Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - July 22–26

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - July 22–26 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing • July 26, 2019

The Good

As we gear up for a new weekend, let’s quickly glance through all that happened in the cyberspace over the week. Before delving into the security incidents and the new threats, let’s first take a look at all the positive events. The National Security Agency (NSA) announced plans to establish a new cybersecurity division that will help defend the US against foreign cyber-threats. JPMorgan Chase researchers have presented a paper that describes how AI and deep learning helps in detecting and neutralizing malware. Meanwhile, Microsoft is currently updating its Office 365 Threat Explorer with enhanced manual threat hunting features.

  • The National Security Agency (NSA) announced plans to establish a new cybersecurity division named ‘Cybersecurity Directorate’ that will help the US defend against foreign cyber-threats. This new division will enable organizations to better share information with their customers so they are equipped to defend against cyber threats. The directorate will become operational on October 01, 2019.
  • JPMorgan Chase is integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its internal security systems to prevent malware infections. In a research paper, JPMorgan researchers describe that AI and deep learning helps in detecting and neutralizing malware that an employee might have accidentally installed on their workstation. It can also block web-browser links that redirect to a landing page for malware.
  • Microsoft is currently updating its Office 365 Threat Explorer with enhanced manual threat hunting features. The features are expected to be rolled out to all environments in August 2019. The new features will allow Office 365 admins to preview and download malicious emails for further analysis, to access email timeline, to differentiate multiple events being triggered for the same malicious email, and more.
  • Romania and Israel signed an agreement to work together in cybersecurity research and development, thereby strengthening security across both nations. Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said that both the countries will collaborate together in protecting their organizations, institutions, and citizens.

The Bad

Several data breaches and security incidents were witnessed in this week. A Chinese cyberespionage group targeted several German firms including BASF, Siemens, and Hankel with Winnti malware. An unprotected database belonging to YouHodler exposed over 86 million user records. Last but not least, American Esoteric Laboratories, Laboratory Medicine Consultants, Austin Pathology Associates, South Texas Dermatopathology, and Pathology Solutions disclosed data breaches as a result of the AMCA incident.

  • A Chinese cyberespionage group targeted several German firms including BASF, Seimens, and Hankel with Winnti malware. Apart from these German firms, Roche, Marriott, Lion Air, Sumitomo Corporation, and Shin-Etsu Chemical were also targeted by the group.
  • A hacker group named ‘0v1ru$’ breached SyTech, a contractor for the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) and stole information about internal projects. The contractor had worked for FSB unit 71330 and with fellow contractor Quantum since 2009. The projects include Nautilus, Nautilus-S, Reward, Mentor, Hope, and Tax-3.
  • A hacker who goes under the name ‘tomholland’ gained access to the private data of almost 200,000 users of a Taiwan-based job site ‘1111 Job Bank’ and leaked them on a US hacking forum ‘RaidForums’. The leaked information includes job applicants’ ID card numbers, full names, dates of birth, email addresses, phone numbers, mailing addresses, and work history.
  • Attackers hacked the official Twitter account of the UK’s Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and posted a series of tweets calling for the release of a jailed British rapper. Apart from these tweets, strange messages also appeared in the news section of the MPS website. Upon discovery, MPS took down all these unsolicited messages both from Twitter and its news page.
  • American Esoteric Laboratories, Laboratory Medicine Consultants, Austin Pathology Associates, South Texas Dermatopathology, and Pathology Solutions notified their patients about a data breach that was caused due to the American Medical Collection Agency (AMCA) incident.
  • Swedish cryptocurrency exchange QuickBit exposed the personal information of almost 300,000 customers due to an unprotected MongoDB database that was left publicly accessible without any authentication. The unsecured database exposed personal information for approximately 2% of QuickBit's customers. The exposed information includes customers’ names, addresses, email addresses, and credit card information.
  • The University of Hawaii suffered a data breach compromising the personal information of around 70,000 public school students after a third-party gained unauthorized access to one of its servers. The compromised information includes student names, dates of birth, gender, race, ethnicity, addresses, grade level, courses taken and grades, CGPA scores, and proficiency levels.
  • Graduation Alliance suffered a data breach compromising the personal information of thousands of public school students from Tennessee after an unauthorized third-party entity gained access to its servers. The compromised information includes students’ personal data such as names, dates of birth, gender, ethnicity, and ACT scores for a subset of students. However, no Social Security numbers or addresses were compromised.
  • An unsecured database belonging to YouHodler exposed over 86 million records of user data including names, dates of birth, email addresses, addresses, phone numbers, passport numbers, passwords, credit card numbers, CVV numbers, bank details, and crypto wallet addresses. YouHodler acknowledged the data leak and secured the database by restricting public access.
  • City Power, an electricity provider owned by the city of Johannesburg, suffered a ransomware attack. The ransomware infection encrypted the company's databases, systems, applications, the internal network, and the official website. The attack disabled a few clients from buying electricity units using the company’s prepaid electricity vending system.
  • Security researchers from Data Group uncovered an unprotected server containing 250GB of data which was publicly accessible without any authentication. The unsecured server contained sensitive information of clients of various local banks. Even though the server is linked to more than one bank, a majority of the exposed details were related to a local bank named Banco Pan.

New Threats

This week also witnessed the occurrence of several new malware strains and vulnerabilities. BSI, the German national cybersecurity authority, issued a warning about a malspam campaign that distributes the Sodinokibi ransomware. A critical vulnerability was detected in Palo Alto GlobalProtect SSL VPN software that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code. Meanwhile, the NSO Group revealed details about the Pegasus spyware.

  • BSI, the German national cybersecurity authority, issued a warning regarding a malspam campaign that distributes the Sodinokibi ransomware. The mails are sent from the meldung@bis-bund[.]org email address and go with the subject line of “Warnmeldung kompromittierter Benutzerdaten.” Once launched, the ransomware encrypts the victims’ files with unique extensions and later demands a ransom amount ranging between $2500-$5000.
  • Researchers analyzed a sample of the MegaCortex ransomware that targets enterprises. The attackers behind the ransomware operated by accessing a target network and then compromising the Windows domain controller. After encrypting compromised workstations, the ransomware asks a ransom that falls somewhere between 2-3 bitcoins to 600 BTC.
  • Emsisoft released a free decryption tool for the LooCipher ransomware. This decryptor was created by security researcher Michael Gillespie with assistance from another security expert Francesco Muroni. This free decryptor allows LooCipher victims to decrypt their encrypted files without paying the ransom.
  • A critical remote code execution vulnerability was detected in the Palo Alto GlobalProtect portal and GlobalProtect Gateway products. The vulnerability tracked as CVE-2019-1579 impacts all companies that use the GlobalProtect software, including ride-sharing platform Uber. This vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to perform arbitrary code execution. The impacted versions include PAN-OS 7.1.18, PAN-OS 8.0.11, and PAN-OS 8.1.2.
  • Security researchers uncovered that the Chinese threat actor group APT15 was using a backdoor called Okrum for over two years. The backdoor is capable of downloading and uploading files, executing binaries, running shell commands, updating itself, and more. Okrum was also used to deliver Ketrican malware.
  • An ongoing attack campaign is distributing the BillGates/Setag backdoor through a multistage attack to compromise unsecured Elasticsearch databases. The backdoor can be used to turn the Elasticsearch database into a botnet zombie for performing DDoS attacks. Setag backdoor is capable of hijacking a system, deters debugging, and replaces the infected system’s systools.
  • Researchers observed an ongoing malvertising campaign that abuses stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Coming Soon Page & Maintenance Mode WordPress plugin. This causes the compromised WordPress sites to display unwanted popup ads and redirect visitors to malicious landing pages, including tech support scams, malicious APKs, and pharmaceutical ads.
  • NSO Group recently revealed details about the Pegasus spyware. The spyware is enhanced to copy authentication keys and access cloud services like Google Drive or iCloud. The malware is capable of scraping a target’s data from the servers of Apple, Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Microsoft.
  • Security researchers uncovered a new variant of the Watchbog malware that targets Jira and Exim servers. The malware exploits remote code execution vulnerabilities in both the servers. Upon infecting the servers, the resulting botnets are used to mine Monero cryptocurrency.
  • Researchers spotted the Monokle trojan using new techniques to exfiltrate data. This trojan currently targets Android devices, however, researchers have found some samples of the malware targeting iOS devices. Its capabilities include keylogging, capturing photos and videos, as well as retrieving the history of apps including web browsers, social media services, and messengers.

Related Threat Briefings

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 13, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, June 09–13, 2025

A global sweep just knocked out thousands of malicious command centers. INTERPOL’s Operation Secure led to the dismantling of over 20,000 malicious IPs tied to 69 malware strains across 26 countries. NIST has published new guidance to help organizations put Zero Trust Architecture into action, offering 19 real-world implementations built with industry partners. CyberEye lowers the barrier for cybercrime with a plug-and-play toolkit. This .NET-based RAT uses Telegram for command and control while offering modules for keylogging, credential theft, and platform-specific data grabbing. The TokenBreak attack manipulates how text is tokenized in classification models to sneak past defenses. A Mirai variant is actively exploiting a command injection vulnerability in TBK DVR-4104 and DVR-4216 devices, to conscript them into a botnet for DDoS attacks. Unpatched IT tools are once again opening the door to ransomware attacks. CISA has warned about vulnerabilities in SimpleHelp RMM software being exploited by groups like Play and DragonForce in double-extortion campaigns. Fog ransomware operators are blurring the line between admin tools and attack chains. In a recent incident, they deployed a mix of open-source and legitimate software to gain persistence and exfiltrate data undetected. Over 20 phishing applications impersonating popular crypto wallets have been found stealing mnemonic phrases to drain users’ funds.

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.

May 23, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, May 19–23, 2025

Operation Endgame just dealt a major blow to the ransomware supply chain. Europol led the charge in dismantling malware infrastructure tied to multiple malware families, seizing 300 servers and more. Japan has officially gone on the cyber offense. The new Active Cyberdefense Law allows preemptive strikes against foreign cyber threats. It enables traffic analysis and takedowns of hostile servers. Think twice before clicking on that Ledger update. A new macOS malware campaign is deploying fake versions of the Ledger Live app to steal cryptocurrency seed phrases. A Turkish phishing lure leads straight to SnakeKeylogger. Fake AI tools are the new phishing lures and they’re convincing. Cybercriminals cloned Kling AI’s brand through Facebook ads and spoofed websites to trick users into downloading malware. The DBatLoader (aka ModiLoader) malware is making the rounds again - this time disguised as a Turkish bank email. The copyright threat in your inbox might be bait. A phishing campaign sweeping across central and eastern Europe is using fake legal complaints to deliver the Rhadamanthys Stealer. Two years of silence, 6,200 downloads later - the malware is finally found. A malicious campaign targeting JavaScript developers slipped past detection by disguising harmful npm packages as plugins for frameworks like React, Vue.js, Vite, and Quill Editor. Researchers uncovered a stealthy new backdoor paired with a Monero coinminer, using the PyBitmessage library for encrypted peer-to-peer communications.

May 16, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, May 12–16, 2025

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

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 18, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, April 14–18, 2025

The U.S. is drawing a hard line on data outflows. The DOJ’s new Data Security Program aims to block foreign adversaries, specifically nations like China and Russia, from acquiring sensitive American data through commercial channels. SSL certificates are about to expire a lot faster. In a move to tighten digital trust, the CA/Browser Forum has approved a gradual reduction in certificate lifespans - from the current 398 days to just 47 by 2029. One email, three stages, and no files to catch. Agent Tesla is being deployed through spam campaigns that use archive attachments with embedded JavaScript. They look like browser helpers, but they act like spyware. A set of 57 Chrome extensions have been found snooping on users. XorDDoS is now compromising Docker servers and deploying new features tied to a “VIP” variant. Most of the recent activity is hitting U.S. infrastructure. UNC5174 is keeping a low profile, but its targets aren’t. Active since late 2024, the Chinese state-linked group has been compromising Linux systems using a malicious bash script that drops SNOWLIGHT malware and a fileless VShell RAT. A wine-tasting invite with a side of malware. APT29, the Russian state-aligned group, is targeting European diplomatic networks with phishing lures disguised as event announcements.