Russian spyware ClayRat is spreading, evolving quickly, according to Zimperium

The spyware poses as popular apps like TikTok, and may break free of Russian borders at some point, the researchers say.

A fast-spreading Android spyware is mushrooming across Russia, camouflaging itself as popular apps like TikTok or YouTube, researchers at Zimperium have revealed in a blog post.

The company told CyberScoop they expect the campaign is likely to expand beyond Russian borders, too.

In three months, Zimperium zLabs researchers observed more than 600 samples, the company wrote in a blog post Thursday. Once implanted, the spyware can steal text messages, call logs, device information and more, and wrest control of a phone to do things like take pictures or place phone calls.

“It’s mainly targeting Russia, but they can always adapt to other payloads, and since every inflected phone then becomes an attack vector, it’s likely to become a global campaign,” said Nico Chiaraviglio, chief scientist at Zimperium. “However, it’s not easy to know the attackers’ intentions.”

The spyware, dubbed ClayRat, has some notable tools it uses to infect victims.

“ClayRat poses a serious threat not only because of its extensive surveillance capabilities, but also because of its abuse of Android’s default SMS handler role,” the blog post reads. “This technique allows it to bypass standard runtime permission prompts and gain access to sensitive data without raising alarms.”

It’s also been evolving quickly, Zimperium said, “adding new layers of obfuscation and packing to evade detection.”

Zimperium didn’t say who was behind the spyware. The Russian government is a cyberspace power, but typically hasn’t had to rely on spyware vendors, per se, as it has its own capabilities. Often — but not always — spyware linked to or suspected to be linked to the Kremlin is turned inwards, snooping on domestic targets.

“ClayRat is distributed through a highly orchestrated mix of social engineering and web-based deception, designed to exploit user trust and convenience,” according to Zimperium. “The campaign relies heavily on Telegram channels and phishing websites that impersonate well-known services and applications.”

ClayRat’s users also rely on phishing platforms.

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Technology

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Threats

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Policy

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