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Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - February 13–17

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - February 13–17 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing Feb 17, 2023

The Good

Cybercrime has become a big illicit business in the digital world and, therefore, it is very important to fortify the underlying cyber infrastructure in critical sectors. Lately, the White House has taken two new initiatives to improve the security of data stored or transmitted within critical systems. While one of them encourages the use of post-quantum cryptography to encrypt sensitive data such as medical and personal information of users, the other aims to mandate the use of only .gov and .mil domains for official government communications.

  • The White House Office of the National Cyber Director confirmed it will include guidance on post-quantum cryptography in the upcoming National Cybersecurity Strategy to fortify digital networks. This will enable the government and private industries to better safeguard sensitive information, such as medical and personal data, against cyberattacks in the coming years.
  • The Biden administration has ordered federal agencies to use only .gov and .mil domains for official updates as a way to bolster trust and improve the security of official government communications. The order strictly comes into effect from May 8.
  • The DoJ has launched a new Disruptive Technology Strike Force to address several national security threats. The force will consist of top experts and will use intelligence and data analytics to tackle nation-state-sponsored cyberattacks, supply chain attacks, and abuse of sensitive data. The force is also assigned with the job of providing early warnings of threats to critical assets.

The Bad

The aviation industry across the globe saw some major cyberattacks this week, impacting their regular operations and online services. While the operations at airport websites in Germany had gone for a toss following DDoS attacks, a data breach at Scandinavian Airlines exposed the contact and payment details of some of its passengers. In another instance, an unsecured Elasticsearch database became the reason for a data leak incident at an AI media manipulation service.

  • Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) suffered a cyberattack that affected its customer-side operations. The airline revealed that the passengers who were using its app and website at the time of the attack had their contact details, flight history, and payment card numbers exposed.
  • A hacking crew called SiegedSec targeted Atlassian by gaining access to a third-party contractor’s systems and stole the personal data of more than 13,000 employees, along with floor plans for two of Atlassian’s offices. The exposed data included names, email addresses, work departments, and other information of employees.
  • Threat actors were found using fake Emsisoft code-signing certificates to gain initial access to an enterprise network. They signed the MeshCentral executable with the fake certificate to bypass security checks and move laterally across the network which enabled them to deploy ransomware.
  • The ASEC analysis team recently discovered the distribution of Paradise ransomware through a vulnerability in the AweSun remote control program. Detailed information about the exploitation process is yet to be confirmed. However, it is believed that they are the same group who had exploited the Sunlogin vulnerability to deploy the Sliver backdoor and Cobalt Strike in a recent attack.
  • Cutout, a popular AI image editing tool, suffered a data breach that exposed user images, usernames, and email addresses. An unsecured Elasticsearch database belonging to the tool included 9GB of user data with 22 million log entries. It also had information on the number of user credits, a virtual in-game currency, and links to Amazon S3 buckets.
  • Xavier University, Louisiana, reported a data breach that involved the compromise of Social Security numbers and other personal information of more than 44,000 students and vendors. The university disclosed that the data was exposed following a cyberattack on November 22.
  • The threat actors behind a massive AdSense fraud campaign have infected 10,890 WordPress sites since September 2022. The activity had surged in January, with over 2,600 sites being detected. The hacked websites redirected users to low-quality websites running the Question2Answer CMS.
  • Cracked versions of Hogwarts Legacy, the recently released Harry Potter video game, were found leading users to websites conducting survey scams. This ultimately led to the execution of a trojan and adware on victims’ systems.
  • German airport websites were hit by DDoS attacks once again. The alleged attack took place a day after an IT failure that caused cancellations and delays for thousands of passengers traveling via the country’s flag carrier Lufthansa. The investigations are underway.

New Threats

Public cloud infrastructures are at risk more than ever as several new threat actor groups have begun taking an aim at them. A newly found WIP26 threat group was seen heavily relying on Microsoft Azure, Google Firebase, and Dropbox to drop malware against its targets in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the lesser-known 8220 Gang has also adopted a new tactic to exploit cloud app vulnerabilities in an attempt to expand its cryptomining attacks. In another concerning news, the mayhem caused by ESXIArgs ransomware continues to panic organizations as the attackers take aim at hundreds of entities in Europe.

  • A new malware named Beep includes a wide range of evasion tactics, offering cybercriminals an opportunity to distribute their own payloads. The malware is offered as Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) and is delivered via phishing emails, social networking platforms, or public file-hosting services.
  • Chinese threat actor 8220 Gang has been found consistently changing its C2 IP addresses to exploit Linux and cloud app vulnerabilities to expand its botnet and cryptomining attacks. The gang was also found using the ‘onacroner’ script, something that has been previously used by the Rocke cryptomining group.
  • Researchers have associated two new malware with the infamous SideWinder APT. They are tracked as RAT.b and StealerPy. While the former is designed to harvest various data, the latter uses Telegram to communicate with the compromised target machines.
  • Microsoft tracked a new campaign associated with the DEV-0147 group. Described as an expansion of the group’s operation, the campaign targeted diplomatic entities in South America. The group used ShadowPad and QuasarLoader as part of the campaign.
  • Researchers at Censys disclosed the increase in ransomware attacks aimed at VMware ESXi instances as ESXiArgs ransomware enters Europe. So far, the ransomware has infected over 500 systems located in France, the Netherlands, Germany, the U.K., and Ukraine.
  • A campaign, which is active since December 2022, has been targeting crypto users by deploying MortalKombat ransomware and a Go variant of the Laplas clipper malware on victims’ systems. The campaign mainly targets victims in the U.S., followed by the U.K., Turkey, and the Philippines.
  • The North Korean state-sponsored hacking group APT37, also known as RedEyes or ScarCruft, has recently added a new evasive malware dubbed M2RAT to its arsenal. The group is using the malware in conjunction with a steganography technique to target specific individuals and steal personal PC information and mobile phone data.
  • Researchers observed that the Dark Caracal APT is currently using a new version of Bandook spyware to target Windows systems. So far, more than 700 computers have been infected by the malware, with a majority of them (approximately 75%) located in the Dominican Republic and 20% identified in Venezuela.
  • A malware dubbed Frebniis is being used against targets in Taiwan. The malware abuses a feature of Microsoft’s Internet Information Services (IIS) to deploy a backdoor onto the targeted systems. It is also capable of intercepting the regular flow of HTTP request handling.
  • Two groups, identified as Midnight Hedgehog and Manadarin Capybara, have been found impersonating executives to launch BEC attacks worldwide. While the first group is engaged in payment fraud, Mandarin Capybara executes payroll diversion attacks. Both groups have launched BEC campaigns in at least 13 different languages, including Danish, Dutch, Estonian, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish.
  • A variant of the Mirai botnet, dubbed V3G4, is exploiting IoT devices for DDoS attacks. One of the prime targets of the botnet includes exposed IP cameras. Researchers claim that the botnet has been leveraging several vulnerabilities to spread its infection from July to December 2022.
  • A new threat cluster tracked as WIP26 relies heavily on public cloud infrastructure to target telecommunication providers in the Middle East. It also used the backdoors dubbed CMD365 and CMDEmber to abuse Microsoft 365 Mail and Google Firebase services for C2 purposes.

Related Threat Briefings

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.