CoinHJ v1.1 – Crypto Coin Clipboard Hijacker

Cryptocurrency-related malware has become increasingly prevalent as digital currencies gain mainstream adoption. Among these threats, clipboard hijackers have emerged as a particularly insidious tool for cybercriminals. CoinHJ v1.1 operates silently in the background, monitoring and manipulating clipboard activity to redirect cryptocurrency transactions. The latest versions of such malware demonstrate improved stealth capabilities and broader targeting of wallet addresses, making them a significant threat to both individual users and businesses engaged in crypto transactions.

This software is a specialized form of malware designed to intercept and modify cryptocurrency-related clipboard data. When installed on a victim’s system – typically through malicious downloads or bundled with pirated software – it continuously monitors the clipboard for cryptocurrency wallet addresses. Upon detection, it silently replaces legitimate wallet addresses with attacker-controlled addresses, effectively diverting funds during transactions. The malware primarily targets Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major cryptocurrencies, though newer versions have expanded to include lesser-known altcoins.

Key Features

Feature	Description
Clipboard Monitoring	Continuously scans clipboard content for cryptocurrency wallet patterns
Address Replacement	Automatically substitutes legitimate wallet addresses with attacker addresses
Multi-Currency Support	Targets Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and other popular cryptocurrencies
Stealth Operation	Runs as a background process with no visible interface or system alerts
Persistence Mechanisms	Maintains presence through registry modifications or startup folder entries
Configuration Updates	Can receive new target addresses and rules from C2 servers
Anti-Detection Techniques	Uses process injection and code obfuscation to evade security software

How CoinHJ v1.1 Works

Infection and Initial Execution

The malware typically infiltrates systems through:

Bundled with pirated software: Often included with cracked games, productivity tools, or media players
Fake cryptocurrency apps: Disguised as legitimate wallet software or trading tools
Phishing campaigns: Distributed via malicious email attachments or fake download links

Once executed, the malware employs several techniques to establish persistence:

Registry Modification: Creates auto-run entries to launch with Windows startup
Process Injection: Injects its code into legitimate system processes to avoid detection
DLL Side-Loading: Uses legitimate applications to load malicious DLL files

Core Functionality

The malware operates through a continuous monitoring process:

Clipboard Monitoring: Hooks into system clipboard APIs to detect any new content
Pattern Recognition: Uses regular expressions to identify cryptocurrency addresses (e.g., Bitcoin’s 1-34 character addresses or Ethereum’s 0x-prefixed addresses)
Address Substitution: When a match is found, it replaces the legitimate address with one from its database

Address Verification: Some advanced versions validate the replacement address format to avoid detection