Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, August 15 - 19, 2022

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence,  August 15 - 19, 2022 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing August 19, 2022

The Good

Federal authorities and cybersecurity leaders are always on their toes to find ways to tackle rising cyber threats. This week, the U.S. Cyber Command’s Cyber National Mission Force completed the 35th Hunt Forward operations wherein it helped over 18 countries by discovering advanced malware threats. In parallel, Microsoft took action on the SEABORGIUM threat actor by dismantling a massive phishing campaign that was active for more than six months.

  • The U.S Department of Energy (DOE) has announced that it will direct $45 million to support next-generation cybersecurity research, development, and demonstration projects that will help protect the power grid from cyberattacks.

  • The U.S. Cyber Command’s Cyber National Mission Force has successfully concluded 35th ‘Hunt Forward’ operations in 18 countries, including Estonia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Ukraine. The last one took place in Croatia. These operations are carried out to help countries across the globe to uncover advanced malware and defend against incoming cyberattacks.

  • The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC) dismantled a massive phishing campaign launched by a highly-persistent threat actor named SEABORGIUM. The campaign was active since the beginning of 2022 and had targeted over 30 organizations across the U.S and the U.K.

The Bad

Attackers had a field day using a PLAY extension, which is associated with the lesser-known ransomware that goes by the same name. The ransomware was reportedly used to encrypt files after stealing them from the Judiciary Court of Córdoba. Meanwhile, the Cl0p ransomware gang made a mix-up by targeting the wrong U.K water company, believing it to be Thames Water. It claimed that more than 5TB of data was stolen in the incident.

  • Group-IB researchers estimate that the state-sponsored APT41 hacker group had targeted at least 13 organizations worldwide in 2021. The targeted organizations included the public sector, manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, hospitality, and media. In the campaigns, the group used tools such as Acunetix, Nmap, SQLmap, subdomain3, subDomainsBrute, and Sublist3r for reconnaissance.

  • In a mix-up, the Cl0p ransomware gang claimed attacks and stole data belonging to South Staffs Water believing it to be for Thames Water. The attackers had stolen more than 5TB of data from the organization and also asserted that they had access to some SCADA systems.

  • Argentina’s Judiciary of Córdoba was reportedly hit by lesser-known ransomware dubbed PLAY. This forced the court to shut down IT systems and their online portal. The officials were forced to use pen and paper for submitting official documents.

  • Hospitality and travel industries located in Latin America, North America, and Western Europe are under attack from TA558 threat actors. The actors are using phishing emails to pivot the campaign that has been ongoing since the beginning of the year.

  • A Google Cloud Armor customer was targeted with a series of HTTPS DDoS attacks which peaked at 46 million requests per second. The attacks were mitigated soon after they were detected by Google.

  • For the past three years, the China-based cyberespionage group RedAlpha aka Deepcliff and Red Dev 3 has been observed targeting numerous government organizations, humanitarian entities, and think tanks. The purpose of these campaigns is to harvest credentials from the targeted individuals and organizations.

  • More than 20 malicious PyPI packages designed to steal passwords and other sensitive information from victims’ machines were uncovered in a new software supply chain attack. Two of these packages are tracked as ‘ultrarequests’ and ‘pyquest.’

  • The LockBit ransomware gang claimed responsibility for the cyberattack on digital security giant Entrust. The attack had caused the loss of some sensitive data from internal systems.

  • DigitalOcean revealed that a recent security breach at MailChimp had exposed the email addresses of some of its customers. Password reset notifications and alerts have been sent to customers.

  • A hack on CS:MONEY, one of the largest platforms for trading CS:GO skins, enabled hackers to steal 20,000 items worth approximately $6 million. As a result, the firm was forced to take down its website for recovery.

  • In a new update, Signal shared that a security breach at Twilio had affected 1900 of its users. Due to the breach, the phone numbers of these users were exposed.

New Threats

Threat actors show no signs of slowing down as they continue to implement faster and more complex techniques to launch cyberattacks. While the BlackByte group is back with a new extortion technique borrowed from LockBit, Cozy Bear (aka APT29) has found a way to disable the Purview Audit in licensing models to target Microsoft Office 365 users. The ill-famed Lazarus group has also added a new signed macOS malware to continue its ‘Operation In(ter)ception’ campaign that makes fake job offers.

  • New activities associated with Bumblebee loader have come to light this week. It is believed that the transition from BazarLoader, TrickBot, and IcedID to Bumblebee is under active development. Additionally, the malware loader is used to compromise Active Directory services.

  • Researchers have documented PoC for Evil PLC Attacks against seven ICS manufacturers: Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric, GE, B&R, Xinje, OVARRO, and Emerson. A hijacked PLC can be used to compromise engineering workstations, which in turn, can open doors to other potential cyberattacks.

  • Mandiant researchers have been tracking a cluster of espionage activity associated with UNC3890 threat actors. The campaign has been active since 2020 and uses watering hole attacks to target organizations in the shipping, government, energy, and healthcare in Israel.

  • In another report from Mandiant, APT29 (also called Cozy Bear) has been found updating TTPs to target Microsoft 365 users. One of the tactics includes disabling the Purview Audit in licensing models of Microsoft 365.

  • Around 93 unique DarkTortilla samples have been identified between January 2021 and May 2022. The malware samples are delivered via phishing emails that typically use a logistic lure and include an attachment with file types such as .iso, .img, .dmg, and .tar.

  • A new signed macOS malware sample developed by Lazarus APT group is being distributed via fake job offer emails from Coinbase. It is linked to the infamous ‘Operation Interception’ campaign that had earlier targeted high-profile aerospace and military organizations.

  • Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation music video of 1989 has officially been declared a security vulnerability as it freezes some models of hard drives on older computers. The vulnerability in question is tracked as CVE-2022-38392 and can lead to DoS attacks.

  • Around 35 malicious applications on Google Play Store have over two million downloads. These applications use icons and names of legit apps such as GPS Location Maps to bypass security checks.

  • Microsoft reported detecting hundreds of thousands of cryptojacking attacks every month. The researchers highlighted that the attackers have evolved their evasion tactics such as leveraging LOLBins to launch the attacks.

  • After a brief gap, the BlackByte group has reappeared with a new extortion tactic borrowed from LockBit. The attackers are calling this new iteration as BlackByte version 2.0. A brand new Tor data leak site has been launched as part of this operation.

  • Researchers have linked the ATMZOW hacker group behind both the JS sniffer campaign and the Hancitor malware downloader. The group has infected at least 483 websites across Italy, Germany, France, U.K., Australia, India, and Brazil, since the beginning of 2019.

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Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, April 07–11, 2025

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Mar 28, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, March 24–28, 2025

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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

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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.

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.