RAT
Orcus is a modular Remote Access Trojan (RAT) that emerged in 2016, notorious for its advanced features and plugin capabilities. It allows attackers to create custom plugins using a development library, enhancing its functionality beyond typical RAT capabilities. This flexibility makes Orcus a significant threat to the cybersecurity landscape.
Orcus RAT stands out due to its unique architecture, which separates the control panel from the server it connects to post-infection. This design enables attackers to share access to compromised systems from the same server, facilitating greater scalability and management of infected networks.
Plugin-Based Extensibility
A key feature of Orcus is its support for custom plugins. Attackers can develop and integrate plugins to extend the RAT's capabilities, such as adding functions for data theft, keylogging, or remote system control. This modularity allows Orcus to adapt to various malicious objectives, making it a versatile tool for cybercriminals.
Evasion and Persistence Mechanisms
Orcus employs several techniques to evade detection and maintain persistence on infected systems. It can detect virtual machine environments and the presence of network monitoring tools, adjusting its behavior to avoid analysis. Additionally, it often creates scheduled tasks with names like "Orcus Respawner.job" to ensure it remains active even after the system reboots.
Restrict remote administration tools to authorized users only.
Regularly check logs for unusual or unauthorized activities.
Use advanced detection systems to identify RAT behaviors early.
Segment networks to contain potential breaches and limit lateral movement.
