Digital Doppelgangers: Anatomy of Evolving Impersonation Campaigns Distributing Gh0st RAT

SUMMARY :

This report details two interconnected malware campaigns targeting Chinese-speaking users in 2025, using large-scale brand impersonation to deliver Gh0st RAT variants. The first campaign, active from February to March, mimicked three brands across over 2,000 domains. The second campaign, starting in May, impersonated over 40 applications with more sophisticated infection chains. Both campaigns used cloud infrastructure for payload delivery and DLL side-loading for evasion. The adversary demonstrated an evolving operational playbook, advancing from simple droppers to complex multi-stage infections. The campaigns' infrastructure remained active for months, indicating a persistent and well-resourced threat actor focused on Chinese-speaking targets globally.

OPENCTI LABELS :

brand impersonation,multi-stage infection,chinese-speaking targets,dll side-loading,gh0st rat,cloud infrastructure,domain generation


AI COMMENTARY :

1. Introduction to Digital Doppelgangers The report titled Digital Doppelgangers: Anatomy of Evolving Impersonation Campaigns Distributing Gh0st RAT unveils a sophisticated threat actor that has refined its operational playbook through two separate but interconnected campaigns in 2025. These campaigns leveraged large-scale brand impersonation and multi-stage infection chains to distribute variants of the notorious Gh0st RAT. Chinese-speaking targets worldwide were specifically chosen, underscoring the adversary’s strategic focus and capabilities in domain generation and cloud infrastructure exploitation.

2. Campaign One: Early 2025 Brand Impersonation From February to March 2025, the threat actor executed the initial campaign by replicating three prominent brands across more than 2,000 malicious domains. Each domain was crafted to mimic legitimate websites and trick unsuspecting users into downloading dropper payloads. The simplicity of these early droppers belied their peligrosity as they established initial footholds for Gh0st RAT variants in targeted systems. The volume of domains and brand specificity highlighted the attacker’s investment in brand impersonation and domain generation techniques.

3. Campaign Two: Advanced Multi-Stage Infection In May 2025 the adversary escalated its tactics by launching a far more complex campaign that impersonated over 40 distinct applications. This multi-stage infection chain began with a benign-looking installer that, once executed, downloaded additional components from cloud-hosted infrastructure. The sophistication of this approach demonstrated a marked evolution from simple droppers toward elaborate, multi-staged malware delivery designed to slip past defensive controls and maintain persistence within victim environments.

4. Exploitation of Cloud Infrastructure Both campaigns relied heavily on cloud infrastructure for hosting malicious payloads and command and control communication. By leveraging reputable cloud service providers, the adversary concealed its operations behind legitimate traffic and SSL encryption. This approach not only enhanced the reliability of payload delivery but also complicated efforts by defenders to block or attribute the infrastructure. The use of domain generation and rapid provisioning of cloud resources pointed to a well-resourced actor focused on resilience and scale.

5. DLL Side-Loading for Evasion A key evasion technique observed in the second campaign involved DLL side-loading. Malicious DLL files were placed alongside legitimate application executables, causing the host process to load the rogue libraries unwittingly. This technique allowed the Gh0st RAT variants to bypass traditional signature-based detection and avoid raising suspicion during process creation. The adversary’s mastery of DLL side-loading underscored its ability to adapt and evade endpoint defenses.

6. Evolution of the Operational Playbook Analysis of both campaigns revealed a clear trajectory of tactical advancement. The initial focus on droppers transformed into a sophisticated, multi-layered infection chain featuring staged payloads and stealthy evasion techniques. The transition from high-volume, brand-focused domains to a targeted suite of application impersonations demonstrated a deliberate refinement of social engineering lures and technical controls, showcasing the threat actor’s commitment to continuous improvement and long-term relevance.

7. Impact on Chinese-Speaking Targets By concentrating on Chinese-speaking users globally, the adversary exploited cultural and linguistic trust factors to increase success rates. The choice of brands and applications tailored to this audience facilitated higher click-through rates and installation success. The prolonged activity of the malicious infrastructure over several months further amplified the campaign’s reach and impact, resulting in widespread Gh0st RAT deployments that threaten data confidentiality and operational integrity for individuals and organizations alike.

8. Defensive Measures and Recommendations Defenders are advised to implement rigorous domain monitoring and threat intelligence feeds to detect brand impersonation attempts early. Deploying advanced endpoint solutions capable of monitoring DLL side-loading and multi-stage infections can help mitigate the risk of Gh0st RAT intrusions. Regularly auditing cloud-hosted assets and enforcing strict SSL certificate validation will further reduce the adversary’s ability to blend into legitimate traffic. Ultimately, a layered defense strategy that combines network monitoring, user education, and proactive threat hunting is essential to counter these evolving impersonation campaigns.

9. Conclusion The Digital Doppelgangers report highlights how a persistent and well-resourced threat actor has continually upgraded its tactics to distribute Gh0st RAT variants through brand impersonation, cloud infrastructure exploitation, and DLL side-loading. The evolution from simple droppers to multi-stage infection chains against Chinese-speaking targets underscores the need for robust, adaptive security measures. Vigilance, collaboration, and the integration of threat intelligence are vital to stay ahead of such sophisticated campaigns.


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Digital Doppelgangers: Anatomy of Evolving Impersonation Campaigns Distributing Gh0st RAT