Hackers Evade Detection with New ZIP File Concatenation Technique!

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🕵️ Cyber Threat Alert! Hackers have discovered a clever new technique called ZIP file concatenation, allowing them to sneak malware into systems by bypassing standard security checks. This approach tricks ZIP parsers and archive managers into missing malicious payloads, posing a serious threat to Windows users.

Hackers have found a way to combine multiple ZIP files into a single archive, hiding malware within layers of compressed data. This technique confuses ZIP parsers, which only read part of the concatenated file, leaving the rest, including any hidden malware, untouched and undetected. 🦠

🔍 Discovery: Cybersecurity firm Perception Point uncovered this method while analyzing a phishing attack disguised as a shipping notification. Inside the concatenated ZIP archive was a trojan, ready to exploit vulnerabilities in the system’s file management tools.

Preparation: Hackers create multiple ZIP archives, placing malware in one and benign files in the others.Concatenation: They combine these ZIP files, merging them into one archive. Each ZIP maintains its own directory and end markers, appearing as a single file but holding multiple contents.Execution: The final archive is sent in phishing emails, often appearing harmless to ZIP parsers that only scan one part of the file.

💻 ZIP Parsers React Differently:

7zip: Reads only the first ZIP structure, potentially showing just benign files.WinRAR: Shows all ZIP structures, including hidden malware.Windows File Explorer: Often fails to recognize the concatenated file or may display only the last ZIP archive if renamed as a . RAR file.

In testing, Perception Point researchers found that using 7zip displayed only an innocent PDF, while Windows Explorer revealed a hidden malicious executable file. This selective display makes ZIP file concatenation especially dangerous, as hackers can control which part of the file opens based on the ZIP parser used. 🚨

Use Advanced Security Solutions: Ensure that security software can perform recursive unpacking to detect hidden malware in concatenated files.Be Wary of Attachments: ZIP and RAR files sent through email, especially in unsolicited messages, should be approached with caution.Implement Email Filters: For critical environments, establish filters to block suspicious file extensions.

The ZIP concatenation technique highlights how attackers are evolving to bypass traditional security measures. As this threat grows, it’s vital for both individuals and organizations to use robust, layered security strategies and stay vigilant against ever-changing attack methods.

📢 Stay alert, stay safe, and keep up with the latest in cybersecurity to protect your digital world!

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