GaboonGrabber: The First Malmon

Malmon Profile

Classification: Trojan/Stealth ⭐⭐
Discovery Credit: Lena Yu, Cybersecurity Researcher
First Documented: 2023
Threat Level: Intermediate (Perfect for new teams)

Malmon Card Reference

GaboonGrabber

Trojan/Stealth

⭐⭐

GaboonGrabber was discovered and named by Lena aka LambdaMamba, and is the first Malmon ever created. Written in .NET, it extracts embedded resources to launch multiple fileless stages. It camouflages itself as legitimate software—even mimicking app code—to avoid detection. Its final stage can deploy threats like Snake Keylogger, AgentTesla, Redline, Lokibot, and more.

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Perfect Mimicry

Appears as legitimate software updates with +3 bonus to social engineering attempts

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Fileless Deployment

Uses process injection and memory-only persistence with +2 bonus against traditional antivirus

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Multi-Payload Delivery

Can deploy Snake Keylogger, AgentTesla, or Redline after 24+ hours of successful infection

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Advanced Persistent Threat

Gains network lateral movement capabilities and develops custom tools for long-term persistence

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Behavioral Analysis

Vulnerable to runtime monitoring and behavioral detection with -3 penalty when defenders use advanced behavioral tools

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🔒8

📡6

💣7

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Property Icons:

🔍Detection

🔒Persistence

📡Spread

💣Payload

🥷Evasion

Technical Characteristics

MITRE ATT&CK Mapping

Initial Access: T1566.001 (Spearphishing Attachment)
Execution: T1204.002 (Malicious File)
Persistence: T1547.001 (Registry Run Keys/Startup Folder)
Defense Evasion: T1027 (Obfuscated Files or Information), T1055 (Process Injection)
Discovery: T1083 (File and Directory Discovery), T1057 (Process Discovery)
Collection: T1005 (Data from Local System)
Exfiltration: T1041 (Exfiltration Over C2 Channel)

Detailed ATT&CK Analysis

🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Technique Analysis

Technique	Tactic	Description	Mitigation	Detection
T1055 Process Injection	Defense Evasion	Injects malicious code into legitimate processes to hide execution	Process monitoring, memory protection, behavioral analysis	Process behavior monitoring, memory analysis, API monitoring
T1547.001 Registry Run Keys/Startup Folder	Persistence	Establishes persistence through registry modifications and startup mechanisms	Registry monitoring, startup item control, system hardening	Registry monitoring, startup enumeration, persistence scanning
T1027 Obfuscated Files or Information	Defense Evasion	Uses obfuscated .NET code and encrypted payloads to evade detection	Code analysis tools, behavioral detection, sandboxing	Static analysis, entropy analysis, deobfuscation tools
T1057 Process Discovery	Discovery	Identifies running processes to understand system state and security tools	Process monitoring, system hardening, security tool protection	Process enumeration monitoring, security tool alerting
T1041 Exfiltration Over C2 Channel	Exfiltration	Sends collected data to attacker-controlled servers via command and control channels	Network monitoring, egress filtering, traffic analysis	Network traffic analysis, C2 communication patterns, data flow monitoring
T1204.002 Malicious File	Execution	Users execute the malicious payload believing it to be a legitimate software update	Application control, user education, execution policy	Process monitoring, execution logging, behavioral analysis
T1083 File and Directory Discovery	Discovery	Enumerates files and directories to identify valuable data for collection	File system monitoring, access controls, principle of least privilege	File access monitoring, unusual enumeration patterns, audit logs
T1005 Data from Local System	Collection	Collects sensitive data from infected systems for exfiltration	Data loss prevention, access controls, file monitoring	File access monitoring, data collection patterns, DLP alerts
T1566.001 Spearphishing Attachment	Initial Access	GaboonGrabber spreads via convincing phishing emails with malicious attachments	Email security controls, user training, attachment scanning	Email analysis, attachment behavior monitoring, user reporting

IM Facilitation Notes:

Use these techniques to guide player investigation questions
Help players connect evidence to specific ATT&CK techniques
Highlight type effectiveness relationships in responses
Encourage discussion of real-world mitigation strategies

Core Capabilities

Perfect Mimicry:

Appears identical to legitimate software updates
Uses convincing file names and digital certificate spoofing
Mimics trusted software installer behavior and appearance
+3 bonus to social engineering effectiveness

Fileless Deployment:

Operates primarily in memory to avoid disk-based detection
Uses process injection to hide within legitimate processes
Minimal file system artifacts during active operation
+2 bonus against traditional antivirus detection

Multi-Payload Deployment (Hidden Ability):

Can deploy Snake Keylogger, AgentTesla, or Redline after establishing persistence
Triggers automatically after 24+ hours of successful infection
Each payload has different objectives and detection signatures
Creates complex, multi-faceted incident response challenge

Type Effectiveness Against GaboonGrabber

Understanding which security controls work best against Trojan-type threats like GaboonGrabber:

Trojan

Weak to: Detection

Resists: Training

Worm

Weak to: Isolation

Resists: Backup

Ransomware

Weak to: Backup

Resists: Encryption

Rootkit

Weak to: Forensics

Resists: Detection

APT

Weak to: Intelligence

Phishing

Weak to: Training

Botnet

Weak to: Coordination

Infostealer

Weak to: Encryption

Key Strategic Insights for IMs:

Most Effective: Behavioral Analysis, User Education, Runtime Monitoring
Moderately Effective: System Restoration, Network Isolation
Least Effective: Signature Detection (especially against evolved variants), Static Analysis

Use this to guide teams toward type-appropriate response strategies during sessions.

Vulnerabilities

Behavioral Analysis Weakness:

Runtime monitoring can detect abnormal process behavior
Memory analysis reveals injected code patterns
Network monitoring shows unusual communication patterns
-3 penalty when defenders use advanced behavioral tools

User Education Susceptibility:

Social engineering awareness training reduces success rate
Email security training helps users identify suspicious attachments
Security awareness programs improve organization-wide resistance

Facilitation Guide

Pre-Session Preparation

Choose GaboonGrabber When:

New teams learning basic incident response coordination
Mixed experience groups with both novice and experienced members
Social engineering education is a learning objective
Type effectiveness concepts need to be demonstrated clearly
Process injection and behavioral analysis concepts should be taught

Avoid GaboonGrabber When:

Advanced teams seeking sophisticated technical challenges
Speed-focused sessions where complexity might slow learning
Network-focused training where endpoint threats aren’t the priority

Session Structure Guidance

Discovery Phase (Round 1) Facilitation

Initial Symptoms to Present:

“Multiple users report computers running slowly since yesterday afternoon”
“Help desk received calls about unexpected pop-ups appearing”
“Users mention receiving ‘critical security update’ emails yesterday”
“Some applications are taking longer to start than usual”

IM Question Progression:

“What would be your first concern hearing these symptoms?”
“How might you investigate what happened yesterday afternoon?”
“What would make users click on a security update email?”
“What patterns connect slow computers with security updates?”

Expected Player Discovery Path:

Detective: Investigates logs, finds suspicious executables in temp directories
Protector: Checks running processes, discovers process injection indicators
Tracker: Monitors network traffic, identifies unusual outbound connections
Communicator: Interviews users, learns about convincing phishing emails
Crisis Manager: Coordinates investigation, manages timeline and priorities
Threat Hunter: Searches for additional compromise indicators

Malmon Identification Moment: Guide the team to recognize: “This appears to be a sophisticated Trojan that’s very good at pretending to be legitimate software.”

Investigation Phase (Round 2) Facilitation

Impact Assessment Questions:

“If this malware has been active for 24+ hours, what might it have accomplished?”
“What data would be valuable to an attacker in your environment?”
“How would you determine the scope of compromise?”

Attack Vector Analysis:

“What made the phishing emails so convincing?”
“How did the malware gain persistence on infected systems?”
“What vulnerabilities did this attack exploit?”

Evolution Threat Introduction:

“Your monitoring tools are showing new suspicious processes starting up…”
“It appears the original malware is trying to download additional tools…”
“What would worry you most about this threat evolving?”

Response Phase (Round 3) Facilitation

Strategy Development:

“Given this is a Trojan type threat, what approaches would be most effective?”
“How do you balance speed with thoroughness in your response?”
“What coordination is needed between your different roles?”

Implementation Challenges:

Present dice rolls for containment attempts
Reward type-effective approaches (behavioral analysis, user education)
Challenge ineffective approaches (signature-only detection)
Emphasize team coordination benefits

Advanced Facilitation Techniques

Adapting for Different Experience Levels

For Novice Groups:

Provide more explicit guidance about investigation techniques
Explain technical concepts as they arise naturally in the scenario
Focus on collaboration and communication over technical complexity
Use automatic successes for good teamwork and logical approaches

For Mixed Groups:

Let experienced players mentor newcomers through complex concepts
Encourage peer teaching moments about malware analysis and incident response
Use experienced players to validate and expand on technical discussions
Balance individual expertise with team collaboration

For Advanced Groups:

Add complexity with multiple payloads and attribution challenges
Introduce time pressure and resource constraints
Include advanced evasion techniques and threat actor behaviors
Focus on innovation and technique development

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If Players Focus Too Much on Technical Details:

“That’s great analysis - how does this inform your team’s next steps?”
“How would you explain this finding to the rest of the incident response team?”
“What decisions does this evidence help you make?”

If One Role Dominates Investigation:

“Detective, that’s valuable insight - what questions would other roles ask about this?”
“How might the Protector’s perspective on this evidence differ from the Detective’s?”
“What would worry the Communicator about these findings?”

If Team Gets Stuck:

“What would you try if you had unlimited resources and time?”
“If you had to guess, what kind of threat do these symptoms suggest?”
“What’s your gut instinct about what happened here?”

Real-World Learning Connections

Key Cybersecurity Concepts Taught

Social Engineering Awareness:

How sophisticated phishing emails convince users to click
The importance of user education and security awareness training
Why technical controls alone aren’t sufficient for security

Process Injection and Evasion:

How malware hides within legitimate processes
Why behavioral analysis is critical for modern threat detection
The limitations of signature-based detection methods

Multi-Stage Attacks:

How initial compromise leads to additional payload deployment
The importance of rapid response to prevent attack progression
Why continuous monitoring is essential during incident response

Team Coordination:

How different cybersecurity roles contribute unique perspectives
The value of cross-functional collaboration in incident response
Why communication and coordination improve response effectiveness

Professional Development Value

Skills Developed:

Basic malware analysis and behavioral assessment
Incident response coordination and communication
User interview techniques and social engineering investigation
Type-based strategic thinking for cybersecurity defense

Career Applications:

SOC analyst pattern recognition and alert investigation
Incident response team coordination and role specialization
Security awareness training development and user education
Cybersecurity strategy development and tool selection

Assessment and Learning Objectives

Success Indicators

Team Successfully:

Identifies GaboonGrabber as a Trojan-type threat using evidence-based analysis
Understands social engineering vector and user education implications
Recognizes process injection and behavioral analysis concepts
Coordinates effective response using type-appropriate containment strategies
Documents lessons learned for future reference and community sharing

Individual Growth Indicators:

Detective: Demonstrates evidence analysis and pattern recognition skills
Protector: Shows understanding of containment strategies and system hardening
Tracker: Exhibits network monitoring and communication analysis capabilities
Communicator: Displays stakeholder management and user education insights
Crisis Manager: Demonstrates coordination and strategic planning abilities
Threat Hunter: Shows proactive investigation and intelligence development skills

Learning Assessment Questions

Post-Session Reflection:

“What surprised you most about how this attack succeeded?”
“Which detection or response techniques would be most effective against similar threats?”
“How would you explain this incident to users to prevent future infections?”
“What would you do differently if your organization faced this threat?”

MalDex Documentation Prompts:

“What made GaboonGrabber’s social engineering so effective?”
“Which behavioral indicators were most useful for detection?”
“How did team coordination improve response effectiveness?”
“What insights would help other teams facing similar Trojans?”

Scaling and Variation

Session Modifications

For Shorter Sessions (60 minutes):

Focus on discovery and initial response without evolution mechanics
Streamline investigation phase to key findings and team coordination
Emphasize rapid decision-making and basic containment strategies

For Longer Sessions (120 minutes):

Add detailed forensic analysis and attribution investigation
Include comprehensive user education planning and policy development
Incorporate advanced evasion techniques and sophisticated threat actor behaviors

For Industry-Specific Adaptations:

Healthcare: Focus on patient data protection and HIPAA compliance considerations
Financial: Emphasize fraud prevention and regulatory reporting requirements
Education: Address BYOD challenges and diverse user population management

Community Contributions

Encourage Documentation of:

Novel investigation techniques discovered during sessions
Effective team coordination strategies and communication approaches
Creative response strategies and innovative containment techniques
User education insights and social engineering countermeasures

Support Follow-Up Activities:

Advanced sessions featuring GaboonGrabber evolution and sophisticated payloads
Cross-organizational sharing of response techniques and lessons learned
Integration of session insights into organizational security awareness training
Development of new scenarios based on community feedback and real-world threat evolution

GaboonGrabber serves as an ideal introduction to Malware & Monsters, providing rich learning opportunities while remaining accessible to teams with diverse cybersecurity backgrounds. Its focus on social engineering, behavioral analysis, and team coordination makes it an excellent foundation for more advanced scenarios.