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Introduction
At the end of November 2022, OpenAI released ChatGPT, the new interface for its Large Language Model (LLM), which instantly created a flurry of interest in AI and its possible uses. However, ChatGPT has also added some spice to the modern cyber threat landscape as it quickly became apparent that code generation can help less-skilled threat actors effortlessly launch cyberattacks.
RELATED: Check Point warns hackers potentially using ChatGPT to execute cyber attacks
In Check Point Research’s (CPR) first blog about this subject, we described how ChatGPT successfully conducted a full infection flow, from creating a convincing spear-phishing email to running a reverse shell, capable of accepting commands in English. The question at hand is whether this is just a hypothetical threat or if there are already threat actors using OpenAI technologies for malicious purposes.
CPR’s analysis of several major underground hacking communities shows that there are already first instances of cybercriminals using OpenAI to develop malicious tools. As we suspected, some of the cases clearly showed that many cybercriminals using OpenAI have no development skills at all. Although the tools that we present in this report are basic, it’s only a matter of time until more sophisticated threat actors enhance the way they use AI-based tools for bad.
Case 1 – Creating an Infostealer
On December 29, 2022, a thread named “ChatGPT – Benefits of Malware” appeared on a popular underground hacking forum. The publisher of the thread disclosed that he was experimenting with ChatGPT to recreate malware strains and techniques described in research publications and write-ups about common malware. As an example, he shared the code of a Python-based stealer that searches for common file types, copies them to a random folder inside the Temp folder, ZIPs them and uploads them to a hardcoded FTP server.
Figure 1 –Cybercriminal showing how he created infostealer using ChatGPT
Our analysis of the script confirms the cybercriminal’s claims. This is indeed a basic stealer, which searches for 12 common file types (such as MS Office documents, PDFs, and images) across the system. If any files of interest are found, the malware copies the files to a temporary directory, zips them, and sends them over the web. It is worth noting that the actor didn’t bother encrypting or sending the files securely, so the files might end up in the hands of 3rd parties as well.
The second sample created by this actor using ChatGPT is a simple Java snippet. It downloads PuTTY, a very common SSH and telnet client, and runs it covertly on the system using Powershell. This script can of course be modified to download and run any program, including common malware families.
Figure 2 –Proof of how he created Java program that downloads PuTTY and runs it using Powershell
This threat actor’s prior forum participation includes sharing several scripts like automation of the post-exploitation phase, and a C++ program that attempts to phish for user credentials. In addition, he actively shares cracked versions of SpyNote, an Android RAT malware. So overall, this individual seems to be a tech-oriented threat actor, and the purpose of his posts is to show less technically capable cybercriminals how to utilize ChatGPT for malicious purposes, with real examples they can immediately use.
Case 2 – Creating an Encryption Tool
On December 21, 2022, a threat actor dubbed USDoD posted a Python script, which he emphasized was the first script he ever created.
Figure 3 –Cybercriminal dubbed USDoD posts multi-layer encryption tool
When another cybercriminal commented that the style of the code resembles openAI code, USDoD confirmed that the OpenAI gave him a “nice [helping] hand to finish the script with a nice scope.”
Figure 4 –Confirmation that the multi-layer encryption tool was created using Open AI
Our analysis of the script verified that it is a Python script that performs cryptographic operations. To be more specific, it is actually a mix of different signing, encryption and decryption functions. At first glance, the script seems benign, but it implements a variety of different functions:
- The first part of the script generates a cryptographic key (specifically uses elliptic curve cryptography and the curve ed25519), that is used in signing files.
- The second part of the script includes functions that use a hard-coded password to encrypt files in the system using the Blowfish and Twofish algorithms concurrently in a hybrid mode. These functions allow the user to encrypt all files in a specific directory or a list of files.
- The script also uses RSA keys, uses certificates stored in PEM format, MAC signing, and blake2 hash function to compare the hashes etc.
It is important to note that all the decryption counterparts of the encryption functions are implemented in the script as well. The script includes two main functions; one which is used to encrypt a single file and append a message authentication code (MAC) to the end of the file and the other encrypts a hardcoded path and decrypts a list of files that it receives as an argument.
All of the afore-mentioned code can of course be used in a benign fashion. However, this script can easily be modified to encrypt someone’s machine completely without any user interaction. For example, it can potentially turn the code into ransomware if the script and syntax problems are fixed.
While it seems that UsDoD is not a developer and has limited technical skills, he is a very active and reputable member of the underground community. UsDoD is engaged in a variety of illicit activities that includes selling access to compromised companies and stolen databases. A notable stolen database USDoD shared recently was allegedly the leaked InfraGard database.
Figure 5 –USDoD previous illicit activity that involved publication of InfraGard Database
Case 3 – Facilitating ChatGPT for Fraud Activity
Another example of the use of ChatGPT for fraudulent activity was posted on New Year’s Eve of 2022, and it demonstrated a different type of cybercriminal activity. While our first two examples focused more on malware-oriented use of ChatGPT, this example shows a discussion with the title “Abusing ChatGPT to create Dark Web Marketplaces scripts.” In this thread, the cybercriminal shows how easy it is to create a Dark Web marketplace, using ChatGPT. The marketplace’s main role in the underground illicit economy is to provide a platform for the automated trade of illegal or stolen goods like stolen accounts or payment cards, malware, or even drugs and ammunition, with all payments in cryptocurrencies. To illustrate how to use ChatGPT for these purposes, the cybercriminal published a piece of code that uses third-party API to get up-to-date cryptocurrency (Monero, Bitcoin and Etherium) prices as part of the Dark Web market payment system.
Figure 6 –Threat actor using ChatGPT to create DarkWeb Market scripts
At the beginning of 2023, several threat actors opened discussions in additional underground forums that focused on how to use ChatGPT for fraudulent schemes. Most of these focused on generating random art with another OpenAI technology (DALLE2) and selling them online using legitimate platforms like Etsy. In another example, the threat actor explains how to generate an e-book or short chapter for a specific topic (using ChatGPT) and sells this content online.
Figure 7 –Multiple threads in the underground forums on how to use ChatGPT for fraud activity
Summary
It’s still too early to decide whether or not ChatGPT capabilities will become the new favorite tool for participants in the Dark Web. However, the cybercriminal community has already shown significant interest and are jumping into this latest trend to generate malicious code. CPR will continue to track this activity throughout 2023.
Finally, there is no better way to learn about ChatGPT abuse than by asking ChatGPT itself. So, we asked the chatbot about the abuse options and received a pretty interesting answer:
