-Malware\malwarebytes_assistant.exe" --disablertp
yay no more protection
I've decided to poke MalwareBytes with a stick.
Why? I'm mildly curious how it works internally and I'm curious if I can produce malware custom tailored to evade it.
Why? Because sometimes I get weird ideas and want to do weird things for literally zero reason other than "sounds kind of cool".
I setup a VM for the first time in years to poke it with a stick. I didn't want to install an AV on my main machine. Yes, I will do malware analysis on my main machine but not install an AV.
After installing MalwareBytes, skimming some of the files, poking random things and saying "wtf does this thing do", I've learned some mildly interesting things but nothing revolutionary.
1. They use Jenkins for continuous integration. Does this mean anything? No.
2. Based off my minimal testing, I don't see any DLLs injected into binaries when they're loaded into memory. However, the binaries I tested are well known and well established. It might inject DLLs into unknown binaries.
3. MalwareBytes main binary is written in C#.NET. It loads a secondary MalwareBytes.dll which then displays everything. It does the same stuff Microsoft Copilot does. That is how MalwareBytes has a fancy UI and stuff.
4. MalwareBytes stores very little in HKEY_CURRENT_USER making tampering from user mode kind of hard. It's just basic settings and stuff.
5. MalwareBytes has a custom protocol handler of "malwarebytes://". It looks like it uses this for interprocess communication between other MalwareBytes modules and binaries
6. MalwareBytes ships with a (basically) blank DLL called "Sample.dll". I have no idea why.
7. MalwareBytes has 2 mini filters in place which (presumably) are the main thing responsible for detecting malware. This is standard. MalwareBytes Chameleon (one of the minifilters) looks like it's meant to prevent tampering with the actual important MalwareBytes minifilter.
8. MalwareBytes Chameleon looks like it's responsible for communicating with user mode and kernel mode components. It looks like this is done so user mode components don't communicate directly with the minifilter responsible for actually detecting malware
9. I have a lot more poking to do
10. There is a binary called "assistant.exe" which loads "assistant.dll" (more .NET) stuff. It may possible to abuse this as a LOLBIN (maybe, need to poke more, kind of). assistant.exe does things like issuing commands for scanning, updating, and displaying things in the MalwareBytes UI. It accepts commands as "assistant.exe --uri malwarebytes://"
11. I have no idea how their scanning works, but it's labeled internally as Hyperscan
12. There is a thing called ProtectedHashes. I have no idea what this is.
13. There are tons of SQLite libraries, but I have no idea what it's for. Presumably, it's for known-good and known-bad file hashes, maybe? But I have no idea where this is stored.
14. I like cats
I need help.
My 9 month old son loves Ms. Rachel. For the past 3 days I've been subjected to cruel and unusual punishment. I'm trapped. I'm stuck listening to this lady sing "Wheels On The Bus" for, at minimum, 8 hours a day.
My home is a CIA torture black site. "thE wHeElS oN the BuS gO rOunD n RouNd" ... in the morning... in the afternoon... at night ... when he's trying to sleep or he's sleeping.
I'm at the point where I'll start confessing to crimes I've never committed to make this fucking song stop playing.
Today Spaniard authorities seized 10 tonnes (metric tons, 22,000lbs, 10,000kg) of cocaine being smuggled into the country from Brazil.
The cocaine is reportedly valued at enough to purchase 3 DDR5 RAM sticks and maybe a few Claude tokens
Watched police body cam footage of a guy who robbed a bank. He went in with a gun, a slid a piece of paper telling the bank teller to give him all the money.
He received over $1,000 in cash. He was caught moments later. He is in jail and is facing over 20 years in prison.
The ex-mayor of New York pushed a "NYC Token" cryptocurrency and rug pulled over $3,000,000. He doubled his net worth in just a few days.
Nothing will happen to him.
Person on YouTube uploads a video that is 114,115 years long (1,000,000,000 hours).
The video is (probably) a One Piece anime review.
I unironically perceive myself and you nerds as like, a bunch of old ass monks or priests or something, up on like High Hrothgar.
Shits gotta get wild down there with the normies if we can hear it
Lots of negativity on social media the past few days. Will continually post silly cat pictures until morale improves
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UK and Australia discussing banning X because Grok keeps putting people in bikinis
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