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Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - June 14–18

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - June 14–18 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing Jun 18, 2021

The Good

“You're gonna clap your hands, Gonna wanna dance when you hear it.” Because we have loads of good news to give your morning a fresh start. Another ransomware has locked up its business and sent the decryption keys for its victims. A change of heart? Perhaps not! In a latest technological advancement researchers developed a smart home system that doesn’t eavesdrop on your conversations. There cannot be a good end to the week without cybercriminals being punished for their deeds. Microsoft broke up the cloud infrastructure used by BEC scammers.

  • The NSA has released mitigations and best practices for system admins to follow in order to secure Unified Communications (UC) and Voice and Video over IP (VVoIP) call-processing systems.

  • Thousands of online marketplaces parading as pharmacies were taken down by Interpol in Operation Pangea XIV. These marketplaces pushed fake and illicit medicines and drugs as well as fake COVID-19 testing kits.

  • One of the most prolific ransomware of our times—Avaddon—announced shutting down its operations and providing a decryption tool for free. The file was sent to BleepingComputer and had decryption keys for all 2,934 victims.

  • Ukrainian police allegedly busted members of the Cl0p ransomware gang that extort money from foreign businesses, located specifically in the U.S. and South Korea.

  • Researchers at the University of Rochester devised an approach called TimeCache that protects against side-channel attacks like evict+reload and Spectre, with a tiny performance impact.

  • Microsoft researchers disrupted the cloud-based infrastructure used by BEC scammers in a recent large-scale attack campaign aimed at Office 365 users.

  • Researchers at the University of Michigan developed a system called PrivacyMic that can filter out audible sounds, thereby offering more security and privacy to users of smart home systems.

The Bad

When an organization is repeatedly hit by cyberattacks, it raises some serious questions about its security posture and what it is doing to protect sensitive information. Take the case of Carnival Corporation. The firm has been hit with security breaches multiple times in the past couple of years, with the latest one this week. Once again, we cannot escape from the news of misconfigured databases as Cognyte left bare billions of records exposed. The monumental SITA breach has finally been attributed to the APT41 threat actor.

  • The Polish parliament stated that individuals and institutions were targeted in a series of cyberattacks. The incident follows the breach of the private email account of the head of the prime minister’s office.

  • Around 20GB of confidential files containing personal information—full names, physical addresses, purchase details, phone numbers, and email addresses—of retail customers was exposed due to an unprotected Amazon AWS bucket. In the same vein, a misconfigured database belonging to Cognyte had exposed more than 5 billion records for three days before security professionals secured it.

  • An online database containing 204GB of data belonging to CVS Health disclosed over a billion records due to a misconfiguration issue. The data includes production records of visitor IDs, session IDs, and device access information.

  • The TA402 threat actor group, also known as Molerats and GazaHacker, was found responsible for a cyberespionage campaign targeting government agencies in the Middle East.

  • Scammers were spotted sending fake replacement devices to Ledger customers affected in a recent data breach in an attempt to steal from their cryptocurrency wallets. Although the device looked legitimate, the printed circuit board was modified.

  • Taobao, Alibaba’s shopping operation, suffered a data breach exposing the usernames and phone numbers of a billion users. The information was lifted from the site by a crawler developed by an affiliate marketer.

  • NFT creators and digital artists were targeted in a Redline malware campaign, enabling the threat actor to swipe the former’s profits. According to reports, the attacker impersonated NFT creators and approached Twitter users with business deals that tricked them into downloading and running a malware-laced file.

  • A security vulnerability in the Peloton Bike+ and Peloton treadmill equipment could expose gym users to a variety of cyberattacks. The flaw has no CVE details and can allow a hacker to gain remote root access to the Peloton’s tablet. A patch has been issued.

  • The data breach at SITA, a global IT service provider for 90% of airlines worldwide, was traced back to the Chinese state-sponsored threat actor APT41 by the Group-IB team.

  • Carnival Corporation suffered a data breach wherein attackers gained access to its email accounts and customer and employee data. The data included names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, passport numbers, health information, and in some special cases, social security numbers.

New Threats

Well well well, what do we have here? A novel malware has been discovered that doesn’t fit any typical malware motive, as of now. It instead tries to ban software piracy! A new Mirai variant has been found that scans Tenda routers for uncommon flaws. Finally, we have an opportunistic hacker trying to fly under the name of DarkSide to misdirect the defenders.

  • The new DarkRadiation ransomware targets RedHat and CentOS Linux distributions. The ransomware is under active development.
  • The BelialDemon threat actor was found advertising a new malware-as-a-service called Matanbuchus Loader on dark web markets and Telegram channels. The malware can drop second-stage malware payloads from C2 infrastructure.
  • A pretty complex malware named DirtyMoe is being used in cryptojacking and DDoS attacks. Linked to Chinese threat actors, the malware is currently being deployed via the PurpleFox exploit kit.
  • A new SEO poisoning tactic is propagating the SolarMaker malware via PDF documents filled with keywords and malicious links. The backdoor malware is capable of stealing data and credentials from browsers.
  • A Mirai variant Moobot was discovered scanning Tenda routers for known but uncommon vulnerabilities. This malware strain primarily targets exposed and vulnerable Docker APIs to include them in its DDoS botnet.
  • Experts revealed a new phishing campaign wherein actors abuse Google Docs to deliver malicious links aimed at stealing victims’ credentials.
  • A faux DarkSide threat actor is sending threatening emails to several organizations in the energy and food sector, claiming to have breached their network. The actor is demanding a ransom of 100 BTC in lieu of public disclosure of sensitive data.
  • The newly discovered Vigilante malware aims at piracy by preventing unauthorized downloading of pirated software or games. It also tries modifying the victims’ computers so that they can’t access pirate sites.

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.