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DETECTION OVERVIEW

DoublePulsar RDP Implant

Risk Factors

The DoublePulsar Windows kernel-mode implant is a command-and-control (C&C) agent that can enable an unauthenticated attacker to run arbitrary shellcode with kernel privileges. This agent is uncommon because it requires sophisticated exploits such as EternalBlue to install the implant.

Category

Command-and-Control
Detection diagram
Next in Command-and-Control: DoublePulsar SMB Implant Activity

Attack Background

The DoublePulsar implant is installed in the kernel memory of a victim and then waits for further commands. The attacker can leverage normal Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) transactions to send a customized request to the victim device with the data signature (called “magic bytes”) “44 37 28 19” and a command. When the victim device sends a 288-byte response to a ping command, the attacker can then send a request with another command, such as the exec command. The exec command tells the implant to run malicious shellcode.

Mitigation Options

Disable RDP on devices unless required

Only allow incoming external RDP connections from trusted devices

Implement network segmentation, security zones, and firewall policies that limit how devices can communicate

MITRE ATT&CK ID

Associated content

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