Oficla
Overview
Trojan:Win32/Oficla (also widely known as Sasfis) is a historically massive botnet and trojan downloader that peaked in activity between 2010 and 2012. Its primary function was to compromise endpoints and turn them into 'zombies' within the Oficla botnet. These zombies were then rented out to other cybercriminals to silently download and execute secondary payloads (`T1105`), most notoriously Fake Antivirus (Rogue software), spam bots (like Rustock), and banking trojans (like Zeus).
Understanding Oficla (Sasfis Botnet Operations)
To an end-user, an Oficla infection was usually silent, noticeable only when the secondary payload (like a screaming Fake AV pop-up) executed. For a security operations center (SOC), Oficla represents a critical breach. If Oficla is detected, the system must be considered fully compromised by multiple, unknown threat actors, as the botnet operators frequently sold access to the same machine to multiple buyers.
Execution and C2 Mechanics
Oficla was primarily distributed via massive spam campaigns (`T1566.001`), often disguised as fake delivery invoices (FedEx, UPS) containing malicious executables inside ZIP files, or via exploit kits on compromised websites. Upon execution, it injects its code into `explorer.exe` or `svchost.exe` (`T1055`) to hide its activity and establishes persistence via the Registry Run keys. It communicates with its C2 servers using HTTP POST requests, often employing a fast-flux DNS network to hide the true location of the servers. The C2 server responds with encrypted URLs pointing to the secondary payloads the bot must download and execute.
Indicators of Compromise & Impact
The primary impact is the deployment of severe secondary malware and incorporation into a criminal botnet. Host-based IoCs include EDR alerts for process injection (particularly into `explorer.exe`) and the rapid, silent downloading and execution of unknown binaries into the `%Temp%` directory. Network IoCs include a distinctive 'beaconing' pattern of HTTP POST requests containing encrypted system profiling data sent to rapidly changing, algorithmically generated domains (DGAs).
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
Observed techniques used by this family, mapped to the MITRE ATT&CK framework:
| Technique | Name | Tactic |
|---|---|---|
T1105 | Ingress Tool Transfer (The primary function: downloading other malware) | Command and Control |
T1055 | Process Injection (Hiding within explorer.exe or svchost.exe) | Defense Evasion |
T1566.001 | Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment (Primary distribution method) | Initial Access |
T1547.001 | Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder | Persistence |
Tactical Mitigations
Based on the techniques used by this family, consider the following defensive strategies:
- T1105: Implement network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) and host-based firewalls to block unauthorized inbound or outbound file transfers.
- T1566.001: Scan email attachments for malicious macros, scripts, or suspicious archive files.
Generated Detections (Boilerplate)
These YARA and Sigma rules are auto-generated based on the family name and aliases. They must be heavily tuned before deployment in a production environment.
YARA Rule
rule MALWARE_WIN_OFICLA {
meta:
description = "Detects Oficla (trojan)"
author = "SystemHelpdesk Boilerplate Generator"
date = "2026-07-06"
strings:
$s1 = "oficla" ascii wide nocase
condition:
uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and any of them
}Sigma Rule
title: Suspicious Oficla Activity
id: 08c5a212161a423128d7a3de30ec208a
status: experimental
description: Detects generic indicators of the oficla malware family.
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection:
Image|endswith:
- '\cmd.exe'
- '\powershell.exe'
CommandLine|contains:
- "*oficla*"
condition: selection
level: mediumContainment & Response Steps
Ordered checklist for responders. Adapt to your environment and engage professional support for active incidents.
- Immediately isolate the compromised endpoint from the network to sever its connection to the Oficla C2 infrastructure.
- Assume the system is heavily compromised by multiple malware families; initiate a full reimaging of the machine rather than attempting cleanup.
- Analyze DNS and proxy logs to identify the C2 domains Oficla contacted and block them enterprise-wide to prevent further botnet registration.
- Implement email filtering rules to block executable attachments (e.g., `.exe`, `.scr` inside `.zip` files) commonly used to distribute the malware.
What to Avoid
Common mistakes during response to this family that can destroy evidence, spread the infection, or worsen recovery.
- Do not assume the incident is resolved by merely deleting the initial Oficla executable; it is guaranteed that secondary payloads were downloaded.
- Avoid trusting the integrity of the operating system after an Oficla infection; full wipe and reinstall is the only safe remediation.
References & External Analysis
- Search "oficla" on VirusTotal (External Analysis)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I remove the Oficla Trojan from Windows?
Manual removal of Oficla is highly discouraged as it may leave persistence mechanisms intact. We recommend disconnecting the device from the internet and utilizing a professional incident response service or enterprise-grade EDR software to conduct a full forensic sweep.
Is Oficla a virus or a Trojan?
Oficla is classified as a Trojan. Unlike traditional viruses that infect files, modern malware like Oficla typically operates as a standalone payload designed to compromise systems, steal data, or deploy secondary stage implants.
What are the main symptoms of a Oficla infection?
Symptoms of Oficla can include unexpected system slowness, unauthorized outbound network traffic to unknown IP addresses, disabled security software, and suspicious background processes running from AppData or Temp directories.
Related Families (Category: trojan)
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Protect Your Network Against Trojans
Want to prevent Oficla and similar threats from compromising your organization? Read our comprehensive defensive guide: Banking Trojan Protection.
Machine-readable
Get this profile as JSON: https://jordan123234-malware-families-explorer.static.hf.space/api/oficla.json
Ecosystem & Interactive Environments
This profile is part of the Malware Families Catalog, a public dataset of 2,899 malware families. The catalog is also published across our ecosystem: Hugging Face, Kaggle, Zenodo, Replit, StackBlitz, CodeSandbox, and CodePen.