Threat Report: Blitz Malware

PUBLISHED BY AlienVault ON 2025-06-06T12:45:15.157Z

Threat Overview
Blitz malware is a newly identified Windows-based threat that emerged in 2024. It consists of two main components: a downloader and a bot payload. The latest iteration of Blitz was propagated through compromised game cheats for Standoff 2, which were distributed via the Telegram platform.

The distribution method capitalizes on users’ trust in legitimate game communities, making it an effective vector for initial infection. Once installed, Blitz employs a variety of techniques to establish persistence and evade detection within infected systems.

Blitz Malware Components
The malware operates through several key components:

1. Downloader: This part of the malware is responsible for downloading additional payloads from command-and-control (C2) servers controlled by the attackers.
2. Bot Payload: After initial infection, the bot payload executes on the compromised system to perform various malicious activities.

Blitz also abuses Hugging Face Spaces, a platform commonly used for hosting machine learning models and datasets, to store components of its C2 infrastructure and payloads. This technique allows attackers to blend in with legitimate traffic, making detection more challenging.

Activities Conducted by Blitz Malware
Once on a system, Blitz performs several malicious activities:

1. Information Stealing: The malware collects sensitive information from the infected machine, including personal data and credentials.
2. DDoS Attacks: It participates in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, overwhelming targeted servers with traffic to disrupt their services.
3. Cryptocurrency Mining: Blitz deploys an XMRig cryptocurrency miner as a follow-up payload. This miner leverages the infected system’s resources to generate Monero cryptocurrency for the attackers.

Geographical Distribution and Impact
By May 2025, the malware had infected systems across 26 countries, with Russia experiencing the highest number of infections among 289 identified victims. The wide geographical spread indicates that the threat actors behind Blitz are targeting a global audience.

Mitigation Recommendations
Organizations should take immediate action to protect against Blitz malware and other similar threats:

1. Implement Strong Security Practices: Ensure all systems have up-to-date antivirus software, firewalls, and intrusion detection/prevention systems.
2. User Education: Train employees on recognizing phishing attempts and avoiding downloading suspicious files or links from untrusted sources.
3. Regular Updates: Keep all software and operating systems updated to patch known vulnerabilities.
4. Network Monitoring: Utilize network monitoring tools to detect unusual traffic patterns that may indicate malware activity.
5. Incident Response Plan: Develop and regularly update an incident response plan to quickly address security breaches.

Conclusion
The emergence of Blitz malware highlights the evolving landscape of cyber threats, where attackers leverage game cheats and trusted platforms like Telegram and Hugging Face Spaces to propagate their malicious activities. As cybercriminals continue to innovate, organizations must stay vigilant and adopt comprehensive security measures to protect against these sophisticated attacks.

Additional Information
For more detailed information about Blitz malware, visit the following pages:

Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 report: https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/blitz-malware-2025

AlienVault OTX Pulse: https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6842e2db57cf477add2cd72d