{
  "family": "minerbat",
  "sample_count": 2,
  "category": "trojan",
  "description": "Trojan:BAT/Minerbat (or simply Miner.bat) is a classification for extremely simple, script-based cryptojacking malware. Instead of complex compiled executables, Minerbat utilizes basic Windows Batch scripting (`.bat` or `.cmd` files) (`T1059.003`) to download, configure, and execute a command-line cryptocurrency miner (like XMRig or CGMiner) on the victim's machine, stealing their CPU/GPU resources to mine Monero (XMR) or other altcoins (`T1496`).<br><br><b>Understanding Minerbat (Script-based Cryptojacking)</b><br>To an end-user, the computer will suddenly become sluggish, the fans will spin up to maximum speed, and battery life will plummet. For a SOC analyst, Minerbat represents a 'low effort, high reward' attack. The attackers rely on the simplicity of batch scripts to evade complex EDR heuristics, capitalizing on environments that fail to monitor basic command-line execution.<br><br><b>Execution and Mining Mechanics</b><br>Minerbat is often delivered via phishing links, dropped by other malware, or executed via exploited vulnerable services (like an exposed Redis or Tomcat server). Upon execution, the batch script (`T1059.003`) typically uses built-in tools like `bitsadmin`, `certutil`, or PowerShell (`T1105`) to download the actual mining binary (e.g., `xmrig.exe`) and a configuration file containing the attacker's wallet address. It then executes the miner silently in the background, often passing arguments to limit CPU usage to 80% to avoid immediately crashing the system and arousing suspicion. Persistence is usually achieved by adding the batch script to the Startup folder or creating a simple Scheduled Task (`T1053.005`).<br><br><b>Indicators of Compromise & Impact</b><br>The impact is hardware wear and tear, significantly increased power consumption, and degraded system performance. Host-based IoCs include EDR alerts for suspicious command-line execution (e.g., `cmd.exe /c start /B xmrig.exe -o pool.hashvault.pro...`), high CPU utilization by unknown or generic executables, and the presence of malicious `.bat` files in user directories or Startup folders. Network IoCs involve continuous outbound traffic (often utilizing the Stratum protocol) over non-standard ports (e.g., 3333, 5555, 14444) to known cryptocurrency mining pools.",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.",
  "aliases": [],
  "enrichment_level": "expert-seo",
  "faq": [
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "What is Minerbat and what threat category does it belong to?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Minerbat is classified as a Trojan. Documented across security telemetry, it is engineered to execute unauthorized operations, establish persistent footholds on target endpoints, and facilitate malicious campaigns targeting enterprise and individual environments."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How does Minerbat establish persistence and evade defensive controls?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Minerbat typically establishes persistence through registry run keys, scheduled tasks, or service installations, while evading signature-based antivirus solutions through code obfuscation, memory injection, or anti-analysis sandbox checks."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "What are the essential incident response steps for mitigating a Minerbat compromise?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Security teams responding to Minerbat should immediately isolate affected endpoints from the network, perform memory triage to capture volatile forensic artifacts, audit registry and startup persistence mechanisms, revoke exposed user credentials, and restore systems from verified, clean backups."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "What secondary payloads and staging behaviors are commonly associated with Minerbat?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Minerbat frequently operates as a loader or dropper designed to establish a foothold before downloading and executing secondary high-impact malware payloads. Depending on the threat actor's objectives, these dropped modules can range from ransomware and banking injects to modular infostealers and remote management backdoors."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How can security operations teams effectively detect and hunt for Minerbat across enterprise endpoints?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Defenders should hunt for Minerbat by deploying behavioral endpoint detection and response (EDR) rules that monitor suspicious process spawning (such as cmd.exe or powershell.exe spawned from office documents or temporary directories), anomalous outbound network connections from non-browser binaries, and unauthorized modifications to Windows Run keys and scheduled task registries."
      }
    }
  ],
  "faq_count": 5,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1105",
    "T1059.003",
    "T1496"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-06-09",
  "mitre_attack_detail": [
    {
      "id": "T1496",
      "name": "Resource Hijacking (The primary objective: stealing CPU/GPU for mining)",
      "tactic": "Impact"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1059.003",
      "name": "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell (Using batch scripts for execution and setup)",
      "tactic": "Execution"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1105",
      "name": "Ingress Tool Transfer (Downloading the mining binary via command line)",
      "tactic": "Command and Control"
    }
  ],
  "containment_steps": [
    "Identify the process consuming the high CPU (often the mining executable launched by the script) and terminate it.",
    "Locate and delete the malicious batch script and the downloaded mining binary.",
    "Remove any Scheduled Tasks or Startup folder shortcuts created by the script to ensure it does not return on reboot.",
    "Block access to known cryptocurrency mining pools at the corporate firewall/proxy level."
  ],
  "what_to_avoid": [
    "Do not ignore instances of `bitsadmin` or `certutil` downloading files, as this is a primary technique used by these scripts to fetch the miner.",
    "Avoid allowing unsigned scripts to execute freely from user profile directories."
  ],
  "target_industries": [
    "Global / Opportunistic"
  ],
  "motivation": "Opportunistic",
  "threat_actors": [
    "Unknown / Cybercriminal"
  ],
  "target_geographies": [
    "Global"
  ],
  "attack_stage": [
    "execution",
    "persistence"
  ],
  "ecosystem": [
    "windows_pe"
  ],
  "is_emerging": false,
  "target_platforms": [
    "Windows 11",
    "Windows 10",
    "Windows 7"
  ]
}