SUSP_PE_Contains_Encrypted_Executable_May26

rule SUSP_PE_Contains_Encrypted_Executable_May26 {
   meta:
      description = "Detects executables containing an encrypted embedded payload using parameters commonly observed in malware, suggesting obfuscation or staged execution."
      author = "Jonathan Peters (Nextron Systems)"
      date = "2026-05-20"
      reference = "https://www.nextron-systems.com/2026/06/01/detecting-nimbus-manticore-and-their-sideloading-infection-chains/"
      hash = "eee657ffdb2af8ed6412221e7d5fbf4f5742f2ac2c88f43f12db46af0697de71"
      score = 70
   strings:
      // MZ header AES encrypted with key: 1234567890123456 and IV: abcdefghijklmnop
      $op = { ae b6 8d 86 71 f0 a9 c8 90 66 53 31 ef 7f 1f d2 b4 a8 21 bc 39 77 c2 c2 60 db 24 4a 12 32 f9 69 09 09 46 22 a6 d1 0a 5e a7 dc 62 fa 96 56 ad dd }
   condition:
      uint16(0) == 0x5a4d
      and 1 of them
}