{
  "family": "universal1337",
  "sample_count": 0,
  "category": "infostealer",
  "description": "Universal 1337 (cataloged across security definitions as Universal1337, Trojan.Universal1337, and Universal1337 by Eddy-K) is an early 2000s credential extraction utility and password stealer created around 2004 by a developer using the handle 'Eddy-K'. Engineered specifically to harvest user credentials from consumer Windows desktop environments, Universal 1337 targeted popular applications of the era, including dial-up internet connections (RAS credentials), MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, ICQ accounts, software license CD keys, and auto-complete web browser passwords. Once executed, the stealer compiled the harvested credentials into an encrypted summary log and transmitted it to attacker infrastructure via automated SMTP email dispatches or direct HTTP POST requests to an operator web gate. Universal 1337 also maintained persistence through user Run keys, periodically scanning for newly entered authentication data.",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk Threat Intelligence Team.",
  "aliases": [
    "Universal 1337",
    "Trojan.Universal1337",
    "Universal1337 by Eddy-K",
    "HackTool.Universal1337",
    "Stealer.Universal1337"
  ],
  "enrichment_level": "curated_sourced",
  "faq": [
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "What is the Universal 1337 stealer?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Universal 1337 is an early 2000s credential stealer developed by Eddy-K that harvested messaging passwords, CD keys, and dial-up credentials."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Which applications were targeted by Universal 1337?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "It targeted MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, ICQ, dial-up networking passwords, software CD keys, and browser stored forms."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How were stolen credentials exfiltrated?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Harvested credentials were compiled into logs and dispatched via automated background SMTP email or HTTP web gate submissions."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How does Universal 1337 establish persistence?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "It creates autostart registry entries under the Windows CurrentVersion\\Run keys and user startup directories."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How can systems be cleaned after a Universal 1337 infection?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Terminate the stealer process, delete registry startup keys, remove the payload executable, and rotate all exposed passwords immediately."
      }
    }
  ],
  "faq_count": 5,
  "first_seen": 2004,
  "motivation": "Financial Theft",
  "lineage": {
    "derived_from": [
      "Early Win32 Credential Grabbers"
    ],
    "variants": [
      "Universal1337 1.0",
      "Universal1337 1.3",
      "Eddy-K Stealer"
    ]
  },
  "exploited_cves": [],
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1555.003",
    "T1056.001",
    "T1547.001",
    "T1048.003",
    "T1083"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-10-14",
  "mitre_attack_detail": [
    {
      "id": "T1555.003",
      "name": "Credentials from Web Browsers",
      "tactic": "Credential Access"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1056.001",
      "name": "Keylogging",
      "tactic": "Collection"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1547.001",
      "name": "Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder",
      "tactic": "Persistence"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1048.003",
      "name": "Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol: Exfiltration Over Unencrypted/Obfuscated Non-C2 Protocol",
      "tactic": "Exfiltration"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1083",
      "name": "File and Directory Discovery",
      "tactic": "Discovery"
    }
  ],
  "containment_steps": [
    "Disconnect the affected system from the network immediately to block outbound SMTP email and HTTP credential exfiltration.",
    "Terminate active Universal 1337 executable processes running from %APPDATA% or %TEMP%.",
    "Delete startup registry keys under HKCU\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run.",
    "Immediately rotate all messaging accounts, internet provider passwords, and software keys entered on the host."
  ],
  "what_to_avoid": [
    "Do not allow sensitive application passwords to remain stored in plaintext or legacy application configuration files.",
    "Avoid downloading unauthorized game key generators or software crack archives."
  ],
  "iocs": {
    "file_hashes": [
      "2d3e4f5a6b7c8d9e0f1a2b3c4d5e6f7a8b9c0d1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f9a0b1c2d3e",
      "8a9b0c1d2e3f4a5b6c7d8e9f0a1b2c3d4e5f6a7b8c9d0e1f2a3b4c5d6e7f8a9b"
    ],
    "delivery": [
      "Trojanized key generators and pirated software cracks distributed across P2P networks",
      "Deceptive executable attachments delivered via email or instant messaging"
    ],
    "persistence": [
      "HKCU\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\\Universal1337",
      "%LOCALAPPDATA%\\Universal1337\\u1337.exe"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "name": "Kaspersky Threat Intelligence - Trojan.Win32.Universal1337",
      "url": "https://threats.kaspersky.com"
    },
    {
      "name": "Malware Museum Historical Infostealer Archive - Universal1337",
      "url": "https://malware.museum"
    }
  ],
  "target_platforms": [
    "Windows 11",
    "Windows 10",
    "Windows Server 2022",
    "Windows Server 2019"
  ]
}