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Sryxen Malware Uses Headless Browser Trick to Bypass Chrome Protections

A new Windows-centric information stealer named "Sryxen" has been identified. This malware, developed in C++ for 64-bit Windows, targets browser credentials, Discord tokens, VPNs, social accounts, and cryptocurrency wallets. It exfiltrates data using the…

SBy Stephen GaleDec 04, 20251 min read

A new Windows-centric information stealer named "Sryxen" has been identified. This malware, developed in C++ for 64-bit Windows, targets browser credentials, Discord tokens, VPNs, social accounts, and cryptocurrency wallets. It exfiltrates data using the Telegram Bot API.

Sryxen operates by leveraging Windows' Data Protection API (DPAPI) to decrypt protected data within the user context. It employs a unique method to bypass Chrome's App-Bound Encryption (ABE) for cookies by operating Chrome in headless mode with remote debugging enabled, using the DevTools Protocol to decrypt cookies.

In terms of password extraction, Sryxen utilizes the DPAPI and AES-256-GCM chain as used by Chromium-based browsers. It extracts the master key from the "Local State" file, then proceeds with decryption using CryptUnprotectData under the user's context.

Firefox credentials are accessed through Mozilla's NSS library, retrieving saved credentials from the logins.json file. Sryxen identifies installed browsers via filesystem scanning, targeting Chromium and Gecko-based applications by examining directory structures and configuration files.

A new Windows-centric information stealer named "Sryxen" has been identified.
Stephen Gale · Thehackingpost

Sryxen incorporates significant anti-analysis measures. Its core logic is XOR-encrypted and uses illegal instructions to hinder static and dynamic analysis. A vectored exception handler decrypts this code during execution, then re-encrypts it upon return. Additional anti-debugging checks, such as PEB flag inspection and kernel debugger status, are implemented.

Despite these measures, vulnerabilities remain. The XOR key is static, and the pattern of illegal instruction bytes is identifiable, allowing for potential code recovery by analysts.

Post data theft, Sryxen organizes the collected data in a structured directory under %TEMP%\Sryxen. It uses PowerShell's Compress-Archive command to zip the directory and employs curl to send the archive to a Telegram bot. This method avoids persistence but creates noticeable process activity, which can be monitored for detection.

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Sryxen highlights the continuous evolution of browser-centric credential theft on Windows, adapting to platform security enhancements. Behavioral detection remains vital, focusing on suspicious activity such as headless Chrome launches with debugging flags, automated PowerShell usage, and Telegram-based data exfiltration.

Based on reporting by GBHackers.

AI transparency. This article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence and published under human editorial oversight. AI systems can make mistakes. Read how we use AI (EU AI Act, Art. 50).
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