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Guildma (Astaroth) malware infection from Brazilian Portuguese email, (Tue, Sep 1st)

SANS Internet Storm Center ()2 min read2 · 2 reads
AI summary · glm-5.3-flashSummaries by Vani AI

Guildma (Astaroth) malware spread via geofenced Brazilian Portuguese phishing emails, using zip archives, shortcuts, and AutoIt loaders.

SANS researchers documented a Guildma (Astaroth) malware infection initiated on 2026-08-31 by a malicious Brazilian Portuguese email offering a DocuSign-themed PDF. The delivery link is geofenced to Brazil and requires Brazilian Portuguese browser and OS language settings, otherwise serving a legitimate installer. The infection chain uses a zip archive containing a Windows shortcut that retrieves a DLL saved as an alternate data stream, which installs a compiled AutoIt package for persistence. Unique SHA-256 indicators and HTTPS traffic to Azure-hosted and .cfd domains were observed, with prior reports noting the campaign's abuse of GitHub.

Key facts
  • Guildma/Astaroth infection via Brazilian Portuguese email with DocuSign lure
  • Geofenced delivery: only Brazil IPs with Portuguese settings receive the malware
  • Chain: zip archive > Windows shortcut > DLL in alternate data stream > AutoIt loader
  • Malware persists under C:\Users\Public\Libraries\.cache\PLAX\; prior campaign abused GitHub
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Indicators of compromise

auto-extracted · verify before use · export allAll
TypeIndicatorContext
domainaguamammillaria.cfdh4htc0h0ggdh.canadacentral-01.azurewebsites[.]net plosancol.aguamammillaria[.]cfd crironxil.aguasedum[.]cfd TCP traffic to another domain:
domainaguasedum.cfdurewebsites[.]net plosancol.aguamammillaria[.]cfd crironxil.aguasedum[.]cfd TCP traffic to another domain: tcp[:]//omzagdmspc.a.pingg
domaincolombstracciatella.cfdr: "Contrato Via Docusing" <contratos_docusing@relatorio01a.colombstracciatella[.]cfd> Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2026 19:01:16 -0300 Subject: Assine co
domainpinggy.linkm[.]cfd TCP traffic to another domain: tcp[:]//omzagdmspc.a.pinggy[.]link:21601/ Note: I saw HTTPS traffic to WhatsApp and GitHub d
emailcontratos_docusing@relatorio01a.colombstracciatella2026 22:01:41 +0000 (UTC) Sender: "Contrato Via Docusing" <contratos_docusing@relatorio01a.colombstracciatella[.]cfd> Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2026 19:01:16 -0300 Subject: Assin
ipv4185.254.222.105ceived: from relatorio01a.colombstracciatella.cfd (unknown [185.254.222.105]) [information removed] ; Wed, 26 Aug 2026 22:01:41 +0000 (
sha25647d2908c4dd7f6f5eb4a8ef4306077b10315c44231f4bacd2bb811b245561911e: Zip archive data, at least v2.0 to extract SHA-256 hash: 47d2908c4dd7f6f5eb4a8ef4306077b10315c44231f4bacd2bb811b245561911 File size: 1,553 bytes File name: 868283789726483.lNk File
sha256a6044786991afdb9d42ceb350943987765a7d0e8537369b2092e3f019c0f63cahe infection, doesn't appear to be malicious: SHA-256 hash: a6044786991afdb9d42ceb350943987765a7d0e8537369b2092e3f019c0f63ca File size: 266,242 bytes File type: PE32+ executable (DLL)
sha256cc44782356cb0effc528a7ab22c19ab360a55ebbbe01feb0967031aa191c5869d zip archive and extracted Windows shortcut: SHA-256 hash: cc44782356cb0effc528a7ab22c19ab360a55ebbbe01feb0967031aa191c5869 File size: 1,661 bytes File name: 868283789726483.zip File
sha256f62a958faf0491b2b2803be2ee69b664b58e4a1261f64e8530cdc1a3ff666aa4It script for the persistent Guildma malware: SHA-256 hash: f62a958faf0491b2b2803be2ee69b664b58e4a1261f64e8530cdc1a3ff666aa4 File size: 277,874 bytes File type: Data File location: C:\
urlhttps://sistema-ekg3h4htc0h0ggdh.canadacentral-01.azurewebsites.net/684.BPSE.CONTRATOS.DIGITAIS.pdf Link from the message text: hxxps[:]//sistema-ekg3h4htc0h0ggdh.canadacentral-01.azurewebsites[.]net/ Downloaded zip archive and extracted Windows shortcut:

From the original article

2 min read at isc.sans.edu

On Monday 2026-08-31, I used a link from a malicious Brazilian Portuguese email to infect a Windows host in my lab. This was a Guildma (Astaroth) malware infection. The link from the email is geofenced for Brazil, meaning that it would only deliver the malware if I checked it from a Brazil-based IP address.

SANS Internet Storm Center

isc.sans.edu

Read the full article at SANS Internet Storm Center

A short excerpt; the article and its images belong to the publisher. Summary, key facts and assessment above are AI-written from the article and can be wrong.