Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, August 29 - September 02, 2022

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Weekly Threat Briefing September 2, 2022

The Good

The NSA and the CISA have jointly released a series of guidelines to address threats from software supply chain attacks against the U.S. critical infrastructure and national security systems. The U.K telecom sector will have to follow a new security framework that is claimed to be one of the strongest regulations in the world. The framework has been developed to protect telecom networks against cyberattacks, data breaches, and software supply chain attacks.

  • The NSA and the CISA released tips on securing the software supply chain. The guidelines are primarily designed to address threats to the U.S. critical infrastructure and national security systems.

  • The Health-ISAC has released a new whitepaper to provide zero trust security guidance to healthcare CISOs. This is aimed at bolstering the security efforts of healthcare organizations.

  • A new security framework for the U.K telecommunications industry will come into effect in October. Claimed to be one of the strongest regulations in the world, the framework has been developed to protect telecom networks against cyberattacks, data breaches, and software supply chain attacks.

  • The USCYBERCOM and the NSA have come together to renew their efforts to protect electoral procedures from cyberattacks and disinformation. The changes are made for the midterm elections that will be held in November.

The Bad

There’s a new twist in software supply chain attacks on software repositories. New details related to the first ever phishing attack on the PyPi package repository have emerged this week. Researchers revealed that it was the work of a new threat actor named JuiceLedger that compromised hundreds of legitimate packages to deliver the JuiceStealer malware. The malware siphons passwords and other sensitive data from victims' web browsers. The notorious Evil Corp group is still at large and now is piggybacking on Raspberry Robin infrastructure to launch its attacks.

  • More than 16,000 mailboxes associated with an international non-profit were targeted in a phishing attack designed to steal confidential information of users. Threat actors used phishing emails that spoofed the multinational American Express bank brand to trick victims. These emails included a link that redirected recipients to a fake landing page imitating American Express.

  • In a new update related to the phishing attack against the PyPi repository, researchers have revealed that a threat actor dubbed JuiceLedger has been successfully compromising a number of legitimate packages to run low-key supply chain attack campaigns. Hundreds of typosquatting packages delivering the JuiceStealer malware have been identified.

  • Chile’s CSIRT has disclosed a new double extortion attack against a government agency. The attack is believed to be the work of RedAlert ransomware attackers who targeted both Windows servers and Linux-based VMWare ESXi machines.

  • Government officials in Montenegro were the target of an attack carried out by Cuba ransomware. The attackers claim to have stolen a variety of confidential files, including financial documents and source code. The officials have added that there is a ransom demand of $10 million.

  • Russian media streaming platform START disclosed a data breach that impacted 7.5 million of its users. The stolen data includes email addresses, phone numbers, and usernames.

  • The FBI has issued a warning about the rising attacks against DeFi platforms. Cybercriminals are primarily leveraging the vulnerabilities in DeFi protocols to steal investors' cryptocurrency.

  • Data of over 2.5 million individuals with student loans from Oklahoma Students Loan Authority (OSLA) and EdFinancial were compromised after hackers breached the systems of Nelnet Servicing. The hacker had exploited a vulnerability to breach the systems.

  • DESFA, Greece’s largest natural gas supplier, was hit by a cyberattack that impacted the availability of some of its systems. The Ragnar Locker group claimed responsibility for the attack and added that it had allegedly published more than 350 GB of stolen data.

  • New findings reveal that Evil Corp is using Raspberry Robin infrastructure to carry out its attacks. This comes to light after Microsoft disclosed a Raspberry Robin infection delivering FAKEUPDATES malware (aka SocGholish).

  • A security researcher spotted a huge Chinese database containing 800 million records of faces and vehicle license plates, left exposed on the internet. The database belonged to a company called Xinai Electronics.

  • The Lexington government, Kentucky, along with the FBI and Secret Service, is investigating a theft of $4 million in federal rent assistance and housing funds, conducted by intercepting the city's internal wire transfer processes.

New Threats

There’s no honor among thieves and this fits well with the gang behind the Prynt Stealer info-stealing malware. The threat actors have added a secret backdoor to send copies of data exfiltrated by WorldWind and DarkEye malware families to a private Telegram chat. Meanwhile, multi-platform ransomware families are gaining traction among threat actors seeking to cause damage to more than one organization at a time. In this row, researchers have discovered a new ransomware, called BianLian, that has targeted around 15 organizations.

  • A new Golang-based malware campaign was identified leveraging deep field images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to deploy malware on infected devices. The campaign dubbed GO#WEBBFUSCATOR involved sending phishing emails that contained a Microsoft Office attachment named Geos-Rates.docx.

  • Check Point researchers shared details of a new campaign that distributed Nitrokod cryptominer. So far, the campaign has targeted 111,000 users in 11 countries. The crypto miner is used to mine Monero.

  • Developers behind Prynt Stealer info-stealing malware have created a secret backdoor that ends up in every derivative copy and variant of WorldWind and DarkEye malware families. The backdoor sends copies of victims’ exfiltrated data gathered by other threat actors to a private Telegram chat handled by the authors of the Prynt Stealer builder.

  • Snake keylogger was spotted in a new malspam campaign disguised as a business portfolio from a Qatari-based IT services provider. The attack originated from IP addresses in Vietnam and has already reached thousands of inboxes.

  • A cross-platform ransomware, dubbed BianLian, emerged in the threat landscape. Written in the Go language, the ransomware has claimed around 15 organizations as of September 1 as its victims. The initial access to victim networks is achieved by exploiting the ProxyShell flaw.

  • Researchers at AT&T have released details about a sophisticated cryptomining campaign in which 100 different malware loaders were leveraged to deploy miners and backdoors on the infected systems. These loaders were sent via phishing emails that used Mexican governmental documents, social security numbers, and tax returns as lures.

  • Cisco Talos identified three distinct campaigns, between March and June, delivering an array of malware, including ModernLoader and RedLine infostealer. Threat actors had used PowerShell, .NET assemblies, as well as HTA and VBS files to spread across a targeted network.

  • McAfee threat analysts discovered five Google Chrome extensions that track users’ browsing activities. The extensions have been, collectively, downloaded over 1.4 million times. The extensions claim to offer various functions such as enabling users to watch Netflix shows together, website coupons, and taking screenshots of a website.

  • A new, highly evasive JavaScript skimmer used by Magecart threat actors is under investigation. The skimmer is being used to target Magneto e-commerce websites.

Related Threat Briefings

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Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, March 17–21, 2025

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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.

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.