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Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence July 26–30, 2021

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence July 26–30, 2021 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing Jul 30, 2021

The Good

Better late than never. Patch your vulnerabilities now as the Five Eyes cybersecurity agencies have issued an advisory about the top 30 most exploited flaws. In another good piece of news, GitLab issued a new open-source tool that would help developers detect malicious code.

  • Brazil created a cyberattack response network called the Federal Cyber Incident Management Network to promote faster response to cyberattacks and vulnerabilities while establishing coordination between federal government bodies.

  • The CISA, ACSC, FBI, and NCSC released a joint advisory on the top 30 vulnerabilities routinely exploited by threat actors. Some of these flaws affect VPNs from Pulse Secure, Fortinet, and F5-Big IP.

  • Google announced more details about its Safety Section feature in Google Play Store that offers information about the data collected by an Android app.

  • GitLab rolled out a new open-source tool, dubbed Package Hunter, to help developers identify malicious code in their project dependencies. Right now, it includes support for NodeJS modules and Ruby Gems.

The Bad

‘Once burned twice shy,’ the saying goes. However, sometimes that’s not the case as is evident from JustDial experiencing another data breach, which is eerily similar to the one from 2019. Moving away from human errors, we are tired of witnessing attacks and data breaches at healthcare facilities every single day. This week attackers stole sensitive information from Homewood Health. And, BazarCall attackers are back in action.

  • Cybercriminals stole the confidential data of British Columbians from Homewood Health. The trove contains data related to finances, amendments, agreements, accruals, and projects, among others.

  • IP cameras sold by a dozen vendors are vulnerable to remote assaults due to a myriad of serious and high-severity flaws affecting UDP Technology firmware. Eleven of these flaws are related to remote code execution issues and one authentication bypass vulnerability.

  • University of San Diego Health underwent a data breach that compromised the personal information of its patients, students, and employees. The incident occurred between December 2, 2020, and April 8, 2021, after hackers gained unauthorized access to some employee email accounts.

  • NFT Ethereum-based game Axie Infinity players were targeted after threat actors infected Google Ads content. The threat actors lured the players into transferring funds from their cryptocurrency accounts.

  • Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) suffered a data breach after threat actors allegedly accessed sensitive information from the CONNECT public claimant portal between April 27 and July 16. The affected data includes social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, bank account numbers, addresses, phone numbers, and birth dates of claimants.

  • An ongoing malicious campaign—BazaCall—is leveraging fake call centers to lure victims into downloading malware. The attacks employ conventional social engineering tactics.

  • Chinese state benefits app, named Beijing One Pass, has been found laden with spyware-like features. It is mandatory for foreign organizations in China to download the app to handle employee state benefits.

  • Reports revealed that attackers are using the XAMPP web server solutions stack to host Agent Tesla and Formbook malware.

  • JustDial once again exposed the personal information—usernames, email addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth—of over 100 million users due to an unprotected API.

  • LINE accounts of more than 100 Taiwanese politicians and government officials were hacked and data pilfered. Users have been asked to enable their account’s message encryption feature.

New Threats

Cybercriminals are in the race of revamping everything, from malware to entire gangs. DoppelPaymer got rebranded as Grief. Also, researchers believe that a new ransomware gang, BlackMatter, might be the scion of REvil and DarkSide. Scary! Speaking of ransomware, there’s a new ransomware called AvosLocker which is actively looking for affiliates.

  • A mobile malware Oscorp got revamped as the new UBEL Android botnet and is on sale for a price of $980 on underground forums. It is capable of reading and sending SMS, stealing audio recordings, and installing and deleting applications, among others.
  • A new Android RAT, dubbed Vultur, is exploiting screen recording features to steal credentials and other sensitive data from compromised devices. So far, Vultur has infected between 5,000 and 8,000 users.
  • DoppelPaymer ransomware got rebranded as Grief in an attempt to expand the group’s attack surface. DoppelPaymer had gone underground in mid-May, only to re-emerge as Grief ransomware in June.
  • In a new revelation, the Imperial Kitten threat actor group was found masquerading as an aerobic instructor ‘Marcella Flores’ for years. Its aim was to distribute a malware dubbed LEMPO onto the infected machines.
  • Researchers have identified a ransomware called Haron that borrows its code and tactics from Thanos and Avaddon ransomware. On another tangent, the new BlackMatter ransomware is expanding is recruiting affiliates and is claimed to be the successor of the now-defunct DarkSide and REvil ransomware.
  • Mustang Panda, a Chinese cyberespionage group, was spotted using a new variant of PlugX RAT. The RAT was used to target Microsoft Exchange Servers in March.
  • After studying the cyberattack on Iran’s train system, SentinelOne linked the incident to a new threat actor they named MeteorExpress, a hitherto unknown wiper.
  • Sygnia researchers reported a new APT group—Praying Mantis or TG1021—targeting Microsoft IIS web servers to reach victims’ internal networks to steal sensitive data.
  • Experts warn of a new ransomware variant called AvosLocker whose activities suggest that the group is actively looking for partnership in the underground markets.
  • A phishing campaign was observed using a unique tactic to pilfer PayPal credentials. It leverages carefully designed emails that seem to be legitimate until a recipient decides to check out the links and headers.

Related Threat Briefings

Feb 14, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, February 10–14, 2025

Cyber defenders are sharpening their tools, and EARLYCROW is the latest weapon against stealthy APT operations. This method detects C2 activity over HTTP(S) using a novel traffic analysis format called PAIRFLOW. India is taking digital banking security up a notch. The RBI is launching a dedicated domain to curb financial fraud and enhance trust in online banking. Starting April 2025, financial institutions will register under this domain. China’s RedMike hackers are dialing into telecom networks - literally. Between December 2024 and January 2025, they targeted over 1,000 unpatched Cisco devices. Their primary focus? Global telecoms and university networks in Argentina, Bangladesh, and the U.S. Russia’s Sandworm hackers are using pirated software as bait. Their latest attack on Ukrainian Windows users disguises malware inside trojanized KMS activators and fake Windows updates. Love is in the air, but so are phishing scams. In late January, cybercriminals launched a Valentine’s-themed phishing campaign, offering fake gift baskets in exchange for stolen credentials. Cybercriminals are upping their game with Astaroth, a phishing kit that doesn’t just steal credentials but also hijacks entire sessions. By using a reverse proxy, Astaroth intercepts logins and 2FA tokens in real time, allowing attackers to bypass security measures undetected. South America’s foreign ministry was caught in the crosshairs of an advanced cyber-espionage campaign. In November 2024, attackers linked to REF7707 deployed the PATHLOADER and FINALDRAFT malware to infiltrate diplomatic networks. A new malware named Ratatouille is stirring up trouble by bypassing UAC and using I2P for anonymous communications. Spreading through phishing emails and fake CAPTCHA pages, it tricks victims into running an embedded PowerShell script.

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.