Executive Summary

• Sentry Global Intelligence observed activity related to ‘standalone-framework.js’ malware originating from an IP address in Shanghai, China.
• The malware is currently classified as low severity but warrants investigation due to potential reconnaissance capabilities.
• The likely objective is information gathering or preparation for subsequent malicious activities.
• Business risk is moderate, primarily impacting data confidentiality and system availability if the malware gains a foothold.

Organizations should review the provided Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) and implement the recommended detection and hardening measures to mitigate potential risks. Further investigation is needed to understand the full scope of the malware’s capabilities.

Observed Activity (SGI Sensors)

On September 24, 2025, SGI sensors detected network activity originating from IP address 14.103.91.55, associated with China Telecom (Group) AS4811 in Shanghai. The detected traffic contained a payload identified as ‘standalone-framework.js’, triggering a low-severity malware alert. The TCP protocol was used, and further analysis is required to determine the specific port and application involved. The presence of a known file hash allows for proactive detection and blocking.

Malware/Technique Overview

The malware family ‘standalone-framework.js’ appears to be a custom JavaScript framework potentially used for various purposes. Given the low severity and associated file names from VirusTotal, initial access is assumed to be via compromised website or malicious advertising. Typical targets would include web browsers or systems vulnerable to JavaScript execution. Its function might involve reconnaissance, data exfiltration, or delivering a more potent payload.

• T1204.002 – User Execution: Malicious File
• T1059.007 – Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript
• T1005 – Data from Local System
• T1041 – Exfiltration Over C2 Channel

VirusTotal Snapshot

VirusTotal analysis indicates a low detection rate, with 1 out of 62 vendors flagging the sample as malicious. The identified file has a size of 1 byte and is classified as “Text”. Further, it has a reputation score of -575. The low detection rate may indicate an evasive or newly created threat. The VirusTotal results also list numerous aliases that could be related to the file’s purpose or origin, including names like ‘dependency_links.txt’ and ‘__init__.py’.

• Malicious: 1
• Undetected: 61
• Harmless: 0

Notable aliases include ‘click’ which may indicate use of the Click command line interface creation package for Python and ‘android_fblite_fallback_xzs_releaseno_graphql_gen.txt’ which suggests possible relation to Facebook Lite and GraphQL.

• VirusTotal Sample

Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)

It is recommended to monitor these IoCs for at least 30 days.

Detection & Hunting

Utilize the following queries to identify potential instances of this malware within your environment.

Splunk SPL

index=* hash="01ba4719c80b6fe911b091a7c05124b64eeece964e09c058ef8f9805daca546b" OR src_ip="14.103.91.0/24"

This query searches for events containing the identified SHA256 hash or originating from the identified IP range. Validate results against known good traffic to avoid false positives. False positives could include internal traffic routed through the potentially malicious IP.

Containment, Eradication & Recovery

1. Isolate Affected Systems: Disconnect any systems that have communicated with the identified IP address or contain the malicious file.
2. Block Malicious IP: Implement firewall rules to block all traffic to and from 14.103.91.55.
3. Scan for Malware: Perform a full system scan using updated antivirus and anti-malware solutions.
4. Reset Credentials: If compromise is confirmed, reset passwords for all affected user accounts.

Inform relevant IT and leadership stakeholders of the incident and the steps being taken. Preserve all relevant logs and system images for potential forensic analysis.

Hardening & Preventive Controls

• Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Protect against credential compromise (NIST CSF: PR.AC-1, CIS Control 6).
• Tune Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): Enhance detection capabilities for malicious JavaScript (NIST CSF: DE.CM-7, CIS Control 10).
• Network Segmentation: Limit the blast radius of potential compromises (NIST CSF: PR.DS-5, CIS Control 14).
• Principle of Least Privilege: Ensure users only have the necessary permissions (NIST CSF: PR.AC-3, CIS Control 5).
• Patch Management: Maintain a rigorous patch management schedule for all systems (NIST CSF: PR.MA-1, CIS Control 7).

Because the activity was detected via TCP, review any publicly exposed services and ensure strong authentication mechanisms are in place. Regularly audit firewall rules and access control lists.

Business Impact & Risk Outlook

The potential business impact includes operational disruption due to system compromise, legal liabilities from data breaches, and reputational damage. The risk level is currently moderate but could escalate if the malware spreads or is used for more aggressive attacks.

Expect to see continued use of JavaScript-based malware for reconnaissance and initial access. Organizations should prioritize hardening their web defenses and monitoring for suspicious network activity.

Appendix

// Redacted Payload Snippet - for internal use only

Assumptions & Data Gaps: We are assuming initial access was via web-based means due to the filename. The exact functionality of the malware is currently unknown. The specific port used in the detected TCP connection is missing.

References:

• VirusTotal Sample

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