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SpyNote Android Trojan Builder Leaked ![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: * [Jacob Soo](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/author/jacob-soo/) * ![Published Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-calendar-grey.svg) Published:July 28, 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: * [Android](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/android/) * [Remote Access Trojan](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/remote-access-trojan/) * [SpyNote](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/spynote/) * [Trojan](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/trojan/) * [![Download Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-download.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-spynote-android-trojan-builder-leaked/?pdf=download&lg=en&_wpnonce=e8ab0975ea "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-spynote-android-trojan-builder-leaked/?pdf=print&lg=en&_wpnonce=e8ab0975ea "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=SpyNote%20Android%20Trojan%20Builder%20Leaked&body=Check%20out%20this%20article%20https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Funit42-spynote-android-trojan-builder-leaked%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-spynote-android-trojan-builder-leaked%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-spynote-android-trojan-builder-leaked%2F&title=SpyNote%20Android%20Trojan%20Builder%20Leaked "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-spynote-android-trojan-builder-leaked%2F&text=SpyNote%20Android%20Trojan%20Builder%20Leaked "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-spynote-android-trojan-builder-leaked%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=SpyNote%20Android%20Trojan%20Builder%20Leaked%20https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Funit42-spynote-android-trojan-builder-leaked%2F "Share in Mastodon") Our team recently discovered a new Android Trojan called SpyNote which facilitates remote spying. The builder, which creates new versions of the malware, recently leaked on several malware discussion forums. SpyNote is similar to OmniRat and DroidJack, which are RATs (remote administration tools) that allow malware owners to gain remote administrative control of an Android device. Like these other RATs, SpyNote has a large feature set including the following: * No root access required * Install new APKs and update the malware * Copy files from device to computer * View all messages on the device * Listen to calls made on the device * List all the contacts on the device * Listen live or record audio from the device's microphone * Gain control of the camera on the device * Get IMEI number, Wi-Fi MAC address, and cellphone carrier details * Get the device's last GPS location * Make calls on the device [![image1](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image1-500x246.png)](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image1.png) Figure 1: SpyNote Control Panel The SpyNote APK requires victims to accept and give SpyNote many permissions, including the ability to edit text messages, read call logs and contacts, or modify or delete the contents of the SD card. We have found that a sample of SpyNote was uploaded to the [VirusTotal](https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/f0646b94f1820f36de74e7134d0bb9719a87afa9f30f3a68a776d94505212cbd/analysis/) and [Koodous](https://analyst.koodous.com/apks/f0646b94f1820f36de74e7134d0bb9719a87afa9f30f3a68a776d94505212cbd) malware analysis websites. ### Analysis Upon installation, SpyNote will remove the application's icon from the victim's device. Also apparent is that the SpyNote builder application is developed in .NET The application is neither obfuscated nor protected with any Obfuscator or Protector. [![image2](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image2-500x198.png)](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image2.png) Figure 2: Decompiled SpyNote Builder The uploader might be following the instructions described in YouTube videos on using SpyNote, considering the port number used is exactly the same as in the videos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9OxlTBtdkA) and the uploader only changes the icon of the APK file. Furthermore, this RAT has been configured to communicate to the command and control (C\&C) IP address (141.255.147.193) over TCP port 2222 as shown in the image below. [![image3](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image3-500x251.png)](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image3.png) Figure 3 -- Dalvik bytecode view using Cerbero profiler [![image4](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image4-500x150.png)](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image4.png) Figure 4 -- SpyNote opening a socket connection[](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image5.png) Based on the information we have already found, we now know that the malware is using the hard-coded SERVER\_IP and SERVER\_PORT values (Figure 4) for this socket connection. We can now create an extractor for the C2 information using Androguard ([https://github.com/androguard/androguard)]() as shown below. The spynote.C2.py script (shown below) parses these values from the APK file and prints them to the command line (Figure 5). [![image5](http://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image5-500x62.png)](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image5.png) Figure 5 -- Extracted C2 information \#!/usr/bin/python import sys from sys import argv from androguard.core.bytecodes import apk from androguard.core.bytecodes import dvm #--------------------------------------------------- # \_log : Prints out logs for debug purposes #--------------------------------------------------- def \_log(s): print(s) if **name** == "**main**": if (len(sys.argv) \< 2): \_log("\[+\] Usage: %s \[Path\_to\_apk\]" % sys.argv\[0\]) sys.exit(0) else: a = apk.APK(argv\[1\]) d = dvm.DalvikVMFormat(a.get\_dex()) for cls in d.get\_classes(): #if 'Ldell/scream/application/MainActivity;'.lower() in cls.get\_name().lower(): if 'dell/scream/application/MainActivity;'.lower() in cls.get\_name().lower(): c2 = "" port = "" string = None for method in cls.get\_methods(): if method.name == '\': for inst in method.get\_instructions(): if inst.get\_name() == 'const-string': string = inst.get\_output().split(',')\[-1\].strip(" '") if inst.get\_name() == 'iput-object': if "SERVER\_IP" in inst.get\_output(): c2 = string if "PORT" in inst.get\_output(): port = string if c2 and port: break server = "" if port: server = "{0}:{1}".format(c2, str(port)) else: server = c2 \_log('C\&C: \[ %s \]' % server) |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 | #!/usr/bin/python import sys from sys import argv from androguard.core.bytecodes import apk from androguard.core.bytecodes import dvm #--------------------------------------------------- # \_log : Prints out logs for debug purposes #--------------------------------------------------- def \_log(s): print(s) if **name** == "**main**": if (len(sys.argv) \< 2): \_log("\[+\] Usage: %s \[Path\_to\_apk\]" % sys.argv\[0\]) sys.exit(0) else: a = apk.APK(argv\[1\]) d = dvm.DalvikVMFormat(a.get\_dex()) for cls in d.get\_classes(): #if 'Ldell/scream/application/MainActivity;'.lower() in cls.get\_name().lower(): if 'dell/scream/application/MainActivity;'.lower() in cls.get\_name().lower(): c2 = "" port = "" string = None for method in cls.get\_methods(): if method.name == '\': for inst in method.get\_instructions(): if inst.get\_name() == 'const-string': string = inst.get\_output().split(',')\[-1\].strip(" '") if inst.get\_name() == 'iput-object': if "SERVER\_IP" in inst.get\_output(): c2 = string if "PORT" in inst.get\_output(): port = string if c2 and port: break server = "" if port: server = "{0}:{1}".format(c2, str(port)) else: server = c2 \_log('C\&C: \[ %s \]' % server) | ### Conclusion Installing apps from third-party sources can be very risky -- those sources often lack the governance provided by official sources such as the Google Play Store, which, even with detailed procedures and algorithms to weed out malicious applications, is not impregnable. Side-loading apps from questionable sources exposes users and their mobile devices to a variety of malware and possible data loss. Thus far we have not observed SpyNote used in active attacks but we suspect cyber criminals will begin using it as the building of SpyNote is freely available. Palo Alto Networks AutoFocus users can identify this RAT using the [SpyNote](https://autofocus.paloaltonetworks.com/#/tag/Unit42.SpyNote) tag. ### Indicators SHA256 of SpyNote Samples 85c00d1ab1905ab3140d711504da41e67f168dec837aafd0b6327048dd33215e ed894f9c6f81e2470d76156b36c69f50ef40e27fd4e86d951613328cdbf52165 4fb2d8be58525d45684f9ffd429e2f6fe242bf5dbc2ed33625e3616d8773ed0d 98e2b14896e85362c31b1e05f73a3afddde09bd31123ca10ff1cc31590ac0c07 51e0d505fb3fba34daf4467ca496bca44e3611126d5e2709441756ba632487f0 4b60fff88949181e2d511759183cdf91578ece4a39cd4d8ec5da4015bb40cbed c064679c42e31a4f340e6a1e9a3b6f653e2337aa9581f385722011114d00aa1e 3323ff4bcdb3de715251502dfb702547b6e89f7973104b3da648163b73b72eef f0646b94f1820f36de74e7134d0bb9719a87afa9f30f3a68a776d94505212cbd 2ec734fd0f7320b32568ab9c229146a3dab08f951ca5c3114f6af6c77f621929 4e80d61994ee64dadc35af6e420230575553aba7f650bc38e04f3702b21d67c4 357ca2f1f3ea144bdd1d2122ec90ed187e8d63eb8a206794e249d5feb7411662 ac482e08ef32e6cb7e75c3d16a8ea31bcc9bf9400bd9f96b4ec6ed7d89053396 89a5ebf0317d9a3df545cfd3fbcb4c845ea3528091322fd6b2f7d84d7a7d8ae0 Back to top ### Tags * [Android](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/android/ "Android") * [Remote Access Trojan](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/remote-access-trojan/ "Remote Access Trojan") * [SpyNote](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/spynote/ "SpyNote") * [Trojan](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/trojan/ "Trojan") [Threat Research Center](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com "Threat Research") [Next: Palo Alto Networks Researchers Discover Critical Safari 9.1 Vulnerability](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/palo-alto-networks-researchers-discover-critical-safari-9-1-vulnerability/ "Palo Alto Networks Researchers Discover Critical Safari 9.1 Vulnerability") ### Related Articles * [Spring Ring: An Inside Look at Voice Phishing Campaigns in Microsoft Teams](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/spring-ring-voice-phishing-campaigns/ "article - table of contents") * [Tracking TamperedChef Clusters via Certificate and Code Reuse](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tracking-tampered-chef-clusters/ "article - table of contents") * [That AI Extension Helping You Write Emails? It's Reading Them First](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/high-risk-gen-ai-browser-extensions/ "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, symbolizing data processing and transfer. 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Digital screen with a warning sign reading "Malware." The background features lines of computer code and graphics, creating a sense of cybersecurity threat.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/07_Malware_Category_1920x900-3-786x368.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 11, 2026 [#### Kimwolf v7: An Evolution of the Kimwolf Botnet](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/kimwolf-v7-botnet-malware/) * [Android APK](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/android-apk/ "Android APK") * [Ethereum](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/ethereum/ "Ethereum") * [HTTP](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/http/ "HTTP") [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/kimwolf-v7-botnet-malware/ "Kimwolf v7: An Evolution of the Kimwolf Botnet") ![Pictorial representatiom pf Aeternum's blockchain C2. 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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