Russia’s FSB used spyware against a Russian programmer

Russia’s FSB used spyware against a Russian programmer after detaining him for allegedly donating to Ukraine earlier this year.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) used spyware to monitor a Russian programmer, Kirill Parubets, after he was detained earlier this year for allegedly donating to Ukraine.

Researchers from the First Department and the Citizen Lab discovered that the Russian intelligence agency installed the malware on the programmer’s Android device after he was detained for 15 days.

During the detention, authorities seized the programmer’s device, an Oukitel WP7 phone running Android 10, and installed spyware on it.

“This joint investigation with First Department, a legal assistance organization, found spyware covertly implanted on a phone returned to a Russian programmer accused of sending money to Ukraine after he was released from custody.” reads the report published by Citizen Lab. “The spyware bears many similarities to the Monokle family of spyware, previously reported on by Lookout Mobile Security, which they attribute to the “Special Technology Center,” a contractor to the Russian government.”

In June 2024, Parubets reported to First Department that during a 15-day administrative detention authorities confiscated his Android device. Parubets disclosed that his apartment was searched, and he was beaten to force him to reveal his device password.

The spyware allowed Russian authorities to track a target device’s location, record phone calls, and keystrokes, and read messages from encrypted messaging apps.

Kirill Parubets and his spouse were detained, during which the FSB pressured him to become an informant, threatening life imprisonment if he refused. The FSB showed significant interest in his work and connections, including ties to Ukraine.

After Parubets was released, his phone was returned at the FSB’s Lubyanka headquarters. He noticed suspicious behavior, including an unusual notification, “Arm cortex vx3 synchronization,” which is not standard for the device. A subsequent analysis by The First Department identified a likely-malicious app installed during his detention. Then, the First Department requested the support of Citizen Lab to investigate the device.

The analysis of the Android device revealed that Russian intelligence installed on the device a trojanized version of the genuine Cube Call Recorder app. It’s worth noting that the legitimate app has the package name “com.catalinagroup.callrecorder,” whereas the rogue counterpart’s package name is “com.cortex.arm.vx3.”

The spyware supports multiple functionalities through the extensive permissions it requests. The malicious code can access location data even when not in use, read and send SMS messages, install additional packages, and record screen captures. It can also read calendar entries, list installed applications, answer phone calls, retrieve account details, and record videos using the device’s camera.

Moreover, the spyware retains some permissions also found in the genuine app, such as precise location tracking, recording phone calls, and accessing contact information, which are common functionalities in many spyware tools. These extended capabilities suggest that the malware aims for comprehensive surveillance of the target device.

“Most of the malicious functionality of the application is contained in the class com.android.twe1ve, a class that is unique to this sample of spyware and not present in the Cube Call Recorder app available in the Google Play Store.” continues the report. “Most of the malicious functionality of the application is hidden in an encrypted second stage of the spyware. Once the spyware is loaded onto the phone and executed, the second stage is decrypted and loaded into memory. This type of obfuscation can help hide malicious activity from some antivirus software.”

The second stage of the spyware expands its capabilities, integrating core Android libraries and open-source tools like RTMP for audio/video streaming and SMB for file uploads. Its functionality includes location tracking, screen capture, keylogging, call recording, file extraction, password retrieval, and reading messages from other apps. It can also add a new device administrator, inject JavaScript, execute shell commands, and extract the device’s unlock password.

Additionally, it decrypts settings and data files stored in its assets directory. The researchers also noticed that the malicious code contains some references to iOS, suggesting a possible iPhone version of the spyware.

“This case illustrates that the loss of physical custody of a device to a hostile security service like the FSB can be a severe risk for compromise that will extend beyond the period where the security services have custody of the device.” concludes the report that includes Indicators of Compromise (IoCs). “In this case, the target noticed several odd behaviors on their device after he was released from detention, such as an unfamiliar and suspicious notification and the presence of an app that he had not installed. However, not every attempt to infiltrate and monitor a device is likely to result in such visible alerts. “

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Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, FSB)