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Malware Deep Dive: Nanocore

Deep Dive: Nanocore (Rat)

Today we are analyzing the Nanocore malware family, which falls under the Rat category.

Overview

NanoCore is a modular remote access tool developed in .NET that, per MITRE ATT&CK, can be used to spy on victims and steal information, and has been used by threat actors since 2013. Marketed originally as a remote-administration product, it was widely abused; its author was prosecuted, but cracked builds continued to circulate. Its plugin architecture supports a broad range of surveillance and data-theft capabilities.

Known Aliases

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

  • NanoCore

MITRE ATT&CK Techniques

This family has been observed utilizing the following techniques:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NanoCore?
A modular .NET remote access tool, used by threat actors since 2013, capable of spying on victims and stealing information.

Is NanoCore legitimate software?
It was marketed as remote-administration software but became widely abused as a RAT; its developer was prosecuted for facilitating malicious use.

What can NanoCore do once installed?
Through its plugin system it can provide remote control, keylogging, credential theft, and surveillance such as webcam access.

How is NanoCore delivered?
Commonly through phishing emails carrying malicious attachments or downloaders.

Why does NanoCore keep appearing despite the prosecution?
Cracked versions of the builder circulated publicly, so many different actors continue to deploy their own variants.

How do I reduce the risk of RATs like NanoCore?
Be cautious with email attachments and downloads, keep endpoint protection updated, and avoid pirated software that often bundles such tools.

Where is the authoritative reference?
MITRE ATT&CK's NanoCore entry (S0336), linked on this page.

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 on Hugging Face and Kaggle.

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