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Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence - Featured Image

Daily Threat Briefing • Mar 13, 2023

Hackers are once again abusing the Google Ads platform to target users searching for popular software products. Of late, threat actors behind BATLOADER surfaced to impersonate trending apps and services, such as ChatGPT, Spotify, and Zoom, to deploy Vidar Stealer and Ursnif payloads. Meanwhile, government and military entities in Southeast Asian countries face a heightened threat from Dark Pink. Adversaries use two custom malware—TelePowerBot and KamiKakaBot—in their attacks. The former can pilfer information from Edge, Chrome, and Firefox web browsers.

Hackers brought a three-year-old bug back into business, compelling the CISA to issue a red alert in their name and on behalf of the bug. Tracked as CVE-2020-5741, the vulnerability lies in the Plex Media Server and can be exploited in low-complexity attacks.

Top Breaches Reported in the Last 24 Hours

Hackers infiltrate mental health provider

Confidential records of about 3.18 million individuals at Cerebral, an online mental health service, were exposed to advertisers and social media giants like Facebook, Google, and TikTok. The affected data include personal detail (names, phone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth), as well as data collected during Cerebral’s online mental health self-assessments.

Higher education platform laid bare database

PeopleGrove, a social platform for higher education institutions and alumni networks, inadvertently blurted out users’ personal information, resumes, and university ratings through its unprotected internal database. The database contained gigabytes of data without any security password. The company, formerly CampusKudos, has over 20 million users, as per the claim.

Top Malware Reported in the Last 24 Hours

A malware trio by North Korean hackers

Mandiant uncovered an attack campaign, allegedly by a North Korean hacking group with ties to Lazarus, targeting security researchers and media organizations in the U.S. and Europe. Criminals deploy three never-before-seen malware: TOUCHMOVE, SIDESHOW, and TOUCHSHIFT. The campaign has been active since at least June 2022 and uses job lures against security researchers and media firms.

BATLOADER bats no eye

BATLOADER, the notorious malware loader, was seen exploiting Google Ads to deliver secondary payloads such as Vidar Stealer and Ursnif. In their ads, attackers fake legitimate apps and services such as Adobe, Tableau, ChatGPT, Spotify, and Zoom. Other samples of BATLOADER display enhanced capability to establish persistence inside compromised networks.

Custom tools by Dark Pink APT

Cybercriminals, purportedly of Asia-Pacific origin, have launched attacks aimed at government and military organizations in Southeast Asian countries. According to EclecticIQ, Dark Pink APT is behind the campaign and attempts to cripple systems via a pair of custom malware - TelePowerBot and KamiKakaBot. There are used to execute arbitrary commands and pilfer sensitive data from users.

Top Vulnerabilities Reported in the Last 24 Hours

CISA highlights an old bug in Plex

A nearly three-year-old sensitive RCE bug in the Plex Media Server was added to

the CISA’s KEV catalog. The bug, tagged CVE-2020-5741, can enable a threat actor to gain admin privileges to remotely run arbitrary Python code in a low-complexity attack scenario that doesn't require user interaction.

Several flaws in Chinese product

Security experts at Claroty disclosed over a dozen security bugs in E11, a smart intercom product made by Akuvox, a Chinese firm. The bugs could allow an unauthenticated user to control the device's camera and microphone, steal media files, or even gain a foothold in devices. The most severe issues are CVE-2023-0344, CVE-2023-0345, CVE-2023-0352, and CVE-2023-0354, with a CVSS score of more than 9.0.

Related Threat Briefings

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.

Jan 28, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, January 28, 2025

Even the sleekest systems have their cracks. Apple has patched a critical CoreMedia vulnerability that hackers have already exploited to target devices. The flaw, which impacts how audio and video are processed, had been actively used against earlier versions of iOS prior to iOS 17.2. Apple’s fix is now available for iPhones XS and later, select iPads, and the company’s latest hardware. Security shouldn’t feel like Swiss cheese. Yet, SonicWall’s SMA1000 appliances are under siege, with attackers exploiting a critical vulnerability to install malware without requiring credentials. Despite a patch being available, over 5,000 devices remain exposed, allowing hackers to hijack SSL VPN sessions remotely. Think twice before clicking on that delivery notification. Phishers posing as USPS are sending fraudulent SMS messages claiming a package couldn’t be delivered due to “incomplete address information.” With over 630 phishing pages spanning 50 countries, the campaign targets unsuspecting individuals at an alarming scale. In today’s digital landscape, not all deliveries are worth opening - especially the fraudulent ones.

Jan 27, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, January 27, 2025

Once again proving there’s no honor among thieves, hackers were found preying on script kiddies via a trojanized XWorm RAT builder, compromising over 18,000 devices globally. The fake builder allowed operators to steal data and issue commands through a Telegram-based C2. LTE and 5G networks face a critical challenge as researchers uncover 119 vulnerabilities that could disrupt services or breach core networks. These flaws, linked to buffer overflows and memory corruption, leave mobile users exposed to potential monitoring and targeted attacks. A deceptive malware campaign leverages fake CAPTCHA pages and clipboard hijacking to spread Lumma Stealer across industries in multiple regions. The malware uses advanced evasion tactics to outmaneuver security defenses while stealing sensitive data.

Jan 24, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, January 24, 2025

Hackers are crafting convincing traps by mimicking trusted platforms. Nearly 1,000 fake web pages imitating Reddit and WeTransfer are being used to distribute Lumma Stealer. Fraudsters fake Reddit discussions and provide malicious WeTransfer links, creating an illusion of authenticity. Juniper edge devices are under attack by J-magic, a stealthy malware that activates only when it detects a specific magic packet. Targeting multiple industries J-magic’s reverse shell remains dormant until triggered, enabling covert communications. A flaw in Cloudflare's CDN exposes users’ locations via images sent through apps like Signal and Discord. By exploiting this vulnerability, attackers can pinpoint a target’s location within a 250-mile radius, leveraging Cloudflare's caching system to silently gather data.