Ex-Conti and FIN7 Cybercrime Gangs Unite to Launch Domino Malware

In what appears to be a coordinated effort between the FIN7 and Ex-Conti cybercrime gangs, a newly developed malware strain called „Domino“ has emerged.

This collaboration suggests that the two groups have joined forces, with the now-defunct Conti ransomware gang using the malware. Domino’s primary purpose is to aid in subsequent exploitation of compromised systems, and it includes an information stealer that has been available for purchase on the dark web since December 2021, but not widely known.

According to a recently released IBM report, the FIN7 hacking group, which has connections to numerous types of malware as well as the BlackBasta and DarkSide ransomware operations, was responsible for developing the Domino malware.

IBM researchers have discovered that the ‘Dave Loader’ malware loader has been linked to former members of the Conti ransomware and TrickBot groups, deploying Cobalt Strike beacons and Emotet.

However, recently it has been observed installing the new ‘Domino’ malware family, which includes a backdoor and an embedded .NET info-stealer called ‘Nemesis Project.’ The researchers speculate that the backdoor may download more sophisticated malware like Cobalt Strike for high-value targets.

Threat actors often collaborate with other groups to distribute malware and gain initial access to corporate networks, with ransomware gangs like REvil, Maze, and Conti relying on the likes of TrickBot and Emotet. With the disbanding of Conti, smaller cells have emerged, including BlackBasta, LockBit, and Quantum. IBM has linked the Domino malware family to FIN7, as it shares a code overlap with Lizar, and a loader named ‘NewWorldOrder’ was used to distribute the malware.

The Dave Loader malware, associated with TrickBot/Conti, has been observed pushing the Domino malware, linked to FIN7, which then deploys Project Nemesis or Cobalt Strike beacons associated with ex-Conti ransomware activity. This complicated partnership among threat actors creates challenges for defenders who need to address multiple malware strains that enable remote access to networks.