Cookie Settings

This website uses cookies and similar technologies to provide essential functionality and improve your experience. Some features, such as demo scheduling and chat support, require marketing cookies to function. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to all cookies. Alternatively, you can customize your preferences, but note that declining marketing cookies will limit certain website features.

Cyware Weekly Cyber Threat Intelligence January 14 - 18, 2019

Cyware Weekly Cyber Threat Intelligence January 14 - 18, 2019 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing Jan 18, 2019

The Good

The past week saw a lot of good events, cyber attacks, and new threats. Let’s take a quick tour of all that happened in the cybersecurity landscape. Let’s first start with the positive advancements and the new policies. The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has published guidelines to minimize the exposure to digital sabotage. Massachusetts Governor has signed a new law that protects consumers from security breaches. Emsisoft has a released a browser extension that will block you from interacting with malicious sites.

  • The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has published new guidelines to reduce the exposure to digital sabotage of network-connected equipment, software, and systems used in electronic security. The new guidelines will enable industrialists to better serve industry consumers by providing professional, safe and secure internet enabled security solutions.

  • Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed a new law on January 10 that amends the state's data breach law. The law named ‘An Act relative to consumer protection from security breaches’ comes with a number of changes to the way companies will have to deal with security breaches involving the personal information of their customers.

  • Emsisoft has a released a browser extension that will block you from interacting with known phishing, malware, or scam sites. This browser extension is currently available for Chrome and Firefox, with plans to have one available for Microsoft Edge in the future.

  • Whatsapp is in the process of bringing fingerprint security for Android and iOS users. Only smartphones with a biometric scanner can make use of this feature. WABetaInfo suggests that the feature will be introduced in version 2.19.3.

  • Yubico Creates Physical Security Key for iPhones. Instead of entering a password and a code sent to a mobile device, you log in by plugging in the physical key to gain account access. In case hackers get ahold of user passwords, they wouldn't be able to login without the key.

The Bad

Over the past week, several data breaches and massive cyber attacks happened. The City of Del Rio, Texas was hit by a ransomware disabling servers at the City Hall. Cryptopia takes down its services and website following a security breach. Oklahoma Securities Commission accidentally leaked 3 TB data including internal documents belonging to FBI. Meanwhile, 773 million email addresses and almost 22 million unique passwords were found to be hosted on cloud service MEGA.

  • The City of Del Rio, Texas was hit by a cyber attack which led to disabling all servers and turning off the internet connection for all city departments. Further, employees were not allowed to log in to the systems, as a result of which, all the transactions at City Hall were done manually using paper, with no access to any documents or data stored on the City Hall's systems.

  • Cryptopia, a cryptocurrency exchange based in New Zealand, was hit by a security breach resulting in significant losses. Following the breach, the firm has taken the websites and service offline and posted a message on the home page that reads ‘unscheduled maintenance mode’.

  • An unsecured storage server belonging to the Oklahoma Securities Commission exposed 3TB data files including sensitive FBI investigations. The exposed files included years of FBI data including FBI interviews, emails among people involved with investigations, bank transaction history, and letters from witnesses.

  • Set of email IDs and passwords of up to 2,692,818,238 rows from various sources were found to be hosted on cloud service MEGA. Out of which, 773 million were email addresses and almost 22 million were unique passwords. The large collection of files on the MEGA cloud service totaled over 12,000 separate files with almost 87GB data.

  • A misconfiguration issue in NASA web app that uses JIRA server has exposed sensitive information of employees and projects. The data exposed included usernames, email addresses and job roles of employees. The exposed server also contained the name of current projects and upcoming milestones.

  • Attackers breached 30 computers in the Defence Ministry of South Korea and allegedly stole information related to an arms procurement. In the attack, the cybercriminals gained unauthorized access to the server of a security program present in those computers.

  • An unprotected database belonging to Californian voice over IP services provider VOIPO was left publicly available. The exposed database contained millions of VOIP call logs, SMS/MMS records, and internal system credentials including hostnames, usernames, passwords, and API keys.

  • Managed Health Services (MHS), a managed care firm in the Indiana state, recently revealed that patient data of 31,876 members of its programs had been compromised in two different security incidents in 2018.

New Threats

Several vulnerabilities and malware strains emerged over the past week. Magecart group 12 recently compromised an advertising script to inject malicious code into hundreds of websites. A newly discovered JavaScript malware is capable of downloading GandCrab ransomware, SmokeLoader, AZORult Trojan, Phorpiex spambot, and a Monero cryptocurrency miner. In the meantime, Emotet trojan has made a comeback in a new malspam campaign.

  • Magecart Group 12 compromised a script belonging to a French advertising company Adverline, in order to inject Magecart code into its client's websites. The injected Magecart code was designed to steal payment card details entered in checkout pages.
  • New JavaScript trojan dubbed as “TROJAN.JS.PLOPROLO.THOAOGAI” was discovered by researchers. This trojan downloads entities such as GandCrab ransomware, SmokeLoader, AZORult Trojan, Phorpiex spambot, and a Monero cryptocurrency miner.
  • A new threat seems to emerge from torrent sites such as The Pirate Bay, where the malware is often disguised as movie files. Placing itself as a Windows shortcut file when downloaded, it executes a string of instructions in the background to steal cryptocurrency tokens.
  • A new phishing campaign has been discovered distributing Hawkeye keylogger trojan. The malware comes in the form of a Microsoft Word document attached in a spoofed email. The Word document is actually a Rich Text File(RTF) that uses the CVE-2017-1182 equation editor exploit.
  • A new version of NanoCore RAT has been found targeting Windows systems. Dubbed as NanoCore 1.2.2.0, the sample is capable of performing various nefarious activities. The NanoCore 1.2.2.0 capabilities include registry edit, process control, upgrade, file transfer, keylogging, password stealing, and more.
  • Emotet trojan has made a comeback in a new malspam campaign. Attackers are using phishing emails to distribute the malware that is capable of stealing sensitive data of users. Once installed, it connects with the C2 server of the attackers using specific ports that include 20, 80, 443, 7080, 8443, and 50000.
  • Djvu ransomware, which made news last month, is gaining popularity lately. It appears that cybercriminals are relying on software cracks and adware to proliferate this ransomware on Windows computers. Furthermore, a new variant has also been developed in the form of a .tro extension that is sneakily put into crack files. Prior to this, Djvu used .djvu extension for presenting encrypted files.
  • Proof-of-Concept malware sneaks into smart buildings’ security loopholes. Automated environments such as building automation systems(BAS) prone to attacks from modern malware, says research. The BAS systems remain exposed to threats due to various kinds of vulnerabilities including hardcoded credentials, buffer overflow, cross-site scripting, and more.
  • A cryptomining malware has now emerged which uninstalls various cloud security protection and monitoring products. The threat actor group behind the creation of the malware is identified as “Rocke”.
  • Vulnerabilities in ES File Explorer could allow attackers to download files from victims’ mobile devices and SD cards, launch apps, view device information, intercept ES File Explorer’s HTTP network traffic and switch it with their own.

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.