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Fake ChatGPT delivers Real Cryptominer

by Security News

Overview

ChatGPT (OpenAI) remains widely considered the most popular and visited AI tool. Due to this immense popularity, it is common for cybercriminals to create fake applications that mimic the official OpenAI interface to trick users into installing malware. This week, SonicWall Capture Labs Threat Research Team analyzed a trojanized .NET Webview2 ChatGPT wrapper that is used to silently deliver a cryptomining software.

Infection Cycle

This malware is distributed as an executable masquerading as a modified ChatGPT client, using the filename OpenAIUncensored.exe to imply unrestricted functionality. It uses the following icon:

Fig1: FakeGPT Icon
Figure 1. Icon used by this malware

Upon execution, it launches a window GUI app titled “OPEN AI Uncensored” and embeds a WebView2 browser that automatically loads the official ChatGPT website – https://chatgpt.com. 

Figure 2. OpenAIUncensored.exe main class showing its functionality
Figure 2. OpenAIUncensored.exe main class showing its functionality

However, as it loads a webpage, it also executes another executable named “injection.exe” which then downloads and installs a cryptominer. It downloads XMRig, a popular, open-source mining application, directly from GitHub presumably to avoid AV detection. 

Figure 3. Downloading XMRig from GitHub as data.zip
Figure 3. Downloading XMRig from GitHub as data.zip

 Injection.exe also disables Windows Defender scanning by executing an elevated PowerShell script that adds an exclusion for the malware’s install directory, enabling persistent and stealthy cryptomining.

Figure 4. Class showing how a bypass for Windows Defender scanning was added using PowerShell
Figure 4. Class showing how a bypass for Windows Defender scanning was added using PowerShell

To establish persistence, it adds a run key in the registry for the miner app to run at system startup.

Figure 5. Class showing adding a run key in the registry
Figure 5. Class showing adding a run key in the registry

The purported ChatGPT WebView2 wrapper did not deliver the advertised unrestricted functionality; instead, it silently installed the XMRig miner, actively evaded Windows Defender, and exploited host resources for unauthorized cryptocurrency mining.

At the time of analysis, only two antivirus engines on VirusTotal classified the sample as malicious, suggesting that the malware remains largely undetected by most security products.

Figure 6. Low VirusTotal detection hits for this fake ChatGPT app
Figure 6. Low VirusTotal detection hits for this fake ChatGPT app

Sonicwall Protection

SonicWall Capture Labs provides protection against this threat via the following signatures:

  • GAV: Dropper.FK (Trojan)
  • GAV: Miner.DL (Trojan)

This threat is also detected by SonicWall Capture ATP with RTDMI™ and the Capture Client endpoint solution.

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The SonicWall Capture Labs Threat Research Team gathers, analyzes and vets cross-vector threat information from the SonicWall Capture Threat network, consisting of global devices and resources, including more than 1 million security sensors in nearly 200 countries and territories. The research team identifies, analyzes, and mitigates critical vulnerabilities and malware daily through in-depth research, which drives protection for all SonicWall customers. In addition to safeguarding networks globally, the research team supports the larger threat intelligence community by releasing weekly deep technical analyses of the most critical threats to small businesses, providing critical knowledge that defenders need to protect their networks.