Picus Security Details Visual Basic Use in Cyberattacks
Picus Security has published an analysis detailing how attackers leverage Visual Basic-based languages like VBA and VBScript for executing malicious code and automating systems.
Cybersecurity firm Picus Security has released an in-depth analysis of how Visual Basic-based languages are employed in cyberattacks. The analysis focuses on technique T1059.005 within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, illustrating how adversaries utilize Visual Basic, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), and VBScript to execute malicious code and automate actions on systems.
Visual Basic and its derivatives, such as VBA and VBScript, are widely used programming languages deeply integrated into Microsoft products and the Windows operating system. This integration allows attackers to execute code in ways that can blend in with normal system activity. VBA macros within Microsoft Office documents and VBScript are frequently used as an initial point of execution, often delivered via phishing messages.
Picus Security's report highlights examples from real-world attack campaigns. One campaign used VBScript to download and execute malicious programs from the web, leveraging registry and startup folder entries for persistence. Another campaign, "Void Banshee," used VBScript via an operating system vulnerability to download and run further malicious scripts.
The report emphasizes that attackers use these scripting languages versatilely throughout attack phases, including gaining initial access, ensuring persistence, and performing subsequent malicious activities without requiring external tools. Effective detection and mitigation rely on continuous threat awareness and robust security solutions.