NFCShare Android Trojan Steals NFC Card Data

Overview of the NFCShare Threat

Researchers have uncovered a new Android banking trojan called NFCShare that abuses Near Field Communication capabilities to steal sensitive card data. The malware targets Android users by masquerading as legitimate applications while secretly harvesting NFC based payment information. The analysis was published by D3Lab, highlighting a growing trend of mobile malware abusing contactless payment technology.

This campaign signals a shift toward more direct attacks on mobile payment ecosystems.

Deutsche Bank Phishing Flow Connection

Analysis of NFCShare activity also shows overlaps with financial brand abuse, including phishing flows themed around Deutsche Bank. In related campaigns, attackers lure victims using phishing messages that impersonate Deutsche Bank notifications, such as account alerts or transaction verification requests.

Source: D3lab blog – The infection chain starts with a bank‑themed phishing site mimicking Italian Deutsche Bank. 

Victims are redirected to malicious pages that instruct them to install a fake security or verification application. This APK acts as the initial infection vector, ultimately deploying NFCShare or a similar payload. Once installed, the malware leverages NFC capabilities to harvest card data when users attempt to verify their accounts or follow attacker provided instructions.

This phishing driven delivery model combines brand trust abuse, malicious APK sideloading, and NFC based data theft, making detection and user awareness significantly more challenging.

Infection Vector and Delivery Method

NFCShare is distributed as a malicious APK, often presented as a useful or region specific application. Victims are tricked into enabling installation from unknown sources, a step commonly abused by Android malware operators.

Once installed, the trojan requests excessive permissions that appear normal for its fake functionality. These permissions allow it to run persistently in the background and access NFC related services without triggering immediate suspicion from the user.

How NFC Card Data Is Stolen

The core capability of NFCShare lies in its abuse of Android’s NFC framework. When a victim brings a physical payment card close to the infected device, the trojan captures NFC communication data exchanged during the interaction.

Instead of processing the data locally, NFCShare forwards the captured information to a remote command server controlled by the attackers. This enables near real time relay of card data, which can later be used for fraudulent transactions or card emulation attacks.

The malware does not require rooting the device, making it effective against a wide range of Android versions.

Command and Control Operations

NFCShare maintains persistent communication with its backend infrastructure. The command and control servers issue instructions, receive harvested NFC data, and manage infected devices.

The malware uses lightweight encrypted communication to avoid network based detection. It also includes basic checks to ensure the device supports NFC functionality before activating its data theft routines.

This selective activation reduces noise and increases the operational efficiency of the campaign.

Security Implications and Defensive Measures

The emergence of NFCShare demonstrates how mobile threats are evolving beyond traditional SMS theft and overlay attacks. By targeting NFC card interactions directly, attackers reduce reliance on social engineering during the fraud phase.

Defenders should focus on restricting unknown app installations, monitoring excessive permission requests, and keeping mobile devices updated. Financial institutions may also need to reassess fraud detection models that assume NFC interactions are inherently trusted.

As contactless payments continue to expand, NFC focused malware like NFCShare is likely to become more common, increasing the importance of mobile threat intelligence and user awareness.