Triton RAT: Python-Based Malware Targeting Roblox

Triton RAT is a sophisticated Python-based Remote Access Trojan that poses a significant threat to Windows users, particularly those who play Roblox. This malware uses Telegram as a command and control channel, allowing attackers to remotely access infected systems, steal sensitive information, and specifically target Roblox security cookies. Once compromised, victims may experience unauthorized access to their Roblox accounts (even bypassing two-factor authentication), theft of saved browser passwords, and complete remote control of their systems. This comprehensive guide will help you understand Triton RAT, identify if you’re infected, and provide step-by-step removal instructions.

What is Triton RAT?

Triton RAT is an open-source Remote Access Trojan written in Python that has been detected targeting Windows users, with a particular focus on stealing Roblox security cookies. The malware was discovered by Cado Security Labs and is publicly available on GitHub, making it accessible to both cybersecurity researchers and malicious actors.

This RAT communicates with attackers through Telegram bots, creating a covert command and control channel that can bypass traditional security measures. Once installed on a victim’s computer, Triton RAT establishes persistence through multiple methods and begins harvesting sensitive information, particularly focusing on Roblox account credentials.

What makes Triton RAT particularly dangerous is its ability to steal .ROBLOSECURITY cookies, which are browser cookies that store Roblox session information. With these cookies, attackers can take over Roblox accounts without needing passwords and can even bypass two-factor authentication.

Threat Name:	Triton RAT (also known as: Python RAT, Telegram RAT, Roblox Stealer)
File Names:	ProtonDrive.exe, updateagent.vbs, check.bat, watchdog.vbs
Installation Folder:	C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Programs\Proton\Drive
Main Capabilities:	Keylogging, remote command execution, password stealing, Roblox cookie theft, screen recording, webcam access, clipboard monitoring
Detection Names:	Trojan.Python.RAT, Backdoor.Win32.Triton, Trojan.Win32.RobloxStealer
SHA-256:	Ea04f1c4016383e0846aba71ac0b0c9c (ProtonDrive.exe)
Distribution:	Phishing campaigns, malicious game mods, fake game utilities, compromised software

How Triton RAT Infects Systems

Understanding the infection process helps both in prevention and identifying potential compromises. Here’s how Triton RAT typically infiltrates and establishes control over victim systems:

Technical Analysis of Triton RAT

Triton RAT is a feature-rich malware with extensive capabilities for system compromise and data theft. Here’s a detailed look at its primary functions and how they operate:

Core Features and Capabilities

• Keylogging: Records keystrokes to capture passwords, messages, and other sensitive information
• Remote Command Execution: Allows attackers to run arbitrary commands on the infected system
• Password Theft: Extracts saved passwords from major browsers including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera
• Roblox Cookie Theft: Specifically targets .ROBLOSECURITY cookies which can be used to access Roblox accounts without passwords or 2FA
• Screen Recording: Captures screenshots or video of the victim’s screen activities
• Webcam Access: Can activate and record from the system’s webcam without user knowledge
• Wi-Fi Information Gathering: Collects Wi-Fi network names and passwords
• File Operations: Can download, upload, or manipulate files on the infected system
• Clipboard Monitoring: Captures data copied to the clipboard, potentially including passwords and cryptocurrency addresses
• System Information Gathering: Collects detailed system specifications, installed software, and user details
• Anti-Analysis Features: Checks for security tools and debugging environments to avoid detection

Technical Implementation Details

The Triton RAT infection process involves several components working together:

1. The initial Python script retrieves Telegram bot tokens and chat IDs from Pastebin, encoded in Base64 to evade detection
2. It creates two scripts for persistence:
   • A VBScript “updateagent.vbs” that disables Windows Defender and creates scheduled tasks
   • A BAT script “check.bat” that downloads a secondary payload “ProtonDrive.exe” from DropBox
3. The malware establishes persistence through scheduled tasks that start on user logon
4. It creates a hidden folder structure at “C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Programs\Proton\Drive” to store its components
5. The RAT contains a password decryption function that can extract and decode passwords from browser storage
6. For Roblox credential theft, it specifically searches for .ROBLOSECURITY cookies in multiple browsers
7. All stolen data is exfiltrated via Telegram using a bot to communicate with the command and control server

MITRE ATT&CK Techniques

Triton RAT employs numerous sophisticated attack techniques as classified by the MITRE ATT&CK framework:

Technique ID	Name	Implementation in Triton RAT
T1053.005	Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task	Creates multiple scheduled tasks to ensure persistence across reboots
T1059.006	Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python	Primary malware is written in Python, compiled with PyInstaller
T1082	System Information Discovery	Collects detailed system information including hardware, OS, installed software
T1016	System Network Configuration Discovery	Gathers network information and saved Wi-Fi credentials
T1562.001	Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools	Attempts to disable Windows Defender and evade other security tools
T1132	Data Encoding	Uses Base64 encoding to hide command and control information
T1056.001	Input Capture: Keylogging	Records all keystrokes to capture credentials and messages
T1555	Credentials from Password Stores	Extracts saved passwords from multiple browsers
T1539	Steal Web Session Cookie	Specifically targets Roblox security cookies to bypass authentication
T1113	Screen Capture	Takes screenshots of the victim’s desktop activities
T1125	Video Capture	Records from the victim’s webcam without notification
T1105	Ingress Tool Transfer	Downloads additional payloads from DropBox
T1115	Clipboard Data	Monitors and captures clipboard contents
T1497	Virtualization/Sandbox Evasion	Checks for analysis tools and security environments before executing
T1020	Automated Exfiltration	Automatically sends stolen data to Telegram channels

Advanced Technical Analysis For Security Researchers

This section provides detailed technical insights for security researchers and incident response teams investigating Triton RAT infections. We’ll examine key code components, persistence mechanisms, network traffic patterns, and obfuscation techniques used by this malware.

Core Code Components Analysis

Triton RAT’s source code structure reveals several sophisticated techniques for system compromise and evasion:

The Triton RAT employs several obfuscation techniques to evade detection:

1. Base64 Encoding: Command and control information, including Telegram bot tokens and chat IDs, are encoded in Base64 to avoid string-based detection
2. Process Blacklisting: Contains code to detect and terminate if running under analysis tools or security software
3. File Size Manipulation: Includes functionality to artificially increase file size to evade AV scanning thresholds that may ignore files above certain sizes
4. Multi-stage Execution: Uses multiple components (Python script, VBScript, BAT files) to distribute the malicious functionality across different files
5. Living Off The Land: Leverages legitimate Windows utilities and built-in commands to perform malicious actions

Persistence Mechanisms Deep Dive

Triton RAT ensures persistence through multiple methods, making complete removal challenging for typical users:

Key registry modifications include:

Registry Path	Modification	Purpose
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Features\TamperProtection	Set to 0	Disables Windows Defender’s tamper protection feature
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\DisableAntiSpyware	Set to 1	Disables Windows Defender antispyware functionality
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run	Addition of malicious entry	Alternative persistence method in some variants
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services	Creation of service entries	Used by some variants for service-based persistence

Network Traffic Analysis

Security teams can identify Triton RAT network activity through these characteristic patterns:

1. Telegram API Communications:
   • HTTP/HTTPS requests to api.telegram.org
   • POST requests to /bot[token]/sendMessage endpoints
   • Data exfiltration via Telegram’s sendDocument API calls
   • Regular polling intervals for command retrieval
2. Command and Control Traffic Patterns:
   • Initial connections to pastebin.com or similar paste sites to retrieve configuration
   • Download activities from cloud storage services like Dropbox using predictable URL patterns
   • Periodic beaconing on configurable intervals (typically 30-300 seconds)
   • Base64-encoded payloads in HTTP/HTTPS communications
3. YARA-Based Network Detection:
   • Lookout for specific HTTP User-Agent strings
   • Monitor for specific packet patterns containing Telegram API calls
   • Check for unusual DNS resolutions to Telegram API domains from unexpected systems

Memory Forensics and Live Response

For incident responders performing memory analysis of Triton RAT infections, focus on these key artifacts:

Artifact Type	Indicators	Analysis Technique
Process Artifacts	Python processes, wscript.exe running VBScript files, PowerShell processes with encoded commands	Use volatility pstree/pslist plugins, look for unexpected child processes
Network Connections	Connections to api.telegram.org, pastebin.com, or unexpected outbound connections	Volatility netscan plugin, analyze process-to-network connection mapping
Loaded Modules	Python libraries like telebot, cryptography modules, keyboard hooking libraries	Examine loaded DLLs, look for injected code in legitimate processes
String Evidence	Base64-encoded strings, Telegram API tokens, keylogging buffer content	Memory string searches for known Triton RAT components and commands
Command History	PowerShell history showing dropbox downloads, registry modifications	Extract command history from memory for evidence of tampering

Static vs. Dynamic Analysis Approaches

When analyzing Triton RAT samples, researchers should consider these specialized approaches:

Observed Command Set

Triton RAT responds to these Telegram bot commands, useful for understanding its capabilities and detecting command patterns:

Command	Functionality	Potential Detection Opportunities
/keylogger	Starts keylogging functionality	Keyboard hook installation, new registry keys, unusual memory access patterns
/stopkeylogger	Stops active keylogging	Command pattern in network traffic, hook removal
/passwords	Extracts saved browser passwords	Access to browser password databases, decryption activities
/clipboard	Captures clipboard contents	Clipboard API calls, regular memory reading patterns
/robloxcookie	Steals Roblox security cookies	Browser cookie database access, specific cookie searches
/wifipass	Extracts saved WiFi credentials	“netsh wlan show profile” commands, privilege escalation attempts
/screenshot	Captures screen content	Screen capture API usage, large image data in memory or network
/addstartup	Creates additional persistence mechanism	Registry writes, scheduled task creation
/download [URL]	Downloads additional files	HTTP/HTTPS downloads from untrusted sources, file writes
/webcam	Activates and captures from webcam	Webcam driver access, large media data transfers

For incident response teams, comprehensively addressing a Triton RAT infection requires not just removal of the malware components, but also analysis of what data may have been compromised, particularly focusing on Roblox account security and any potentially stolen browser credentials.

Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)

If you suspect your system may be infected with Triton RAT, look for these indicators of compromise:

File System Indicators

• Presence of “ProtonDrive.exe” in hidden folders
• VBScript files named “updateagent.vbs” or “watchdog.vbs”
• BAT file named “check.bat”
• Hidden folder structure at “C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Programs\Proton\Drive”
• Suspicious scheduled tasks that execute scripts or Python programs

Network Indicators

• Unusual connections to Telegram API endpoints
• Connections to Pastebin or similar paste sites
• Unexpected traffic to DropBox or other cloud storage services
• DNS queries for Telegram bot APIs

Behavioral Indicators

• Unexplained Roblox account access or unauthorized purchases
• Windows Defender showing as disabled without user action
• Webcam activity indicator light turning on unexpectedly
• Unexpected system slowdowns during keyboard use (keylogging)
• Missing or altered browser passwords

File Hashes (SHA-256)

How to Remove Triton RAT

If you suspect your system is infected with Triton RAT, follow these steps to remove the malware and secure your accounts:

Step 1: Disconnect from the Internet

First, disconnect your computer from all networks to prevent the RAT from communicating with its command and control server:

1. Physically disconnect any Ethernet cables
2. Turn off Wi-Fi by disabling the wireless adapter
3. Enable Airplane Mode if available

Step 2: Enter Safe Mode

Boot your computer in Safe Mode to prevent the malware from loading at startup:

1. Press the Windows key + I to open Settings
2. Click on Update & Security > Recovery
3. Under Advanced startup, click “Restart now”
4. After reboot, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart
5. When your computer restarts, press F4 to enter Safe Mode

Step 3: Remove Triton RAT Using Anti-Malware Software

For effective removal of Triton RAT, we recommend using a professional anti-malware tool with rootkit detection capabilities:

Step	Instructions
1. Download and Install	Download Trojan Killer from the official website Install the software following the on-screen instructions Launch the program
2. Perform a Full System Scan	In Trojan Killer, select the “Full Scan” option Allow the scan to complete – this may take some time The scan will identify Triton RAT components and any additional threats
3. Remove Detected Threats	Review the scan results Ensure all Triton RAT components are selected for removal Click “Remove Selected” to clean your system
4. System Reboot	After the removal process is complete, restart your computer This time, boot into normal mode (not Safe Mode)

Step 4: Manual Removal of Persistence Mechanisms

To ensure complete removal, check for and remove any remaining persistence mechanisms:

1. Delete suspicious scheduled tasks:
   • Open Command Prompt as Administrator
   • Type schtasks /query to list all scheduled tasks
   • Look for suspicious task names, especially those pointing to unknown executables
   • Delete suspicious tasks with schtasks /delete /tn "TaskName" /f
2. Remove malicious folders:
   • Navigate to C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Programs\
   • Delete the “Proton” folder if present
   • Check for other suspicious folders that may have been created recently
3. Check startup items:
   • Press Win+R, type msconfig and press Enter
   • Go to the “Startup” tab
   • Disable any suspicious entries

Step 5: Restore Windows Defender

Since Triton RAT disables Windows Defender, you’ll need to re-enable it:

1. Press Win+R, type gpedit.msc and press Enter
2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender Antivirus
3. Double-click “Turn off Windows Defender Antivirus”
4. Select “Disabled” and click OK
5. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
6. Type powershell -command "Start-Service WinDefend"
7. Then type powershell -command "Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring $false"

Step 6: Secure Your Accounts

Since Triton RAT steals credentials, take these steps to secure your accounts:

• Change All Passwords: Change passwords for all your accounts, especially Roblox and any accounts whose credentials are saved in browsers
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Enable 2FA on all accounts that support it
• Log Out of All Sessions: On Roblox and other accounts, use the option to log out of all other sessions
• Check for Unauthorized Activity: Review your account history for any unauthorized transactions or changes
• Clear Browser Data: Clear all cookies, cache, and saved passwords from your browsers

Protecting Against Triton RAT and Similar Threats

To protect yourself from Triton RAT and similar malware, follow these best practices:

Protection Measure	Implementation
Keep Software Updated	Regularly update your operating system, browsers, and applications to patch security vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malware
Use Strong Antivirus Protection	Install and maintain reputable security software with real-time protection. Consider using Trojan Killer for comprehensive security
Be Cautious with Downloads	Only download software from official sources. Be especially wary of game “hacks,” “free Robux” generators, or “cracked” software, which often contain malware
Exercise Email Vigilance	Never open unexpected email attachments or click on suspicious links, even if they appear to come from trusted sources
Use Multi-Factor Authentication	Enable MFA on all accounts that support it, especially gaming and financial accounts
Regularly Monitor Accounts	Check your accounts regularly for suspicious activity or unauthorized changes
Use a Password Manager	Use a reputable password manager to create and store strong, unique passwords for each account
Avoid Public Computers	Don’t log into sensitive accounts on public or shared computers, which may have keyloggers installed
Educate Children About Online Safety	If children use Roblox, educate them about not downloading unknown software or clicking on links promising free items or currency

Similar Threats to Be Aware Of

Triton RAT is part of a growing trend of malware targeting gaming platforms. Be aware of these similar threats:

• Lilith RAT — A sophisticated remote access trojan with similar capabilities targeting multiple gaming platforms
• HEUR Trojan Script Generic — A family of script-based trojans that can install additional malware
• Wacatac Trojan — A malicious program that creates backdoors for attackers to gain control of your system

YARA Rule for Detecting Triton RAT

For cybersecurity professionals, here’s a YARA rule to detect Triton RAT:

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Triton RAT represents a significant threat, particularly to Roblox players, due to its ability to steal security cookies that can bypass even two-factor authentication. This Python-based Remote Access Trojan’s extensive capabilities—including keylogging, webcam access, and system control—make it a powerful tool for cybercriminals looking to steal valuable gaming accounts and personal information.

If you suspect an infection, it’s crucial to act quickly by disconnecting from networks, performing thorough scans with quality anti-malware software like Trojan Killer, and securing all your accounts with new passwords. Prevention remains the best defense, so maintain good security hygiene by keeping software updated, being cautious with downloads, and educating yourself and family members about online safety practices.

By understanding how Triton RAT works and following the removal and prevention steps outlined in this guide, you can protect yourself from this and similar threats targeting gamers and their valuable digital assets.