ClearFake WebDAV infection chain delivering Amatera stealer 4.1.5-alpha, ZigCryptoStealer, and NetSupport Manager 12.44 (UAT-10820)
ClearFake WebDAV infection chain delivering Amatera stealer (TL-2026-2387), also tracked as EtherHiding WebDAV ClickFix chain, is a critical-severity tracked intrusion set, first published 2026-09-08. It is attributed to UAT-10820 (Russia) with medium confidence, affects Microsoft Windows, maps to 16 MITRE ATT&CK techniques (T1005, T1027.002, T1036.005), and is covered by 9 detection rules and 33 indicators of compromise.
Key facts for TL-2026-2387
- Threat ID
- TL-2026-2387
- Also known as
- EtherHiding WebDAV ClickFix chain, ACR/Amatera WebDAV campaign, Jquery.min.js NativeAOT loader
- Severity
- CRITICAL
- Status
- ACTIVE
- Category
- THREAT_INTEL
- First published
- 2026-09-08
- Last reviewed
- 2026-09-08
- Attribution
- UAT-10820
- Attribution confidence
- MEDIUM
- Nation-state nexus
- Russia
- Motivation
- FINANCIAL
- Target sectors
- government administration, finance, technology
- Target regions
- Global, ukraine, Europe, North America
- Detection rules
- 9
- Indicators of compromise
- 33
Malware and tooling in ClearFake WebDAV infection chain delivering Amatera stealer
Malware and tooling: ACR Stealer, Amatera (ACR) Stealer, ClearFake, Netsupport Manager, ZigCryptoStealer, HashiCorp Yamux, NetSupport Manager
Cisco Talos documented a multi-stage ClearFake infection chain first detected via suspicious WebDAV DLL execution ("verification.google" launched by 32-bit rundll32.exe) at a Ukrainian government organization. Compromised websites serve a Cloudflare Worker that pulls malicious JavaScript from BNB Smart Chain testnet contracts (EtherHiding), then uses a ClickFix fake-Google-CAPTCHA prompt to drive WebDAV-based DLL loading. The chain delivers Amatera (ACR) stealer 4.1.5-alpha alongside two divergent secondary payloads: a Zig-language cryptocurrency clipboard hijacker (ZigCryptoStealer) plus a Go reverse TCP proxy (Yamux), or an unauthorized NetSupport Manager 12.44 RAT instance with a BYOVD EDR-killer driver (DCRCVDrv.sys, IOCTL 0x2205c0). The "verification.google" branch is attributed with moderate confidence to Russian threat actor UAT-10820 running a financial credentials-and-cryptocurrency operation.
How ClearFake WebDAV infection chain delivering Amatera stealer works
In April 2026, Cisco Talos observed an unusual WebDAV DLL execution in endpoint telemetry from a Ukrainian government organization: the remote file "verification.google" was launched by 32-bit rundll32.exe. Boarding that pivot revealed two parallel delivery chains using the same ClickFix/WebDAV execution pattern, two distinct DLL loaders, and two Amatera (ACR) stealer payloads. The attacks are assessed with moderate confidence as not targeted at a particular organization, but rather a broad credentials-and-cryptocurrency stealing operation; the "verification.google" branch is attributed with moderate confidence to a Russian threat actor tracked as UAT-10820, based on the NetSupport C2 gateway IP residing in Russia.
The infection chain begins with a compromised legitimate website onto which an unauthorized Cloudflare Worker has been deployed. The Worker injects malicious JavaScript that uses EtherHiding: it makes JSON-RPC eth_call queries to a BNB Smart Chain testnet contract (0x886d310Ac23e05EA705e24E513D19f53793832A9) via the public RPC endpoint bsc-testnet-rpc[.]publicnode[.]com, retrieving next-stage code from immutable blockchain storage. The script checks for headless-browser environments, identifies the OS, and pulls OS-specific stage-2 code from contract 0x46790e2Ac7F3CA5a7D1bfCe312d11E91d23383Ff (Windows) or 0x68DcE15C1002a2689E19D33A3aE509DD1fEb11A5 (macOS). It assigns the victim a tracking cookie (cjs_id), queries an on-chain goal tracker, and overlays a convincing fake Google reCAPTCHA checkbox. Clicking it triggers a ClickFix prompt instructing the user to press Win+R, paste the clipboard, and press Enter. The pasted command uses delayed-expansion to reconstruct pushd/rundll32/popd at execution time and loads a WebDAV DLL (e.g., pf.ch or verification.google) from a randomized subdomain of leaguejazire[.]com (Windows) — or a curl variant against riyazinikokar[.]xyz (macOS) — invoking it via rundll32.exe ordinal #1.
The "pf.ch" loader is a packed 32-bit DLL exporting only "moor", using vectored exception handling, XOR loops, API hashing, and obfuscated control flow; a thread waits on a "hit" event, then copies an embedded blob into memory and transfers control via Windows fibers. The final Amatera payload (build label 4.1.5-alpha, string GETWELLV2) is XOR+LZNT1-decoded, walks module export tables to resolve APIs, and executes 32-to-64-bit transitions (direct WoW64 syscall stubs) to bypass EDR user-mode hooks. Amatera communicates over an ECDH + ChaCha20-Poly1305 encrypted protocol, decrypts its configuration via Base64 then XOR (key 852149723) into JSON, and resolves its C2 through a Telegraph dead-drop page (telegra[.]ph/Functions-04-03) to 145.249.109[.]147:443 (pf.ch branch) or a fixed encrypted address 45.150.34[.]2:443 presented with github[.]com as the TLS SNI (verification.google branch). Its configuration lists 400+ collection entries: browser/profile data, Telegram/Signal/WhatsApp, 100+ desktop wallet locations, KeePass/Bitwarden/1Password/RoboForm/NordPass, WinAuth/Authy, FileZilla, AnyDesk, NordVPN/AzireVPN, and file-grabber rules for Desktop/Downloads/Documents/Recent targeting .kdbx, .p12, .pfx, .pem and 100+ other private-key/wallet/2FA patterns. A secondary-payload tasking mechanism (ld array) supports executables, DLLs, PowerShell, raw shellcode, and MSI in file or fileless modes.
Secondary payloads diverge by branch. The "pf.ch" chain delivers a ZIP (279d04c0cfd700c8bcb9acbed528131d3ffef8e25d12713e8649772739aecb92) containing the legitimate signed Google Chrome component platform_experience_helper.exe and a malicious Secur32.dll it sinks (DLL side-loading via the GetUserNameExW import). The .NET NativeAOT loader decrypts and loads two PEs: ZigCryptoStealer (written in the Zig language), which spawns C:\Windows\explorer.exe suspended, manually maps its PE into the child, restores the thread context and resumes it (process injection), then polls the clipboard and swaps recognized cryptocurrency addresses for attacker-controlled wallets, exfiltrating the original addresses. It queries BNB Smart Chain via bsc[.]rpc[.]blxrbdn[.]com disguised as an ERC-20 balance check against contract 0x7CC3cFC1Ac007B8c6566fD2C7419b15a75473468, whose setData(string) function returns the current C2 domain (39 C2 rotations between March 16 and July 26; recent values include static[.]quorashift[.]cc and lb[.]propertyfind[.]cc, both behind Cloudflare). The second PE is the signed but vulnerable kernel driver DCRCVDrv.sys (MOCOMSYS/DCRC, device \Device\DCRCVDRV_U) whose IOCTL 0x2205c0 terminates an arbitrary process PID with no caller authorization — a BYOVD EDR-killer used to kill security processes enumerated by name hash. The same chain also stages a fileless Go reverse TCP proxy (shellcode 643ef355...; unpacked 1819827e17...) that opens a WebSocket Secure session to update[.]dubbedmuch[.]cc/, reads the MachineGuid and hostname, and multiplexes bidirectional relay streams via HashiCorp Yamux (protocol tunneling).
The "verification.google" loader uses dynamically resolved TpAllocWork callbacks inside a large control-flow-flattening loop, decodes runtime syscall numbers for direct WoW64 stubs, and hollows a clean in-memory dbghelp.dll (module stomping) before pivoting to the Amatera payload. Its NetSupport Manager task is downloaded as PowerShell from kr[.]cedar2glanz[.]ru/jewel[.]js (IEX, fileless). The staging script enforces strict anti-analysis gates (C: volume serial check against 4E014A2F, uptime below 10 minutes aborts, a native NtDelayExecution timing measurement, CPU count, 3.2 GiB RAM floor, 384 MiB VRAM floor, and 36 display-adapter fingerprints), derives an install path from a hash of MachineGuid|zdozwoqx3c, and generates decoy HTTPS traffic from background runspaces to GitHub, npm, Docker Hub, PyPI, NuGet, and the PowerShell Gallery. The final ZIP (bd36f4c15fe0acb6748da5ed12e45dcc37d412385812c078d1e4f04730e9f69b) is fetched from phys[.]stunned-amniotic[.]com/hub[.]log and extracted to %APPDATA%; hypersnap.exe (a renamed signed NetSupport Manager 12.44 client32.exe) runs hidden, calls the _NSMClient32@8 export in PCICL32.DLL, and persists via a scheduled task at user logon. NetSupport client32.ini hides the tray and disables visible controls, and the client polls the HTTP gateway paternal-angrily[.]com:443 (212.118.56[.]166, Russia) every 60 seconds. The NetSupport license (KAKAN, serial NSM789508) matches licenses seen in both the EVALUSION and IClickFix campaigns. G DATA and Trend Micro independently documented adjacent EtherHiding/Amatera ClearFake chains (SectopRAT + ACRStealer; HijackLoader + ACRStealer) showing the same contracts, but Talos found no common infrastructure tying those campaigns to this one.
MITRE ATT&CK techniques used in TL-2026-2387
Collection
Defense Evasion
T1027.002 Obfuscated Files or Information: Software Packing; T1036.005 Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location; T1055.001 Dynamic-link Library Injection; T1497.001 Virtualization/Sandbox Evasion: System Checks; T1574.001 DLL
Persistence
T1053.005 Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
Execution
T1059.001 Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell; T1204.001 User Execution: Malicious Link
Command and Control
T1071.001 Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols; T1102.001 Web Service: Dead Drop Resolver; T1572 Protocol Tunneling; T1573.001 Encrypted Channel: Symmetric Cryptography
stealth
T1218.011 System Binary Proxy Execution: Rundll32
Credential Access
T1555.005 Credentials from Password Stores: Password Managers
defense-impairment
Affected products and versions in ClearFake WebDAV infection chain delivering Amatera stealer
- Microsoft — Windows
Vulnerable versions: Windows hosts with WebClient/WebDAV enabled - NetSupport — NetSupport Manager (client32.exe 12.44)
Vulnerable versions: 12.44 - MOCOMSYS & DCRC — NEOVM / DCRCV_U kernel driver (DCRCVDrv.sys)
Vulnerable versions: DCRCV_U driver (compiled 2022-12-16, IOCTL 0x2205c0) - Google — Chrome (platform_experience_helper.exe)
Vulnerable versions: legitimate signed component abused for Secur32.dll side-loading
Remediation for ClearFake WebDAV infection chain delivering Amatera stealer
Immediate actions
- Block the WebDAV domains leaguejazire.com and riyazinikokar.xyz and alert on rundll32.exe execution with UNC/WebDAV path arguments
- Block/blocksink outbound JSON-RPC eth_call traffic to bsc-testnet-rpc.publicnode.com and bsc.rpc.blxrbdn.com and flag browser calls to unknown BSC contracts
- Block the C2 domains (static.quorashift.cc, lb.propertyfind.cc, update.dubbedmuch.cc, paternal-angrily.com, phys.stunned-amniotic.com, kr.cedar2glanz.ru) and C2 IPs (145.249.109.147, 45.150.34.2, 212.118.56.166)
- Hunt for and remove unauthorized NetSupport Manager installations (hypersnap.exe / client32.exe, client32.ini, PCICL32.DLL) and the logon-triggered scheduled task
- Check for DCRCVDrv.sys (legacy service DCRCVDRV_U), the \.\DCRCVDRV_U device, and IOCTL 0x2205c0 abuse; add the driver to the vulnerable-driver block list
- Disable the Windows WebClient service on workstations that do not require WebDAV
Workarounds
- Restrict user access to the Windows Run dialog and WebDAV execution on managed endpoints
- Filter etag/extension-less DLL execution; require digital-signature validation for DLL loads over WebDAV
Longer-term hardening
- Enforce EDR with behavioral detection for user-mode hook evasion (direct WoW64 syscalls), module stomping, and process injection into suspended processes
- Add DCRCVDrv.sys certificate and hashes to the WDAC/HVCI driver-block policies; monitor for unexpected kernel driver loading
- Deploy enterprise browser policy restricting clipboard-write access and blocking fake-CAPTCHA prompt surfaces on untrusted sites
- Security-awareness training targeting ClickFix/fake-CAPTCHA and 'paste into Run dialog' social engineering
- Correlate the shared NetSupport license (KAKAN / NSM789508) with EVALUSION/IClickFix detections
Timeline of ClearFake WebDAV infection chain delivering Amatera stealer
- Guardio Labs publicly discloses the EtherHiding technique: malicious JavaScript stored in BNB Smart Chain contracts, retrieved via free, untraceable eth_call RPC.
- JUMPSEC/CSIDE deep-dive documents an EtherHiding-hosted ClickFix campaign across ~19,800 compromised WordPress sites using BSC smart contracts ('Orchid' contract) to push Windows payloads.
- EVALUSION clickfix campaign (eSentire) delivers a PureCrypter-packed Amatera DLL and NetSupport RAT; NetSupport license KAKAN / serial NSM789508 observed — later found in this campaign.
- ZigCryptoStealer's BNB Smart Chain configuration contract (0x7CC3cFC1Ac007B8c6566fD2C7419b15a75473468) begins receiving C2 domain updates; 39 setData() rotations occur through July 26.
- Talos observes 'verification.google' WebDAV DLL executed by 32-bit rundll32.exe at a Ukrainian government organization, pivoting to the two-chain ClearFake investigation.
- Trend Micro documents a parallel ClearFake campaign using the same Windows/macOS BSC contracts (0x46790e2A..., 0x68DcE15C...) delivering SectopRAT + ACRStealer via a single deployer wallet.
- ZigCryptoStealer C2 rotates to fd[.]gstats-api-contact[.]cc (active June 30 - July 5).
- ZigCryptoStealer C2 rotates to static[.]quorashift[.]cc (July 18-26); Umbrella DNS shows queries from 38 countries, top origins US, Indonesia, Brazil, India, Egypt.
- Malwarebytes reports fake game downloads abusing RenPy loader, MSBuild and EtherHiding (BSC contract 0x328a1fad...) to deliver an obfuscated Amatera Stealer sample.
- ZigCryptoStealer C2 rotates to lb[.]propertyfind[.]cc (July 26-30) with queries from 98 countries; all six campaign C2 domains resolve through shared Cloudflare addresses.
- Cisco Talos publishes the full technical analysis of the ClearFake WebDAV chain: two loaders, two Amatera 4.1.5-alpha payloads, ZigCryptoStealer + BYOVD + Go Yamux proxy and NetSupport Manager 12.44; attributes the 'verification.google' branch to UAT-10820 (Russian, moderate confidence).
Sources cited for ClearFake WebDAV infection chain delivering Amatera stealer
- ClearFake WebDAV infection chain delivers Amatera stealer, ZigCryptoStealer, and NetSupport Manager (Talos Intelligence)
- Fake games spread stealers with RenPy Loader, MSBuild and EtherHiding (Malwarebytes)
- Smart Contracts for C&C: How ClearFake Hid in Plain Sight on BSC Testnet (Trend Micro)
- Novel fake CAPTCHA chain delivering Amatera Stealer (Blackpoint Cyber)
- Beyond the Click: Forensic Analysis of EtherHiding in ClickFix Campaign Infrastructure (Blackpoint Cyber)
- EVALUSION ClickFix campaign delivers Amatera Stealer and NetSupport RAT (eSentire)
- Meet IClickFix, a widespread WordPress-targeting framework using the ClickFix tactic (Sekoia)
- EtherHiding: Hiding Web2 Malicious Code in Web3 Smart Contracts (Guardio Labs)
- The Blockchain Is Not Your Friend: Examining EtherHiding and Using Blockchain for Attacks (CSIDE)
- Signed, Staged, and Weaponised: Inside an ACRStealer Campaign — DCRCVDrv.sys BYOVD (DarkScene)
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Detection coverage for TL-2026-2387
As of 2026-09-08, Threadlinqs Intelligence publishes 9 detection rule(s) for TL-2026-2387 across Splunk SPL, Microsoft KQL and Sigma, covering 33 indicator(s) of compromise. The whole corpus is readable without an account; a free account unlocks full detection query text in Splunk SPL, Microsoft KQL and Sigma; paid tiers add raw indicator values, correlation and the MCP server. Threadlinqs MCP server · View plans.