Below is a media alert from Etay Maor, Fraud Prevention Solutions Manager, Trusteer, on how a new Citadel malware variant is targeting customers using the Payza payment platform. This is a Man in the Browser attack which alters the login screen presented to the customer and adds the “pin” field and then sends the customers email, passcode and pin number to the criminals. The Payza transaction pin is used every time a user wants to send, add or withdraw funds, so by obtaining the customers pin number, a cybercriminal can take over their account. Please see media alert and screen shots below for more information.
Man in the Browser (MitB) malware has been targeting online payment platforms since day one. While popular payment services such as Paypal are constantly being targeted by most malware, smaller payment systems are now popping up on cybercriminals’ radar. Trusteer’s security team recently analyzed a Citadel malware variant that, among others, targeted Payza – a payment platform popular in developing countries that have limited access to online financial services.
Payza states its mission is “To provide our customers with the world’s first truly global payment platform, to bring affordable and convenient payment methods to under-serviced markets, and to connect the global marketplace with emerging countries.” There are several security concerns with financial services in developing countries: (a) the wide use of Internet cafes and public computers and (b) the lack of online security awareness. Together, these conditions can have serious implications. Public computers are typically at higher risk for malware infections and when used by an unsuspecting user, the chances of a successful fraudulent transfer are much higher.
A recent Citadel variant discovered by Trusteer’s security team included the following domains in its targeted URLs list:
https://secure.payza.com/login
https://www.alertpay.com
AlertPay is a Canadian e-wallet service that was acquired by MH Pillars of the UK. On May 2012 MH Pillars launched Payza.
The Citadel variant includes Payza specific MitB code to alter the fields the user is asked to fill in when accessing the login page.
The legitimate Payza login screen looks like this:
If a user accesses his/her Payza account with an infected computer, Citadel will alter the login screen to look like this:
As these screenshots demonstrate the Citadel code adds the “Pin” field to the Payza login page. The Payza transaction pin is used every time a user wants to send funds, add funds, withdraw funds or make a payment. By obtaining the victim’s email, password and pin number a cybercriminal can take over the account and commit fraudulent transactions.
MitB malware continues to pose a serious threat to online financial services. Users must stay vigilant and be on the lookout for new and suspicious requests even when accessing trusted sites like their bank or online payment website. Trusteer’s Rapport can detect, mitigate and remove Citadel malware from infected devices and provide a financial malware-free environment.
