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CISO Briefing: The “Weaponized Video” Attack. How Hackers Trick Your Staff Into Hacking Themselves. (An EDR Bypass PostMortem) — by CyberDudeBivash

By CyberDudeBivash · 01 Nov 2025 · cyberdudebivash.com · Intel on cyberbivash.blogspot.com

LinkedIn: ThreatWire cryptobivash.code.blog

FILELESS MALWARE • SOCIAL ENGINEERING • EDR BYPASS • VIBE HACKING

Situation: This is a CISO-level “red alert”. A new “Vibe Hacking” TTP is bypassing your EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response). Attackers send a “weaponized video” (a `.ZIP` with a `.LNK` or `.JS` file) that “fails to play.” It presents a *fake “Missing Codec” error* and tricks your user into *manually running* a fileless PowerShell command to “fix it.”

This is a decision-grade CISO brief. This is not a “technical” exploit. It’s a *psychological* exploit of your *trusted* employees and your *trusted* EDR whitelists. Your EDR is *blind* because it sees a *human user* manually running `powershell.exe`—the *exact* behavior of a “trusted sysadmin.” This is the new kill chain for ransomware.

TL;DR — Attackers are tricking users into *manually running* fileless malware.

The TTP: Fake “video.mp4.js” file → “Missing Codec” error → Tricks user to *paste* `powershell.exe -e …` into a terminal.
The “EDR Bypass”: Your EDR *trusts* a human user *manually* running PowerShell. It logs this as “benign admin activity” and *misses the breach*.
The Impact: Fileless C2 Beacon → Infostealer → Session Hijacking (MFA Bypass) → Ransomware.
THE ACTION (CISO): 1) HARDEN: *De-weaponize `.JS` files*. Change the default handler from `wscript.exe` to `notepad.exe` via GPO. 2) HUNT: This is the mandate. Hunt for `powershell.exe` with encoded (`-e`) commands *now*.

TTP Factbox: “Weaponized Video” (Gootloader)

TTP	Component	Severity	Exploitability	Mitigation
Social Engineering (T1566)	`.JS` / `.LNK` in `.ZIP`	Critical	SEG Bypass	PhishRadar AI / GPO Hardening
Fileless Malware (T1059.001)	`powershell.exe -e …`	Critical	EDR Bypass (LotL)	MDR (Threat Hunting)

Fileless BackdoorEDR Bypass TTPSocial EngineeringContents

Phase 1: The “Vibe Hack” (Why This TTP Bypasses Your EDR)

As a CISO, you’ve spent millions on a “Next-Gen” EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) stack. Your vendor promised “AI-powered protection.” Yet, this attack bypasses it completely. Why?

It’s because this attack *never uses a “virus”*. It’s a “Living off the Land” (LotL) attack that exploits your EDR’s *trust* in your *user*.

1. The “Social Engineering” (The Lure)

Your Secure Email Gateway (SEG) is useless. The attack doesn’t *start* with an email. It starts with your employee Googling a “benign” term: “sample rental agreement template.”
The Gootloader gang *poisons* Google’s search results to make their *malicious website* (a fake forum) rank #1.

2. The “EDR Bypass” (The “Trusted Process”)

The user, *trusting Google*, clicks the link. The fake forum says “Click here to download your document.” It delivers a `.ZIP` file containing `video_proposal.mp4.js`.
Your employee, *not seeing the `.js` extension* (because Windows hides it by default), double-clicks.
This *doesn’t* run malware. It runs `wscript.exe` (a *trusted* Microsoft tool) which *pops up a fake error*:

`”VIDEO_CODEC_ERROR: Your PC is missing the ‘VX-14’ codec. Please run the following command in PowerShell to install it.”`
`powershell.exe -e JABj…[long_base64_string]…`

Your user, *wanting to do their job*, copies this “safe” text and *manually pastes it* into a PowerShell window.
Your EDR is *100% blind*. It sees `explorer.exe` (User) → `powershell.exe` (Manual Run). This is *identical* to a SysAdmin’s behavior. It is *whitelisted* and logged as “benign noise.”

Phase 2: The “Fileless” Kill Chain (From “Click” to “C2”)

This is the full ransomware and espionage kill chain that our Incident Response (IR) teams are seeing in the wild.

Stage 1: Initial Access (The Google Search)

Your employee, `user@yourcompany.com`, clicks a poisoned Google search result.

Stage 2: Execution (The “.JS” Click & “Self-Hack”)

The user opens `document.zip`, clicks `document.pdf.js`, and is *tricked* into *manually running* the `powershell.exe -e …` command.

Stage 3: C2 & Persistence (The “EndClient” Backdoor)

The fileless PowerShell script (the “Gootloader” payload) does two things:

C2 Beacon: It makes an *outbound HTTPS connection* to an attacker-controlled server (a “C2 beacon”), often using DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) to bypass firewalls.
Persistence: It creates a new `Scheduled Task` or `Registry Run Key` to *re-launch* this same fileless script every time the user logs in.

The attacker now has a *persistent backdoor* on your employee’s machine. The breach is complete.

Stage 4: Post-Exploitation (The “Breach”)

The attacker uses this backdoor to:

Run Mimikatz *in-memory* to steal credentials.
Steal *all* browser session cookies (Session Hijacking) to bypass MFA.
Move laterally to your file servers and Domain Controller.
Exfiltrate your “4TB” of CUI, PII, and IP.
Deploy Ransomware.

Exploit Chain (Engineering)

This is a “Trusted Process” Hijack (T1219/T1059). The “exploit” is a *logic* flaw in your EDR Whitelisting policy.

Trigger: User double-clicks `.js` file or `.lnk` file.
Precondition: EDR/AV is configured to *automatically trust* all `wscript.exe` / `cscript.exe` / `powershell.exe` processes. Windows “Hides known file extensions” is ON.
Sink (The RCE): `explorer.exe` → `wscript.exe file.js` (Fake Error) → `user` *pastes* → `powershell.exe -e …` (Fileless C2)
Module/Build: `wscript.exe` (Trusted), `powershell.exe` (Trusted).
Patch Delta: There is no “patch.” The “fix” is GPO Hardening (changing the default `.js` handler) and MDR (Threat Hunting).

Reproduction & Lab Setup (Safe)

You *must* test your EDR’s visibility for this TTP.

Harness/Target: A sandboxed Windows 11 VM with your standard EDR agent installed.
Test: 1) Create a file named `test.js`. 2) Put this *one line* of code in it: `WScript.CreateObject(“WScript.Shell”).Run(“calc.exe”);`
Execution: Double-click the `test.js` file.
Result: Did `calc.exe` launch? Did your EDR fire a P1 (Critical) alert for `wscript.exe -> calc.exe`? If it was *silent*, your EDR is *blind* to this TTP.
Safety Note: If `calc.exe` can run, so can the “EndClient” RAT.

Detection & Hunting Playbook (The New SOC Mandate)

Your SOC *must* hunt for this. Your SIEM/EDR is blind to the exploit itself; it can *only* see the *result*. This is your playbook.

Hunt TTP 1 (The #1 IOC): “Anomalous Child Process.” This is your P1 alert. Your `wscript.exe` process should *NEVER* spawn a shell (`powershell.exe`, `cmd.exe`, `/bin/bash`).# EDR / SIEM Hunt Query (Pseudocode) SELECT * FROM process_events WHERE (parent_process_name = ‘wscript.exe’ OR parent_process_name = ‘cscript.exe’) AND (process_name = ‘powershell.exe’ OR process_name = ‘cmd.exe’)
Hunt TTP 2 (The C2): “Show me all *network connections* from `wscript.exe` or `cscript.exe` to a *newly-registered domain* or *anomalous IP*.”
Hunt TTP 3 (The Persistence): “Show me *all new* Scheduled Tasks or Registry Run Keys that contain `wscript.exe` or `cscript.exe`.”

Mitigation & Hardening (The CISO Mandate)

This is a Windows Configuration failure. This is the fix.

1. HARDEN (The *Real* Fix): This is your CISO mandate. De-weaponize JavaScript files.
You must *change the default file handler* for `.JS` files. An employee should *never* “execute” a `.JS` file. It should *open* in Notepad.
The Fix: Use GPO to change the default handler for `.js` files from `wscript.exe` (Execute) to `notepad.exe` (View). This *kills* the TTP.
2. HUNT (The “MDR” Fix): You *cannot* run a 9-to-5 SOC. You *must* have a 24/7 human-led MDR team (like ours) to hunt for the *behavioral* TTPs (like Hunt TTP 1) that your EDR will log but *not* alert on.
3. VERIFY (The “Red Team” Fix): You *must* run an Adversary Simulation (Red Team) to *prove* your EDR and your SOC team *can* detect this TTP.

Audit Validation (Blue-Team)

Run this *today*. This is not a “patch”; it’s an *audit*.

# 1. Audit your EDR (The "Lab" Test)
# Run the "Lab Setup" test (`test.js -> calc.exe`). 
# Did your EDR *see* it? If not, it is BLIND.

# 2. Audit your File Handlers
# (Run `ftype JScript.file`)
# Does it say "wscript.exe"? If yes, you are VULNERABLE.
# Run the GPO to change it to "notepad.exe".

# 3. Run the "Lab Test" again
# Did `calc.exe` launch? Or did `notepad.exe` open?
# If Notepad opened, you have *successfully* hardened your fleet.

Is Your EDR Blind to “Fileless” Attacks?
Your SOC is slow. Your EDR is whitelisted. CyberDudeBivash is the leader in Ransomware Defense. We are offering a Free 30-Minute Ransomware Readiness Assessment to show you the *exact* gaps in your “LotL” and “Fileless” defenses.

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Recommended by CyberDudeBivash (Partner Links)

You need a layered defense. Here’s our vetted stack for this specific threat.

Kaspersky EDR
This is your *sensor*. It’s the #1 tool for providing the behavioral telemetry (process chains, network data) that your *human* MDR team needs to hunt.Edureka — Threat Hunting Training
Your SOC team can’t find what they don’t know. Train them *now* on PowerShell Threat Hunting and LotL TTPs.TurboVPN
The phish often lands on a *remote* device on *public Wi-Fi*. A VPN encrypts this initial access channel.

Alibaba Cloud (VDI)
A key mitigation. Use Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). If the VDI is popped, you *burn it* and re-image in seconds. The host is safe.AliExpress (Hardware Keys)
*Mandate* this for all Domain Admins. Get FIDO2/YubiKey-compatible keys. They stop the *initial phish* from succeeding.Rewardful
Run a bug bounty program. Pay white-hats to find flaws *before* APTs do.

CyberDudeBivash Services & Apps

We don’t just report on these threats. We hunt them. We are the “human-in-the-loop” that your automated EDR is missing.

Managed Detection & Response (MDR): This is the *solution*. Our 24/7 SOC team becomes your Threat Hunters, watching your EDR logs for these *exact* “wscript -> powershell” TTPs.
Adversary Simulation (Red Team): This is the *proof*. We will *simulate* this exact “Fileless” Gootloader kill chain to show you where you are blind.
Emergency Incident Response (IR): You found this TTP? Call us. Our 24/7 team will hunt the attacker and eradicate them.
PhishRadar AI — Stops the phishing attacks that *initiate* the breach.
SessionShield — Protects your *admin sessions* from the *credential theft* that happens after this breach.

Book Your FREE 30-Min Assessment Explore 24/7 MDR Services Subscribe to ThreatWire

FAQ

Q: What is a “Weaponized Video” attack?
A: It’s a social engineering TTP. The attacker sends a `.ZIP` file containing a `.JS` or `.LNK` file *disguised* as a video (`video.mp4.js`). When clicked, it shows a *fake* “Missing Codec” error and *tricks* the user into *copy-pasting* a malicious PowerShell command into their terminal, “hacking” themselves.

Q: What is “Fileless Malware”?
A: It’s a type of malicious software that runs *entirely in memory (RAM)*. It never writes a “malware.exe” file to the hard drive. Because most antivirus (AV) is built to *scan files*, this attack is invisible to them.

Q: Why does my EDR/Antivirus miss this attack?
A: Because your EDR is *configured to trust* `wscript.exe` and `powershell.exe`. This is a “Trusted Process” bypass. The EDR sees a ‘trusted’ Microsoft process running and *ignores* it. You *must* have a *human* MDR team hunting for the *behavioral* anomalies.

Q: What is the #1 action to take *today*?
A: HARDEN. Go to your Group Policy (GPO) and *change the default file handler* for `.JS` and `.VBS` files from `wscript.exe` (Execute) to `notepad.exe` (View). This *de-weaponizes* the TTP instantly. Your *second* action is to call our team to run an emergency Threat Hunt for this TTP.

Timeline & Credits

This “Gootloader/LNK-in-ZIP” TTP (T1566.001 / T1059) is an active, ongoing campaign by multiple APTs and RaaS groups.
Credit: This analysis is based on active Incident Response engagements by the CyberDudeBivash threat hunting team.

References

Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn commissions from partner links at no extra cost to you. These are tools we use and trust. Opinions are independent.

CyberDudeBivash — Global Cybersecurity Apps, Services & Threat Intelligence.

cyberdudebivash.com · cyberbivash.blogspot.com · cryptobivash.code.blog

#SocialEngineering #VibeHacking #Gootloader #LNKexploit #ZIP #FilelessMalware #PowerShell #EDRBypass #Ransomware #CyberDudeBivash #IncidentResponse #MDR #ThreatHunting #LotL

Cyberdudebivash

Could You Be Tricked Into Hacking Your Own PC? A New “Weaponized Video” Attack Is Designed to Do Just That.

CISO Briefing: The “Weaponized Video” Attack. How Hackers Trick Your Staff Into Hacking Themselves. (An EDR Bypass PostMortem) — by CyberDudeBivash

Phase 1: The “Vibe Hack” (Why This TTP Bypasses Your EDR)

1. The “Social Engineering” (The Lure)

2. The “EDR Bypass” (The “Trusted Process”)

Phase 2: The “Fileless” Kill Chain (From “Click” to “C2”)

Stage 1: Initial Access (The Google Search)

Stage 2: Execution (The “.JS” Click & “Self-Hack”)

Stage 3: C2 & Persistence (The “EndClient” Backdoor)

Stage 4: Post-Exploitation (The “Breach”)

Exploit Chain (Engineering)

Reproduction & Lab Setup (Safe)

Detection & Hunting Playbook (The New SOC Mandate)

Mitigation & Hardening (The CISO Mandate)

Audit Validation (Blue-Team)

Recommended by CyberDudeBivash (Partner Links)

CyberDudeBivash Services & Apps

FAQ

Timeline & Credits

References

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Could You Be Tricked Into Hacking Your Own PC? A New “Weaponized Video” Attack Is Designed to Do Just That.

CISO Briefing: The “Weaponized Video” Attack. How Hackers Trick Your Staff Into Hacking Themselves. (An EDR Bypass PostMortem) — by CyberDudeBivash

Phase 1: The “Vibe Hack” (Why This TTP Bypasses Your EDR)

1. The “Social Engineering” (The Lure)

2. The “EDR Bypass” (The “Trusted Process”)

Phase 2: The “Fileless” Kill Chain (From “Click” to “C2”)

Stage 1: Initial Access (The Google Search)

Stage 2: Execution (The “.JS” Click & “Self-Hack”)

Stage 3: C2 & Persistence (The “EndClient” Backdoor)

Stage 4: Post-Exploitation (The “Breach”)

Exploit Chain (Engineering)

Reproduction & Lab Setup (Safe)

Detection & Hunting Playbook (The *New* SOC Mandate)

Mitigation & Hardening (The CISO Mandate)

Audit Validation (Blue-Team)

Recommended by CyberDudeBivash (Partner Links)

CyberDudeBivash Services & Apps

FAQ

Timeline & Credits

References

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Leave a comment Cancel reply

Detection & Hunting Playbook (The New SOC Mandate)