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Cyware Weekly Cyber Threat Intelligence April 16 - 20, 2018

Cyware Weekly Cyber Threat Intelligence October 15 -19, 2018 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing Apr 20, 2018

The Good

Government agencies and cybersecurity companies made strides this week towards addressing cyber threats. The US Energy Department is looking to fund research towards bolstering the country’s critical infrastructure against cyberthreats. Over 30 companies pledged to not help governments launch cyberattacks. Experts have also developed an algorithm to detect fake users on social media while IBM launched an open-source library to secure AI systems.

  • The US Department of Energy announced $25 million in grants for projects that can strengthen the cyberdefenses of the nation’s critical energy infrastructure, including its power grid, oil, and natural gas industry. The announcement comes just weeks after cyberattacks crippled electronic communications systems for several US pipeline companies.

  • Facebook, Microsoft, Oracle and 31 other technology companies signed the Cybersecurity Tech Accord this week pledging to defend all customers and products from cyberattacks. They also took a “no offense” commitment to not help governments launch cyberattacks and protect their services against tampering and exploitation at every stage, from development to distribution.

  • Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the University of Washington have developed a new algorithm to detect fake users on social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, based on the assumption that fake accounts typically establish unlikely links to other users. The algorithm features two machine learning-based iterations - one to estimate the probability of a link existing between two users and the second to generate meta-features used to construct a generic classifier to detect fake profiles.

  • At the RSA Conference in San Francisco, IBM unveiled the Adversarial Robustness Toolbox - an open-source security library designed to help support developers and users fight against cyberattacks that target AI systems. Featuring a library, interfaces, and metrics, the toolbox will help developers create and deploy practical cybersecurity defense systems for the AI sector.

The Bad

This week saw another slew of data breaches. TrueMove H leaked customer data via an exposed AWS S3 bucket. Texas Health Resources said an unauthorized party accessed patient data following an email compromise. The US and UK accused Russia of ramping up cyberattacks on American and British companies and government agencies. TaskRabbit temporarily took down its website following a “cybersecurity incident”.

  • TrueMove H, one of Thailand’s biggest mobile operators, suffered a data leak compromising the data of at least 11,400 customers. Customers’ personal data, which included scanned images of ID cards, was exposed in an unprotected Amazon Web Services S3 cloud storage bucket. The company said the leak was fixed on April 12, but the incident has already triggered scrutiny and backlash from regulators and customers.

  • Texas Health Resources disclosed that an unauthorized third party may have accessed patient data back in October 2017 after compromising some of the organization’s email accounts. Compromised data included patient names, addresses, medical record numbers, dates of birth, insurance and clinical data. The firm reportedly said less than 4000 patients were impacted.

  • The US Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre issued a rare joint statement accusing Russian state-sponsored hackers of penetrating network infrastructure devices such as routers within government, private companies, critical infrastructure, and ISPs. The agencies accused Russia of using compromised routers to conduct espionage, extract intellectual property and maintain persistence to possibly conduct larger offensive attacks in the future. The Kremlin has dismissed the allegations as “unsubstantiated” and of “no value.”

  • Handyman-for-hire app, TaskRabbit revealed it suffered an apparent data breach saying an “unauthorized user” managed to gain access to its systems and compromised certain personally identifiable information. The company briefly took down its website and app to safeguard its users. Users have been advised to change their passwords and monitor their accounts for any suspicious activity.

  • Localbox, a little-known data firm that builds personal profiles by scraping data from public sites and social media networks like Facebook, Twitter and Zillow without users knowledge or consent, accidentally leaked a trove of personal data. UpGuard’s Chris Vickery found the firm left a cache of profile data on an unprotected Amazon S3 storage bucket that listed 48 million individual records.

New Threats

Researchers uncovered new strains of malware including the Roaming Mantis that leverages DNS hijacking to infect Android smartphones. The ViperRat malware and Desert Scorpion spyware were found lurking on Google Play Store. A Nigerian BEC group has been targeting the shipping industry via email compromise and phishing techniques.

  • Kaspersky Labs researchers found a new strain of malware dubbed the Roaming Mantis. Hackers distribute the malware by hijacking DNS settings on vulnerable routers to redirect users to malicious websites. While it is still not clear how hackers managed to gain access to exposed home routers, the crooks were able to hijack traffic from 150 unique IP addresses and redirect users to malicious sites about 6,000 times between February 9 and April 9.
  • Security firm Lookout found new samples of the ViperRAT malware lurking on the Google Play Store again.Two ViperRAT-infected apps - VokaChat and Chattak - had been downloaded over 1000 times before they were detected by Lookout and removed by Google. The new malware samples appeared to be updated with chat functionality enabled within the apps to evade detection and suspicion.
  • Lookout researchers also uncovered the Desert Scorpion spyware packaged in mobile messaging apps on the Google Play Store. Believed to have been developed by surveillance actor APT-C-23, it targeted individuals of interest in the Middle East, particularly in Palestine. A chat app called Dardesh was used to download the first stage of the malware before tricking users into downloading the more sophisticated surveillance-focused second stage.
  • Dell SecureWorks Counter Threat Unit detailed a new Nigeria-linked BEC group called Gold Galleon that has been plundering the global maritime shipping industry. Using publicly available business email addresses, low-tier RAT tools and spear-phishing techniques, the group has attempted to steal at least $3.9 million between June 2017 and January 2018.
  • Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42 identified a new malware called SquirtDanger that appears to have been developed by veteran Russian malware author “TheBottle”. Written in C#, the malware comes with various capabilities including the ability to take screenshots, list and kill processes, access and delete files, and even steal wallets or swap existing ones with one belonging to the attackers.

Related Threat Briefings

Feb 14, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, February 10–14, 2025

Cyber defenders are sharpening their tools, and EARLYCROW is the latest weapon against stealthy APT operations. This method detects C2 activity over HTTP(S) using a novel traffic analysis format called PAIRFLOW. India is taking digital banking security up a notch. The RBI is launching a dedicated domain to curb financial fraud and enhance trust in online banking. Starting April 2025, financial institutions will register under this domain. China’s RedMike hackers are dialing into telecom networks - literally. Between December 2024 and January 2025, they targeted over 1,000 unpatched Cisco devices. Their primary focus? Global telecoms and university networks in Argentina, Bangladesh, and the U.S. Russia’s Sandworm hackers are using pirated software as bait. Their latest attack on Ukrainian Windows users disguises malware inside trojanized KMS activators and fake Windows updates. Love is in the air, but so are phishing scams. In late January, cybercriminals launched a Valentine’s-themed phishing campaign, offering fake gift baskets in exchange for stolen credentials. Cybercriminals are upping their game with Astaroth, a phishing kit that doesn’t just steal credentials but also hijacks entire sessions. By using a reverse proxy, Astaroth intercepts logins and 2FA tokens in real time, allowing attackers to bypass security measures undetected. South America’s foreign ministry was caught in the crosshairs of an advanced cyber-espionage campaign. In November 2024, attackers linked to REF7707 deployed the PATHLOADER and FINALDRAFT malware to infiltrate diplomatic networks. A new malware named Ratatouille is stirring up trouble by bypassing UAC and using I2P for anonymous communications. Spreading through phishing emails and fake CAPTCHA pages, it tricks victims into running an embedded PowerShell script.

Feb 7, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, February 03–07, 2025

PyPI is taking a "dead but not gone" approach to abandoned software with Project Archival, a new system that flags inactive projects while keeping them accessible. Developers will see warnings about outdated dependencies, helping them make smarter security choices and avoid relying on unmaintained code. The U.K is bringing earthquake-style metrics to cybersecurity with its new Cyber Monitoring Centre, designed to track digital disasters as precisely as natural ones. Inspired by the Richter scale, the CMC will quantify cyber incidents based on financial impact and affected users, offering clearer insights for national security planning. Kimsuky is back with another phishing trick, this time using fake Office and PDF files to sneak forceCopy malware onto victims' systems. Its latest campaign delivers PEBBLEDASH and RDP Wrapper by disguising malware as harmless shortcuts, ultimately hijacking browser credentials and sensitive data. Hackers have found a new way to skim credit card data - by hiding malware inside Google Tag Manager scripts. CISA is flagging major security holes in Microsoft Outlook and Sophos XG Firewall, urging agencies to patch them before February 27. One flaw allows remote code execution in Outlook, while another exposes firewall users to serious risks. Bitcoin scammers are switching tactics, swapping static images for video attachments in MMS to make their schemes more convincing. A recent case involved a tiny .3gp video luring victims into WhatsApp groups where scammers apply pressure to extract money or personal data. XE Group has shifted from credit card skimming to zero-day exploitation, now targeting manufacturing and distribution companies. A new version of ValleyRAT is making the rounds, using stealthy techniques to infiltrate systems. Morphisec found the malware being spread through fake Chrome downloads from a fraudulent Chinese telecom site.

Jan 10, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, January 06–10, 2025

The U.K is fortifying its digital defenses with the launch of Cyber Local, a £1.9 million initiative to bridge cyber skills gaps and secure the digital economy. Spanning 30 projects across England and Northern Ireland, the scheme emphasizes local business resilience, neurodiverse talent, and cybersecurity careers for youth. Across the Atlantic, the White House introduced the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark, a consumer-friendly cybersecurity labeling program for smart devices. Overseen by the FCC, the initiative tests products like baby monitors and security systems for compliance with rigorous cybersecurity standards, ensuring Americans can make safer choices for their connected homes. China-linked threat actor RedDelta has ramped up its cyber-espionage activities across Asia, targeting nations such as Mongolia, Taiwan, Myanmar, and Vietnam with a modified PlugX backdoor. Cybercriminals have weaponized trust by deploying a fake PoC exploit tied to a patched Microsoft Windows LDAP vulnerability. CrowdStrike reported a phishing operation impersonating the company, using fake job offers to lure victims into downloading a fraudulent CRM application. Once installed, the malware deploys a Monero cryptocurrency miner. A new Mirai-based botnet, dubbed Gayfemboy, has emerged as a formidable threat, leveraging zero-day exploits in industrial routers and smart home devices. With 15,000 active bot nodes daily across China, the U.S., and Russia, the botnet executes high-intensity DDoS attacks exceeding 100 Gbps. In the Middle East, fraudsters are posing as government officials in a social engineering scheme targeting disgruntled customers. Cybercriminals have weaponized WordPress with a malicious plugin named PhishWP to create realistic fake payment pages mimicking services like Stripe. The plugin not only captures payment details in real time but also sends fake confirmation emails to delay detection.

Dec 20, 2024

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, December 16–20, 2024

In a digital age where borders are blurred, governments are sharpening their strategies to outpace cyber adversaries. The draft update to the National Cyber Incident Response Plan (NCIRP) introduces a comprehensive framework for managing nationwide cyberattacks that impact critical infrastructure and the economy. Meanwhile, the fiscal year 2025 defense policy bill, recently approved by the Senate, emphasizes strengthening cybersecurity measures both at home and abroad. A deceptive health app on the Amazon Appstore turned out to be a Trojan horse for spyware. Masquerading as BMI CalculationVsn, the app recorded device screens, intercepted SMS messages, and scanned for installed apps to steal sensitive data. Malicious extensions targeting developers and cryptocurrency projects have infiltrated the VSCode marketplace and NPM. Disguised as productivity tools, these extensions employed downloader functionality to deliver obfuscated PowerShell payloads. The BADBOX botnet has resurfaced, compromising over 192,000 Android devices, including high-end smartphones and smart TVs, directly from the supply chain. Industrial control systems are facing heightened risks as malware like Ramnit and Chaya_003 targets engineering workstations from Mitsubishi and Siemens. Both malware families exploit legitimate services, complicating detection and mitigation efforts in ICS environments. The Chinese hacking group Winnti has been leveraging a PHP backdoor called Glutton, targeting organizations in China and the U.S. This modular ELF-based malware facilitates tailored attacks across industries and even embeds itself into software packages to compromise other cybercriminals. A tax-themed phishing campaign, dubbed FLUX#CONSOLE, is deploying backdoor payloads to compromise systems in Pakistan. Threat actors employ phishing emails with double-extension files masquerading as PDFs.

Dec 13, 2024

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, December 09–13, 2024

Cybercrime’s web of deception unraveled in South Korea as authorities dismantled a fraud network responsible for extorting $6.3 million through fake online trading platforms. Dubbed Operation Midas, the effort led to the arrest of 32 individuals and the seizure of 20 servers. In a significant move to combat surveillance abuses, the U.S. defense policy bill for 2025 introduced measures to shield military and diplomatic personnel from commercial spyware threats. The legislation calls for stringent cybersecurity standards, a review of spyware incidents, and regular reporting to Congress. The subtle art of deception found a new stage with a Microsoft Teams call, as attackers used social engineering to manipulate victims into granting remote access. By convincing users to install AnyDesk, they gained control of systems, executing commands to download the DarkGate malware. Russian APT Secret Blizzard has resurfaced and used the Amadey bot to infiltrate Ukrainian military devices and deploy their Tavdig backdoor. In a phishing spree dubbed "Aggressive Inventory Zombies (AIZ)," scammers impersonated brands like Etsy, Amazon, and Binance to target retail and crypto audiences. Surveillance has reached unsettling new depths with the discovery of BoneSpy and PlainGnome, two spyware families linked to the Russian group Gamaredon. Designed for extensive espionage, these Android malware tools track GPS, capture audio, and harvest data. A new Android banking trojan has already caused havoc among Indian users, masquerading as utility and banking apps to steal sensitive financial information. With 419 devices compromised, the malware intercepts SMS messages, exfiltrates personal data via Supabase, and even tricks victims into entering details under the pretense of bill payment. Iranian threat actors have set their sights on critical infrastructure, deploying IOCONTROL malware to infiltrate IoT and OT/SCADA systems in Israel and the U.S.

Dec 6, 2024

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, December 02–06, 2024

NIST sharpened the tools for organizations to measure their cybersecurity readiness, addressing both technical and leadership challenges. The two-volume guidance blends data-driven assessments with managerial insights, emphasizing the critical role of leadership in applying findings. The Manson Market, a notorious hub for phishing networks, fell in a sweeping Europol-led takedown. With over 50 servers seized and 200TB of stolen data recovered, the operation spanned multiple countries, including Germany and Austria. Russian APT group BlueAlpha leveraged Cloudflare Tunnels to cloak its GammaDrop malware campaign from prying eyes. The group deployed HTML smuggling and DNS fast-fluxing to bypass detection, targeting Ukrainian organizations with precision. Earth Minotaur intensified its surveillance operations against Tibetan and Uyghur communities through the MOONSHINE exploit kit. The kit, now updated with newer exploits, enables the installation of the DarkNimbus backdoor on Android and Windows devices. Cloudflare Pages became an unwitting ally in the sharp rise of phishing campaigns, with a staggering 198% increase in abuse cases. Cybercriminals exploited the platform's infrastructure to host malicious pages, fueling a surge from 460 incidents in 2023 to over 1,370 by October 2024. DroidBot has quietly infiltrated over 77 cryptocurrency exchanges and banking apps, building a web of theft across Europe. Active since June 2024, this Android malware operates as a MaaS platform, enabling affiliates to tailor attacks. Rockstar 2FA, a phishing platform targeting Microsoft 365 users, has set the stage for large-scale credential theft. With over 5,000 phishing domains launched, the platform is marketed on Telegram. The Gafgyt malware is shifting gears, targeting exposed Docker Remote API servers through legitimate Docker images, creating botnets capable of launching DDoS attacks.