Malicious GitVenom Python Fernet Decrypt-and-Execute Loader via process_creation

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.006Python
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1140Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects a python.exe process whose command line combines the exec builtin with the cryptography Fernet primitive to decrypt and run an embedded payload in memory. This behavior was used by the GitVenom campaign which hid malicious loaders inside fake GitHub projects. Attackers use runtime decryption to hide stealer and RAT code from static inspection which makes early loader detection valuable.

Reporting behind it

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Malicious GitVenom Python Fernet Decrypt-and-Execute Loader via process_creation

Pivot detection · T1059.006 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

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