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Campaign Evolution: Darkleech to Pseudo-Darkleech and Beyond ![Clock Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-clock.svg) 5 min read * ![Profile Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-profile-grey.svg) By: * [Brad Duncan](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/author/brad-duncan/) * ![Published Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-calendar-grey.svg) Published:March 22, 2016 * ![Tags Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-category.svg) Categories: * [Ransomware](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/ransomware/) * [Threat Research](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-research/) * ![Tags Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-tags-grey.svg) Tags: * [Darkleech](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/darkleech/) * [Exploit Kits](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/exploit-kits/) * [Pseudo-Darkleech](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/pseudo-darkleech/) * [![Download Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-download.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-campaign-evolution-darkleech-to-pseudo-darkleech-and-beyond/?pdf=download&lg=en&_wpnonce=46edad538b "Click here to download") * [![Print Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-print.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-campaign-evolution-darkleech-to-pseudo-darkleech-and-beyond/?pdf=print&lg=en&_wpnonce=46edad538b "Click here to print") Share![Down arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/down-arrow.svg) * ![Link Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-share-link.svg) * [![Link Email](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-sms.svg)](mailto:?subject=Campaign%20Evolution:%20Darkleech%20to%20Pseudo-Darkleech%20and%20Beyond&body=Check%20out%20this%20article%20https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Funit42-campaign-evolution-darkleech-to-pseudo-darkleech-and-beyond%2F "Share in email") * [![Facebook Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-fb-share.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Funit42-campaign-evolution-darkleech-to-pseudo-darkleech-and-beyond%2F "Share in Facebook") * [![LinkedIn Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-linkedin-share.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Funit42-campaign-evolution-darkleech-to-pseudo-darkleech-and-beyond%2F&title=Campaign%20Evolution:%20Darkleech%20to%20Pseudo-Darkleech%20and%20Beyond "Share in LinkedIn") * [![Twitter Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-twitter-share.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Funit42-campaign-evolution-darkleech-to-pseudo-darkleech-and-beyond%2F&text=Campaign%20Evolution:%20Darkleech%20to%20Pseudo-Darkleech%20and%20Beyond "Share in Twitter") * [![Reddit Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-reddit-share.svg)](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com//www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Funit42-campaign-evolution-darkleech-to-pseudo-darkleech-and-beyond%2F&ts=markdown "Share in Reddit") * [![Mastodon Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-mastodon-share.svg)](https://mastodon.social/share?text=Campaign%20Evolution:%20Darkleech%20to%20Pseudo-Darkleech%20and%20Beyond%20https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Funit42-campaign-evolution-darkleech-to-pseudo-darkleech-and-beyond%2F "Share in Mastodon") In 2015, Sucuri published two blog posts, one in March describing a [pseudo-Darkleech campaign](https://blog.sucuri.net/2015/03/pseudo-darkleech-server-root-infection.html) targeting WordPress sites, and another about [its evolution](https://blog.sucuri.net/2015/12/evolution-of-pseudo-darkleech.html) the following December. Sites compromised by this campaign redirected unsuspecting users to an exploit kit (EK). The Sucuri posts describe patterns in the injected script related to this campaign. Since December 2015, patterns associated with pseudo-Darkleech have continued to evolve. Our blog post today will examine these changes. However, before we look at the recent developments, we should understand how EKs fit into the overall picture and review the history of Darkleech. ### **Path to an Exploit Kit** An EK is used by criminals to infect unsuspecting users while they are browsing the web. EKs are hosted on servers dedicated to the EK. The EK will check if a user's computer is vulnerable and send the appropriate exploit. That exploit is used by the EK to send malware, execute it as a background process, and infect the user's computer. This malware is the EK payload. Most payloads are designed to infect computers running Microsoft Windows. Different EKs are available to criminals for this purpose. Notable EKs in recent months include Angler, Neutrino, Nuclear, and Rig. How are web browsers directed to these EK severs? Since users won't intentionally view an EK, criminals must establish a path behind-the-scenes. The first step in this process is a compromised website. These compromised websites are legitimate pages with hidden script that initiates a network connection to the EK. This is the most direct path to an EK. Criminals sometimes use another server as a gate between the compromised website and the EK server. In some cases, you'll find more than one gate in this path. However, pseudo-Darkleech traffic doesn't appear to rely on gates. From what we can tell, the injected script most often points directly to an EK's landing page. ### **Enter Darkleech** Darkleech is the name of a campaign that infected thousands of Apache servers starting in 2012. More specifically, Darkleech refers to an Apache module available on the black market that was used for malware distribution. In 2013, many organizations had reported on Darkleech. At the time, servers infected with Darkleech led to Blackhole EK. Below are [examples of injected script](https://blog.unmaskparasites.com/2012/08/13/rfi-server-wide-iframe-injections/) from compromised websites running the Darkleech module in July and August 2012. ![Pseudo Darkleech 1](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pseudo-Darkleech-1-500x42.png) *Figure 1: Example of injected script from July 2012.* ![Pseudo Darkleech 2](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pseudo-Darkleech-2-500x42.png) *Figure 2: Example of injected script from August 2012.* Patterns for this injected script remained relatively consistent throughout 2013. But changes were coming. By October 2013, Russian authorities had arrested [Paunch, who allegedly created the Blackhole EK](https://krebsonsecurity.com/2013/12/meet-paunch-the-accused-author-of-the-blackhole-exploit-kit/). Within a few months, Blackhole EK disappeared from the scene. By early 2014, the same Darkleech pattern was pointing to No-IP.com domains (hopto.org, ddns.net, myftp.biz, serveftp.com, etc). These No-IP domains were either gates to an EK, or they [directly hosted EKs like Fiesta](https://malware-traffic-analysis.net/2014/03/22/index.html). ![Pseudo Darkleech 3](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pseudo-Darkleech-3-500x146.png) *Figure 3: Injected script from March 2014 pointing to Fiesta EK.* ![Pseudo Darkleech 4](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pseudo-Darkleech-4-500x40.png) *Figure 4: Another example of* [*injected script*](https://blog.unmaskparasites.com/2014/11/27/darkleech-update-november-2014/)*from November 2014.* ### **Enter Pseudo-Darkleech** In March of 2015, Sucuri published a blog identifying these newer patterns of injected script from early 2014 as "[pseudo-Darkleech](https://blog.sucuri.net/2015/12/evolution-of-pseudo-darkleech.html)." Why use "pseudo" to describe this campaign, especially if the injected script looked the same as before? Because the injected script was now seen from IIS sites, where previously it had only been noticed on Apache servers. As the year progressed, pseudo-Darkleech script was found [pointing to Angler EK and delivering ransomware](https://malware-traffic-analysis.net/2015/07/06/index.html) like CryptoWall\]. [![Pseudo Darkleech 5](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pseudo-Darkleech-5-500x196.png)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pseudo-Darkleech-5.png) *Figure 5: Injected script pointing to an Angler EK landing page in July 2015.* These patterns remained consistent [until late September 2015](https://malware-traffic-analysis.net/2015/09/29/index2.html). At that time, injected script caused by pseudo-Darkleech dramatically changed. The script became highly-obfuscated. It looked nothing like previous Darkleech patterns, and you couldn't easily determine the URL it would generate. [![Pseudo Darkleech 6](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pseudo-Darkleech-6-500x299.png)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pseudo-Darkleech-6.png) *Figure 6: Injected script from September 2015.* An example of this [injected script](https://malware-traffic-analysis.net/2015/10/13/index2.html) from October 2015 has been isolated and posted to [Pastebin](https://pastebin.com/XCe7ZHz8). Using a tool named Revelo from [Kahu Security](https://www.kahusecurity.com/tools/), you can quickly see what the script does. As shown below, the script tries to access a URL, and the URL matches patterns for Angler EK. [![Pseudo Darkleech 7](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pseudo-Darkleech-7-500x291.png)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pseudo-Darkleech-7.png) *Figure 7: Injected script from October 2015 run through Revelo*. Later in 2015, pseudo-Darkleech injected script occasionally [switched between Angler EK or Neutrino EK](https://isc.sans.edu/forums/diary/CryptoWall+sent+by+Angler+and+Neutrino+exploit+kits+or+through+malicious+spam/20611/) as it delivered ransomware like CryptoWall or TeslaCrypt. By December 2015, Sucuri published a new blog post covering these [most recent updates on pseudo-Darkleech injected script](https://blog.sucuri.net/2015/12/evolution-of-pseudo-darkleech.html). Even with the injected script's new patterns, Sucuri reported that server-side indicators remained the same as it had reported in March 2015. This activity was still pseudo-Darkleech. ### **Recent Developments** Since September 2015, patterns associated with pseudo-Darkleech have evolved. Any changes were minor until early February 2016, when we saw the addition of a [sizable block containing numeric characters in the injected script](https://malware-traffic-analysis.net/2016/02/05/index.html). [![Pseudo Darkleech 8](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pseudo-Darkleech-8-500x354.png)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pseudo-Darkleech-8.png) *Figure 8: Start of pseudo-Darkleech injected script from early February 2016.* ![Pseudo Darkleech 9](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pseudo-Darkleech-9-500x236.png) *Figure 9: End of pseudo-Darkleech injected script from early February 2016.* Since that time, the characters separating the numbers in that large block of numeric characters have changed. For example, on 2016-02-24 they [switched from spaces to commas](https://malware-traffic-analysis.net/2016/02/24/index.html). By 2016-02-29, pseudo-Darkleech had [switched to semicolons](https://malware-traffic-analysis.net/2016/02/29/index.html). By 2016-03-07, [we saw asterisks](https://malware-traffic-analysis.net/2016/03/07/index.html). On 2016-03-14, the patterns had [changed yet again](https://malware-traffic-analysis.net/2016/03/14/index.html). [![Pseudo Darkleech 10](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pseudo-Darkleech-10-500x321.png)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pseudo-Darkleech-10.png) *Figure 10: Start of pseudo-Darkleech injected script from 2016-03-07.* [![Pseudo Darkleech 11](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pseudo-Darkleech-11-500x301.png)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pseudo-Darkleech-11.png) *Figure 11: Start of pseudo-Darkleech injected script from 2016-03-14.* ### **Conclusion** Since it was first called pseudo-Darkleech by Sucuri in March 2015, members of the security community have found websites compromised through this campaign on a daily basis. With [tens of thousands of compromised sites reported in 2013](https://arstechnica.com/security/2013/04/exclusive-ongoing-malware-attack-targeting-apache-hijacks-20000-sites/) under the original Darkleech banner, pseudo-Darkleech continues the onslaught with no signs of slowing down. In recent weeks, this campaign has led to Angler EK delivering a ransomware payload, especially TeslaCrypt. Pseudo-Darkleech and the associated Angler EK traffic remain a persistent and evolving threat. Both Darkleech and Angler frequently change patterns to avoid detection. Palo Alto Networks researchers have already [examined Angler EK and published an in-depth report](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/2016/01/angler-exploit-kit-continues-to-evade-detection-over-90000-websites-compromised/) containing indicators in January 2016. We continue to investigate pseudo-Darkleech and Angler EK for applicable indicators to inform the community and further enhance our threat prevention platform. ### **Indicators of Compromise** Domains and IP addresses from websites compromised through this campaign are continually changing. Below are recent examples of the injected script caused by pseudo-Darkleech that have been isolated and posted to Pastebin: * 2015-10-13 - http://pastebin.com/XCe7ZHz8 * 2015-12-16 - http://pastebin.com/DrUtXgxM * 2016-02-05 - http://pastebin.com/Knz2bYR0 * 2016-02-24 - http://pastebin.com/K053dSti * 2016-02-29 - http://pastebin.com/EcHHmu0p * 2016-03-07 - http://pastebin.com/zmjRguGW * 2016-03-14 - http://pastebin.com/QWb09vJJ Back to top ### Tags * [Darkleech](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/darkleech/ "Darkleech") * [Exploit Kits](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/exploit-kits/ "Exploit Kits") * [Pseudo-Darkleech](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/pseudo-darkleech/ "pseudo-Darkleech") [Threat Research Center](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com "Threat Research") [Next: Locky Ransomware Installed Through Nuclear EK](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/locky-ransomware-installed-through-nuclear-ek/ "Locky Ransomware Installed Through Nuclear EK") ### Related Articles * [Leaked Environment Variables Allow Large-Scale Extortion Operation in Cloud Environments](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/large-scale-cloud-extortion-operation/ "article - table of contents") * [Web-Based Threats: First Half 2019](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/web-based-threats-first-half-2019/ "article - table of contents") * [Decline in Rig Exploit Kit](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-decline-rig-exploit-kit/ "article - table of contents") ## Related Ransomware Resources ![Pictorial representation of Iran cyber attacks. 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Illustration featuring a white triangle centered within an abstract cosmic background of purple and blue swirls and stars.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Generic-A-1920x900-1-786x368.png) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/threat-actor-groups.svg)Threat Actor Groups](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-actor-groups/) July 31, 2025 [#### Introducing Unit 42's Attribution Framework](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit-42-attribution-framework/) * [Advanced Persistent Threat](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/advanced-persistent-threat/ "Advanced Persistent Threat") * [Bookworm](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/bookworm/ "Bookworm") * [Nomenclature](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/nomenclature/ "nomenclature") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit-42-attribution-framework/ "Introducing Unit 42’s Attribution Framework") ![Pictorial representation of the ransomware landscape. Digital artwork of a disintegrating U.S. dollar bill with pixelated effects on a cyber-inspired background.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/05_Ransomware_Category_1920x900-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-report-white-1.svg)Trend Reports](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/trend-reports/) April 23, 2025 [#### Extortion and Ransomware Trends January-March 2025](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/2025-ransomware-extortion-trends/) * [BianLian](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/bianlian/ "BianLian") * [Akira ransomware](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/akira-ransomware/ "Akira ransomware") * [Muddled Libra](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/muddled-libra/ "Muddled Libra") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/2025-ransomware-extortion-trends/ "Extortion and Ransomware Trends January-March 2025") ![A pictorial representation of Akira ransomware, distributed by Howling Scorpius. A person's hand typing on a keyboard with a digital screen displaying the word "password" highlighted in blue, set against a backdrop of various cybersecurity interface graphics.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/09_Cybercrime_Category_1920x900-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/top-threats.svg)High Profile Threats](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/top-cyberthreats/) December 2, 2024 [#### Threat Assessment: Howling Scorpius (Akira Ransomware)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-assessment-howling-scorpius-akira-ransomware/) * [Howling Scorpius](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/howling-scorpius/ "Howling Scorpius") * [Leak site](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/leak-site/ "Leak site") * [Torrenting](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/torrenting/ "torrenting") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-assessment-howling-scorpius-akira-ransomware/ "Threat Assessment: Howling Scorpius (Akira Ransomware)") ![Pictorial representation of a threat like BlackSuit ransomware. An illustration of a modern workspace with a laptop displaying cybersecurity icons, surrounded by stacks of coins and a credit card, all depicted in a neon, digital art style.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04_Ransomware_Category_1920x900-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/top-threats.svg)High Profile Threats](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/top-cyberthreats/) November 20, 2024 [#### Threat Assessment: Ignoble Scorpius, Distributors of BlackSuit Ransomware](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-assessment-blacksuit-ransomware-ignoble-scorpius/) * [BlackSuit ransomware](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/blacksuit-ransomware/ "BlackSuit ransomware") * [Construction](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/construction/ "construction") * [Education](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/education/ "Education") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-assessment-blacksuit-ransomware-ignoble-scorpius/ "Threat Assessment: Ignoble Scorpius, Distributors of BlackSuit Ransomware") ![A representation of a threat group like Jumpy Pisces. Illustrative image featuring two fish and the Pisces constellation superimposed on a stylized, abstract background with flowing purple waves and a starry night sky.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Pisces-NK-A-1920x900-1-786x368.png) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/threat-actor-groups.svg)Threat Actor Groups](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-actor-groups/) October 30, 2024 [#### Jumpy Pisces Engages in Play Ransomware](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/north-korean-threat-group-play-ransomware/) * [North Korea](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/north-korea/ "North Korea") * [Jumpy Pisces](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/jumpy-pisces/ "Jumpy Pisces") * [Fiddling Scorpius](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/fiddling-scorpius/ "Fiddling Scorpius") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/north-korean-threat-group-play-ransomware/ "Jumpy Pisces Engages in Play Ransomware") * ![Slider arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/slider-arrow-left.svg) * ![Slider arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/slider-arrow-left.svg) ![Close button](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/close-modal.svg) ![Enlarged Image]() ![Newsletter](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/unit42-footer-subscribe-desktop.png) ![UNIT 42 Small Logo](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/palo-alto-logo-small.svg) Get updates from Unit 42 ## Peace of mind comes from staying ahead of threats. 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