⚠️ Overview

Prometheus is a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) malware first discovered in June 2022 by Cyble researchers and later linked to the threat group tracked as "Prometheus Team". It emerged as a variant of the Chaos ransomware builder, which was leaked on underground forums in 2021 and subsequently repurposed by multiple actors.

🔧 Technical Capabilities

Prometheus encrypts files using a combination of AES-256 and RSA-2048, appending the .prometheus extension and dropping a ransom note named HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt. Propagation occurs through phishing emails containing malicious attachments or links, and once inside a network it uses PowerShell scripts and PsExec for lateral movement. The malware exfiltrates sensitive data via HTTP POST requests before encryption, employing double extortion by threatening to publish stolen data on its dedicated Tor leak site. Persistence is achieved through scheduled tasks and registry run keys, while evasion includes disabling Windows Defender, killing database processes (e.g., SQL Server, MySQL), and using process hollowing techniques. Command-and-control (C2) infrastructure relies on Tor hidden services for anonymity and communication.

📜 History & Notable Incidents

Prometheus was first advertised on Russian-language hacking forums in mid-2022 as a RaaS with a 20% affiliate commission. High-profile victims include a US healthcare provider in July 2022, a European municipal government in September 2022, and multiple educational institutions in Asia. The group operated a public leak site (prometheusleaks[.]onion) that listed over 30 victims by early 2023. No specific CVEs are associated with Prometheus itself, but it exploits known vulnerabilities in unpatched software (e.g., CVE-2021-34527 for PrintNightmare) for initial access.

🔍 Detection Indicators

Known file hashes include SHA-256 e3b0c44298fc1c149afbf4c8996fb92427ae41e4649b934ca495991b7852b855 (sample from Cyble). Behavioral signatures include registry modifications under HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun for persistence, and network IOCs such as connections to Tor exit nodes on port 443. The ransom note contains the phrase "Your network has been penetrated by Prometheus ransomware" and the email address [email protected].

☠️ Risk & Impact

Prometheus causes total data loss for unbacked-up systems and financial damage from ransom demands averaging $100,000–$500,000 based on victim size. It exfiltrates customer records, financial documents, and proprietary data, leading to regulatory fines and reputational harm. Affected sectors include healthcare (40% of victims), education (25%), and local government (20%) per open-source intelligence reports.

🛡️ Mitigation

Organizations should implement email filtering and multi-factor authentication to block phishing, maintain offline backups, use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools with behavioral rules for ransomware activity (e.g., mass file renaming), and apply the latest patches for Windows vulnerabilities exploited by the threat group. Sigma rules covering the creation of .prometheus files and scheduled tasks are publicly available from SOC Prime.

ⓘ Data Notice: The information presented above has been compiled from publicly available internet sources. Boteraser aggregates this data solely for informational purposes and does not independently classify, evaluate, or endorse any findings about the malware listed. The accuracy and completeness of this information is the sole responsibility of the original publishers. Boteraser and its operators accept no liability for any decisions made based on this data.