Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence - Featured Image

Daily Threat Briefing • December 13, 2021

The weekend has kept the organizations busy in mitigating the infamous Log4Shell vulnerability. Several large companies such as Apple, Twitter, Amazon, Pulse Secure, Google, and VMware have begun responding to the critical vulnerability that is being currently exploited in the wild. While a majority of attacks involving the exploitation of the zero-day flaw originated from Mirai, Muhstik, and Kinsing botnets, Microsoft said it observed the first instance where the flaw was being used to deploy Cobalt Strike beacons.

In other news, the discovery of three new malicious Python packages with over 10,000 downloads is likely to have supply chain management in peril. A previously undocumented threat actor group named Karakurt has also ramped up its attacks in the third quarter of 2021, affecting several organizations across North America and Europe.

Top Breaches Reported in the Last 24 Hours

Hellmann disrupted by ransomware

Germany-based logistic provider, Hellmann announced that some of its servers have been affected by a ransomware attack. The company is yet to ascertain the type of data affected in the attack.

Volvo attacked

Swedish manufacturer Volvo Cars disclosed details of a cyberattack on one of its repositories. As a result, hackers have stolen research and development secrets from its systems.

Karakurt targets North Americans

A newly found Karakurt threat actor group has been held responsible for a string of data theft and extortion attacks between September and November 2021. These attacks affected over 40 entities including healthcare, industrial, retail, technology, and entertainment verticals. Most of the victim organizations are located in North America.

Top Malware Reported in the Last 24 Hours

Malicious PyPI packages removed

Three malicious Python packages designed to exfiltrate environment variables and drop trojans on infected machines have been removed after their discovery on the PyPI software repository. These packages, which were downloaded 15,000 times, were named aws-login0tool, dpp-client, and dpp-client1234.

Microsoft unfolds QBot’s attack process

As QBot continues to expand its attacks far and wide, researchers are looking into ways to break the trojan’s distribution chain. As part of this attempt, Microsoft has demystified the complete attack process of the trojan, along with all the secondary payloads propagated during the infection.

Top Vulnerabilities Reported in the Last 24 Hours

Log4Shell attacks on the rise

Companies have started responding to the zero-day remote code execution Log4Shell flaw that is being exploited in the wild. The flaw, tracked as CVE-2021-44228, can be abused to gain complete access to the targeted systems by sending a specially crafted string. The list of affected companies includes Apple, Twitter, Baidu, IBM, Google, LinkedIn, Cisco, and VMware, among others. Meanwhile, Quebec has shut down nearly 4,000 of its sites in response to the discovery of the Log4Shell flaw that affected the Apache Log4j Java-based logging library.

Top Scams Reported in the Last 24 Hours

Loss due to gift card scams

The FTC revealed that Americans have incurred a loss of $148 million to gift card scams during the first nine months of 2021. While Google Play, Apple, eBay, and Walmart gift cards are popular among scammers, there has been an increase in the abuse of Target gift cards. Most of these scams begin with scammers impersonating a government officer and calling the targets to threaten them to freeze their bank accounts.

Related Threat Briefings

May 8, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, May 08, 2025

COLDRIVER’s latest malware, LOSTKEYS, is now in play. The Russian state-backed group is deploying this tool to steal files and system data from advisors, journalists, NGOs, and individuals linked to Ukraine. Delivered via ClickFix, LOSTKEYS expands COLDRIVER’s toolkit beyond credential phishing, signaling a continued focus on espionage and document theft. SysAid users, it’s time to patch. Multiple vulnerabilities—ranging from XXE to OS command injection—have been fixed in version 24.4.60. Researchers uncovered the flaws and even released a PoC, warning that 77 unpatched instances remain exposed online. Given SysAid’s large user base, the window for exploitation remains a real concern. A clever lure is fueling a quiet takeover in Brazil. Cisco Talos uncovered a campaign abusing the country’s electronic invoicing system to trick victims into installing remote monitoring tools. The attackers use free trials of RMM products to hijack machines, often targeting high-level accounts in finance, education, and government.

May 7, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, May 07, 2025

Agenda’s playbook just got upgraded. The ransomware group has added two new tools: SmokeLoader and a stealthy .NET-based loader called NETXLOADER. The latter leverages techniques like JIT hooking and AES decryption to deploy ransomware and loaders directly into memory, while SmokeLoader injects payloads into explorer.exe using anti-analysis tricks. In a different vein, a bogus debugging package was found duping Discord bot developers. The malicious PyPI package ‘discordpydebug,’ posing as a helpful tool, is designed to steal data and execute commands. Downloaded over 11,500 times, it exploited community trust, mirrored by over 45 npm lookalikes in what appears to be a broader campaign. AWS patched a critical bug in Amplify Studio version 2.20.3. CVE-2025-4318 allowed attackers to inject JavaScript into UI components during render time via the amplify-codegen-ui package. No active exploitation was detected.

May 6, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, May 06, 2025

Mamona isn’t calling home but it’s still locking you out. This offline ransomware strain skips data theft and C2 communication altogether, instead encrypting files using its own cryptographic routines. Though it avoids detection through network monitoring, a working decryption tool is already available for victims. Google’s latest Android update delivers fixes for around 50 vulnerabilities, including a critical zero-day in FreeType, which was already under active attack. The patch batch covers issues across Android OS, MediaTek, Qualcomm, Wear OS, and Automotive OS, reinforcing security across a wide device ecosystem. CoGUI is fueling a phishing surge in Japan by spoofing trusted brands like Rakuten and PayPay. The kit uses geofencing and browser fingerprinting to narrow its targets, directing victims to convincingly faked login pages that siphon credentials and payment details with precision.

May 5, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, May 05, 2025

Corporate HR teams are the latest target in a spear-phishing spree by Venom Spider. Disguised as job applications, these emails deliver More_eggs backdoor, now upgraded with advanced features. The attack leverages advanced evasion tactics to slip past defenses and establish persistent access. A fresh batch of vulnerabilities from MediaTek could leave millions of devices open to attack. The most severe enables remote DoS via rogue base stations. Other flaws impact encryption, memory handling, and certificate validation across phones, tablets, and smart devices running Android 13 to 15. Luna Moth is back, and it's using helpdesk lookalikes to worm its way into corporate inboxes. The campaign spoofs trusted brands with phishing emails and fake domains, siphoning credentials and financial data. So far, 50 domains tied to this operation have been linked to breaches in legal, healthcare, and finance sectors.

May 2, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, May 02, 2025

In the shadows of the cybersecurity landscape, MintsLoader emerges as a formidable adversary, orchestrating a multi-faceted infection strategy that deploys the notorious GhostWeaver RAT. This malware loader ingeniously employs a blend of obfuscated JavaScript and PowerShell scripts to execute its malicious agenda, utilizing sophisticated evasion techniques and a DGA for C2 communications. Two new malware families—TerraStealerV2 and TerraLogger—are now linked to the Golden Chickens threat group. TerraStealerV2 steals credentials and crypto wallet data but can’t yet bypass Chrome’s built-in encryption, suggesting it’s still in progress. TerraLogger, meanwhile, operates as a standalone keylogger with no exfiltration module, hinting at a plug-and-play role in a broader MaaS toolkit. A fake refund for a real blackout. A phishing campaign is spoofing TAP Air Portugal, preying on confusion after the Iberian power outage. Victims are promised compensation for delayed flights, only to be directed to phishing pages that steal payment details. The lure is simple, but effective, and the infrastructure, as usual, runs through compromised WordPress sites.

May 1, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, May 01, 2025

Some PyPI packages are doing more than importing functions. Researchers uncovered seven malicious Python packages under the “Coffin” naming scheme, using Gmail’s SMTP service as a stealthy C2 channel. Hardcoded credentials let the malware establish outbound tunnels via port 465, send activation signals, and quietly exfiltrate data. Apache ActiveMQ users should be on high alert. A flaw in its .NET Message Service library now lets remote attackers inject code by abusing deserialization. All versions prior to the latest update are at risk, so prompt patching is essential to protect your systems. Emails that look like official Social Security alerts are turning into dangerous gateways. In the new Molatori phishing campaign, attackers send messages claiming your Social Security Statement is ready to download. Once you install the ScreenConnect client they push, remote access is granted, and sensitive data gets swept away, thanks to convincing links from compromised WordPress sites.

Apr 30, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, April 30, 2025

A familiar threat actor is back with sharper tools. A new spear-phishing wave from Earth Kasha is hitting government targets in Taiwan and Japan. Using a malicious Excel file, the group drops an updated ANEL backdoor and maintains stealthy persistence with SharpHide. The second-stage malware hides C2 traffic behind DNS over HTTPS - signaling renewed focus on quiet, long-term access. TheWizards aren’t casting spells, they’re hijacking software updates. This Chinese-linked threat group is abusing IPv6 SLAAC to perform AitM attacks with the Spellbinder lateral movement tool. Spellbinder redirects traffic to attacker-controlled domains to deliver malware-laced updates to apps like Tencent QQ and Sogou Pinyin. Once inside, a modular backdoor takes over. New vulnerabilities in Apple’s AirPlay protocol, collectively dubbed AirBorne, expose billions of devices to remote code execution without user interaction. Attackers could silently hijack devices via use-after-free and buffer overflow vulnerabilities, affecting not only Apple hardware but also third-party products using the AirPlay SDK.

Apr 29, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, April 29, 2025

Sharp and TX stealers are back, donning a new cloak - named Hannibal Stealer. It is going after credentials from browsers, crypto wallets, FTP clients, and VPN apps. It even captures Discord tokens and Steam sessions. While its core is largely unoriginal, its control panel and delivery updates point to a more commercialized approach, complete with dark web subscriptions. Privilege escalation is just a pointer error away. Attack of the Vsock exposes a critical use-after-free bug in the Linux kernel’s VMware vsock driver. A mishandled reference count allows attackers to reclaim memory and more. With exploit code already circulating, this one has the potential to hit millions of virtualized systems. They sound urgent. They look official. And they’re emptying wallets. TA2900, a newly identified BEC actor, is impersonating landlords to trick renters in France and Canada into sending payments to attacker-controlled accounts. Messages come from compromised university inboxes and often swap out IBANs mid-thread.

Apr 28, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, April 28, 2025

Ransomware groups aren’t always the ones breaking the door open. Researchers have uncovered ToyMaker, an initial access broker selling network entry to ransomware groups. Using a custom malware strain called LAGTOY, ToyMaker establishes reverse shells and executes commands on compromised systems. After gaining access, ToyMaker hands over the keys - leaving ransomware operators to finish the job. Industrial remote access just got a lot more dangerous. Three vulnerabilities have been discovered in the IXON VPN client, affecting both Windows and Linux. Attackers can exploit temporary file handling flaws to escalate privileges. Full details remain under wraps until patches are ready. One bad notification and your iPhone could be stuck in an endless reboot loop. A critical iOS flaw allowed malicious apps to abuse the Darwin notification system and brick devices with a single command. Apple’s fix in iOS 18.3 now requires special entitlements to send sensitive notifications but unpatched devices remain at risk.

Apr 25, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, April 25, 2025

An APT group with deep roots in Southeast Asia is quietly siphoning data through everyday cloud platforms. Earth Kurma has been active since late 2020, targeting government and telecom entities across the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. Its extensive toolkit enables credential theft, stealthy surveillance, and Dropbox-based exfiltration. One patch, two problems. Microsoft’s fix for CVE-2025–21204 may have closed a privilege escalation bug but it opened the door to a DoS vulnerability. By creating junction points, non-admin users can block future Windows updates from installing. There’s no fix yet, and unless the rogue junction is manually removed, security updates will fail silently. Logos, lures, and lies - the Power Parasites campaign is using all three. Fraudsters are impersonating global energy brands to scam victims in Bangladesh, Nepal, and India through fake jobs and investment offers. With over 150 domains and active Telegram and YouTube promotion, the scheme blends fake onboarding forms with identity theft and financial fraud, all under the guise of renewable energy.

Apr 24, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, April 24, 2025

It starts with a fake sales order and ends with FormBook silently stealing your data. A recent phishing campaign has been abusing a long-patched Microsoft flaw to deliver a fileless variant of the malware. The attack uses a Word document, a fake PNG file follows, carrying an encrypted payload that’s decrypted and run entirely in memory - leaving no trace on disk. A single request is all it takes to bring SonicWall firewalls to a halt. CVE-2025-32818 targets the SSLVPN Virtual Office interface and can trigger a DoS condition on affected Gen7 appliances. The vulnerability, rated 7.5 in severity, has been patched in recent firmware updates. Signal and WhatsApp are the new frontline for cloud compromise. Russian actors are running OAuth phishing campaigns against Microsoft 365 users tied to Ukraine and human rights work. Victims are tricked into handing over legitimate Microsoft auth codes, often via chats impersonating European officials.

Apr 23, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, April 23, 2025

One compromised package, five tainted versions, and private keys silently siphoned away. A supply chain attack hit a widely used JavaScript library for the XRP Ledger. Malicious code was slipped into several recent versions, enabling private key theft via an external domain. The incident is linked to a compromised npm account tied to a Ripple employee. Docker containers aren’t always what they seem. A new threat named TenoBot is targeting systems running outdated Teneo Web3 node software, deploying malicious containers to hijack environments. Once inside, it enables attackers to conduct multiple actions, all while blending in with legitimate processes to avoid detection. A hidden flaw could turn Moodle into an unintentional threat vector. A recent audit exposed a TOC-TOU bug in the LMS’s URL validation process, enabling SSRF. By tampering with DNS responses, attackers can redirect requests to internal endpoints. Features like Calendar imports and File Picker are directly impacted, potentially affecting millions of users.