{
  "family": "minebicoin",
  "sample_count": 2,
  "category": "ransomware",
  "description": "Riskware:Win32/Minebicoin is a heuristic detection representing the widespread threat of 'Cryptojacking'. It flags executables or scripts designed to hijack an endpoint's CPU or GPU resources to mine cryptocurrency (most commonly Monero) without the user's consent or knowledge. While not inherently destructive to data like ransomware, Cryptojacking causes severe hardware degradation, massive power consumption spikes, and significant performance throttling across corporate environments.<br><br><b>Understanding Minebicoin (Cryptojacking)</b><br>To an end-user, the machine suddenly becomes incredibly slow, fans run at maximum speed, and the laptop battery drains rapidly. For an IT administrator, a Minebicoin outbreak looks like a massive, unexplained spike in CPU utilization across the fleet (`T1496`). Threat actors favor cryptojacking because it provides a silent, continuous revenue stream, unlike the noisy, one-time extortion of ransomware.<br><br><b>Execution and Resource Hijacking Mechanics</b><br>Minebicoin variants are delivered via phishing, exploit kits, or bundled with pirated software. They establish persistence using standard methods (Scheduled Tasks, Registry Run keys - `T1547.001`). Upon execution, the malware often injects a specialized mining payload (like a modified version of XMRig) into legitimate system processes (like `svchost.exe` or `notepad.exe`) to hide its CPU usage (`T1055`). It then connects to a mining pool via the Stratum protocol over TCP, constantly receiving hashing jobs and returning the results to enrich the attacker's wallet.<br><br><b>Indicators of Compromise & Impact</b><br>The impact is extreme resource exhaustion and increased electricity/hardware costs. Host-based IoCs are highly visible: Task Manager or EDR will show sustained 90-100% CPU/GPU utilization by unknown or injected processes. Network IoCs are definitive: persistent outbound TCP connections (often to non-standard ports) utilizing the Stratum protocol, communicating with known mining pool IP addresses or domains.",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.",
  "aliases": [],
  "enrichment_level": "expert-seo",
  "faq": [],
  "faq_count": 0,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1547.001",
    "T1055",
    "T1496"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-06-09",
  "mitre_attack_detail": [
    {
      "id": "T1496",
      "name": "Resource Hijacking (The core cryptomining activity)",
      "tactic": "Impact"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1055",
      "name": "Process Injection (Hiding the miner inside legitimate processes)",
      "tactic": "Defense Evasion"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1547.001",
      "name": "Boot or Logon Autostart Execution (Persistence)",
      "tactic": "Persistence"
    }
  ],
  "containment_steps": [
    "Isolate the affected machines to halt the resource drain and prevent the malware from potentially moving laterally (some miners include worm capabilities).",
    "Identify the malicious process causing the high CPU usage via EDR or Task Manager and terminate it.",
    "Update corporate firewall and DNS sinkhole rules to block access to known cryptocurrency mining pools and Stratum protocol traffic.",
    "Run a full AV scan to identify and remove the dropper executable and its associated persistence mechanisms."
  ],
  "what_to_avoid": [
    "Do not ignore complaints of slow computers or loud fan noise; these are the primary physical indicators of a cryptojacking infection.",
    "Avoid relying solely on static file signatures; attackers frequently update the miner binaries, making behavioral detection (high CPU + network pooling) critical."
  ],
  "target_industries": [
    "Global / Opportunistic"
  ],
  "motivation": "Opportunistic",
  "threat_actors": [
    "Unknown / Cybercriminal"
  ],
  "target_geographies": [
    "Global"
  ]
}