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Campaign Evolution: pseudo-Darkleech in 2016 ![Clock Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-clock.svg) 4 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:December 30, 2016 * ![Tags Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-category.svg) Categories: * [Malware](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/malware/) * [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: * [Angler Exploit Kit](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/angler-exploit-kit/) * [COVID](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/covid/) * [Darkleech](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/darkleech/) * [Neutrino Exploit Kit](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/neutrino-exploit-kit/) * [Pseudo-Darkleech](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/pseudo-darkleech/) * [Rig Exploit Kit](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/rig-exploit-kit/) * [![Download Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-download.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-campaign-evolution-pseudo-darkleech-2016/?pdf=download&lg=en&_wpnonce=f95c25a748 "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-pseudo-darkleech-2016/?pdf=print&lg=en&_wpnonce=f95c25a748 "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:%20pseudo-Darkleech%20in%202016&body=Check%20out%20this%20article%20https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Funit42-campaign-evolution-pseudo-darkleech-2016%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-pseudo-darkleech-2016%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-pseudo-darkleech-2016%2F&title=Campaign%20Evolution:%20pseudo-Darkleech%20in%202016 "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-pseudo-darkleech-2016%2F&text=Campaign%20Evolution:%20pseudo-Darkleech%20in%202016 "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-pseudo-darkleech-2016%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:%20pseudo-Darkleech%20in%202016%20https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Funit42-campaign-evolution-pseudo-darkleech-2016%2F "Share in Mastodon") Darkleech is long-running campaign that uses exploit kits (EKs) to deliver malware. First identified in 2012, this campaign has used different EKs to distribute various types of malware during the past few years. [We reviewed the most recent iteration of this campaign in March 2016](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/2016/03/unit42-campaign-evolution-darkleech-to-pseudo-darkleech-and-beyond/) after it had settled into a pattern of distributing ransomware. Now dubbed "[pseudo-Darkleech](https://blog.sucuri.net/2015/12/evolution-of-pseudo-darkleech.html)," this campaign has undergone significant changes since the last time we examined it. Our blog post today focuses on the evolution of pseudo-Darkleech traffic since March 2016. **Chain of events** Successful infections by the pseudo-Darkleech campaign have generally followed a set sequence of events. This happens regardless of the EK used or the payload delivered. The sequence is: * **Step 1:** Victim host views a compromised website with malicious injected script. * **Step 2:** The injected script generates an HTTP request for an EK landing page. * **Step 3:** The EK landing page determines if the computer has any vulnerable browser-based applications. * **Step 4:** The EK sends an exploit for any vulnerable applications (for example, out-of-date versions of Internet Explorer or Flash player). * **Step 5:** If the exploit is successful, the EK sends a payload and executes it as a background process. * **Step 6:** The victim's host is infected by the malware payload. In some cases, the pseudo-Darkleech campaign has used a gate between the compromised website and the EK landing page. However, we far more frequently see injected script from the compromised website lead directly to the EK landing page. To get a better idea of the relationship between EKs and campaigns, see our [previous blog on EK fundamentals](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/2016/06/unit42-understanding-angler-exploit-kit-part-1-exploit-kit-fundamentals/). ![fig1](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/fig1.png) *Figure 1: Chain of events for the pseudo-Darkleech campaign.* **EKs used by pseudo-Darkleech** The pseudo-Darkleech campaign used Angler EK until [that EK disappeared in mid-June 2016](https://malware.dontneedcoffee.com/2016/06/is-it-end-of-angler.html). Like many other campaigns, [pseudo-Darkleech switched to Neutrino EK](https://isc.sans.edu/forums/diary/Neutrino+EK+and+CryptXXX/21141/) after Angler EK disappeared. Pseudo-Darkleech stayed with Neutrino EK until mid-September 2016. At that point, [Neutrino EK ceased operations](https://malware.dontneedcoffee.com/2016/10/rig-evolves-neutrino-waves-goodbye.html). The pseudo-Darkleech campaign then switched to Rig EK, and it has stay with Rig since then. We still see indications of a Neutrino EK variant, but at much reduced levels compared to before. Searching for EK activity in [AutoFocus](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/products/secure-the-network/subscriptions/autofocus), we saw a significant drop in Neutrino and a corresponding rise in Rig activity starting in mid-September 2016. ![fig2](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/fig2.png) Figure 2: Hits on Neutrino and Rig EK activity in September 2016. **Payloads sent by pseudo-Darkleech** When we last reviewed the pseudo-Darkleech campaign in March 2016, it was delivering TeslaCrypt ransomware. Since that time, pseudo-Darkleech has changed the ransomware payloads it delivers. In April 2016, this campaign switched to [CryptXXX](https://www.proofpoint.com/us/threat-insight/post/cryptxxx-new-ransomware-actors-behind-reveton-dropping-angler) ransomware after [TeslaCrypt shut down](https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/teslacrypt-shuts-down-and-releases-master-decryption-key/) and released its master decryption key. By August 2016, pseudo-Darkleech had switched to [a new variant of CryptXXX](https://www.proofpoint.com/us/threat-insight/post/spam-now-with-side-of-cryptxxx-ransomware) ransomware dubbed [CrypMIC](https://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/crypmic-ransomware-wants-to-follow-cryptxxx/). By October 2016, pseudo-Darkleech switched to distributing Cerber ransomware, and it has continued sending Cerber as of early December 2016. Below is a summary of EKs and payloads used by the pseudo-Darkleech campaign so far in 2016. * Jan 2016: Angler EK to deliver CryptoWall ransomware * Feb 2016: Angler EK to deliver TeslaCrypt ransomware * Apr 2016: Angler EK to deliver CryptXXX ransomware * Jun 2016: Neutrino EK to deliver CryptXXX ransomware * Aug 2016: Neutrino EK to deliver CrypMIC ransomware * Sep 2016: Rig EK to deliver CrypMIC ransomware * Oct 2016: Rig EK to deliver Cerber ransomware **Patterns of injected script** Any EK infection chain almost always starts with injected script from a particular campaign in a page from a compromised website. These pages are from legitimate websites that have been compromised and are being used by the campaign. When [we last examined injected script by the pseudo-Darkleech campaign](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/2016/03/unit42-campaign-evolution-darkleech-to-pseudo-darkleech-and-beyond/), it was a large block of heavily-obfuscated text that averaged from 12,000 to 18,000 characters in size. It remained large and obfuscated through June 2016. ![fig3](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/fig3.png) *Figure 3: Start of injected pseudo-Darkleech script in page from compromised website in June 2016.* ![fig4](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/fig4.png) *Figure 4: Middle of injected pseudo-Darkleech script in page from compromised website in June 2016.* ![fig5](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/fig5.png) *Figure 5: End of injected pseudo-Darkleech script in page from compromised website in June 2016.* But by July 1st 2016, injected pseudo-Darkleech script stopped using obfuscation and became a straight-forward iframe. This iframe has a span value that puts it outside the viewable area of your web browser's window. ![fig6](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/fig6.png) *Figure 6: Example of injected pseudo-Darkleech script from July 2016.* The injected script has changed slightly since then, but it remains short and unobfuscated as of early December 2016. ![fig7](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/fig7.png) *Figure 7: Example of injected pseudo-Darkleech script from December 2016.* **Conclusion** With the recent [rise of ransomware](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/apps/pan/public/downloadResource?pagePath=/content/pan/en_US/resources/research/ransomware-ear), we continue to see different vectors used in both targeted attacks and wide-scale distribution. EKs are one of many attack vectors for ransomware. The pseudo-Darkleech campaign has been a prominent distributer of ransomware through EKs, and we predict this trend will continue into 2017. Domains, IP addresses, and other indicators associated with this campaign are constantly changing. Customers of Palo Alto Networks are protected from the pseudo-Darkleech campaign through our next-generation security platform, including [Traps](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/products/secure-the-endpoint/traps), our advanced endpoint solution that prevent EKs from compromising a system. We will continue to investigate this campaign, inform the community of our results, and further enhance our threat prevention. Back to top ### Tags * [Angler Exploit Kit](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/angler-exploit-kit/ "Angler Exploit Kit") * [COVID](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/covid/ "COVID") * [Darkleech](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/darkleech/ "Darkleech") * [Neutrino Exploit Kit](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/neutrino-exploit-kit/ "Neutrino Exploit Kit") * [Pseudo-Darkleech](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/pseudo-darkleech/ "pseudo-Darkleech") * [Rig Exploit Kit](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/rig-exploit-kit/ "Rig Exploit Kit") [Threat Research Center](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com "Threat Research") [Next: Review of Regional Malware Trends in EMEA: Part 1](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-regional-malware-trends-emea-part-1/ "Review of Regional Malware Trends in EMEA: Part 1") ### Related Articles * [Phishing Eager Travelers](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/travel-themed-phishing/ "article - table of contents") * [Worldwide Phishing Attacks Ramped Up at the Peak of Working From Home](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/phishing-attacks/ "article - table of contents") * [Highlights from the Unit 42 Cloud Threat Report, 1H 2021](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/highlights-cloud-threat-report-1h-2021/ "article - table of contents") ## Related Malware Resources ![Pictorial representation of a magnifying glass illuminating a glowing orange circular digital circuit interface on a dark, high-tech background.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/04_Myth-Busting_Overview_1920x900-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Insights-icon-white.svg)Insights](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/insights/) September 16, 2026 [#### Atomic macOS (AMOS) Stealer Activity](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/atomic-macos-amos-stealer-activity/) * [MacOS](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/macos/ "macOS") * [Threat intelligence](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/threat-intelligence/ "threat intelligence") * [Unit 42](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/unit-42/ "Unit 42") [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/atomic-macos-amos-stealer-activity/ "Atomic macOS (AMOS) Stealer Activity") ![Pictorial representation of post-exploitation identity misuse in SPIFFE/SPIRE. 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A close-up of a computer circuit board with a central microchip is depicted. Red digital data streams in the form of glowing binary numbers and arrows appear to flow in and out of the chip. The scene is illuminated with a futuristic blue and red glow.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/04_Malware_Category_1920x900-4-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-threat-research.svg)Threat Research](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-research/) August 10, 2026 [#### The Permanent Threat: Analyzing Aeternum's Blockchain-Based C2 Operations and Communications](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/aeternum-blockchain-c2-analysis/) * [Aeternum](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/aeternum/ "Aeternum") * [Infection chain](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/infection-chain/ "infection chain") * [JSON](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/json/ "JSON") [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/aeternum-blockchain-c2-analysis/ "The Permanent Threat: Analyzing Aeternum’s Blockchain-Based C2 Operations and Communications") ![Pictorial representation of ChainDrop, a self-propagating npm worm. An artistic depiction of a digital workspace featuring an open laptop with a red virus on the screen.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/03_Malware_Category_1920x900-7-786x368.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/) August 6, 2026 [#### ChainDrop: Inside a Self-Propagating npm Worm](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/chaindrop-npm-worm-analysis/) * [Blockchain](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/blockchain/ "blockchain") * [ChainDrop](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/chaindrop/ "ChainDrop") * [Claude code](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/claude-code/ "Claude code") [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/chaindrop-npm-worm-analysis/ "ChainDrop: Inside a Self-Propagating npm Worm") * ![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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