Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, June 15 - 19, 2020

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, June 15 - 19, 2020 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing • June 19, 2020

The Good

Maintaining security across payment systems is an utmost priority for all entities that store, process, or transmit cardholder data. Following the spike in attacks against Point of Sale (PoS) systems, the PCI Security Standards Council (SSC) has released a new set of security requirements to protect cardholders’ data from being compromised during transactions. Furthermore, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) have set up a new scam ad alert tool to protect online users from ad frauds.

  • The PCI Security Standards Council (SSC) has updated the PCI PTS POI Modular Requirements to enable stronger protections for cardholder data. This will enhance security controls to defend against physical tampering and malware attacks that can compromise card data during payment transactions.

  • The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) have set up a new scam ad alert tool with support from digital ad platforms and tech giants. The tool will help protect UK citizens from online ad frauds.

  • The British government will invest £10 million in the next four years to develop groundbreaking cybersecurity technologies. The declared sum, which is a part of the government’s ‘Digital Security by Design’ program, will be distributed among nine research teams.

  • Google revealed that it is relying on artificial intelligence to combat coronavirus-related threats in the UK, India, and Brazil. The firm has incorporated Safe Browsing protection into Google Search, Chrome, Gmail, and Android to block such threats automatically.

  • Intel unveiled a new security feature, Control-Flow Enforcement Technology (CET), for devices that will use the company’s upcoming Tiger Lake mobile processors. The feature will help prevent Return Oriented Programming/Jump Oriented Programming/Call Oriented Programming malware attacks.

The Bad

Multiple data leaks due to misconfigured AWS S3 buckets caught the attention of security experts this week. In one incident, Ariix Italia exposed more than 36,000 documents of Italian citizens, while some eight dating apps leaked 845 GB of private information on the internet. On the other hand, DeliveryHero confirmed a data breach of its Foodora brand, affecting personal details of 727,000 accounts.

  • Attackers hijacked an Oxford University email server to send phishing emails to harvest Microsoft Office 365 credentials from European, Asian, and Middle Eastern targets. The attackers also made use of an Adobe server hosted on Samsung’s domain.

  • Delivery Hero disclosed a data breach of its Foodora brand. The incident affected users across 14 countries, including personal details of 727,000 accounts.

  • PostBank replaced 12 million cards for its customers due to a security breach that took place in December 2018. Rogue employees of the firm had stolen the 36-digit master key to withdraw more than $3.2 million in fraudulent transactions.

  • Ransomware attackers hacked the computer systems of the City of Keizer, Oregon. They demanded a ransom of $48,000 from the city for the retrieval of stolen data.

  • IT services giant, Cognizant, revealed that Maze ransomware operators pilfered a limited amount of data from its systems. This included social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, tax IDs, and passport numbers of employees.

  • Amazon’s AWS Shield service mitigated the largest-ever DDoS attack that occurred in mid-February this year. The DDoS recorded a range of 2.3 Tbps.

  • An unsecured Amazon S3 bucket belonging to Ariix Italia had leaked more than 36,000 documents of Italian citizens. The exposed documents included scans of national IDs, credit cards, and health insurance cards. The bucket also contained full names, addresses, and signatures of individuals.

  • DraftKings disclosed that its partner SBTech was affected in a ransomware attack during their merger. This had affected the company’s sports betting and iGaming services.

  • MaxLinear Inc. was hit by Maze ransomware this week. Following the attack, the hackers released some proprietary information about the company online. The threat actor group is also behind an attack on a Puerto Rico-based management firm, CSA group.

  • The UK National Health Service (NHS) confirmed that some 113 internal email accounts were compromised to send malicious spam messages outside the organization. The emails sent using the breached account included a link to a fake login page of the NHS.

  • Several websites belonging to different Australian financial institutions, law firms, and entertainment companies were put for sale on MagBo underground forum. The access to these websites was sold at prices up to $10,000.

  • Web skimmer codes were used against Intersport, Claire’s, and Icing in an attempt to harvest credit card details from customers. The malicious code was planted on the checkout pages of the targeted websites.

  • A misconfigured AWS S3 bucket had leaked 845 GB of data belonging to different dating apps. The affected apps include 3somes, CougarD, Gay Daddy Bear, Xpal, BBW Dating, SugarD, GHunt, and Herpes Dating.

New Threats

Coming to new threats, a set of 19 vulnerabilities, collectively known as Ripple20, was found affecting a TCP/IP software library developed by Treck Inc. These flaws can be exploited to pilfer data from millions of IoT devices. Additionally, new versions of the Shlayer Mac malware and IcedID trojan capable of sneaking past security solutions more efficiently, were also uncovered this week.

  • The Ginp mobile malware, which is well-known for targeting banking customers in Spain, Poland, and the United Kingdom, expanded its attack campaign to Turkey. Researchers found several fake web pages, mimicking banks in Turkey, designed to distribute the malware.
  • Researchers tracked a new cyberespionage campaign associated with the infamous Lazarus group. Codenamed as Operation In(ter)ception, the campaign was carried out via LinkedIn to target personnel at European aerospace and military organizations.
  • Google removed 106 malicious Chrome extensions that were involved in collecting user keystrokes, clipboard content, cookies, and more. The primary connection between all the extensions was that they sent user data back to domains registered through the GalComm domain registrar.
  • Shlayer Mac malware returned with a new variant that sneaked past security solutions by purporting to be an Adobe Flash Player installer. The malicious installer is distributed by poisoning Google search results to lure victims.
  • A multi-stage attack, distributed via a malicious Word document, disguised as a resume to users worldwide. In the last stage, the threat actors used Cobalt Strike’s Malleable C2 feature to download the final payload and perform C2 communication.
  • An unpatched vulnerability in USB for Remote Desktop can allow attackers to elevate privileges on a target machine by adding fake devices. The flaw affects a bus driver for the Remote Desktop developed by FabulaTech.
  • Research revealed that the Turla threat actor group had abused a vulnerability in Oracle’s VirtualBox software to spread a malware named AcidBox. The malware was used by the gang twice against the Russian organization in 2017.
  • Google Alerts picked up a new trend of fake data breach notifications pushed by fraudsters. The attackers are leveraging black SEO techniques,Google sites, and spam pages to redirect users to fake notifications from well-known brands to distribute malware and scams.
  • A collection of 19 vulnerabilities, known as Ripple20, has been found in a TCP/IP software library developed by Treck Inc. These flaws affect millions of IoT devices using the software and can be abused to steal data and take control of devices.
  • Malware distributors abused a DLL hijacking vulnerability in Apple's APSDaemon.exe, AnyToIso, and CrystalBit software to install coin miners. The campaign starts with users being redirected to sites that make false claims to offer copyrighted software.
  • A new version of the IceID banking trojan was spotted using steganography to stealthily infect victims. It is distributed via phishing emails that pretend to be related to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
  • The Black Kingdom ransomware group exploited an RCE vulnerability in Pulse Secure VPN to gain access to corporate networks. The vulnerability in question is identified as CVE-2019-11510.

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Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, April 21–25, 2025

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Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, April 14–18, 2025

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Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, April 07–11, 2025

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Mar 28, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, March 24–28, 2025

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Mar 21, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, March 17–21, 2025

The race to outpace quantum threats is officially on. The NCSC has issued guidance to help organizations transition to post-quantum cryptography by 2035, with a focus on NIST-approved algorithms and planned support for critical sectors. A nationwide fraud crackdown ends with hundreds behind bars. Operation Henhouse led to 422 arrests and the seizure of millions in assets, as U.K. police target the country’s most widespread and costly crime - fraud. A threat actor briefly exposed their entire playbook. Researchers found a public server hosting tools tied to a campaign targeting South Korea, including a Rust-compiled payload delivering Cobalt Strike Cat and a list of over 1,000 potential targets. Phishing messages on Signal are leading to full system compromise. CERT-UA warns of DarkCrystal RAT attacks targeting Ukraine’s defense sector, using fake contacts and malicious files to trick victims into executing spyware. Ransomware slipped into VSCode under the radar. Two malicious extensions were discovered on the VSCode Marketplace, bypassing checks to deliver test-stage ransomware demanding ShibaCoin for decryption. Fake ads are being weaponized to steal Google credentials. A campaign targeting Semrush users is redirecting victims to spoofed login pages, where attackers harvest Google account logins through a fake “Log in with Google” prompt. A fake browser update could cost you more than a few clicks. A new ClearFake campaign is using fake reCAPTCHA and Turnstile pages to deliver malware like Lumma and Vidar Stealer, with payloads fetched through Binance’s Smart Chain. Hackers are quietly poisoning AI-generated code. A new supply chain attack targets AI editors like Copilot and Cursor, exploiting rules files to inject malicious prompts that trick the tools into writing compromised code.

Mar 14, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, March 10–14, 2025

A Russian hosting provider is feeling the heat from global sanctions. Australia, the U.K., and the U.S. have sanctioned Zservers, a bulletproof hosting provider linked to ransomware and fraud, freezing its assets and restricting operations. Switzerland is tightening its grip on cyber incident reporting. Starting April 1, critical infrastructure operatorsmust report cyberattacks to the NCSC within 24 hours, reinforcing national cybersecurity defenses. Cybercriminals are upgrading their toolkit for long-term access. Ragnar Loader is being leveraged by ransomware groups like FIN7, FIN8, and Ragnar Locker, evolving into a stealthier and more modular malware for persistent system compromise. Chinese hackers are slipping past defenses in Juniper routers. The UNC3886 threat group is backdooring older Juniper MX routers, bypassing security protections and embedding custom TinyShell malware to maintain access. North Korean hackers are adding ransomware to their arsenal. Moonstone Sleet (Storm-1789) is deploying Qilin ransomware, using fake companies and trojanized tools to infiltrate targets through LinkedIn and freelance platforms. A botnet is turning home routers into attack platforms. The Ballista botnet is exploiting an unpatched TP-Link Archer router flaw (CVE-2023-1389) to spread stealthily, using Tor domains and remote command execution to launch DDoS attacks worldwide. Copy, paste, and lose your crypto. MassJacker hijacks clipboard transactions, swapping wallet addresses with attacker-controlled ones, stealing funds from victims who unknowingly send money to the wrong destination. A fake CAPTCHA is all it takes to get root access. The OBSCURE#BAT campaign is using social engineering tactics to install the r77 rootkit, bypassing defenses and targeting English-speaking users with stealthy, persistent malware.

Mar 7, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, March 03–07, 2025

The code caves of GitHub just got a cleanup crew courtesy of Microsoft. A sprawling malvertising campaign that snagged nearly a million devices worldwide has been knocked down a peg. Cheap Android gadgets are getting a breather from a relentless digital pest. The BadBox 2.0 botnet, a souped-up sequel backed by multiple threat crews, saw 24 shady apps booted from Google Play and half a million infected devices cut off from their puppet masters, thanks to some crafty sinkholing and Google’s cleanup sweep. A sneaky gatecrasher has turned WordPress into a redirect rollercoaster. A malicious JavaScript injection lurking in a theme file has snagged at least 31 sites, pulling visitors through a two-step detour to shady third-party domains. Japan’s digital defenses are under siege from a shadowy crew with a taste for chaos. Since January, unknown threat actors have been prying open organizations in tech, telecom, entertainment, and more, exploiting CVE-2024-4577 in PHP-CGI on Windows. Crooks posing as the Electronic Frontier Foundation are targeting Albion Online players with phishing emails and fake PDFs, claiming account trouble. It’s a ruse to drop Stealc malware and Pyramid C2. A fresh face in the cybercrime underworld is juggling a bag of nasty surprises. EncryptHub is hitting users of QQ Talk, WeChat, Google Meet, and more with trojanized apps and slick multi-stage attacks. The Eleven11bot botnet, loosely tied to Iran, has taken over 86,000 IoT devices to slam telecoms and gaming servers with relentless DDoS barrages. Social media’s sunny side has a dark shadow creeping across the Middle East and North Africa. Since September 2024, Desert Dexter has been slinging a tweaked AsyncRAT via legit file-sharing sites and Telegram. For detailed Cyber Threat Intel, click ‘Read More’.

Feb 28, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, February 24–28, 2025

Stay ahead of cyber threats with the latest on the Vo1d botnet infecting Android TVs, GitVenom malware on GitHub, Redox Stealer, LCRYX ransomware, and a critical WordPress XSS vulnerability. Plus, insights on Lotus Blossom cyber espionage, PolarEdge malware targeting routers, Chrome extension hijacks, and PayPal phishing scams. Get the full security briefing now!

Feb 21, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, February 17–21, 2025

Google is stepping up its defenses against the quantum threat. The company is rolling out quantum-resistant digital signatures in Cloud KMS, following NIST’s post-quantum cryptography standards. Supply chain attacks just got harder to pull off. Apiiro has released two open-source tools to detect malicious code in software projects. With high detection rates across PyPI and npm packages, these tools add a crucial layer of security for developers. China’s Salt Typhoon is making itself at home in global telecom networks. The group has been caught using JumbledPath, a custom-built spying tool, to infiltrate ISPs in the U.S., Italy, South Africa, and Thailand. ShadowPad malware is once again causing havoc in Europe. Trend Micro flagged 21 targeted companies across 15 countries, with manufacturing firms bearing the brunt. A RAT is hiding in plain sight. SectopRAT has been spotted disguised as a fake Google Docs Chrome extension. It steals browser data, targets VPNs and cryptocurrency wallets, and injects malicious scripts into web pages. Darcula Suite is taking PhaaS to the next level. The upcoming update, currently in beta, will let users generate their own phishing kits by cloning real websites and customizing attack elements. A new payment card skimming campaign is turning Stripe’s old API into a weapon. Hackers are injecting malicious scripts into checkout pages, validating stolen card details through Stripe before exfiltration. LummaC2 is spreading through cracked software downloads again. ASEC found it disguised as a pirated Total Commander installer, hiding behind Google Collab Drive and Reddit links.