{
  "family": "trainer",
  "sample_count": 1,
  "category": "ransomware",
  "description": "<h3>Executive Summary</h3>\nIn the context of malware analysis, \"Trainer\" (or HackTool.Trainer) refers to software designed to modify the memory of a running video game to alter its behavior (e.g., granting infinite health or resources). While the trainers themselves are technically \"HackTools\" used for cheating, they are notoriously one of the most common vectors for delivering severe malware. Threat actors aggressively bundle Trojans, Info Stealers, and Ransomware within these trainers, exploiting the target demographic's willingness to disable their antivirus software to run the \"cheat.\"\n\n<h3>Infection Vector and Technical Capabilities</h3>\nThe infection vector relies entirely on social engineering. Users actively seek out and download Trainers from unregulated forums, peer-to-peer networks, or YouTube video descriptions. Because Trainers inherently must inject code into another process (the game) to function, they are legitimately flagged by AV. Attackers leverage this, instructing users to \"disable your antivirus to run the trainer,\" guaranteeing the execution of the hidden payload.\n\nUpon execution, a weaponized Trainer performs a dual-action:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Distraction (Game Modification):</strong> The application may actually function as advertised, utilizing Windows APIs like `WriteProcessMemory` to patch the game's execution in RAM. This serves as a distraction, keeping the user satisfied and unaware of the background activity.</li>\n<li><strong>The Payload (Silent Dropping):</strong> While the game is being patched, the Trainer silently extracts a hidden, secondary executable (the true malware payload) to a temporary directory and executes it.</li>\n<li><strong>Typical Payloads:</strong> Weaponized trainers are most frequently bundled with Info Stealers (like RedLine or Raccoon Stealer) to harvest game account credentials, discord tokens, and cryptocurrency wallets, or Cryptominers to hijack the victim's high-end gaming hardware.</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h3>Threat Assessment</h3>\nThe presence of a \"Trainer\" on a corporate or BYOD endpoint is a significant security risk. It indicates a user who is actively bypassing security controls (disabling AV) and executing highly untrusted code from the dark web. The resulting infection is almost always a severe Info Stealer compromise.\n\n<h3>Incident Response and Remediation</h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Contextual Verification:</strong> Identify the specific executable flagged as a Trainer. The primary concern is not the cheat tool itself, but the secondary payload it likely dropped.</li>\n<li><strong>Deep Anti-Malware Sweep:</strong> Run a comprehensive, full-system scan using an enterprise EDR/AV solution to locate the hidden info-stealers, rootkits, or cryptominers that were silently installed alongside the Trainer.</li>\n<li><strong>Credential Reset:</strong> Because Info Stealers are the most common payload bundled with these tools, immediately mandate a password reset for all corporate credentials used on that endpoint, and strongly advise the user to secure their personal accounts.</li>\n</ul>",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.",
  "aliases": [
    "HackTool.Trainer",
    "Riskware.GameHack",
    "Trojan.Dropper.Trainer"
  ],
  "enrichment_level": "insufficient_information",
  "faq": [],
  "faq_count": 0,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1204.002",
    "T1055",
    "T1056.001"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-07-02T07:18:19Z",
  "type": "HackTool / Trojan Dropper (Dual-Use)",
  "target_industries": [
    "Global / Opportunistic"
  ],
  "motivation": "Opportunistic",
  "threat_actors": [
    "Unknown / Cybercriminal"
  ],
  "target_geographies": [
    "Global"
  ]
}