Malware and Exploits on the Dark Web

TL;DR

This paper examines how the darknet serves as a hub for malware and exploits, highlighting trends, discovery methods, and the effectiveness of darknet analysis in early threat detection.

Contribution

It provides an analysis of malware distribution scale, types, discovery methods, and evaluates darknet analysis as a proactive security tool.

Findings

Darknet is a major platform for malware and exploit distribution.

Darknet analysis can detect new exploits before widespread use.

Trends show increasing use of zero-day exploits on darknet marketplaces.

Abstract

In recent years, the darknet has become the key location for the distribution of malware and exploits. We have seen scenarios where software vulnerabilities have been disclosed by vendors and shortly after, operational exploits are available on darknet forums and marketplaces. Many marketplace vendors offer zero-day exploits that have not yet been discovered or disclosed. This trend has led to security companies offering darknet analysis services to detect new exploits and malware, providing proactive threat intelligence. This paper presents information on the scale of malware distribution, the trends of malware types offered, the methods for discovering new exploits and the effectiveness of darknet analysis in detecting malware at the earliest possible stage.