Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - February 10–14

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - February 10–14 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing February 14, 2020

The Good

In the cybersecurity world, data encryption is often hailed as a necessary security measure to protect sensitive data stored by organizations. The stronger the encryption process, the more secure the data is. Keeping this in mind, a group of scientists have come up with a unique encryption process that uses the process of crystallization to create random strings. On the other hand, researchers at the Berryville Institute of Machine Learning developed a new formal risk framework to guide the development of secure machine-language (ML) systems.

  • For the first time, scientists built a robotic system that uses the process of crystallization to create random strings of numbers and encrypt information. This method offers a good alternative to existing true random number generators as it takes a longer time to crack the algorithm.
  • The Federal School Safety Clearinghouse launched a new website resource to boost cybersecurity efforts for K-12 schools and school districts in collaboration with the DHS, and the departments of Education (DoE), Justice (DoJ), and Health and Human Services (HHS).
  • Researchers at the Berryville Institute of Machine Learning (BIML) developed a formal risk framework to guide development of secure machine-language (ML) systems. Unlike previous work, this model focuses on securing ML systems from a design perspective rather than protecting operational systems and data against particular attacks.

The Bad

Meanwhile, a misconfigured database and a software error exposed millions of records in two different data leak incidents. Estée Lauder Companies Inc. leaked over 440 million records due to an unguarded database. On the other hand, a software error in the Danish government’s TastSelv Borger tax service exposed the personal data of 1.2 million Danish citizens. Apart from these incidents, the US store chain Rutter’s was hit by a malware attack affecting its Point-of-Sale (PoS) systems.

  • Cosmetic giant Estée Lauder Companies Inc. came under fire for leaking over 440 million records publicly due to an unprotected database. The exposed records included emails in plain text, internal documents, Middleware logs and more. It is unknown for how long the data leak existed.
  • A cyberattack on Generate’s online application system affected the photographic identification, tax department numbers, and other personal details of some 26,000 customers. The Auckland-based saving scheme provider told that the incident occurred between December 29, 2019, and January 27, 2020, and is currently working with law enforcement agencies to investigate the cause of the incident.
  • A phishing attack at Altice USA Inc. affected the personal information of some 12,000 current and former employees. The compromised data included Social Security numbers and birth dates of employees. Altice USA, in its breach notification, disclosed that there is no evidence to indicate if the personal information has been misused.
  • A misconfigured Amazon S3 bucket of JailCore exposed 36,077 records of sensitive data belonging to inmates at Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and West Virginia center. The leaked information included names, mugshots, IDs, booking numbers, activity logs, and a host of personal health information. While the bucket was secured last month, the number of people affected in the leak remains unclear.
  • TastSelv Borger tax portal, managed by the US company DXC Technology, accidentally leaked the personal data of 1.2 million Danish citizens due to a software error. The bug was rectified as soon as DXC became aware of it.
  • Puerto Rico lost over $2.6 million after one of its government agencies transferred the money to a fraudulent account. The scam was carried out through a phishing email that asked for a change of a banking account tied to remittance payments.
  • The American store chain Rutter’s was hit by a malware attack targeting its Point-of-Sale (PoS) systems. A majority of the company’s over 70 store locations in Central Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland were reportedly affected by the incident. The company disclosed that attackers may have gained unauthorized access to some customers’ payment card data.
  • The Institute of International Education (IIE) accidentally exposed thousands of sensitive student records due to an unprotected database. The exposed database contained links to students documents including passport scans, visa documents, medical forms, funding verification details, student dossiers, and more. The institute manages over 200 programmes covering 29,000 international students.
  • The South Africa-based Nedbank was hit by a third-party security breach that impacted the personal details of 1.7 million users. Attackers infiltrated Computer Facilities (Pty) Ltd, a South African company that provided marketing services to the bank. The company took down its systems to prevent further attacks or breach of customer data.

New Threats

New variants of existing malware and never-seen-before vulnerabilities were also uncovered this week. Among the new variants, Emotet and Loda trojans grabbed the spotlight for targeting victims through insecure wireless networks and malicious websites respectively. The newly discovered vulnerabilities included a BlueFrag vulnerability affecting phones running Android 8 Oreo or Android 9 Pie and SweynTooth vulnerabilities impacting Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology on system-on-a-chip (SoC) circuits. Security researchers also discovered the new xHelper Android malware strain that is capable of reinfecting target devices even after factory reset.

  • A notification sent out by the FBI alerted US private organizations about an ongoing hacking campaign that distributes Kwampirs malware. The campaign is similar to a supply chain attack that was reported by Symantec in 2018. Now, the campaign appears to have evolved to target companies in the ICS sector.

  • Two new vulnerabilities affecting Bluetooth technology made headlines this week. The first one is called BlueFrag vulnerability that impacts phones running Android 8 Oreo or Android 9 Pie. The second is a collection of bugs called SwyneTooth that affects the implementation of Bluetooth Low Energy technology on multiple system-on-a-chip (SoC) circuits.

  • The newly discovered KBOT virus is claimed to be the first ‘living’ virus spotted in the wild. The malware penetrates into a user’s computer via the web, the local network, or an infected piece of external media. Once launched, the malware gains a foothold on the system by writing itself to Startup and the Task Scheduler. The virus then performs a web injection attack to steal a user’s personal and banking data. It also makes an attempt to load additional stealer modules designed to steal a user’s logins, cryptocurrency wallet data, and other information.

  • Security researchers have disclosed a dozen flaws in the implementation of the Bluetooth Low Energy technology on multiple system-on-a-chip (SoC) circuits that are used by at least 480 devices from different vendors. Collectively named SweynTooth, the vulnerabilities can be abused by attackers within Bluetooth range to crash affected devices, force a reboot, or bypass the secure BLE pairing mode.

  • Researchers discovered the Ragnar Locker ransomware which has an enhanced capability of using remote management software (RMM) as a channel for propagation. The malware did a couple of checks before proceeding with its infection process.

  • Emotet trojan appeared in one of the cyberespionage campaigns that made use of its newly added ‘WiFi spreader’ module. The purpose of this new variant was to spread across insecure wireless networks and infect as many new users as possible.

  • Security researchers observed a new malware campaign that utilized websites to host a new variant of Loda RAT. The campaign targeted organizations in South America and Central America. The RAT’s capabilities include stealing usernames, passwords, and cookies saved within browsers.

  • A remote access trojan (RAT) named Parallax was found to be widely distributed through malicious spam campaigns. When installed, it allows attackers to gain full control over an infected system. The malware was being offered for as low as $65 a month on underground forums.

  • A researcher from Malwarebytes spotted the new xHelper Android malware strain targeting US-based phones. The malware is capable of reinfecting target devices even after factory reset by leveraging a malware dropper hidden inside certain Android directories.

  • Security experts at Venafi observed that the malware used in attacks targeting Ukrainian power utilities is now being deployed widely to steal SSH keys. By compromising a single SSH key, attackers could gain undetected root access to mission critical systems to spread malware or sabotage processes, as per the researchers.

  • Google removed more than 500 malicious Chrome extensions with millions of downloads from the Chrome Web Store. These extensions were found uploading private browsing data to attacker-controlled servers. Google removed the extensions due to violation of user privacy.

  • Researchers at Emsisoft spotted a new ransomware strain dubbed Ransomwared that demands victims’ private photos to send a decryption tool to unlock all the encrypted data. However, the researchers indicate that ransomware strain is not very sophisticated in its design.

  • MIT researchers identified multiple security vulnerabilities in the mobile voting app called Voatz that was used during the 2018 midterm elections in West Virginia. The researchers found that an adversary with remote access to a target device could potentially alter or see a user’s vote, and that the app server could potentially be hacked to change users’ votes.

Related Threat Briefings

Aug 8, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, August 04–08, 2025

In the wake of recent cyberattacks, the US federal judiciary is locking down sensitive court documents with a fortified approach to cybersecurity. Courts nationwide are enforcing stricter access controls, monitored handling procedures, and a mandatory IT security “scorecard” for annual self-assessments to pinpoint vulnerabilities. DARPA is raising the stakes at DEF CON, pitting seven AI-powered cyber reasoning systems against each other to secure the open-source software underpinning critical infrastructure. These autonomous tools, designed to detect and patch vulnerabilities in code vital to water systems and financial institutions, analyzed 7.8 million lines in preliminary rounds, catching 59% of synthetic flaws and uncovering real ones. Akira ransomware is striking with surgical precision, exploiting a suspected zero-day flaw in SonicWall SSL VPN devices, even those fully patched. Since mid-July 2025, attackers have used Virtual Private Server logins to bypass MFA, hitting multiple targets in rapid succession. A stealthy Python-based PXA Stealer is sweeping across 62 countries, pilfering sensitive data from unsuspecting victims. This infostealer campaign has exfiltrated hundreds of thousands of passwords and more. Phishing emails disguised as court summons are delivering a malicious payload to Ukrainian government and defense sectors, courtesy of UAC-0099. A cunning Android RAT, PlayPraetor, is sweeping through six countries, already compromising over 11,000 devices with its deceptive tactics. It masquerades as legitimate apps via fake Google Play Store pages and Meta Ads. ClickTok is luring TikTok Shop users into a trap with a crafty blend of phishing and malware. This global campaign deploys over 10,000 fake TikTok websites and 5,000 malicious apps, impersonating TikTok’s e-commerce platforms to steal cryptocurrency wallet credentials. Ghost Calls, a new evasion tactic, is turning Zoom and Microsoft Teams into covert channels for malicious activity, slipping past traditional defenses with ease.

Aug 1, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, July 28–August 01, 2025

Picture this: a tool so fast it dissects malware at lightning speed, giving your team the edge in a digital arms race. Meet Thorium, the CISA’s latest open-source gem. This platform automates cyberattack investigations, processing over 1,700 jobs per second and ingesting 10 million files per hour per permission group. Meanwhile, as AI reshapes the battlefield, OWASP is arming professionals with fresh guidance to secure agentic AI applications driven by LLMs. It’s a playbook for locking down user authentication with OAuth 2.0, encrypting sensitive data, and bolstering supply chain security. Cybercriminals are donning digital disguises, impersonating trusted enterprises with fake Microsoft OAuth applications to steal credentials and bypass multi-factor authentication. Hackers exploited a critical SAP NetWeaver flaw to deploy the Auto-Color Linux malware. This malware, equipped with a rootkit and adaptive evasion tactics, adjusts its behavior based on user privileges. Operation CargoTalon, tied to threat cluster UNG0901, targeted organizations with EAGLET malware hidden in fake invoice files, quietly siphoning off sensitive data to a C2 server. A newly discovered cyberattack technique, dubbed Man in the Prompt, is turning browser extensions into unwitting accomplices in data theft from generative AI tools. DoubleTrouble is targeting users through Discord-hosted APKs, disguising itself as a legitimate app to slip past defenses. A stealthy Android banking trojan, RedHook, is targeting Vietnamese users through phishing sites mimicking trusted agencies. Spread via a malicious APK on an exposed AWS S3 bucket, it exploits accessibility services to steal credentials and banking details, with over 500 infections tied to Chinese-speaking actors.

Jul 25, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, July 21–25, 2025

The BlackSuit ransomware crew just lost its home turf. As part of Operation Checkmate, international law enforcement has seized the group’s dark web extortion and negotiation sites. New York is taking aim at cyber threats to its water systems. A newly proposed set of regulations outlines mandatory IT and OT cybersecurity measures for water and wastewater infrastructure, aligning with federal guidelines and introducing funding to support modernization across the state. Not every scam needs sophistication, sometimes all it takes is a lonely heart and a convincing profile picture. SarangTrap, a massive mobile spyware campaign, is luring victims on Android and iOS through fake dating apps. Storm-2603 is slipping through SharePoint’s cracks and locking the doors behind it. The suspected China-based threat group is exploiting two SharePoint vulnerabilities to deploy Warlock ransomware. A trusted source turned treacherous. Hackers launched a supply chain attack on Arch Linux by slipping malware into three AUR packages. These packages silently deployed a RAT that gave attackers persistent control over infected machines. A browser tweak here, a fake mod there, and suddenly your crypto wallet spills its secrets. In a new campaign, the Scavenger trojan exploits DLL Search Order Hijacking to infiltrate password managers and wallets. A new RaaS group called Chaos is conducting high-impact ransomware campaigns through a number of tactics, using remote management tools for long-term access. Mimo is getting stealthier and greedier. The financially motivated group has moved from targeting Craft CMS to Magento, exploiting PHP-FPM vulnerabilities to deploy malware via fileless techniques.

Jul 18, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, July 14–18, 2025

A keyboard army just lost its command center. Europol’s Operation Eastwood has crippled the pro-Russian hacktivist group NoName057(16). The international effort, involving law enforcement from 12 nations, led to two arrests and the takedown of over 100 servers linked to the group’s “DDoSia” project. Britain wants bug-hunters on its side. The NCSC has launched the Vulnerability Research Initiative, a new program inviting external researchers to help uncover security flaws in widely used hardware and software. Cisco Talos uncovered a MaaS campaign targeting Ukraine, where attackers used Amadey malware and GitHub repositories to stage payloads. The setup mimics tactics from a SmokeLoader phishing operation. Over 600 malicious domains are distributing fake Telegram APKs to unsuspecting users. Most are hosted in China and exploit the Janus vulnerability in Android. Users who trusted GravityForms’ official site got more than they expected. A supply chain attack injected backdoors into plugin files distributed via the official site and Composer. The H2Miner botnet has resurfaced with updated scripts that mine Monero, kill rival malware, and deploy multiple malware. Bundled with it is Lcrypt0rx, a likely AI-generated ransomware that exhibits sloppy logic, malformed syntax, and weak encryption using XOR. A new Konfety variant uses the same package name as a legitimate app but hides the real payload in a lookalike version distributed through third-party stores. One sandbox escape makes five. Google patched a high-severity Chrome flaw that lets attackers break out of the browser’s sandbox using crafted HTML and unvalidated GPU commands.

Jul 4, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, June 30–July 04, 2025

It looked like a crypto investment until €460 million vanished. Operation BORRELLI dismantled a global fraud ring that scammed over 5,000 victims, with arrests in Madrid and the Canary Islands. A fake workforce was quietly funding a real regime. The DoJ disrupted a North Korean scheme where remote IT workers used stolen identities to get jobs at over 100 U.S. companies. The operation funneled $5 million to the DPRK, exposed military tech, and led to raids across 16 states. Sometimes, the app that looks harmless is just the decoy. Recent investigations uncovered massive Android fraud schemes, including IconAds and Kaleidoscope, which used icon hiding, fake apps, and third-party distribution to flood ad networks with billions of fake requests. Two different names - same tactics, same tools, same playbook. Researchers have found striking overlaps between TA829 and the lesser-known UNK_GreenSec, both of which use phishing lures and REM Proxy services through compromised MikroTik routers. It starts with what looks like an official message from the Colombian government. Behind it is a phishing campaign delivering DCRAT, a modular remote access tool designed for theft and system control. Botnet operators are now turning broken routers into system wreckers. RondoDox is a new Linux-based botnet exploiting CVE-2024-3721 and CVE-2024-12856 to gain remote access to TBK DVRs and Four-Faith routers. That Zoom update request on Telegram? It could be a trap. North Korean actors are deploying NimDoor malware to infiltrate Web3 and crypto platforms using social engineering via Telegram. Google has patched CVE-2025-6554, a critical zero-day in Chrome’s V8 engine that was exploited in the wild to execute arbitrary code.

Jun 27, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, June 23–27, 2025

A Common Good Cyber Fund was launched to support non-profits delivering critical cybersecurity services for public benefit. The fund is backed by the U.K and Canada, with G7 leaders endorsing similar initiatives. A phishing email is all it takes to breach critical infrastructure. The OneClik APT campaign is targeting energy and oil sectors using Microsoft ClickOnce to deliver a .NET loader and Golang backdoor. A handful of outdated routers is all it takes to build a persistent espionage network. The LapDogs campaign is targeting SOHO devices with a custom backdoor called ShortLeash, giving attackers root access and control over compromised systems. A familiar package name could be hiding far more than useful code. North Korean actors behind the Contagious Interview campaign have published 35 malicious npm packages, including keyloggers and multi-stage malware. A fake Windows update might just be the start of something worse. The EvilConwi campaign is abusing ConnectWise ScreenConnect to deliver signed malware through tampered installers. Encrypted messaging apps aren’t immune to state-backed malware delivery. APT28 is targeting Ukrainian government entities via Signal, sharing macro-laced documents that deploy a backdoor named Covenant. Some WordPress plugins are doing a lot more than extending site functionality. Researchers uncovered a long-running malware campaign that uses rogue plugins to skim credit card data, steal credentials, and manage backend systems on infected sites.

Jun 20, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, June 16–20, 2025

As cybercriminals weave intricate webs in the digital underworld, global defenders are cutting through the chaos. Six nations toppled Archetyp Market, a darknet drug bazaar with €250 million ($288 million) in Monero deals, nabbing its admin and vendors while seizing €7.8 million ($9 million) in assets. The U.K unveiled a Cyber Growth Action Plan, injecting £16m ($21.2m) to fortify its £13.2bn ($17.5bn) cybersecurity industry after attacks bled retailers like M&S. Stateside, the U.S. reclaimed $225 million in crypto from investment scams, marking the Secret Service’s biggest digital heist bust yet. Cloud services are being quietly turned into covert attack channels. The Serpentine#Cloud campaign is abusing Cloudflare Tunnels and Python to deploy fileless malware via invoice-themed phishing lures. A popular WordPress plugin is exposing sites to full takeover. It affects the AI Engine plugin, impacting over 100,000 websites and opening the door to site-wide compromise. An official-looking email from the tax department may be anything but. Silver Fox APT is targeting Taiwanese users with phishing emails posing as the National Taxation Bureau, delivering malware like Winos 4.0, HoldingHands RAT, and Gh0stCringe. A new Android trojan is turning devices into data-harvesting tools under attackers’ full control. Attributed to the LARVA-398 group, AntiDot has infected thousands of devices through phishing and malicious ads. A fake job offer could now come bundled with custom-built spyware. PylangGhost is targeting crypto professionals in India. Delivered through spoofed job sites, the malware includes registry tampering, remote control, and data exfiltration modules aimed at compromising Windows systems. One compromised travel site is now a launchpad for infostealer infections. A new ClickFix variant, LightPerlGirl, is using fake Cloudflare CAPTCHA prompts and clipboard hijacking to deliver the Lumma infostealer.

Jun 6, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, June 02–06, 2025

Authorities have taken down a major hub for stolen financial data. The DOJ seized approximately 145 domains associated with the BidenCash marketplace, which had evolved from a small credit card shop in 2022 into a massive hub for stolen payment data. In a move to reinforce Europe’s cyber defenses, Microsoft is stepping in with strategic support. The newly launched European Security Program offers EU governments free access to AI-driven threat intelligence, vulnerability alerts, and guidance to counter attacks from state-sponsored actors. Not all GitHub projects are built with good intentions. Researchers uncovered a widespread campaign involving more than 130 repositories booby-trapped with malware disguised as game cheats, hacking tools, and utilities. A free software download could end up costing your entire crypto wallet. ViperSoftX is back in circulation, targeting crypto users with malicious PowerShell scripts bundled into cracked apps, keygens, and torrent packages. Some attackers mine crypto, JINX-0132 mines misconfigurations. This threat actor is running a stealthy cryptojacking campaign against DevOps platforms, exploiting exposed defaults and overlooked RCE flaws. Destruction masquerading as maintenance tools is hitting Ukraine’s infrastructure. Researchers attributed a new wiper malware called PathWiper to a Russia-linked APT group, targeting critical systems by leveraging legitimate administrative frameworks. A few swapped letters could be all it takes to get owned. A new supply chain attack targets Python and npm developers through typo-squatting and name confusion. A new Android banking trojan, named Crocodilus, has emerged in the threat landscape. It masquerades as legitimate apps like Google Chrome and uses overlay attacks to steal credentials from financial apps.

May 30, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, May 26–30, 2025

Under the hood of vulnerability management, NIST just added a sharper diagnostic tool. The new Likely Exploited Vulnerabilities metric offers deeper insight into which CVEs are likely being used in the wild, complementing EPSS with more contextual signals. Digital warfare is no longer a future threat, it's a current investment. The U.K. Ministry of Defence has unveiled a £1 billion Cyber and Electromagnetic Command to protect military networks and support offensive cyber missions. With AI-driven systems like the Digital Targeting Web in development, the goal is seamless coordination across weapons platforms. A quiet but relentless campaign has been unfolding across multiple industries. The Chinese group Earth Lamia is targeting finance, government, logistics, and more by exploiting known web app vulnerabilities. APT41 hides malware commands where no one’s looking: your calendar. In a creative twist on C2 infrastructure, China-backed APT41 embedded encrypted instructions inside Google Calendar events. AyySSHush doesn’t make noise, it builds armies. More than 9,000 ASUS routers have been compromised by this botnet, which quietly slips in through a CVE-2023-39780 exploit. Fake CAPTCHA prompts are now doing more than testing if you're human—they're installing malware. EDDIESTEALER, a new Rust-based infostealer, spreads through deceptive CAPTCHA pages that trigger malicious PowerShell scripts. Threat actors are wrapping their tools in layers of obfuscation, and DOUBLELOADER is no exception. This new backdoor uses the ALCATRAZ obfuscator—once seen in the game-hacking scene—to disguise its presence. A new Go-based botnet called PumaBot is clawing its way through Linux IoT devices. It brute-forces SSH credentials, impersonates Redis files for stealth, and deploys rootkits to mine crypto and steal credentials.