Ddos 
CYFIRMA’s Threat Intelligence Team has published an in-depth analysis of DuplexSpy RAT, a powerful and modular remote access trojan that has recently emerged on GitHub. Developed in C# and released under the alias ISSAC/iss4cf0ng, the tool offers a GUI-driven, feature-rich platform capable of surveillance, persistence, remote execution, and anti-analysis—making it a tempting weapon for cybercriminals.
DuplexSpy is no amateur tool. Built with a modular design and a polished GUI, it offers attack customization with minimal technical effort, effectively lowering the entry barrier for aspiring threat actors.
“Its design reflects an understanding of both offensive tooling and Windows internals, enabling deep system integration,” the analysis states.
It masquerades as a legitimate process, using names like “Windows Update.exe” to avoid detection, and copies itself to the Startup folder and Windows registry to maintain persistence.
DuplexSpy’s capabilities rival those of nation-state malware kits:
- Keylogging with timestamped window context
- Live screen and webcam streaming
- Audio spying and forced playback for distraction
- Remote command shell and mouse control
- Fake lock screen coercion and system shutdowns
- Process killing, DLL injection, and registry manipulation
“The malware’s persistence mechanisms, anti-analysis tactics, and fileless execution techniques enable it to bypass conventional security measures,” the analysis notes.
The malware executes filelessly using Assembly.Load() and erases its tracks with cmd.exe /c del, making forensic recovery nearly impossible.
DuplexSpy features an AntiProcess module that constantly scans and terminates processes related to AV and monitoring tools. When it kills a security process, it shows fake error dialogs referencing corrupted DLLs to deceive users.
“When the fake_msg flag is enabled, it displays misleading error messages referencing a corrupted user32.dll to further deceive users.”
The use of Base64 encoding, AES/RSA encryption, and in-memory DLL loading makes the RAT exceptionally stealthy, especially against network and endpoint detection tools.
The malware maintains a persistent TCP socket connection with the attacker’s command server. It supports:
- Live C2 chat via a frmChat module
- Remote lock screen and message prompts
- Collection of active TCP connections for lateral movement
- Dynamic command parsing and execution via a base64-encoded protocol
“This frmChat class enables real-time chat functionality between the attacker and the infected host, allowing interactive command and control,” the analysis explains.
The developer, known as ISSAC, demonstrates expertise in C, C++, C#, Go, Python, and PowerShell, and works across platforms like Windows, Kali Linux, and Ubuntu. While he claims DuplexSpy was released strictly for educational use:
“Such tools are often exploited by threat actors for offensive operations.”
The GitHub repository includes disclaimers and a roadmap promising future plugins for browser data theft, Active Directory enumeration, and vulnerability scanning—indicating ongoing expansion.
DuplexSpy RAT embodies the growing threat of “open-source weaponization”—where tools released for “ethical hacking” are readily converted into real-world cyberweapons. It blends advanced technical evasion with a friendly user interface, making it dangerous in the hands of script kiddies and seasoned attackers alike.
“DuplexSpy RAT exemplifies the evolution of modern remote access tools, combining stealth, persistence, and modular functionality in a user-friendly package,” the analysis concludes.
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