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Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - January 30–03

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - January 30–03 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing Feb 3, 2023

The Good

The U.S. government is leaving no stone unturned to protect critical infrastructures from the risk of cyber attacks. In the latest development, the CISA is establishing a new office to tackle supply chain security issues. The task force will be composed of the federal government and industry representatives from the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. Meanwhile, Singapore and European Union have signed an agreement to drive collaboration across different digital platforms, including improving their cybersecurity standards.

  • The CISA is establishing a new office to tackle supply chain security issues. The task force will be composed of the federal government and industry representatives from the information and communications technology sector. With this initiative, the industry and partners can put updated federal guidance and policies into practice.
  • Singapore has started labeling SMS messages sent from organizations that are not registered with the local ID registry as ‘likely scam.’ The mandate will better safeguard users against potential scams. This will also facilitate tracking the origin of scam messages sent to mobile users.
  • Singapore and European Union (EU) signed a partnership agreement to drive collaboration across multiple digital platforms. These include digital payments, trusted data flows, 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital identities. The agreement also mentions improving and maintaining cybersecurity standards across these platforms.

The Bad

Beware! Emails and SMS messages that convincingly look like communications from well-known brands are being sent to users in a widespread BEC campaign that is active since April 2021. Attributed to a newly found threat actor called Firebrick Ostrich, the campaign is primarily focused on organizations in the U.S. That’s not all. Another BEC campaign is underway that redirects users to a fraudulent Microsoft phishing page. In other news, a car retailer and a school in Guildford County in the U.K. were targets of separate ransomware attacks that impacted the sensitive information of individuals.

  • Proofpoint researchers uncovered a malicious OAuth app campaign that leveraged Microsoft's "verified publisher" status to meet some of its OAuth app distribution requirements. The victims mainly appear to be U.K.-based organizations and individuals, including marketing and financial personnel and high-profile users.

  • Users looking for password managers were targeted in a malvertising campaign that leveraged Google Ads. The users were redirected to fake sponsored sites exhibited on the top results in an attempt to steal their login credentials.

  • British car retailer Arnold Clark was targeted by the Play ransomware group that stole personal data such as names, contact details, dates of birth, vehicle information, and bank account details of customers. The investigation is ongoing to understand the precise extent and nature of the compromised data.

  • North Korean Lazarus hacking group has been associated with the new ‘No Pineapple!’ cyberespionage campaign that targeted organizations in research, healthcare, chemical engineering, energy, and defense sectors. The attackers stole around 100GB of data from one of the victims.

  • Google Fi informed its customers that their personal details were impacted by a data breach, which is believed to be connected to a recent leak at T-Mobile. The exposed data included phone numbers, SIM card serial numbers, account status, account activation data, and mobile service plan details.

  • A new DDoS-as-a-Service (DDoSaaS) platform named Passion was seen used in recent attacks targeting medical institutions in the United States and Europe. Although its origins are unknown, the operation has distinctive ties with Russian hacking groups, such as Killnet, Mirai, Venom, and Anonymous Russia.

  • The Vice Society ransomware group claimed to have stolen sensitive data from the Guildford County School, the U.K. Post attack, the gang posted several files containing sensitive information belonging to teachers and students. Meanwhile, the school is yet to determine the full extent of the attack.

  • The U.K-based Planet Ice suffered a data breach that exposed the personal details of over 240,000 customers. The breach occurred after hackers gained unauthorized access to its Ice Account system.

  • The LockBit ransomware gang claimed responsibility for the cyberattack on ION Group. On January 31, the firm disclosed the incident by revealing that the incident impacted ION Cleared Derivatives, a division of ION Markets.

  • More than 350 BEC campaigns impersonating 151 organizations have been identified since April 2021. These campaigns were launched by a financially motivated threat actor, called Firebrick Ostrich, who utilized 212 malicious domains in the process.

  • Trend Micro researchers also observed a BEC campaign that is believed to have been running since April 2022. Linked to the Water Dybbuk threat actor, the campaign used a malicious JavaScript attachment that redirected users to a fraudulent Microsoft phishing page.

New Threats

A series of new data-wiping malware such as SwiftSlicer and Nikowiper came to light this week as researchers unveiled the recent activities of the Russia-based Sandworm APT group. Variants of several known malware threats also emerged, with one of them coming from the LockBit ransomware operators. Called LockBit Green, the ransomware is designed to target cloud-based services. Three new variants of the Prilex PoS malware were also found using sophisticated methods to steal credit card information.

  • A new variant of the LockBit ransomware dubbed LockBit Green is capable of targeting cloud-based services. The variant resembles Conti ransomware v3. It uses a random extension rather than the standard .lockbit extension and the ransom note is identical to the one used by the LockBit Black variant.
  • This week, three new variants of Prilex PoS malware designed to pilfer credit card information were observed. Tracked as 06.03.8080, 06.03.8070, and 06.03.8072, the versions have been modified with the ability to restrict NFC-based contactless payment transactions.
  • CheckPoint observed that over the last six years, the TrickGate packer was used to deploy some of the most wanted malware such as Cerber, TrickBot, Maze, Emotet, REvil, Cobalt Strike, AZORult, Formbook, and AgentTesla. The malware packer underwent changes periodically, enabling the operators to stay under the radar for years.
  • Researchers shared technical details of a new Sh1mmer exploit that could allow attackers to gain root-level access to ChromeOS. Expanded as Shady Hacking 1nstrument Makes Machine Enrollment Retreat, the exploit could be used to bypass administrator restrictions and unenroll enterprise-managed Chromebooks.
  • The sophisticated HeadCrab botnet has infected at least 1,200 Redis servers for cryptomining. Primarily based on Redis processes, the HeadCrab botnet boosts numerous options and capabilities. Upon execution, it creates new Redis commands to enable its operators to perform multiple malicious activities.
  • A threat actor named InTheBox is promoting over 1800 phishing forms for Android on Russian cybercrime forums. These phishing forms are designed to steal credentials and sensitive data from banking, cryptocurrency exchanges, and e-commerce apps.
  • The ASEC analysis team recently discovered the distribution of the TZW ransomware in South Korea. The malware disguises itself as a normal program file related to boot information to spread across systems.
  • The Russian Sandworm APT was attributed to a series of new data-wiping malware attacks against Ukrainian entities. The malware, dubbed SwiftSlicer and Nikowiper, are capable of overwriting important files on targeted systems, thus, destroying Windows domains.
  • Malvertising attacks are being used to distribute .NET loaders dubbed MalVirt. The loaders include different anti-analysis techniques, notably KoiVM virtualization, and are used to deploy Formbook infostealer malware in the later stage of the campaign that is still ongoing.
  • Android users in Southeast Asia are being targeted in a campaign that is active since July 2022. The campaign distributes a banking trojan called TgToxic which is capable of stealing victims’ assets from banking applications, cryptocurrency wallets, and other financial apps. The victims are targeted via phishing emails and SMSes that carry malicious links.
  • Users of the GoAnywhere MFT software were warned of a zero-day remote code execution vulnerability that could allow malicious actors to target systems directly from the Internet. While there are no security patches available currently, users have been asked to follow recommendations to prevent exploitation.

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.