{
  "family": "snifie",
  "sample_count": 1,
  "category": "advanced_threat",
  "description": "<h3>Executive Summary</h3>\nSnifie is a specialized Information Stealer and Network Sniffer. Unlike standard info-stealers that rely on extracting passwords from local files (like browser databases), Snifie's primary objective is to silently monitor local network interfaces. It captures and parses raw network traffic (packet sniffing) to intercept unencrypted passwords, FTP credentials, and sensitive data transmitted over the local area network (LAN).\n\n<h3>Infection Vector and Technical Capabilities</h3>\nBecause it requires administrative privileges to interact directly with network interface cards (NICs), Snifie is typically deployed post-compromise. Threat actors install it after gaining initial access via RDP brute-forcing, exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities, or through the lateral movement phase of an attack.\n\nOnce executed with elevated privileges, Snifie performs deep packet inspection:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Promiscuous Mode:</strong> The malware attempts to place the host's network adapter into \"promiscuous mode,\" allowing it to capture all traffic passing through that network segment, not just traffic destined for the infected machine itself.</li>\n<li><strong>Protocol Parsing:</strong> Snifie is specifically coded to parse common, unencrypted protocols such as HTTP (looking for `POST` data containing login forms), FTP, Telnet, POP3, and IMAP, extracting usernames and passwords in real-time.</li>\n<li><strong>Silent Exfiltration:</strong> The captured credentials are saved to a hidden log file (often obfuscated or encrypted) and periodically transmitted to the attacker's Command and Control (C2) server.</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h3>Threat Assessment</h3>\nA Snifie infection is a critical security incident that threatens the entire local network segment. If deployed on a central server or a machine connected to a highly trafficked switch, it can passively harvest administrative credentials for the entire domain without triggering standard endpoint alarms.\n\n<h3>Incident Response and Remediation</h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Network Segmentation and Isolation:</strong> Immediately isolate the infected machine. Due to the nature of a sniffer, you must assume that any unencrypted traffic that traversed that network segment while the malware was active has been compromised.</li>\n<li><strong>Credential Reset and Protocol Audit:</strong> Mandate a reset of all credentials. More importantly, this incident highlights a severe architectural flaw: the use of cleartext protocols. An immediate audit must be conducted to deprecate FTP/Telnet in favor of SFTP/SSH, and enforce HTTPS for all internal applications.</li>\n<li><strong>Endpoint Eradication:</strong> Utilize enterprise EDR to locate and terminate the Snifie process and any associated packet capture drivers (e.g., rogue WinPcap installations) it may have deployed.</li>\n</ul>",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.",
  "aliases": [
    "Trojan.Sniffer.Snifie",
    "Spyware.Snifie",
    "Win32/Snifie"
  ],
  "enrichment_level": "insufficient_information",
  "faq": [],
  "faq_count": 0,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1040",
    "T1056",
    "T1048"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-07-01T17:38:56Z",
  "type": "Info-Stealer / Network Sniffer",
  "target_industries": [
    "Global / Opportunistic"
  ],
  "motivation": "Opportunistic",
  "threat_actors": [
    "Unknown / Cybercriminal"
  ],
  "target_geographies": [
    "Global"
  ]
}