Academy
TermUnderground market

Builder

A tool that produces a new copy of a malware configured with the attacker’s server address and chosen features.

Flow

  1. 1Options entered
  2. 2File produced
  3. 3Encrypted
Related families
Stealerium, Blank Grabber, Eternity Stealer
MITRE ATT&CK
T1027.009 · Embedded Payloads
Sources
7 sources
01

Overview

A builder lets the customer produce their own malware file without writing code: which data to collect, where logs go and how the file looks are chosen from a form. BlackBerry

Open-source or leaked builders give rise to many new families derived from the first version; this is why families with different names that look very similar are seen. K7 Labs

02

How it works

  1. 1

    Options entered

    Server address or Telegram bot details, types of data to collect, icon and file name.

  2. 2

    File produced

    The builder embeds the configuration in the body and outputs a new executable. MITRE ATT&CK

  3. 3

    Encrypted

    The file is often passed through a crypter to evade antivirus signatures. MITRE ATT&CK

03

Real-world examples

Stealerium and its derivatives

Stealerium profile

Derivatives were produced by reusing the code of the open-source Stealerium; Proofpoint reported in 2025 that its use in email campaigns had increased. Proofpoint

Open-source Python stealers

Blank Grabber profile

Open-source infostealers written in Python, such as Blank Grabber, are published with builder interfaces and become the basis for new families. K7 Labs

04

How to detect it

  • Files produced by the same builder carry common code fragments; YARA rules written for these fragments catch derivatives with different names together. YARA documentation
05

What to do

  • Use behavior-based endpoint protection; since each build produces a new file hash, blocking with a hash list alone is not enough. MITRE ATT&CK
06

MITRE ATT&CK

07

Related families and terms

08

Sources

  1. 1Embedded Payloads (T1027.009) · MITRE ATT&CK
  2. 2Software Packing (T1027.002) · MITRE ATT&CK
  3. 3Eternity Project: MaaS goes on and on · BlackBerry, 2022
  4. 4Open-source stealers in Python · K7 Labs
  5. 5Not safe for work: Stealerium and Phantom infostealers · Proofpoint, 2025
  6. 6Writing YARA rules · YARA documentation
  7. 7Behavior Prevention on Endpoint (M1040) · MITRE ATT&CK
From the Essential plan

Infostealer Detection

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