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Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, August 08 - 12, 2022

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence,  August 08 - 12, 2022 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing Aug 12, 2022

The Good

Owing to the rising malware attacks against IoT devices, the HHS Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordinator Center (HC3) released a set of guidelines to improve the security of any internet-connected device. In another development, the Ransomware Task Force (RTF), launched in 2021, has developed an action plan to respond to and recover from ransomware attacks.

  • The HC3 released an advisory in the wake of rising malware attacks against IoT devices in healthcare. The department has provided numerous tips and tactics to improve security while highlighting the most common types of attacks on these devices.
  • A coalition of cybersecurity and technology leaders has announced the release of the Open Cybersecurity Schema Framework (OCSF) project. The project aims at reducing the burden on security teams by simplifying the process of ingestion and normalization of threat data.
  • The RTF introduced the ‘Blueprint for Ransomware Defense.’ It includes a set of actionable measures for SMEs to protect against and respond to ransomware and other common cyberattacks.

The Bad

The coopetition trend among ransomware gangs has become a matter of concern as more and more organizations find themselves being attacked by multiple threat groups. Recently, an automotive supplier was a victim of this trend after attackers behind LockBit, Hive, and BlackCat dropped their respective malicious payloads at different time gaps to infect systems. There were also multiple incidents of impersonation attacks targeting branded companies like Coinbase, Best Buy, MetaMask, and Gemini.

  • Managed Service Provider (MSP) Advanced confirmed a ransomware attack on its seven software solutions. This has impacted the connectivity with the U.K’s National Health Service (NHS) and other firms using the solutions, especially emergency services.

  • Attackers are spoofing Coinbase accounts in a new phishing campaign to steal users’ credentials and their funds. These spoofed accounts are distributed via emails to trick users.

  • In May, an automotive supplier was the victim of a triple ransomware attack, making it difficult to recover its encrypted files. Attackers behind three ransomware— LockBit, Hive, and BlackCat—had exploited the misconfigured RDP to spread across the networks.

  • Palo Alto Networks is working on a vulnerability that was exploited to launch reflected DDoS attacks. The flaw, tracked as CVE-2022-0028, affects firewalls from multiple vendors.

  • The sophisticated scam-as-a-service operation dubbed Classiscam has now expanded to Europe. Active for more than a year, the scam especially targets people using marketplaces and services relating to property rentals, hotel bookings, online bank transfers, online retail, ride-sharing, and package deliveries.

  • Cisco shared insights into a recent cyberattack that was carried out by compromising an employee’s credentials. This enabled an attacker to conduct a series of sophisticated voice phishing attacks and gain access to critical internal systems. Both Lapsus$ and Yanluowang ransomware gangs are believed to be behind the attack.

  • 7-Eleven was forced to close its outlets in Denmark after suffering a cyberattack. The convenience store chain could not use the cash register or accept payments.

  • Communications giant Twilio confirmed hackers accessed customer data after successfully tricking employees into handing over their corporate login credentials. The accessed data included addresses, payment details, IP addresses, and proof of identity of 125 customers.

  • Kaspersky has linked a series of attack campaigns with the TA428 threat actor group. These attacks were primarily aimed at organizations in Asia and Eastern Europe and involved the use of a variety of malware i.e nccTrojan, Logtu, Cotx, DNSep, and CotSam.

  • Email marketing firm Klaviyo disclosed a data breach after threat actors gained access to internal systems and downloaded marketing lists for cryptocurrency customers. The attack was carried out by compromising an employee’s account.

  • A large-scale phishing campaign is abusing Google sites and the Microsoft Azure Web app to create fake websites for Coinbase, MetaMask, Kraken, and Gemini. These fake websites are being used as channels to target people’s wallets and their assets.

  • Best Buy was targeted in an impersonation attack, enabling threat actors to steal users’ credentials. Phishing emails were used to spread the fake website.

New Threats

Coming to new threats, two new types of side-channel attacks against modern processors were uncovered this week. Researchers demonstrated that these attacks—dubbed Scheduler Queue Usage via Interference Probing (SQUIP) and AEPIC Leak—could enable attackers to pilfer sensitive information. A new browser-based attack that abuses the weaknesses of HTTP-request handling has also come to light and it can put popular websites, such as Amazon, at risk.

  • A group of researchers demonstrated a new attack method, dubbed (Scheduler Queue Usage via Interference Probing) SQUIP, that could allow attackers to steal sensitive information from modern processors. The attack impacts products from AMD, Ryzen, Athlon, and EPYC.
  • Another attack method named AEPIC Leak has also been found to impact Intel CPU. This exists due to an architectural bug and can allow attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information.
  • The group behind CopperStealer malware is leveraging a malicious Chromium-based browser extension to steal cryptocurrency and users’ wallet account information. The malicious extension is distributed via fake crack websites that is in the wild since July.
  • A new class of HTTP request smuggling attacks can enable threat actors to compromise multiple popular websites. Named browser-powered desync, the attack can be used to compromise Amazon sites and those using the AWS Application Load Balancer, Cisco ASA WebVPN, Akamai, Varnish Cache servers, and Apache HTTP Server 2.4.52.
  • A new variant of SOVA Android trojan has been spotted in the wild. The malware variant includes two-factor authentication, cookie stealing, and injection capabilities. It is being used against multiple Philippine banks.
  • The FBI and the CISA released a joint advisory about Zeppelin ransomware. The ransomware has been active since 2019 and has targeted multiple organizations in the healthcare, manufacturing, educational, and technology sectors.
  • Researchers have shared technical details on Dracarys spyware that was used by the Bitter APT group for targeting users in New Zealand, India, Pakistan, and the U.K. The malware is being distributed via a trojanized version of the Signal messaging app.
  • Andariel, a subgroup of Lazarus, uses Maui ransomware and DTrack spyware, to carry out financially targeted attacks on companies. Reports suggest that multiple organizations located in India, Vietnam, and Russia were the target of such attacks in 2021.
  • DoNot Team APT reportedly has added new modules to its Windows spyware framework aka YTY, Jaca. The new modules are a browser stealer component and a new shellcode loader component that analyzes a new DLL variant of the reverse shell.
  • DeathStalker APT has upgraded the capabilities of VileRAT to perform more sophisticated attacks on foreign exchange and cryptocurrency trading companies. Researchers have observed multiple samples of the malware in the wild, with the latest sample identified in June.

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.