Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence

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Daily Threat Briefing • March 21, 2024

Beware of the widespread distribution of StealC malware that is posing as an installer on platforms like Discord, Dropbox, and GitHub. It employs intricate techniques, including PNG-encoded payloads and process injection, reminiscent of past threats like Vidar, signaling evolving cyber threats. In a different campaign, a low-skilled threat group has been discovered utilizing phishing emails with accounting report baits to disseminate malware, predominantly Meta Stealer, targeting Russian entities.

Ivanti has urged immediate patching for a critical RCE vulnerability in Standalone Sentry, affecting various versions and potentially exposing systems to cyber threats. A vulnerability in Windows SmartScreen was also exploited in a sophisticated phishing campaign, deploying Remcos RAT or IcedID malware.

Top Breaches Reported in the Last 24 Hours

Belgian Grand Prix email hijacked

Cybercriminals compromised the official contact email for the Belgian Grand Prix event, enticing fans with a fraudulent €50 (~$54) gift voucher offer. While the extent of the breach remains unclear, affected individuals are urged to remain vigilant and contact the event's secretariat for assistance. Importantly, the incident did not compromise the security of the official website or ticketing system.

Attack on Israeli nuclear facility

An Iran-affiliated hacking group, claiming association with 'Anonymous', announced breaching Israel's Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center in solidarity with Gaza. The attackers purportedly leaked documents, denouncing civilian harm. However, a social media post hinted at risks, advocating Dimona and Yeruham evacuations. Despite accessing IT networks, evidence of breaching operational technology remains elusive, given nuclear facilities' robust safety measures.

Freight firm attacked, operations impacted

Radiant Logistics, an international freight technology company, disclosed a cyberattack affecting its Canadian operations. While details remain undisclosed, the company isolating its Canadian network and engaging cybersecurity experts. Service delays in Canada ensued, though operations in the U.S. and internationally remained unaffected. Despite the disruption, Radiant Logistics reassured stakeholders of minimal financial impact.

Top Malware Reported in the Last 24 Hours

Smokeloader used in financial hacks

A report highlighted that Smokeloader malware was used as a major tool employed by Russia-linked cybercriminals for financial hacks in Ukraine. Between May and November 2023, 23 Smokeloader campaigns targeted various Ukrainian entities, including financial and government institutions. The hackers, identified as UAC-0006 by CERT-UA, aimed to steal tens of millions of hryvnias. Using phishing campaigns with compromised email addresses, they tricked victims into opening malicious attachments.

Fluffy Wolf leverages malware-as-a-service

A threat group, dubbed Fluffy Wolf, employed phishing emails with accounting report lures to distribute malware, including Meta Stealer, targeting Russian organizations. Despite its low technical sophistication, the group's campaign underscores the ease of leveraging readily available malware and legitimate tools like Remote Utilities. Organizations were urged to enhance their cyber defenses, including managed email security services and threat intelligence platforms.

StealC malware disguised as installer

Security researchers identified a StealC malware strain masquerading as an installer and distributed widely through platforms like Discord, GitHub, and Dropbox. The info-stealer targets a variety of sensitive data including system information, browser data, cryptocurrency wallets, and credentials from messaging apps like Discord and Telegram. It employs sophisticated techniques, such as downloading malicious data encoded within PNG files and utilizing injection methods, including ntdll manual mapping and Heaven’s Gate, to evade detection by security products.

Adversaries pose as law firms

Cybercriminal group Narwhal Spider was found orchestrating a phishing scheme, impersonating law firms to deploy initial access malware hidden within PDFs mimicking authentic legal invoices. The group abuses a Windows SmartScreen vulnerability. The malicious PDFs, bearing legitimate names, entice victims into opening them which leads to the deployment of payloads such as Remcos RAT or IcedID banking trojan.

Top Vulnerabilities Reported in the Last 24 Hours

Urgent patch released for Ivanti flaw

Ivanti issued a critical security advisory, highlighting a RCE vulnerability (CVE-2023-41724) in Standalone Sentry. With a CVSS score of 9.6, the flaw affects all supported versions, allowing unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system within the same network. Ivanti has promptly released patches (versions 9.17.1, 9.18.1, and 9.19.1) addressing the issue.

Xbox bug patch out after public disclosure

Microsoft issued a patch for a vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2024-2891, affecting Xbox Gaming Services. Initially dismissed as a non-security issue, it allowed local attackers with low privileges to escalate permissions to System. Microsoft acknowledged the severity of the issue and began working on a fix following public exposure. The patch, included in app package versions 19.87.13001.0 and later, is automatically distributed to users with enabled automatic updates.

Top Scams Reported in the Last 24 Hours

Scammers exploit fake obituaries for profit

Secureworks uncovered a disturbing trend of scammers exploiting fake obituaries to generate revenue. Using generative AI and SEO poisoning techniques, scammers create fake notices and redirect visitors to adult entertainment sites or trigger antivirus popups. By preying on emotionally vulnerable individuals, these scammers aim to profit from affiliate rewards and pay-per-impression revenue.

Tax scammer targets SMBs and others

Small business owners and self-employed individuals are being targeted by a tax scam, prompting them to apply for an IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN) through a fraudulent email. Scammers likely obtained email addresses from data brokers, seeking extensive personal information, including SSNs. There are telltale signs of the scam, such as errors in website setup. Recipients are advised to exercise caution, refrain from clicking links, and report suspicious activity to the IRS.

Related Threat Briefings

Mar 25, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, March 25, 2025

A stealthy browser extension called Rilide has resurfaced with improved evasion capabilities and support for Chrome’s latest extension framework. Disguised as a utility for Google Drive, it quietly collects data, particularly those tied to cryptocurrency wallets. Ongoing campaigns have used lures ranging from fake PowerPoint documents to spoofed Twitter notifications, all aimed at embedding the extension into Chromium-based browsers. On GitHub, a seemingly innocent coding challenge is being used as a delivery mechanism for malware. A malicious repository targets Polish-speaking developers and installs FogDoor, a backdoor capable of data theft, remote command execution, and persistence. The campaign uses clever techniques, while quietly harvesting sensitive information. Kubernetes environments are facing serious risk after the discovery of IngressNightmare - a collection of five critical flaws in the Ingress NGINX Controller. These bugs open the door to unauthenticated remote code execution and expose thousands of clusters to full compromise. In the wrong hands, this vulnerability could allow attackers to exfiltrate secrets across all namespaces, effectively granting full control over affected clusters.

Mar 24, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, March 24, 2025

A newly surfaced threat actor, UAT-5918, has been quietly embedding itself into Taiwan’s critical infrastructure since 2023. With a focus on information theft, the group has been targeting multiple sectors using a mix of off-the-shelf tools and stealthy web shells. The threat actor also boasts of an extensive toolkit. Meanwhile, the Medusa ransomware operation is refining its ability to bypass defenses using a malicious driver disguised as a legitimate security component. Dubbed ABYSSWORKER, the driver is signed with compromised certificates. Once deployed, it disables anti-malware tools and clears the path for ransomware delivery through a loader. On the plugin front, a critical vulnerability in WP Ghost has put thousands of WordPress sites at risk. If certain non-default settings are enabled, the bug can be used to load arbitrary files - opening the door to remote code execution. Though a patch has been issued in version 5.4.02, the exposure window combined with the plugin’s wide install base makes this a notable concern for site admins still lagging on updates.

Mar 21, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, March 21, 2025

A stealthy cyber campaign briefly surfaced before vanishing. Researchers uncovered a public web server tied to a campaign targeting South Korean entities, hosting a Rust-based payload delivering Cobalt Strike Cat alongside open-source hacking tools. The infrastructure disappeared within 24 hours but revealed a target list of over 1,000 Korean domains. A backup tool vulnerability is now a fast track for attackers. CISA issued a warning for a path traversal flaw in Nakivo Backup and Replication, which is being actively exploited to execute code remotely and access sensitive enterprise data. The vulnerability has also been added to the KEV catalog. Fake ads are turning Semrush into phishing bait. A malicious ad campaign is tricking users into visiting fraudulent Semrush login pages, stealing Google credentials by forcing victims to use the “Log in with Google” option on spoofed pages.

Mar 20, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, March 20, 2025

Cybercriminals don’t just break in; they move in and redecorate. The DollyWay malware campaign, active since 2016, has now compromised over 20,000 WordPress sites, according to GoDaddy. By February 2025, it was redirecting 10 million users each month to scam sites. Originally a ransomware operation, it has evolved into a redirection scam using the VexTrio and LosPollos affiliate networks. Hackers have found a new disguise for malware—virtual hard disk files. Threat actors are distributing VenomRAT through phishing emails with .VHD files masked as purchase orders. These files help the malware evade detection while a hidden batch script self-replicates, maintains PowerShell persistence, and steals data using HVNC and Pastebin-based C2 communication. Meanwhile, a year-old sophisticated phishing campaign has shifted gears. After successfully tricking Windows users with fake Microsoft security alerts on windows[.]net, attackers are now targeting macOS users. For detailed Cyber Threat Intel, click ‘Read More’.

Mar 19, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, March 19, 2025

Cyber threats are increasingly targeting sensitive industries and posing national security concerns. Ukraine’s CERT-UA has raised alarms about a wave of cyberattacks leveraging the DarkCrystal RAT to target defense industry professionals and military entities. The attackers are using Signal messenger to send phishing messages disguised as trusted contacts, luring victims into opening a fake PDF file containing a malware dropper. When even your AI assistant can be tricked into working for hackers, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Security researchers have uncovered a supply chain attack known as the 'Rules File backdoor,' which compromises AI-powered code editors like GitHub Copilot and Cursor. Meanwhile, in the healthcare sector, PoC exploits have surfaced for vulnerabilities in Sante PACS servers. These flaws, including CVE-2025-2263 through CVE-2025-2284, could enable unauthorized data access and system disruption. For detailed Cyber Threat Intel, click ‘Read More’.

Mar 18, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, March 18, 2025

Cybercriminals are getting craftier, with Microsoft uncovering StilachiRAT, a stealthy malware that steals crypto, spies on systems, and evades detection. It targets digital wallets, browser data, and RDP sessions while maintaining persistence through Windows services. Meanwhile, a year-old SSRF flaw in ChatGPT (CVE-2024-27564) is under active exploitation, with over 10,000 attack attempts in a week, mainly targeting US financial and government entities. Phishers are now exploiting Microsoft 365 infrastructure in a BEC campaign, tricking users with fake support notifications and fraudulent call centers. Attackers collect credentials and take over accounts while avoiding detection. As AI vulnerabilities, RATs, and phishing tactics evolve, businesses must stay ahead to protect sensitive data. For detailed Cyber Threat Intel, click ‘Read More’.

Mar 17, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, March 17, 2025

The Black Basta gang has cooked up a relentless new tool. Its automated brute-forcing framework has been relentlessly probing edge networking devices since 2023, zeroing in on widely used edge networking devices. Something sinister was brewing in the PyPI repository. Multiple fraudulent packages racked up tens of thousands of downloads and hid a nasty secret: code designed to siphon cloud access tokens. However, the packages have been removed. Coinbase users are getting hit with a scam that’s all polish and bad intentions. Dressed up as an official notice about a court-ordered shift to self-custodial wallets, it nudges recipients to set up a new wallet with a recovery phrase - except it’s a trap, pre-controlled by the attackers.

Mar 14, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, March 14, 2025

A new ransomware group is making waves with tactics reminiscent of LockBit. Mora_001 has been exploiting Fortinet vulnerabilities to gain access to networks. Subsequently, it deploys its SuperBlack ransomware, ensuring persistent control before encrypting critical systems. GitLab users should patch now as critical authentication flaws surface. Two newly discovered GitLab vulnerabilities could allow attackers to impersonate users, potentially leading to data breaches and privilege escalation. Security updates have been released to mitigate the risk. Cybercriminals are faking Clop ransomware attacks to scam businesses. Fraudsters are posing as the Clop ransomware gang, fabricating extortion claims to trick victims into paying ransoms for non-existent data breaches.

Mar 13, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, March 13, 2025

A new spyware is lurking in fake apps, and it’s tied to North Korea. KoSpy, a newly discovered Android surveillance tool, is believed to be the work of APT37 and has been targeting Korean and English-speaking users. Distributed via Google Play Store and Firebase Firestore, the spyware could access a plethora of information. Juniper routers are being turned into stealthy backdoors. The Chinese threat group UNC3886 has infiltrated older Juniper MX routers, deploying customized TinyShell backdoors to evade detection. By accessing devices via terminal servers with legitimate credentials, the attackers bypassed Junos OS security protections, allowing persistent access to compromised networks. A widely used font library is now a security risk. Facebook has warned of a critical flaw in FreeType. The bug, caused by an out-of-bounds write, can lead to arbitrary code execution and has been exploited in attacks.

Mar 12, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, March 12, 2025

Copy, paste, and lose everything - MassJacker turns a simple action into a costly mistake. The operation leverages 778,000 fraudulent wallet addresses to siphon digital assets from unsuspecting victims. It has targeted victims by replacing copied cryptocurrency wallet addresses with those controlled by attackers. Exploited in the wild and patched just in time. Microsoft has released security updates fixing 57 vulnerabilities, including six zero-days actively exploited by attackers. The update also addresses 17 Edge browser vulnerabilities, reinforcing the critical need for immediate patching before these flaws can be leveraged for malicious purposes. A botnet is turning home routers into attack platforms, and there’s still no fix in sight. The Ballista botnet is actively exploiting a remote code execution flaw in TP-Link Archer routers, allowing attackers to inject commands without authentication. With thousands of compromised devices and growing, the botnet uses Tor domains for stealth and has been traced back to an Italian-based threat actor.

Mar 11, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, March 11, 2025

A new ransomware strain isn’t just locking up files, it’s locking out hope of recovery. Researchers uncovered EByte Ransomware, a Golang-based malware that’s actively targeting Windows systems with advanced cryptographic techniques, making decryption nearly impossible without the attackers' key. A simple-looking PDF is all it takes for attackers to hijack your system. A new malware strain, Phantom Goblin, is being spread through RAR attachments in phishing campaigns, tricking users into opening a malicious LNK file disguised as a document. It also abuses VSCode tunnels for remote access. Attackers don’t need new tricks when unpatched systems do the job for them. The CISA has flagged five new vulnerabilities under active exploitation, affecting Advantive VeraCore and Ivanti Endpoint Manager. The VeraCore flaw exploitation is linked to a likely Vietnamese threat group, while the Ivanti EPM vulnerabilities allow attackers to coerce credentials for further access.

Mar 10, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, March 10, 2025

When cybercriminals upgrade their arsenal, staying hidden becomes easier than ever. Several ransomware and cybercrime groups are leveraging the Ragnar Loader malware toolkit to maintain long-term access to compromised systems. Constantly evolving with new features, Ragnar Loader has become more modular and harder to detect. A single flaw in a widely used API almost handed attackers full control over vulnerable applications. The Volt API for Livewire recently patched a critical remote code execution vulnerability. The issue has been fixed in version 1.7.0, and users are strongly urged to update to prevent exploitation. A billion devices, a hidden backdoor, and tens of undocumented commands that could change everything. Security researchers have uncovered a major issue in ESP32 revealing 29 undocumented commands that attackers could exploit for spoofing devices, unauthorized data access, and long-term persistence. This vulnerability raises concerns over supply chain security, as OEMs could unknowingly ship compromised devices.