The Dark Side of Rust: How Cybercriminals Exploit its Power

• Thursday November 30, 2023

The Rust programming language, celebrated for its high level of control, memory safety, and flexibility, has unwittingly become a weapon of choice for cybercriminals seeking to exploit its powerful features. As Rust continues to gain popularity across various domains, including web and game development, malevolent actors are leveraging its unique capabilities for malicious purposes.

Rust’s Rapid Rise and Versatility:

Rust’s ascent to prominence was swift, earning the title of the most loved programming language in the Stack Overflow Developer Survey for consecutive years from 2016 to 2018. Industry giants like Microsoft, Google, and Dropbox have incorporated Rust into their projects, showcasing its adaptability and appeal.

The Dark Side Unveiled:

Rust in Cyber Attacks: However, the same features that make Rust attractive to legitimate developers also render it an ideal tool for cybercriminals aiming to create sophisticated and elusive malicious applications. Here are some technical insights into how Rust is being exploited:

1. Malware Development: Rust’s low-level control and memory safety features empower cybercriminals to craft stealthy and intricate malware. This enables the creation of malicious applications that can effectively evade detection by conventional security measures.
2. Botnets: The high level of control and flexibility in Rust makes it an optimal language for constructing botnets. These networks of compromised computers, utilised for various nefarious purposes like spamming and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, can effectively circumvent security measures.
3. Cryptocurrency Mining Attacks: Rust is being employed to develop malware capable of hijacking computers for cryptocurrency mining. The language’s control and memory safety features facilitate the creation of covert and sophisticated cryptocurrency mining threats.
4. Ransomware Attacks: Rust’s low-level control and memory safety features pose challenges for security researchers trying to detect and neutralise ransomware attacks developed in Rust. The BlackCat group, ALPHV, Hive, Luna Ransomware, and RansomwareExx2 are prominent examples, showcasing the growing trend of Rust being a preferred language for developing ransomware.

Technical Landscape and Trends:

Noteworthy instances like the BlackCat group’s Rust-written ransomware, active since 2021, and the emergence of Hive in the same year with over 200 disclosed victims highlight the technical sophistication and persistence of cybercriminals utilising Rust for their malicious activities.

Conclusion and Mitigation:

While Rust itself is not inherently malicious, its features are being harnessed for illicit activities. The Rust community and cybersecurity experts are actively addressing these challenges. As the language continues to evolve, collaborative efforts are essential to mitigate the risks associated with Rust-based cyber threats.