{
  "family": "bandok",
  "sample_count": 1,
  "category": "trojan",
  "description": "Backdoor:Win32/Bandok (often associated with the Bandook RAT) is a highly persistent, commercially available Remote Access Trojan. It provides an attacker with comprehensive, interactive control over a compromised Windows system. Developed originally in Delphi and later rewritten, Bandok is designed for 'hands-on-keyboard' attacks, allowing operators to explore the file system, steal credentials, execute arbitrary commands, and pivot laterally within a corporate network (`T1059`).<br><br><b>Understanding Bandok (Remote Access Trojan)</b><br>To an end-user, the infection is entirely invisible. For an incident response team, the presence of Bandok indicates an active, intelligent adversary is inside the network. Because it is a builder-based RAT, the skill level of the attacker using it can range from a novice to an advanced persistent threat (APT) actor utilizing it as a secondary, noisy backdoor to distract defenders.<br><br><b>Execution and Interactive Control Mechanics</b><br>Bandok is typically delivered via spearphishing campaigns (weaponized Office documents, often using old equation editor exploits) or dropped by initial access brokers. Upon execution, it establishes persistence via Registry Run keys (`T1547.001`). It establishes a reverse shell connection to the attacker's C2 server. The Bandok control panel provides the attacker with a GUI to execute a wide array of modules: file managers, registry editors, keyloggers (`T1056.001`), password dumpers (targeting browsers and FTP clients), and remote desktop (VNC) capabilities (`T1021.001`).<br><br><b>Indicators of Compromise & Impact</b><br>The impact is total loss of system confidentiality and a high likelihood of lateral movement. Host-based IoCs include EDR alerts for anomalous command-line execution (e.g., `cmd.exe` or `powershell.exe` spawning from unexpected parent processes), unauthorized access to credential stores, and the creation of hidden staging directories for exfiltration. Network IoCs include a persistent, encrypted outbound connection to an unknown IP address, with traffic volume spiking when the attacker is actively interacting with the system.",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.",
  "aliases": [],
  "enrichment_level": "expert-seo",
  "faq": [],
  "faq_count": 0,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1059",
    "T1021.001",
    "T1041",
    "T1056.001"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-06-09",
  "mitre_attack_detail": [
    {
      "id": "T1059",
      "name": "Command and Scripting Interpreter (Providing the attacker with interactive shell access)",
      "tactic": "Execution"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1056.001",
      "name": "Input Capture: Keylogging (Stealing real-time user input)",
      "tactic": "Credential Access"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1021.001",
      "name": "Remote Services: Remote Desktop Protocol (Utilizing built-in or custom VNC for graphical access)",
      "tactic": "Lateral Movement"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1041",
      "name": "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel (Stealing files directly through the RAT connection)",
      "tactic": "Exfiltration"
    }
  ],
  "containment_steps": [
    "Isolate the machine immediately to sever the attacker's interactive control over the system.",
    "Assume all credentials present on the machine (saved passwords, active session tokens, domain credentials) have been compromised and force a reset.",
    "Hunt across the network for the specific C2 IP address to identify other endpoints the attacker may have pivoted to using stolen credentials.",
    "Capture a memory dump before remediation to analyze the running Bandok configuration and identify any dropped secondary modules."
  ],
  "what_to_avoid": [
    "Do not assume the attack is over once the RAT is removed; the attacker likely created secondary backdoor accounts or dropped other persistence mechanisms.",
    "Avoid relying solely on static AV signatures, as RAT builders allow attackers to easily obfuscate and repack the payload."
  ],
  "target_industries": [
    "Global / Opportunistic"
  ],
  "motivation": "Opportunistic",
  "threat_actors": [
    "Unknown / Cybercriminal"
  ],
  "target_geographies": [
    "Global"
  ]
}