Researchers from Confiant have been tracking a malicious campaign dubbed SourTrade, which has been targeting users across the globe since mid-2022. The operation uses a legitimate Bun runtime as its base, allowing the malware to evade detection by traditional security software.
When a victim's browser encounters the malicious advertisement, it triggers a script that instructs the browser to build the final Windows executable using a custom-made specification. The browser then executes the code, effectively creating the malware on the fly.
This approach allows the malware authors to avoid detection by traditional security software, which is often designed to detect and block known malware files. By making the browser build the executable, the malware is not stored on the user's device, reducing the risk of lateral movement and other types of attacks.
Confiant has been monitoring the campaign since mid-2022, and its researchers have identified several key characteristics that distinguish SourTrade from other malicious campaigns. These include the use of a legitimate Bun runtime and the custom-made specification that instructs the browser to build the executable.
Experts warn that this type of attack can be difficult to detect and remove, as the malware is not stored on the user's device. However, by tracking the campaign and analyzing its tactics, researchers can gain a better understanding of how these types of attacks work and develop more effective strategies for mitigating them.
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