Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence

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Daily Threat Briefing • May 5, 2023

OpenAI is in the headlines again, however, this time it’s sensitive. A research group has detected a security hole in OpenAI's account validation process that permitted anyone to acquire an almost infinite amount of free credits for the company's services. In fact, that could be pulled off just by registering new accounts via the same phone number. In other news, Siemens’ ICS products meant for the energy sector were affected by a critical bug that could potentially be exploited to gain complete root access to the targeted device without any prior authentication. Such attacks may lead to catastrophic outcomes, including the disruption of power grids.

Sentinel Labs has issued a warning regarding a North Korean cybercriminal group that is infecting research centers, universities, think tanks, and government organizations in Europe, Asia, and the U.S., via its enhanced reconnaissance malware - ReconShark.

Top Breaches Reported in the Last 24 Hours

Thousands of patients impacted at UU

University Urology (UU) of New York announced suffering a breach earlier this month after discovering suspicious activity in its network. The incident affected the protected health information of 56,816 patients that includes personal details (such as full names, addresses, birthdates, credentials) and medical information such as diagnosis, tests, treatment, prescriptions, insurance policy details, subscriber identification, and health plan beneficiary.

Top Malware Reported in the Last 24 Hours

ReconShark gets an upgrade

North Korean hacking group Kimsuky is distributing a new version of its reconnaissance malware called ReconShark. The cyberespionage campaign involves sending emails containing a link to a password-protected doc hosted on Microsoft OneDrive. The malware utilizes Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) to gather a range of data from infected machines, including but not limited to running processes and battery information. Additionally, the malware can detect the presence of security software on the target system.

Major fraud via web inject kit

Experts at Cleafy disclosed nearly a four-year-long online fraud campaign that infected Windows systems in organizations using drIBAN, a web inject kit. Criminals attempted to alter legitimate banking transfers by changing the beneficiary details and redirecting the funds to their accounts. The web inject kit allows fraudsters to bypass identity verification mechanisms, such as MFA and SCA, adopted by banks.

Top Vulnerabilities Reported in the Last 24 Hours

ICS vulnerability in Siemens products

A high-severity flaw was reported in Siemens’ ICS devices deployed in the energy sector. The flaw, identified as CVE-2023-28489, affects the CPCI85 firmware of Sicam A8000 CP-8031 and CP-8050 products. If abused, a remote attacker could run arbitrary code on compromised systems. These vulnerable products are Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) essentially created for telecontrol and automation in the energy supply sector, with a focus on substations.

OpenAI unlimited credit flaw

The account validation process for artificial intelligence company OpenAI contained a vulnerability that could be bypassed for free, unlimited credits for the company's services. It could be made possible through a catch-all email account on a private domain and by exploiting the vulnerability present in the phone number verification process. To mitigate the risk, the company simply mandated the email and phone number validation mechanism.

**Multiple bugs in Azure API Management **

Cloud security firm Ermetic uncovered three security issues in the Microsoft Azure API Management service: two server-side request forgery (SSRF) bugs and one file upload path traversal flaw. Successful abuse of the flaws could allow an adversary to potentially gain access to internal Azure assets, evade web application firewalls, initiate a DoS attack, and upload malevolent files to internal servers.

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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

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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.

Mar 7, 2025

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, March 07, 2025

Step right up to the slickest show in the digital shadows, where EncryptHub is running the ring. This rising cybercrime crew is dazzling victims across platforms like QQ Talk, WeChat, and Google Meet with trojanized apps and clever multi-stage attack chains. They’re even teasing a new act called EncryptRAT to keep their audience on edge. Something wicked is crashing the WordPress party, and it’s not on the guest list. Over 1,000 sites have been slipped a nasty surprise, planting backdoors that swing wide open for hackers. These uninvited intruders are ready to sneak back in and turn the festivities into a free-for-all. These dusty old cameras are stealing the spotlight, but it’s a scene straight out of a cyber horror flick. A critical flaw in Edimax IC-7100 IP cameras has botnets buzzing with excitement, exploiting shaky default passwords. They’re staging a takeover, dropping Mirai malware to keep the chaos rolling.