Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, April 28–May 02, 2025

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Weekly Threat Briefing May 2, 2025

The Good

The FBI just dropped a massive breadcrumb trail. Details of 42,000 phishing domains tied to the LabHost platform have been released to help defenders investigate potential breaches. The service enabled the theft of 500,000 credit cards and over a million credentials. The takedown of JokerOTP has exposed just how far phishing has evolved. The tool was used in more than 28,000 attacks across 13 countries, tricking victims into handing over 2FA codes by mimicking trusted brands. The operation cost victims £7.5 million and has now led to serious criminal charges, thanks to a joint effort involving Europol and Dutch authorities.

  • FBI has published details of 42,000 phishing domains linked to the LabHost phishing-as-a-service operation, which was used by around 10,000 cybercriminals and resulted in significant fraud losses. The domains are released to aid network defenders in building cyber resilience and investigating past breaches. LabHost facilitated the theft of data on 500,000 credit cards and over one million passwords. Organizations are urged to investigate any unusual network activity related to these domains and take preventive measures. 
  • Authorities dismantled JokerOTP, a phishing tool used in over 28,000 attacks across 13 countries, leading to £7.5 million in losses. The tool deceived victims into revealing 2FA codes by impersonating trusted organizations like banks and cryptocurrency exchanges. The investigation involved collaboration with law enforcement agencies, including the Dutch National Police and Europol. Serious charges against the suspects include fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized access to computer material, highlighting the extensive scale of this cybercrime network and ongoing efforts to combat it.
  • The British government plans to ban SIM farms, a move aimed at reducing mobile phone-enabled fraud, which accounts for over 40% of reported crime in England and Wales. The ban will come into force six months after the Crime and Policing Bill receives Royal Assent, imposing fines for running or supplying SIM farms. This is a European first and is supported by the telecom industry, which has blocked over one billion suspected scam messages since 2023. The ban is seen as a crucial step in combating fraud, which has significantly increased, with two-thirds of British adults receiving suspicious messages.

The Bad

Malware’s now hitching a ride on Go modules. Socket has uncovered three malicious packages hiding disk-wiping payloads, designed to cause irreversible data loss, especially on Linux systems. These modules take advantage of Go’s decentralized ecosystem. In the shadows of the cybersecurity landscape, MintsLoader emerges as a formidable adversary, orchestrating a multi-faceted infection strategy that deploys the notorious GhostWeaver RAT. Some PyPI packages are doing more than importing functions. Researchers uncovered seven malicious Python packages under the “Coffin” naming scheme, using Gmail’s SMTP service as a stealthy C2 channel. 

  • Socket has identified three malicious Go modules containing obfuscated disk-wiping malware, posing a threat of complete data loss. These modules exploit the decentralized nature of the Go ecosystem, where developers often encounter namespace confusion, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and malicious packages. The modules use sophisticated obfuscation techniques and dynamic payload execution to fetch destructive shell scripts, primarily targeting Linux systems.
  • Sonatype uncovered a malicious npm package named crypto-encrypt-ts impersonating the CryptoJS library. It aims to steal cryptocurrency using Better Stack for data collection. It targets wallets with balances over 1000 and uses cron jobs for persistence. The package has been downloaded over 1,928 times. It pretends to be a TypeScript version of CryptoJS but secretly accesses wallets and sends data to attackers. The code includes Turkish language comments, suggesting a possible origin from Turkey.
  • MintsLoader is a malware loader used to deploy GhostWeaver, a PowerShell-based RAT. It operates through a multi-stage infection chain utilizing obfuscated JavaScript and PowerShell scripts, with evasion techniques and a DGA for C2 communications. Since early 2023, MintsLoader has been distributing various payloads like StealC and a modified BOINC client via phishing emails targeting sectors such as industrial, legal, and energy. The ClickFix social engineering tactic is used to trick users into executing malicious code. GhostWeaver maintains communication with its C2 server, using TLS encryption for secure interactions. 
  • Seven malicious Python packages uploaded to PyPI have been discovered using Gmail's SMTP service as a covert C2 channel. These packages, under the "Coffin" naming convention, enable attackers to exfiltrate data, execute commands, and establish persistent tunnels that bypass traditional security controls. These packages used hardcoded Gmail credentials to establish outbound tunnels and send activation signals to attacker-controlled email addresses. The malware initiates outbound SMTP connections to Gmail using port 465, making detection difficult.
  • The Hive0117 group is conducting a phishing campaign targeting Russian firms across various sectors using a modified version of the DarkWatchman malware. This campaign involved mass emails with the subject "Documents from 04/29/2025," which contained password-protected archives. Once opened, these archives triggered an infection chain, installing DarkWatchman, capable of evading standard antivirus detection. 
  • Wordfence spotted WP-antymalwary-bot.php, a malware disguised as a WordPress plugin. The malware uses a backdoor function for admin login and registers a REST API route without permission checks. It enables unauthorized access, remote code execution, and script injection. The malware hides from the dashboard and can reinfect sites via a modified `wp-cron.php` file. It communicates with a C2 server, sending site URLs for tracking. It injects malicious JavaScript ads using obfuscated methods and evolves rapidly with enhanced mechanisms.

New Threats

Ransomware groups aren’t always the ones breaking the door open. Researchers have uncovered ToyMaker, an initial access broker selling network entry to ransomware groups. Using a custom malware strain called LAGTOY, ToyMaker establishes reverse shells and executes commands on compromised systems. New vulnerabilities in Apple’s AirPlay protocol, collectively dubbed AirBorne, expose billions of devices to remote code execution without user interaction. Sharp and TX stealers are back, donning a new cloak - named Hannibal Stealer. It is going after credentials from browsers, crypto wallets, FTP clients, and VPN apps. It even captures Discord tokens and Steam sessions.

  • Researchers discovered two new malware families, TerraStealerV2 and TerraLogger, linked to the threat actor Golden Chickens. TerraStealerV2 targets browser credentials and cryptocurrency wallets but lacks the ability to bypass Chrome's Application Bound Encryption, suggesting it's outdated or in development. TerraLogger is a standalone keylogger module without data exfiltration capabilities, indicating it may be a modular component of Golden Chickens' MaaS ecosystem. Both malware families are under active development.
  • Oligo Security identified critical vulnerabilities in Apple's AirPlay Protocol, termed "AirBorne," enabling zero-click RCE and other attacks. Key vulnerabilities include CVE-2025-24252 (use-after-free) and CVE-2025-24132 (buffer overflow), allowing attackers to exploit devices without user interaction. These vulnerabilities affect billions of devices, including Macs and third-party products using the AirPlay SDK. Apple has released patches, and users are urged to update their devices and adjust AirPlay settings to mitigate risks. 
  • Cofense spotted an email phishing campaign spoofing TAP Air Portugal, exploiting the recent power outage in Spain and Portugal. The emails claim eligibility for refunds under EU regulations. They link to a phishing page designed to steal personal and credit card information. The emails mimic official communication about compensation for delayed flights but instead request sensitive data. Notably, there is no redirect after submission, indicating the attackers aim to collect data directly. The campaign utilizes compromised WordPress sites for its operations.
  • Hannibal Stealer is a sophisticated rebranded malware variant of the Sharp and TX stealers, targeting sensitive data from Chromium- and Gecko-based browsers, cryptocurrency wallets, and FTP clients. It employs geofencing to evade detection and compromises VPN credentials, Steam sessions, and Discord tokens. Advertised on dark web forums with a subscription model, it features a Django-based control panel for managing stolen data. The malware's source code shows minimal innovation, with changes mainly in log delivery mechanisms.
  • Unit 42 has identified Gremlin Stealer, a new info-stealer written in C# and advertised on Telegram since March. It targets sensitive data, including browser cookies, credit card information, cryptocurrency wallets, and credentials from FTP and VPN services. The malware bypasses Chrome's cookie protection and uploads stolen data to a server at 207.244.199[.]46. Gremlin Stealer is actively developed and capable of exfiltrating data from various applications, including Telegram and Discord.
  • The new Molatori phishing campaign has been targeting users with emails that appear to come from the U.S. Social Security Administration, claiming that their Social Security Statement is ready for download. The emails contain attachments disguised as legitimate files, such as "ReceiptApril2025Pdfc.exe." Once victims download and install the ScreenConnect client, cybercriminals gain remote access to their computers, enabling them to exfiltrate sensitive data, including banking information and personal identification numbers. The campaign leverages compromised WordPress sites to appear credible.
  • Researchers identified ToyMaker, an initial access broker selling access to ransomware groups like CACTUS, using custom malware called LAGTOY. This malware enables the creation of reverse shells and command execution on infected systems. ToyMaker exploits known vulnerabilities to gain initial access, followed by credential harvesting and deploying LAGTOY. CACTUS then uses these stolen credentials for infiltration, indicating that ToyMaker is financially motivated rather than espionage-driven. 
  • Earth Kasha, an APT group believed to be part of APT10, has launched a new spear-phishing campaign targeting Taiwan and Japan in March. The campaign aims to deliver a new version of the ANEL backdoor for espionage, potentially leading to information theft and compromising sensitive data. The campaign uses a malicious Excel file, ROAMINGMOUSE, to drop ANEL components, and employs SharpHide for persistence. The second-stage backdoor, NOOPDOOR, utilizes DNS over HTTPS for secure IP resolution.

Related Threat Briefings

Apr 25, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, April 21–25, 2025

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Apr 11, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, April 07–11, 2025

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Mar 28, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, March 24–28, 2025

The U.K’s NCSC is putting domain abuse in its crosshairs. New guidance targets registrars with a push to curb malicious domain registrations and hijacks. The recommendations focus on tightening security at registration, offering enhanced protections to customers, and more. Europe is getting serious about the quantum future. ETSI has rolled out a new quantum-safe encryption standard featuring Covercrypt, a novel key encapsulation scheme with built-in access controls. By tying decryption permissions to user attributes, Covercrypt delivers speed and post-quantum security. Medusa isn’t just encrypting files, it’s dismantling defenses first. The RaaS has been leveraging a malicious driver called ABYSSWORKER in BYOVD attacks to disable endpoint protections. FamousSparrow has returned with new tools and a familiar agenda. The Chinese APT group was behind a July 2024 attack targeting a U.S. trade group and a Mexican research institute, deploying a web shell on an IIS server to drop SparrowDoor and ShadowPad. A supply chain attack snuck through npm by modifying what developers thought they could trust. Threat actors used two packages to inject malware into the widely used ethers library. Lucid isn’t just phishing - it’s engineering trust through your inbox. This advanced PhaaS platform weaponizes the built-in features of iMessage and RCS to create hyper-realistic scams. Known for years of corporate espionage, RedCurl has shifted gears with a new ransomware called QWCrypt. The malware was found in a North American network, targeting hypervisors for maximum disruption. PlayBoy Locker is offering ransomware with a user manual and tech support. The newly investigated RaaS platform operates on an affiliate model and comes packed with features. Targeting Windows, NAS, and ESXi systems, it moves laterally using LDAP scans and abuses Restart Manager DLLs to shut down active processes before encryption.

Mar 21, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, March 17–21, 2025

The race to outpace quantum threats is officially on. The NCSC has issued guidance to help organizations transition to post-quantum cryptography by 2035, with a focus on NIST-approved algorithms and planned support for critical sectors. A nationwide fraud crackdown ends with hundreds behind bars. Operation Henhouse led to 422 arrests and the seizure of millions in assets, as U.K. police target the country’s most widespread and costly crime - fraud. A threat actor briefly exposed their entire playbook. Researchers found a public server hosting tools tied to a campaign targeting South Korea, including a Rust-compiled payload delivering Cobalt Strike Cat and a list of over 1,000 potential targets. Phishing messages on Signal are leading to full system compromise. CERT-UA warns of DarkCrystal RAT attacks targeting Ukraine’s defense sector, using fake contacts and malicious files to trick victims into executing spyware. Ransomware slipped into VSCode under the radar. Two malicious extensions were discovered on the VSCode Marketplace, bypassing checks to deliver test-stage ransomware demanding ShibaCoin for decryption. Fake ads are being weaponized to steal Google credentials. A campaign targeting Semrush users is redirecting victims to spoofed login pages, where attackers harvest Google account logins through a fake “Log in with Google” prompt. A fake browser update could cost you more than a few clicks. A new ClearFake campaign is using fake reCAPTCHA and Turnstile pages to deliver malware like Lumma and Vidar Stealer, with payloads fetched through Binance’s Smart Chain. Hackers are quietly poisoning AI-generated code. A new supply chain attack targets AI editors like Copilot and Cursor, exploiting rules files to inject malicious prompts that trick the tools into writing compromised code.

Mar 14, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, March 10–14, 2025

A Russian hosting provider is feeling the heat from global sanctions. Australia, the U.K., and the U.S. have sanctioned Zservers, a bulletproof hosting provider linked to ransomware and fraud, freezing its assets and restricting operations. Switzerland is tightening its grip on cyber incident reporting. Starting April 1, critical infrastructure operatorsmust report cyberattacks to the NCSC within 24 hours, reinforcing national cybersecurity defenses. Cybercriminals are upgrading their toolkit for long-term access. Ragnar Loader is being leveraged by ransomware groups like FIN7, FIN8, and Ragnar Locker, evolving into a stealthier and more modular malware for persistent system compromise. Chinese hackers are slipping past defenses in Juniper routers. The UNC3886 threat group is backdooring older Juniper MX routers, bypassing security protections and embedding custom TinyShell malware to maintain access. North Korean hackers are adding ransomware to their arsenal. Moonstone Sleet (Storm-1789) is deploying Qilin ransomware, using fake companies and trojanized tools to infiltrate targets through LinkedIn and freelance platforms. A botnet is turning home routers into attack platforms. The Ballista botnet is exploiting an unpatched TP-Link Archer router flaw (CVE-2023-1389) to spread stealthily, using Tor domains and remote command execution to launch DDoS attacks worldwide. Copy, paste, and lose your crypto. MassJacker hijacks clipboard transactions, swapping wallet addresses with attacker-controlled ones, stealing funds from victims who unknowingly send money to the wrong destination. A fake CAPTCHA is all it takes to get root access. The OBSCURE#BAT campaign is using social engineering tactics to install the r77 rootkit, bypassing defenses and targeting English-speaking users with stealthy, persistent malware.

Mar 7, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, March 03–07, 2025

The code caves of GitHub just got a cleanup crew courtesy of Microsoft. A sprawling malvertising campaign that snagged nearly a million devices worldwide has been knocked down a peg. Cheap Android gadgets are getting a breather from a relentless digital pest. The BadBox 2.0 botnet, a souped-up sequel backed by multiple threat crews, saw 24 shady apps booted from Google Play and half a million infected devices cut off from their puppet masters, thanks to some crafty sinkholing and Google’s cleanup sweep. A sneaky gatecrasher has turned WordPress into a redirect rollercoaster. A malicious JavaScript injection lurking in a theme file has snagged at least 31 sites, pulling visitors through a two-step detour to shady third-party domains. Japan’s digital defenses are under siege from a shadowy crew with a taste for chaos. Since January, unknown threat actors have been prying open organizations in tech, telecom, entertainment, and more, exploiting CVE-2024-4577 in PHP-CGI on Windows. Crooks posing as the Electronic Frontier Foundation are targeting Albion Online players with phishing emails and fake PDFs, claiming account trouble. It’s a ruse to drop Stealc malware and Pyramid C2. A fresh face in the cybercrime underworld is juggling a bag of nasty surprises. EncryptHub is hitting users of QQ Talk, WeChat, Google Meet, and more with trojanized apps and slick multi-stage attacks. The Eleven11bot botnet, loosely tied to Iran, has taken over 86,000 IoT devices to slam telecoms and gaming servers with relentless DDoS barrages. Social media’s sunny side has a dark shadow creeping across the Middle East and North Africa. Since September 2024, Desert Dexter has been slinging a tweaked AsyncRAT via legit file-sharing sites and Telegram. For detailed Cyber Threat Intel, click ‘Read More’.

Feb 21, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, February 17–21, 2025

Google is stepping up its defenses against the quantum threat. The company is rolling out quantum-resistant digital signatures in Cloud KMS, following NIST’s post-quantum cryptography standards. Supply chain attacks just got harder to pull off. Apiiro has released two open-source tools to detect malicious code in software projects. With high detection rates across PyPI and npm packages, these tools add a crucial layer of security for developers. China’s Salt Typhoon is making itself at home in global telecom networks. The group has been caught using JumbledPath, a custom-built spying tool, to infiltrate ISPs in the U.S., Italy, South Africa, and Thailand. ShadowPad malware is once again causing havoc in Europe. Trend Micro flagged 21 targeted companies across 15 countries, with manufacturing firms bearing the brunt. A RAT is hiding in plain sight. SectopRAT has been spotted disguised as a fake Google Docs Chrome extension. It steals browser data, targets VPNs and cryptocurrency wallets, and injects malicious scripts into web pages. Darcula Suite is taking PhaaS to the next level. The upcoming update, currently in beta, will let users generate their own phishing kits by cloning real websites and customizing attack elements. A new payment card skimming campaign is turning Stripe’s old API into a weapon. Hackers are injecting malicious scripts into checkout pages, validating stolen card details through Stripe before exfiltration. LummaC2 is spreading through cracked software downloads again. ASEC found it disguised as a pirated Total Commander installer, hiding behind Google Collab Drive and Reddit links.

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.