Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - December 26–29

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - December 26–29 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing December 29, 2023

The Good

Space missions are sensitive operations. To keep its security measures on the cutting edge, NASA released the Space Security Guide. In the wake of rising attacks in the healthcare sector, the HHS shared four new pointers. Additionally, Pakistan's PTA launched the 2023-2028 Cyber Security Strategy, focusing on telecom sector resilience.

  • NASA released its first Space Security Best Practices Guide, a 57-page document aimed at improving cybersecurity for future space missions. The guide leverages security controls outlined in the NIST’s Special Publication 800-53 and serves as a translation guide between NIST verbiage and NASA flight project language. It aims to enhance cybersecurity not only for NASA's missions but also for its international partners and the growing space industry. The guide provides principles applicable to various organizations and space missions, addressing risks such as cyberattacks on ground systems, communications jamming, and spoofing attempts.

  • The HHS announced new cybersecurity initiatives in response to the significant increase in cyber breaches affecting the healthcare sector. The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) reported a 93% rise in large data breaches from 2018 to 2022, with ransomware incidents seeing a 278% increase. The four measures outlined by HHS aim to enhance cybersecurity practices, incentivize their adoption, implement an HHS-wide strategy for enforcement, and expand the support system for the healthcare sector.

  • Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) launches a comprehensive Cyber Security Strategy 2023-2028 to fortify the country's telecom sector against rising cyber threats. Aligned with the National Cyber Security Policy, the five-year plan focuses on risk management, cyber defense, incident response, R&D, and public-private partnerships. It addresses challenges posed by increasing interconnectivity, emphasizing a multi-stakeholder approach for a resilient digital infrastructure.

The Bad

A new ransomware group has emerged as a force to be reckoned with. Named DragonForce, the group claimed to attack Ohio Lottery and Yakult Australia and obtain large troves of data from both firms. Xeinadin, Ubisoft, and LoanCare are among the other major victims of the week.

  • Swedish parking app developer EasyPark Group revealed a data breach affecting an unspecified number of its millions of users. While details about the breach remain limited, compromised information includes names, phone numbers, addresses, emails, and partial credit card/IBAN details. EasyPark warned of potential phishing attacks but assured users that the exposed data doesn't pose a risk of unauthorized transactions.

  • The Ohio Lottery faced a cyberattack on Christmas Eve, leading to the shutdown of some key systems. While the gaming system remained operational, certain services, such as mobile cashing, prize cashing above $599 at Super Retailers, and the display of winning numbers for KENO, Lucky One, and EZPLAY Progressive Jackpots, were affected. Again, DragonForce has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating they stole data amounting to over 600GB.

  • The LockBit ransomware group targeted the Xeinadin accountancy firm and claims to have stolen 1.5TB of customer data, including all internal databases, customer financials, passports, account balances, client legal information, and more. The ransomware group had given Xeinadin a deadline of December 25 to make contact and prevent the publication of the stolen data.

  • Yakult Australia, the manufacturer of a popular probiotic milk drink, fell victim to a cyber incident, allegedly by the DragonForce group. The group claimed to have pilfered 95GB of data belonging to the company. The leaked data includes company databases, contracts, passports, and other sensitive information. The company's IT systems in both Australia and New Zealand were affected, but operations remain unaffected.

  • Ubisoft investigated a potential data breach after researchers uncovered evidence of unauthorized access to their infrastructure. The threat actor claimed to have accessed Microsoft Teams, Confluence, and SharePoint installs and plans to exfiltrate around 900GB of data stolen from Ubisoft. The breach occurred on December 20 and lasted for about 48 hours.

  • The source code for Grand Theft Auto 5 has reportedly been leaked. This comes more than a year after the Lapsus$ hacking group breached Rockstar Games and stole corporate data. The source code was shared on various platforms, including Discord, a dark web site, and a Telegram channel previously used by the hackers.

  • LoanCare, a subsidiary of Fidelity National Financial (FNF), has reported a data breach to state regulators following a cyberattack in November. The breach, claimed by the ALPHV/Blackcat ransomware gang, resulted in unauthorized access to FNF’s IT network. The hackers were able to obtain personal information, including names, addresses, social security numbers, and loan numbers of 1,316,938 individuals.

  • National Amusements, the holding entity for Paramount and CBS, has acknowledged a cybersecurity incident resulting in unauthorized access to the personal data of 82,128 individuals. This security lapse transpired in December 2022, but its discovery was delayed until August 2023. The exact nature of the compromised information remains uncertain, though it could encompass financial details.

  • Over one million patients of Corewell Health in Southeast Michigan were hit by a data breach that exposed their medical information. The breach occurred at HealthEC, a population health management platform that provides services to Corewell Health. The exposed information includes names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, medical record numbers, diagnoses, and other medical information.

  • Oklahoma-based non-profit health network, Integris Health, has confirmed a cyberattack in November that resulted in the theft of patient data. Extortion emails were sent to patients on December 24, 2023, claiming that their personal data, including Social Security Numbers, addresses, and insurance information, had been stolen. The hackers threatened to sell the data unless an extortion demand was paid by the victims. The extortion emails resemble tactics used by the Hunters International ransomware gang.

  • Eagers Automotive, the largest car dealership operator in Australia and New Zealand, was hit by a cyberattack, prompting a temporary stock trading halt. Concerns rose over potential data breach and exposure of sensitive customer information. While expressing regret for any inconvenience caused, Eagers Automotive did not explicitly address the possibility of a data leak. No ransomware group has claimed responsibility for the incident.

New Threats

On the malware side, APT28's phishing campaign was found deploying a Python malware called MASEPIE, McAfee uncovered the Xamalicious Android backdoor, and Carbanak added ransomware capability. Whereas, Barracuda's ESG devices were spotted with zero-day flaws.

  • Security researchers from McAfee have discovered a new Android backdoor called Xamalicious, implemented using the Xamarin open-source framework. The malware tries to gain accessibility privileges through social engineering and then communicates with a command-and-control server to download a second-stage payload. This payload can take full control of the infected device and perform fraudulent actions such as clicking on ads and installing apps without the user's consent.

  • The Mallox ransomware group has updated their PowerShell script to bypass anti-virus AMSI detection component, allowing them to execute malicious code without being detected. The script uses a technique developed by a researcher in 2022, which involves patching the Windows Defender registered DLL for AMSI with a shellcode to overwrite the function that scans PowerShell scripts.

  • According to cybersecurity firm NCC Group, Carbanak, a notorious banking malware, has evolved to incorporate ransomware attacks with updated tactics. In recent attacks observed in November 2023, Carbanak was distributed through compromised websites, impersonating various business-related software such as HubSpot, Veeam, and Xero. The malware, initially known for banking fraud, has been utilized by the FIN7 cybercrime syndicate.

  • Barracuda Networks discovered two zero-day vulnerabilities in its Email Security Gateway Appliance (ESG) devices, which were exploited by the China Nexus actor UNC4841. The two vulnerabilities, tracked as CVE-2023-7102 and CVE-2023-7101, exist in the Spreadsheet::ParseExcel third-party library. Barracuda has issued patches for these flaws to prevent an arbitrary code execution threat.

  • AhnLab analyzed attack campaigns targeting poorly managed Linux SSH servers, shedding light on the tactics employed by threat actors. The attackers use malware loaders like ShellBot, Tsunami, ChinaZ DDoS Bot, and XMRig CoinMiner. The analysis reveals the use of an ID and password list for SSH brute force attacks, with threat actors deploying various tools, including port scanners, banner grabbers, and SSH dictionary attack tools.

  • Ukraine's CERT reported a phishing campaign by the Russian state-sponsored hacking group APT28 (Fancy Bear) delivering new malware. The campaign featured a new Python malware downloader named 'MASEPIE,' which establishes persistence on infected devices, downloads additional malware, and steals data. APT28 also employed PowerShell scripts ('STEELHOOK') for data theft from Chrome-based browsers and a C# backdoor ('OCEANMAP') for stealthy command execution and retrieval.

  • The North Korean group Kimsuky has been observed using spear-phishing attacks to deliver various backdoors and tools, including AppleSeed, Meterpreter, and TinyNuke, to compromise targeted machines. Cybersecurity firm AhnLab attributed the activity to Kimsuky. The group's espionage campaigns involve spear-phishing attacks with malicious lure documents that deploy different malware families, with a notable Windows backdoor being AppleSeed.

  • Cybercriminals breached the fan expansion "Downfall" for the game Slay the Spire, distributing the Epsilon info-stealer malware through the Steam update system. The compromised package was a standalone modified version, not a mod installed via Steam Workshop. The attackers compromised one of the developers' Steam and Discord accounts, allowing them to control the mod's Steam account. The malware collects cookies, saved passwords, credit card details, and more from browsers, as well as Steam and Discord information.

Related Threat Briefings

May 9, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, May 05–09, 2025

Another blow to DDoS-for-hire networks. Europol has shut down six services used to launch global cyberattacks, arresting suspects in Poland and seizing domains in the U.S. The UN has launched a new framework to help policymakers make sense of cyber intrusions. Called UNIDIR Intrusion Path, it complements models like MITRE ATT&CK but simplifies the technical details. It breaks down attacker activity into three layers, making it easier to evaluate threats in a policy context. Old routers are becoming cybercrime goldmines. The FBI has warned that end-of-life routers are being hijacked with malware like TheMoon and sold on proxy networks such as 5Socks and Anyproxy. These compromised devices are used for crypto theft, cybercrime-as-a-service, and even espionage. Crypto users on Discord are the latest targets of a phishing campaign tied to Inferno Drainer. Attackers were found impersonating the Collab.Land bot to trick users into signing malicious transactions. The Play ransomware group has joined the list of actors exploiting CVE-2025-29824. This Windows zero-day in the CLFS driver enables privilege escalation via a race condition during file operations. Linked to the Balloonfly group, the attacks targeted a U.S. organization and included deployment of the Grixba infostealer. COLDRIVER’s latest malware, LOSTKEYS, is now in play. The Russian state-backed group is deploying this tool to steal files and system data from advisors, journalists, NGOs, and individuals linked to Ukraine. Agenda’s playbook just got upgraded. The ransomware group has added two new tools: SmokeLoader and a stealthy .NET-based loader called NETXLOADER. The latter leverages techniques like JIT hooking and AES decryption to deploy ransomware. Corporate HR teams are the latest target in a spear-phishing spree by Venom Spider. Disguised as job applications, these emails deliver More_eggs backdoor, now upgraded with advanced features.

May 2, 2025

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

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. 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. 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.

Apr 25, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, April 21–25, 2025

AI security finally has a global playbook. ETSI has released TS 104 223, a first-of-its-kind technical specification outlining how to secure AI systems across their entire lifecycle - from design to decommissioning. MITRE’s latest update is catching up with the cloud. ATT&CK v17 expands the framework to include ESXi and adds more than 140 defensive analytics. Platform-specific data collection advice, improved mitigation mapping, and deeper coverage of mobile threats like SIM swaps round out the upgrade. An APT group with deep roots in Southeast Asia is quietly siphoning data through everyday cloud platforms. Earth Kurma has been active since late 2020, targeting government and telecom entities across the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. Signal and WhatsApp are the new frontline for cloud compromise. Russian actors are running OAuth phishing campaigns against Microsoft 365 users tied to Ukraine and human rights work. A forged email that passes every security check - that’s the new phishing trick. Attackers are using DKIM replay tactics to forward legitimate Google security alerts to unsuspecting victims. It starts with a fake sales order and ends with FormBook silently stealing your data. A recent phishing campaign has been abusing a long-patched Microsoft flaw to deliver a fileless variant of the malware. Docker containers aren’t always what they seem. A new threat named TenoBot is targeting systems running outdated Teneo Web3 node software, deploying malicious containers to hijack environments. A stealthy new RAT is slipping through Ivanti Connect Secure devices in Japan. Dubbed DslogdRAT, the malware exploits a zero-day flaw to execute commands via web shell and quietly exfiltrate data using encoded C2 traffic.

Apr 11, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, April 07–11, 2025

The U.K. government rolled out a Cyber Governance Code of Practice aimed at directors and board members, not just CISOs. Backed by the NCSC and other national bodies, the code includes practical actions, modular training, and a board-level toolkit. Startups building the future of cyber defense are getting serious backing. The British Business Bank has committed most of a £50 million fund to Osney Capital, which will invest in early-stage cybersecurity companies across the U.K. A torrent download might be doing more than delivering cracked software. A campaign has been distributing ViperSoftX to Korean users, likely run by Arabic-speaking threat actors. Invasive spyware campaigns are zeroing in on high-risk communities. MOONSHINE and BADBAZAAR are being deployed through trojanized mobile apps to surveil Uyghur, Tibetan, and Taiwanese individuals, as well as civil society groups. Search for QuickBooks during tax season, and you might land on a trap. Threat actors are placing deceptive Google Ads that link to phishing pages almost identical to the real QuickBooks login portal. It starts with a PDF search and ends with malware on your machine. A new campaign is using fake CAPTCHAs and Cloudflare Turnstile to lure users into downloading LegionLoader. Seed phrases aren’t supposed to come from strangers. The PoisonSeed campaign is targeting crypto holders and enterprise users by compromising bulk email services. Victims are lured with fake wallet setup instructions that embed attacker-controlled recovery phrases - giving threat actors full access once the wallets are used. A Chinese-linked threat group, ToddyCat, has been exploiting a security vulnerability in ESET's software to deliver a new malware, TCESB, in Asia.

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’.