A New Malware Campaign Detected through Microsoft OneNote Files

Since December 2022, in malware distribution campaigns targeting Windows systems, it has been observed that OneNote files are being used in addition to traditional Word, Excel, ISO, or ZIP files. Threat actors were using ISO files and password-protected ZIP archives to distribute malware after Microsoft disabled macros by default in Word and Excel Office documents. This was because Windows was vulnerable to a weakness that allowed it to bypass security warnings for files in ISO and 7-ZIP archives.

The fixing of this vulnerability by 7-Zip and Microsoft has led threat actors to look for another file format to use in attacks, and as a result, they started using the Microsoft OneNote file format. The campaign chain begins with threat actors creating a OneNote document that includes a design element with a ‘Double Click’ message to view the content.

The Malware Campaign in Microsoft OneNote Is Running Various Ransomware

The file appears to be a protected document, as shown above, but contrary to what is visible, a malicious software file that will run when the user double-clicks is hidden under the “Double Click to View File” message. In observed campaigns, it was determined that the software running in the background dropped various Ransomware malware, such as BlackBasta, onto the targeted system.

To avoid being targeted by campaigns using the aforementioned malicious OneNote attachments on Windows systems, it is recommended to:

• Block the ‘.one’ file extension from secure mail gateways or mail servers,
• Use Microsoft Office group policies to restrict the execution of malicious file attachments in OneNote files,
• Use comprehensive security solutions, and
• Educate organization personnel on this and similar attack methods.