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Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence

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Daily Threat Briefing • Nov 27, 2023

The notorious Lazarus is back with its latest espionage act against the users of MagicLine4NX, a security authentication software. The attack is widespread in South Korea and globally, wherein cybercriminals abuse a zero-day bug to gain unauthorized access to targeted organizations' networks and information. Continuing on what’s bugging us, a set of three critical flaws has been discovered in open-source file-sharing software ownCloud. These security issues could enable attackers to access sensitive information and modify files.

Meanwhile, the use of web shells continues to amplify in cyberspace. Recently, an unidentified government entity in Afghanistan faced an espionage attack that utilized a web shell named HrServ. The newly discovered web shell features sophisticated traits like custom encoding methods and in-memory execution, with variants dating back to early 2021.

Top Breaches Reported in the Last 24 Hours

Sensitive data from 600 schools exposed

IT company Appscook, which develops applications used by over 600 schools in India and Sri Lanka for education management, reportedly exposed a massive amount of sensitive data due to a misconfiguration of its systems. The exposed DigitalOcean storage bucket, left open without authentication, contained nearly a million files, including photos of minors, home addresses, birth certificates, and other personal information.

Iranian Group targets water authority

The Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, reported a cyberattack by the Iranian-backed group CyberAv3ngers that took control of one of its booster stations. The affected station, responsible for monitoring and regulating pressure in specific townships, triggered an alarm upon the hack. The system, which uses Israeli-owned Unitronics software or components, was disabled. Officials emphasized that there’s no known risk to drinking water.

General Electric investigates breach

General Electric is investigating a cyberattack after a threat actor named IntelBroker claimed to have breached the company's development environment. The attacker also attempted to sell access to its "development and software pipelines." The threat actor allegedly stole both network access and data, including DARPA-related military information.

Ransomware attack cripples healthcare provider

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) reported a breach following claims by the Meow ransomware group that it compromised one of its databases. The hospital system was added to the Meow ransomware gang's leak site on Thanksgiving. While VUMC confirmed the cyber incident, details such as the nature of the attack and the potential use of ransomware remain undisclosed. Preliminary findings suggest no harm to any personal or protected information about patients or employees.

$54 million stolen in DeFi exploit

Cryptocurrency platform KyberSwap fell victim to a cyberattack, with criminals stealing approximately $54.7 million worth of cryptocurrency. The incident, described as one of the most sophisticated in DeFi history, occurred when attackers executed complex actions to exploit swaps and withdraw users' funds into their wallets. KyberSwap has paused deposits and is negotiating with the attackers to recover the funds.

Chinese energy firm held at ransom

The Rhysida ransomware group has targeted the China Energy Engineering Corporation, a state-owned entity in China specializing in energy and infrastructure projects. The ransomware operators claim to have stolen a substantial amount of data and are auctioning it in exchange for cryptocurrency. They intend to sell this stolen data to a single buyer. A seven-day ultimatum was given to prevent the leak of stolen data.

Top Malware Reported in the Last 24 Hours

Advanced web shell ‘HrServ’ emerges

A sophisticated web shell was found being used in a suspected APT attack targeting an unspecified government entity in Afghanistan. The web shell, identified as a DLL named ‘hrserv.dll’ exhibited advanced features such as custom encoding methods and in-memory execution. The attack involves using the PAExec RAT and employs various evasion techniques, including mimicking Google services in network traffic. While the threat actor behind the web shell remains unidentified, the campaign is suspected to have been ongoing since early 2021.

Top Vulnerabilities Reported in the Last 24 Hours

ownCloud flaws could lead to data exposure

ownCloud, an open-source file-sharing software, has disclosed three critical security vulnerabilities that could potentially lead to the exposure of sensitive information and unauthorized modification of files. The vulnerabilities include issues in the graphapi app, an authentication bypass flaw affecting core versions, and a subdomain validation bypass bug in the oauth2 library. These flaws could pose serious risks, including the disclosure of credentials and configuration details, unauthorized file access, and potential subdomain-based attacks.

Privilege escalation threat in Dell systems

Dell Command Configure, a software package enabling the configuration of BIOS on Dell client systems, has been found to have a high-severity vulnerability. CVE-2023-43086 is categorized as an improper access control issue and could potentially be exploited by local malicious users during an application upgrade to modify files within the installation folder, leading to privilege escalation.

Lazarus abuses zero-day in MagicLine4NX

The NCSC and South Korea’s NIS issued a joint warning against the Lazarus hacking group leveraging a zero-day flaw in the MagicLine4NX software. MagicLine4NX is a joint certificate program used for security authentication and digital transaction signing. The zero-day exploit allowed Lazarus to conduct a series of supply-chain attacks, starting with a watering hole attack on a media outlet's website.

Top Scams Reported in the Last 24 Hours

$1 million rug pull scam uncovered

Check Point identified a new cryptocurrency scam involving rug pull tactics, resulting in nearly $1 million in losses for investors. The scam utilized counterfeit tokens like GROK 2.0 to attract unsuspecting buyers. It involved creating tokens, injecting funds into the token pool to create the appearance of legitimacy and simulating trading activities. Investors were drawn in by the inflated demand, and when a critical mass was reached, the scammer withdrew liquidity, causing significant financial losses.

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.