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Mallory
Malware

Numero

Numero is a destructive Windows malware family identified by Cisco Talos and distributed as a fake installer for InVideo AI. It was observed in AI-themed malware campaigns that abused SEO poisoning, fake websites, Telegram, and social media messengers to lure victims searching for popular AI tools. In the documented campaign, the malicious installer impersonated InVideo AI in file metadata and dropped a batch file, a VB script, and the main Numero payload, wintitle.exe, into the local user profile temporary application folder. The batch file launched Numero in an infinite loop, pausing for 60 seconds via cscript running the VB script, terminating the process, and restarting it to ensure continuous execution. Numero is a 32-bit Windows executable written in C++ and reportedly compiled on 2025-01-24. Its primary behavior is destructive manipulation of the Windows graphical user interface: it uses GetDesktopWindow, EnumChildWindows, and SendMessageW to continuously overwrite desktop child window titles, buttons, and contents with the numeric string "1234567890," ultimately rendering the system unusable. The malware also checks for analysis and debugging tools including IDA, x64dbg, x32dbg, OllyDbg, Scylla, WinDbg, ResHacker, ImportREC, Immunity Debugger, Zeta Debugger, and Rock Debugger. High-confidence indicators and artifacts mentioned in the reporting include the payload name wintitle.exe, the repeated numeric string 1234567890 written into GUI elements, and its use as a fake InVideo AI installer. Reporting places Numero alongside other fake AI-tool malware such as CyberLock and Lucky_Gh0$t, with particular risk noted for users and organizations in B2B sales, technology, and marketing sectors that commonly seek such tools.

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MITRE ATT&CK

Techniques & procedures

9 distinct techniques documented for this family, organized by ATT&CK tactic.

Resource Development

1 technique
T1608.006SEO PoisoningEvidence1

Threat actors are employing a variety of techniques and channels to distribute these fraudulent installers, including SEO-poisoning tactics to manipulate search engine rankings and cause their malicious websites or download links to appear at the top of search engine results.

Initial Access

1 technique
T1566.002Spearphishing LinkEvidence2

Threat actors are employing a variety of techniques and channels to distribute these fraudulent installers... as well as platforms such as Telegram or social media messengers.

Execution

3 techniques
T1059.003Windows Command ShellEvidence1

The fake installer is a dropper containing a malicious Windows batch file... Then it executes the dropped Windows batch file through Windows shell in an infinite loop.

T1059.005Visual BasicEvidence1

It first runs the Numero malware and then halts the execution for 60 seconds by executing the VB script through cscript.

T1204.002Malicious FileEvidence1

Fake "ChatGPT 4.0 Premium" installer Lucky_Gh0$t ransomware Windows Telegram/social distribution.

Stealth

2 techniques
T1036MasqueradingEvidence2

Cisco Talos has discovered new threats, including the ransomware CyberLock, Lucky_Gh0$t, and a newly-discovered malware we call “Numero,” all of which masquerade as legitimate AI tool installers.

T1622Debugger EvasionEvidence1

Numero evades analysis by checking the process handles of various malware analysis tools and debuggers including IDA, x64 debugger, x32debugger, ollydbg, scylla, windbg...

Discovery

1 technique
T1622Debugger EvasionEvidence1

Numero evades analysis by checking the process handles of various malware analysis tools and debuggers including IDA, x64 debugger, x32debugger, ollydbg, scylla, windbg...

Impact

2 techniques
T1485Data DestructionEvidence1

For the targeted files with a size larger than 1.2GB, the ransomware creates a new file the same size of the original file and writes a single character “?” as the file content... deletes the original file, exhibiting destructive behavior.

T1491DefacementEvidence1

Numero overwrites the window title, buttons and contents with the numeric string ‘1234567890’, corrupting the victim machine to become unusable.

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Threat actor attribution

Named campaigns wielding this family, with evidence pinned to each claim.

Exploited vulnerabilities

CVEs this family uses for access and lateral movement.

Detection signatures

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MITRE ATT&CK mapping9

Every documented technique, ranked by evidence weight.

Researcher chatter

Reddit, Mastodon, and CTI community discussion around this family.