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Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence

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Daily Threat Briefing • Aug 24, 2023

Uncovering a months-long malvertising campaign, which originally began in March, security researchers warn against the distribution of the DarkGate malware. The malware deployment technique—via malicious ads and SEO poisoning—highlights the threat actor’s advanced skills. In another headline, a researcher group stumbled upon a new exploit abusing a security hole in Openfire servers, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands and access server data through a webshell. What’s concerning is that the activity has been ongoing for the past two months.

Continuing on vulnerability threats, three vulnerabilities were reported in the NVIDIA graphics driver leading to memory corruption. Web browsers using WebGL and WebAssembly could also be exploited through the flaw. Patch asap!

Top Breaches Reported in the Last 24 Hours

Millions exposed by French employment agency

France's national employment agency, Pôle emploi, has suffered a cyberattack potentially affecting the personal information of up to 10 million individuals. Security experts have linked the breach to the Cl0p ransomware gang's MOVEit campaign that has impacted numerous organizations and individuals globally. The attack is believed to have exposed the data of both current and former registrants, including names, employment statuses, and Social Security numbers.

U.S. university probes alumni data breach

The University of Minnesota may have exposed the Social Security numbers of seven million alumni, though not officially confirmed. A dark web repository unveiled details of the breach dating back to 1989, spanning five presidential tenures. However, a cybersecurity expert mentioned that he has not been able to locate student SNNs or any associated information on typical clandestine marketplaces.

Attack on U.K local authority

U.K local authority St Helens Borough Council has issued a warning to citizens about potential follow-on scams following a ransomware attack discovered recently. While it's maintaining services through its website, some internal systems have been affected. There are concerns about citizens' personal information being compromised. The council advises residents to remain cautious online and to be wary of any communications from the council.

Multi-million dollar stolen from crypto platforms

Two DeFi platforms, Exactly and Harbor, fell victim to cyberattacks resulting in the theft of millions of dollars' worth of cryptocurrency. Exactly Protocol confirmed an ongoing security investigation and paused operations after reportedly suffering a loss of around $7.3 million worth of ETH. Harbor Protocol also revealed experiencing a breach, admitting funds were drained without specifying the exact amount stolen.

Top Malware Reported in the Last 24 Hours

Malware evolves to remain among top threats

EclecticIQ analysts have detected the resurgence of the RedLine Stealer malware, focusing on financial data theft and reconnaissance functions. Security experts analyzed a RedLine stealer spam campaign between April and August. The new campaigns exhibit core information gathering techniques, registry manipulation for persistence, WMI utilization, and file deletion to mask attacks. Furthermore, recent iterations target specific browsers, log keystrokes, and access crypto wallets like Coinomi.

DarkGate’s new delivery tactics

A malvertising campaign unveiled an updated version of the DarkGate malware. This iteration employs a distinct MSI installer containing an obfuscated AutoIT script to conceal its payload. DarkGate's web delivery methods have evolved, focusing on malicious ads and search engine poisoning. The new version boasts evasion features and limited availability, attracting the attention of cybersecurity researchers and threat actors alike.

Lazarus Group deploys QuiteRAT

Cisco Talos has uncovered a recent campaign by the Lazarus Group, targeting internet backbone infrastructure and healthcare organizations in Europe and the U.S. The group exploited a ManageEngine ServiceDesk vulnerability, CVE-2022-47966, to deliver QuiteRAT, an evolved version of MagicRAT. While smaller in size than MagicRAT, QuiteRAT shares similar capabilities, including arbitrary command execution. Unlike MagicRAT, QuiteRAT does not have a persistence capability.

New Wi-Fi scanning malware

A new strain of malware called Whiffy Recon is being delivered by the SmokeLoader malware. The malware strain focuses on Wi-Fi scanning and geolocation tracking. It triangulates the infected system's position by scanning nearby Wi-Fi access points and using Google's geolocation API. The purpose of this operation remains unclear, raising questions about the motivations behind tracking the physical location of infected devices.

Top Vulnerabilities Reported in the Last 24 Hours

Thousands of Openfire servers vulnerable

Vulncheck researchers have uncovered over 3,000 Openfire servers susceptible to the CVE-2023-32315 bug, which is being exploited through a new exploit. The open-source chat server was found to be at risk from an unauthenticated path traversal flaw in its admin console. This vulnerability grants unauthorized access to restricted admin console pages, even allowing for the creation of new admin accounts. The flaw has been exploited for over two months.

Critical bugs discovered in NVIDIA D3D10 Driver

Cisco Talos researchers have unveiled three critical vulnerabilities in NVIDIA's D3D10 driver used for its graphics cards. These vulnerabilities stem from memory corruption when a specially crafted shader packer is delivered by an attacker. The flaws could enable memory corruption within the driver, potentially allowing for a guest-to-host escape in virtualization environments like VMware, QEMU, and VirtualBox.

Top Scams Reported in the Last 24 Hours

New financial scam via Telegram bot

A financially motivated cybercrime operation named Telekopye has emerged, using a malicious Telegram bot to facilitate phishing scams. The toolkit automates the creation of phishing web pages and sends the URLs to potential victims, referred to as Mammoths. The operation, attributed to a group known as Neanderthals, seems to originate from Russia due to the use of Russian SMS templates and the targeting of popular online marketplaces in the country.

Related Threat Briefings

Feb 14, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, February 14, 2025

Astaroth is rewriting the phishing playbook, bypassing 2FA and intercepting credentials in real time. Acting as a reverse proxy, this phishing kit manipulates traffic to services like Gmail and Microsoft, stealing login details and authentication tokens mid-session. Chinese state-backed hackers have set their sights on unpatched Cisco network devices, targeting global telecom giants. RedMike exploited two Cisco vulnerabilities to compromise over 1,000 devices. Their focus? Telecom networks and universities across Argentina, Bangladesh, and the U.S. Cybercriminals are turning Webflow’s trusted CDN into a phishing trap. A new campaign lures victims with fake PDF files that rank high in search results, tricking them into clicking CAPTCHA images that lead to phishing sites.

Feb 13, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, February 13, 2025

Cybercriminals aren’t just after your data, they want full control of your device, and they’re getting better at it. The new BTMOB RAT is spreading through phishing sites disguised as streaming services and crypto platforms. This upgraded version of SpySolr RAT goes beyond basic spying and leverages Android’s Accessibility Service. Hackers never forget old exploits. Attackers are ramping up efforts to exploit vulnerabilities from 2022 and 2023, targeting unpatched ThinkPHP and ownCloud systems. Researchers have tracked nearly 600 unique IPs abusing these flaws, proving that even years-old vulnerabilities remain dangerous if left unresolved. Kimsuky is turning fake error messages into a weapon. Inspired by ClickFix campaigns, the North Korean APT has been pushing info-stealers through deceptive pop-ups, tricking victims into running malicious PowerShell commands. Masquerading as a South Korean official, the group lures targets into downloading malware under the guise of document registration.

Feb 12, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, February 12, 2025

Pirated software isn’t just a bargain, it’s a backdoor. Russian hackers are using fake KMS activators and bogus Windows updates to slip malware onto unsuspecting systems in Ukraine. By disguising malware as KMS activators and bogus updates, they deploy DarkCrystal RAT, turning routine software installations into a Trojan horse for cyber-espionage. Microsoft’s February Patch Tuesday is here. This month’s update tackles 55 security flaws, including four zero-days - two of which are actively exploited. Among the most critical fixes are three RCE vulnerabilities, reinforcing why timely patching isn’t just recommended, it’s essential. Romance scams aren’t new, but cybercriminals are getting bolder just in time for Valentine’s Day. A phishing campaign disguised as a Valentine basket giveaway has been circulating, tricking victims into handing over personal data. Researchers found tens of thousands of newly registered Valentine-themed websites in January alone, with 1 in 72 flagged as malicious.

Feb 11, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, February 11, 2025

Hackers are widening their attack surface, and Linux is now in their crosshairs. A new variant of the SystemBC RAT has emerged, stealthily infiltrating Linux environments. Given its history of pairing with ransomware, this development signals a growing threat to corporate systems and cloud infrastructures. Physical access shouldn’t mean instant compromise, but for iPhones and iPads, it briefly did. Apple has rushed to patch a flaw that allowed attackers to disable USB Restricted Mode on locked devices. Designed to prevent unauthorized access, this feature was rendered useless by the vulnerability. Thousands of firewalls meant to protect businesses are instead exposing them to serious risks. Over 12,000 GFI KerioControl firewalls remain unpatched against a critical remote code execution flaw. Despite a fix being available since December, many instances are still vulnerable.

Feb 10, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, February 10, 2025

Cybercriminals are finding new ways to poison the AI supply chain. Researchers uncovered two malicious ML models on Hugging Face, where attackers used corrupted pickle files to smuggle Python malware. This novel technique, dubbed nullifAI, aimed to bypass security scans and establish a backdoor. In another case of SEO manipulation, threat actors hijacked IIS servers in Asia, injecting BadIIS malware to manipulate search results and drive unsuspecting users to illegal gambling sites. Government and university servers in Asian countries were among those exploited. Researchers linked the campaign to DragonRank, a Chinese-speaking group. Patching delays could turn into a disaster. CISA warned that a vulnerability in Trimble Cityworks GIS software is being actively exploited for remote code execution. Even though patches were released, attackers continued taking advantage of unpatched systems, prompting its urgent addition to the KEV catalog.

Feb 7, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, February 07, 2025

North Korean hackers are refining their phishing playbook, now using the forceCopy malware to hijack credentials. The Kimsuky hacking group is targeting victims with deceptive emails containing Windows shortcut files disguised as Microsoft Office or PDF documents. The attack also involves the usage of additional malware. CISA has added critical vulnerabilities to its KEV catalog, signaling an urgent need for patching. The list includes flaws in Microsoft Outlook and Sophos XG Firewall, both carrying a CVSS score of 9.8. Federal agencies have until February 27 to patch these. A long-standing Chinese cyber-espionage group, GreenSpot APT, is running a phishing campaign that preys on users of the popular Chinese email service 163[.]com. The group, which has been active since 2007, has registered fake domains to steal login credentials from government and military personnel

Feb 6, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, February 06, 2025

Cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated, turning search engines into traps. A fake Google ad for Cisco AnyConnect led unsuspecting users to a counterfeit website, mimicking a German university to evade security filters. The fraudulent site redirected victims to a spoofed Cisco download page, pushing NetSupport RAT as the legitimate AnyConnect installer. Russian organizations are under fire as attackers distribute NOVA stealer, a new variant of SnakeLogger, through phishing emails. Advertised on underground forums as MaaS for as little as $50 per month, NOVA is designed for credential theft, keylogging, and clipboard data extraction. Cisco has patched two critical vulnerabilities in its Identity Services Engine, which could allow remote attackers to execute commands and manipulate system configurations. Exploited through specially crafted API requests, these flaws pose significant risks for enterprises using ISE for authentication and network control.

Feb 5, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, February 05, 2025

North Korean hackers are turning fake job interviews into a gateway for cyber espionage. SentinelOne identified new variants of the macOS malware FlexibleFerret, used in the Contagious Interview operation to lure targets with fake job interviews. Victims are tricked into downloading malicious software disguised as virtual meeting tools, allowing attackers to gain control over their systems. Cyberespionage groups are shifting their sights to the backbone of enterprise networks. A newly discovered malware, linked to the DaggerFly APT group, is targeting Linux-based network devices instead of standard endpoints. By hijacking SSH connections and replacing system binaries, the malware ensures long-term persistence while silently extracting sensitive data. A security flaw in AMD processors has raised concerns over hardware-based attacks. This bug could allow attackers with admin access to load malicious microcode, potentially undermining system integrity. This exploit underscores the growing risks of hardware security gaps, where even minor weaknesses can have major consequences.

Feb 4, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, February 04, 2025

Cybercriminals are finding new ways to weaponize everyday tools, and this time, they’re using TryCloudflare to hide their tracks. Researchers uncovered a phishing campaign that stealthily delivers AsyncRAT via Python scripting and cloud tunnels. The attack starts with a Dropbox link leading to a maze of scripts that ultimately drop a harmful payload. Even AI developers aren’t safe from deception. Threat actors have infiltrated PyPI with two malicious packages disguised as legitimate tools for DeepSeek. These fraudulent packages steal sensitive data, from user credentials to API keys, proving once again that trust in open-source repositories can be a double-edged sword. One small vulnerability, one massive risk. Russian cybercriminals exploited a zero-day in 7-Zip to deliver SmokeLoader in attacks on Ukrainian entities. By bypassing Windows Mark-of-the-Web protections, the attackers tricked victims into executing malware-laden files.

Feb 3, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, February 03, 2025

Cybercriminals are exploiting trust and social engineering at scale, preying on unsuspecting victims across industries. The Russian-speaking cybercrime gang Crazy Evil has been linked to over 10 social media scams, tricking users into installing malware like StealC and AMOS. Operating primarily through Telegram, the group specializes in identity fraud, cryptocurrency theft, and info-stealers. A wedding invitation should bring good news, not malware. Hackers in Malaysia and Brunei are targeting users with fake wedding invites spread via WhatsApp and Telegram, tricking them into installing a new Android malware called Tria. The campaign resembles UdangaSteal but focuses on new social engineering tactics. Even the tightest security can come undone with a race condition. Apple patched a critical vulnerability in macOS Sonoma, Sequoia, and iPadOS, which allowed hackers to escalate privileges and run code at the kernel level. Apple fixed the issue by improving memory management, but this serves as another reminder that even the most secure systems need constant vigilance.

Jan 31, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, January 31, 2025

Cybercriminals are sharpening their tactics, and Brazilian financial firms are the latest target. The Coyote banking trojan is on the prowl, using malicious Windows LNK files to execute PowerShell scripts that steal data and compromise systems. Meanwhile, a new browser-based threat is emerging—syncjacking. This attack exploits malicious extensions to hijack browsers, disable security settings, and access stored credentials. In its final stage, attackers gain full control of devices, including cameras and audio, without detection. Speaking of hidden threats, users of Microsoft Ads are being tricked by fraudulent Google ads leading to phishing pages designed to steal their login credentials. This campaign has persisted for two years, slipping past security filters and mimicking Microsoft’s login process with deceptive precision. For detailed Cyber Threat Intel, click ‘Read More’.

Jan 29, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, January 29, 2025

Cybercriminals are refining their tactics, blending deception with persistence to breach defenses. A financially motivated threat actor has been running a phishing email campaign since last year, targeting users in Poland and Germany. The attacks use payloads like Agent Tesla, Snake Keylogger, and a new backdoor named TorNet. Zyxel CPE Series devices are under siege as researchers uncover an actively exploited zero-day vulnerability. This flaw allows attackers to execute remote commands, potentially leading to system takeovers, data loss, and network intrusions. The attacks, originating primarily from Taiwan, have compromised over 1,500 devices, sparking urgent calls for users to apply security updates. Phishing scams continue to evolve, with a new campaign exploiting PDF documents to steal Amazon Prime credentials. Victims receive emails warning of an expired membership, leading them to a fake Amazon login page where they unknowingly hand over personal and credit card information.