Houdini

Aliases: Hworm, Jenxcus, Kognito, Njw0rm, WSHRAT, dinihou, dunihi, WSHRat, Houdini, Dunihi

First seen
2013-01-01 00:00:00
Malware type
rat
Family
Malware family
Last IoC activity
2026-07-21 22:56:01
Profile updated
2026-07-07 12:45:43

Targeted industries: government-and-public-sector financial-services technology-and-telecommunications

Context

Houdini is a VBS-based RAT dating back to 2013. Past in the days, it used to be wrapped in an .exe but started being spamvertized or downloaded by other malware directly as .vbs in 2018. In 2019, WSHRAT appeared, a Javascript-based version of Houdini, recoded by the name of Kognito.

Detection coverage

  • 6 YARA rules

Detection rules

  • SECUINFRA_DROPPER_WSHRAT_Stage_1 (yara-rule)
  • SECUINFRA_OBFUS_Javascript_Wscript_Hex_Strings_Usage (yara-rule)
  • DITEKSHEN_MALWARE_Win_Wshratplugin (yara-rule)
  • DITEKSHEN_MALWARE_Win_WSHRATJS (yara-rule)
  • DITEKSHEN_MALWARE_Win_Houdiniconfig (yara-rule)
  • SIGNATURE_BASE_MAL_Wshrat_Dotnet_Packer_Feb21 (yara-rule)

Reports & references

  • deepinstinct.com — Understanding The Windows Javascript Threat Landscape (report)
  • vectra.ai — Moonlight Middle East Targeted Attacks (report)
  • lab52.io — Wirte Group Attacking The Middle East (report)
  • ESET — Eset Threat Report Q22020 (report)
  • about.fb.com — Taking Action Against Hackers In Palestine (report)
  • threatresearch.ext.hp.com — Javascript Malware Dispensing Rats Into The Wild (report)
  • trellix.com — Cyberattacks Targeting Ukraine Increase (report)
  • threatpost.com — 178422 (report)
  • Cisco Talos — Operation Layover How We Tracked Attack (report)
  • bleepingcomputer.com — Unskilled Hacker Linked To Years Of Attacks On Aviation Transport Sectors (report)
  • blog.morphisec.com — Ahk Rat Loader Leveraged In Unique Delivery Campaigns (report)
  • blogs.360.cn — Apt C 44 (report)
  • mp.weixin.qq.com — Gwoirnplvqx761Lw8X S5G (report)
  • malpedia.caad.fkie.fraunhofer.de — Win.Houdini (report)
  • youtube.com — Watch (report)
  • Palo Alto Unit 42 — Unit42 Houdinis Magic Reappearance (report)
  • youtube.com — Watch (report)
  • cofense.com — Houdini Worm Transformed New Phishing Attack (report)
  • myonlinesecurity.co.uk — More Agenttesla Keylogger And Nanocore Rat In One Bundle (report)
  • binarydefense.com — Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Obfuscated (report)
  • github.com — Wsh Rat.Md (report)
  • blogs.360.cn — Analysis Of Apt C 37 (report)
  • Mandiant — Now You See Me H Worm By Houdini (report)
  • isc.sans.edu — 28746 (report)
  • blog.morphisec.com — Hworm Houdini Aka Njrat (report)

External references