Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - February 06–10

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - February 06–10 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing • February 10, 2023

The Good

A new family of cryptographic algorithms has been approved by the NIST to protect the integrity of data security in lightweight IoT devices. The algorithm, known as Ascon, comprises several authenticated ciphers that will ensure that the protected data is authentic and has not been changed in transit. Meanwhile, the U.S. and the U.K have jointly issued sanctions against seven criminals connected to TrickBot trojan, as well as to Conti and Ryuk ransomware. This is one of the first actions taken by both countries amid the growing number of high-profile attacks worldwide.

  • The NIST has selected the Ascon algorithm developed at Graz University as a cryptography standard for lightweight IoT protection. The algorithm has been selected from 57 proposals submitted in 2019. The agency will publish the full standard later in 2023, which applies to miniature technologies such as medical implants or keyless car openers.
  • The U.S. President announced his intent to appoint 14 industry executives to the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC). The new appointees will assist the previously appointed NSTAC members to provide national security and emergency preparedness solutions across operational technology and digital systems.
  • The U.K and the U.S. sanctioned seven people connected to a single network behind the Conti and Ryuk ransomware gangs, as well as the Trickbot banking trojan. The sanctions are considered the first major move of a new campaign of concrete action between the two countries.
  • Flawed encryption logic used in Cl0p ransomware’s Linux variant allowed SentinelOne researchers to create and release a free decryptor. The Linux Cl0p variant is relatively new and was first spotted in late December 2022. The ransomware encrypts the RC4 key responsible for the file encryption using the asymmetric algorithm RSA and a public key.

The Bad

A sophisticated snooping operation on organizations in the U.S. and Germany was discovered this week. The campaign dubbed Screentime targeted around 1,000 organizations with a variety of malware designed to monitor victims’ activity and capture screenshots. On the other hand, customers of a popular meal delivery service, Weee!, are at risk of identity theft as a hacker named IntelBroker leaked their sensitive information on hacker forums. Furthermore, the Lorenz ransomware gang has added a U.S.-based healthcare organization to its list of victims and posted the stolen data on its site.

  • A data breach at the Weee! Asian and Hispanic meal delivery service resulted in the leak of the personal information of 11 million customers. A threat actor named IntelBroker has leaked the stolen data on hacking forums. The data includes last names, email addresses, phone numbers, order notes, and order comments of users who placed an order between July 12, 2021, and July 12, 2022.

  • A novel phishing attack that deploys a first-stage malware payload targeted 1,000 organizations in the U.S. and Germany. The campaign, dubbed Screentime, was first observed in October 2022 and was attributed to a new threat actor TA866. The malware used in the campaign were WasabiSeed, Screenshotter, AHK Bot, and Rhadamanthys Stealer.

  • Reddit suffered a cyberattack, allowing attackers to access internal business systems and steal internal documents and source code. The hackers used phishing lures to target Reditt employees with a landing page impersonating its intranet site. The fake site stole employees’ credentials and two-factor authentication tokens.

  • Researchers cited an increased prevalence of HTML smuggling activity that lures users into deploying malicious payloads. The campaign impersonated brands such as Adobe Acrobat, Google Drive, and the US Postal Service, and have recently been detected to deploy Cobalt Strike, QakBot, IceID, and Xworm RAT.

  • The U.S. and South Korean government agencies are warning against ongoing ransomware activity against healthcare and other critical infrastructure sectors. These attacks are linked to the North Korea-based DPRK threat actors who earn revenue from ransom demands.

  • The Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) hospital was forced to cancel all non-emergency surgeries and other medical procedures following a security incident that crippled its computer systems. The incident is believed to be yet another ransomware attack on the U.S. healthcare providers.

  • The Lorenz ransomware gang added the healthcare company AmerisourceBergen to its list of victims. The attackers posted the exfiltrated data on their site with a previous date, November 1, 2022, suggesting that the incident took place a while back.

  • Berkeley County Schools, West Virginia, was forced to temporarily cancel its daily classes and activities following a cyberattack. Law enforcement agencies were notified about the attack and the institution worked constantly to restore the affected IT systems, internet, and phone services.

  • Indigo Books & Music, the largest bookstore chain in Canada, was hit by a cyberattack that forced the chain to shut down its website. While the exact nature of the incident remains unclear, Indigo has not yet confirmed if the hackers have stolen customer data.

New Threats

Don’t fall victim to ESXiArgs ransomware! The CISA and the FBI issued a warning as they continue to track new variants of the ransomware. It has been revealed that the attackers have so far compromised over 3,800 vulnerable VMware ESXi servers worldwide. Additionally, there is evidence that other ransomware operators are exploiting the ESXi server flaw to launch attacks. Cyberattacks leveraging the OneNote application have also become a matter of security concern as another campaign deploying QakBot has come to light. Meanwhile, the Gootkit malware loader is on a rampage, targeting healthcare and financial institutions in the U.S., the U.K, and Australia.

  • A new version of the Medusa botnet, based on Mirai code, has been spotted in the wild. It features a ransomware module and a Telnet brute-forcer, along with DDoS capabilities. The new version of Medusa features a data exfiltration tool, however, it does not steal user files before encryption.
  • A new ransomware named ESXiArgs and the Royal Ransomware’s Linux variant was found actively targeting a two-year-old RCE vulnerability in VMware ESXi servers. Additionally, BlackBasta ransomware operators have been blamed for multiple attacks that involved the exploitation of vulnerable ESXi servers.
  • A modified version of the Stealerium malware named Enigma was used in a campaign that targeted the cryptocurrency industry in Eastern European countries. The attack was launched using phishing emails pretending to be a job offer with fake cryptocurrency interviews to lure their targets.
  • A new threat group known as NewsPenguin used espionage tools to target Pakistan’s Navy. The group used the upcoming Pakistan International Maritime Expo & Conference as a lure to trick victims into opening phishing emails containing malware.
  • The Gootkit malware is prominently going after healthcare and finance in the U.S., the U.K., and Australia. The attack chain relies on luring victims searching for agreements and contracts on DuckDuckGo and Google and redirecting them to fake web pages that ultimately lead to the deployment of the malware.
  • Sonatype researchers identified four malicious Python libraries hosted on the official PyPI portal. The libraries contained functionality to install malware, delete the netstat utility, and tamper with SSH keys installed on systems. In another incident, a bunch of malicious PyPI packages was associated with a malware author named Core 1337 to steal personal information through Discord.
  • A malvertising campaign, tracked as D-Shortiez, was spotted hijacking back button presses in WebKit-based browsers to redirect users to scam sites. Researchers identified that more than 300 million malicious ads were served over the last six months to target users in the U.S.
  • Avast found four malicious Dota 2 game mods published on the official Steam store. The bundled backdoor within malicious game modes potentially allowed the installation of further malware on the victim’s device. The attackers also exploited a known Google V8 JavaScript flaw as part of the malware execution process.
  • An alert from the CERT-UA revealed that threat actors conducted a phishing campaign against Ukrainian government agencies to deploy the Remcos RAT on their computers. The email contained a file reminding recipients to pay for services availed from Ukrtelecom.

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May 23, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, May 19–23, 2025

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May 16, 2025

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Not every AI tool on Facebook is what it claims to be. Threat actors are luring users with fake content-generation apps, pushing Noodlophile malware to tens of thousands of victims. Disguised as AI-powered services, these tools trick users into executing malicious files that steal browser credentials, crypto wallet data, and other sensitive information through a layered infection chain. OtterCookie is getting smarter with every version. The North Korea-linked group WaterPlum is actively using the malware to breach financial institutions and crypto platforms worldwide. Since late 2024, new iterations have added capabilities like credential theft from browsers and file uploads - each version revealing signs of modular development and distinct authorship. A flaw in Linux’s nftables is turning dirty sets into dangerous ones. A critical double-free vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges by exploiting memory corruption. Kernel-level fixes are already rolling out to improve cleanup routines and patch the vulnerable destroy path.

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

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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.