Malware Deep Dive: Cerber

Deep Dive: Cerber (Ransomware)

Today we are analyzing the Cerber malware family, which falls under the Ransomware category.

Overview

Cerber is ransomware that uses a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) model, where affiliates purchase and spread the malware and pay commissions to its developers. Per Malwarebytes, it uses strong encryption with no free decryptors available, may run silently during encryption, and may disable antivirus programs and system restoration to pressure victims into paying. It has been distributed through bundled software, email, and website vulnerabilities.

Known Aliases

Security vendors and researchers may refer to this family by several different names, including:

• Cerber

MITRE ATT&CK Techniques

This family has been observed utilizing the following techniques:

• T1486: View on MITRE
• T1490: View on MITRE
• T1566.001: View on MITRE
• T1204.002: View on MITRE
• T1071.001: View on MITRE

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cerber?
A ransomware-as-a-service family that encrypts files with strong cryptography and demands payment.

How is Cerber sold and spread?
Through a RaaS model: affiliates buy and distribute it and pay commissions to the developers; distribution methods include bundled software, email, and website/software vulnerabilities.

Is there a free Cerber decryptor?
Per Malwarebytes, Cerber uses strong encryption and there are no free decryptors available.

How does Cerber avoid detection?
It may run silently during encryption and attempt to disable antivirus programs and system-restore features.

How can I protect against Cerber?
Avoid suspicious downloads and attachments, keep software patched, use reputable security software, and keep tested offline backups.

Where can I read an authoritative source on Cerber?
Malwarebytes maintains a Ransom.Cerber detection page, linked on this page.

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This article is part of the Malware Families Catalog. Visit the original page for more details and interactive data! You can also find the full dataset and source code on GitHub, Hugging Face and Kaggle.