Unraveling the Labyrinth: Threat Hunting for Maze Ransomware

In the perilous world of cybersecurity, ransomware has emerged as a formidable adversary, and Maze stands among the most notorious of its kind. Maze ransomware, also known as ChaCha Ransomware, is a sophisticated and highly evasive malware that has wreaked havoc on organizations worldwide. With its unique double extortion technique, Maze poses a grave risk to organizations’ data and finances. In this blog, we will embark on a journey of threat hunting for Maze ransomware, featuring real-world examples, Splunk queries, and YARA rules to help organizations fortify their defenses against this intricate threat.

Maze ransomware is typically distributed through phishing emails, exploit kits, or compromised software. Upon infiltration, it encrypts critical data and threatens to expose it if the ransom is not paid, doubling the extortion pressure. Maze operators are known for their advanced encryption techniques and the use of tactics that can bypass traditional security measures, necessitating proactive threat hunting for detection.

Let’s explore practical threat hunting examples to detect and respond to Maze ransomware:

Example 1: Unusual File Modifications
Monitor file access logs for sudden spikes in file modifications.

index=main sourcetype=”WinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Security-Auditing” EventCode=4663 earliest=-1w

Look for multiple file modifications within a short time span, indicative of potential ransomware activity.

Example 2: Suspicious Network Connections
Hunt for unusual network connections associated with Maze’s command-and-control (C2) communication.

index=network earliest=-1d | stats count by dest_ip

Investigate any significant spikes in outbound connections, especially to known malicious IP addresses.

YARA rules provide a powerful way to create custom signatures for detecting Maze ransomware. Let’s create a YARA rule for Maze:

rule Maze_Ransomware {
meta:
description = “Detects Maze ransomware files”
strings:
$magic = { 4D 5A } // MZ (DOS/Windows executable)
$pattern = “MazeRansom” // Unique string indicative of Maze
condition:
$magic at 0 and $pattern
}

Leverage Splunk for endpoint and network monitoring to detect potential Maze infections:

# Endpoint Activity Monitoring
index=main sourcetype=”WinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Security-Auditing” EventCode=4688
| search New_Process_Name=”*.exe” OR New_Process_Name=”*.dll”

# Network Activity Monitoring
index=network earliest=-1w
| rex field=_raw “Host=(?<dest_host>[^\s]+)”
| rex field=_raw “User_Agent=(?<user_agent>[^\s]+)”
| search dest_host=”*.onion” OR user_agent=”MazeRansom”

Proactive threat hunting is a critical practice in uncovering the labyrinthine threat posed by Maze ransomware. By utilizing Splunk queries and YARA rules, organizations can enhance their detection capabilities, identify suspicious activities, and respond swiftly to Maze ransomware attacks. Continuous monitoring and collaboration with the cybersecurity community are essential to stay ahead of Maze’s rapidly evolving tactics. Implementing these strategies will fortify your organization’s cybersecurity defenses, ensuring resilience against Maze and other sophisticated ransomware strains. Remember, a vigilant and proactive approach to threat hunting is the key to navigate the maze of cyber threats successfully. Happy hunting!

(Note: The examples provided in this blog are intended for illustrative purposes only and may require customization based on the specific environment and requirements of individual organizations.)