Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence June 28–July 02, 2021

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence June 28–July 02, 2021 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing July 2, 2021

The Good

Finally, some good news to get you ready for the day! DoubleVPN servers have been confiscated by law enforcement agencies from several countries. Systems attacked by Lorenz ransomware have a piece of good news as researchers developed a decryptor.

  • The CISA released a new module for its Cyber Security Evaluation Tool (CSET) called Ransomware Readiness Assessment to help an organization gradually improve its cybersecurity posture.
  • Law enforcement agencies from the U.S., the U.K, Germany, Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, and other countries obtained personal information, logs, and statistics of all the customers of DoubleVPN and confiscated its servers. The service was leveraged by hackers to evade detection during attacks.
  • Researchers from cybersecurity firm Tesorion analyzed the recently discovered Lorenz ransomware and developed a decryptor that is to be launched soon.
  • Google and the Open Source Security Foundation (OSSF) launched the OpenSSF Security Scorecards. This automated tool produces a risk score for open-source programs.
  • The U.S. Secret Service issued a list of 10 most wanted fugitives in connection with financial cybercrimes. The agency is offering rewards of up to $1 million for information on these cybercriminals.

The Bad

While the SolarWinds attacks witnessed a fallout, another Kremlin-linked hacker group has also upped its malicious activities. Cybersecurity authorities from the U.S. and the U.K issued a joint advisory warning hundreds of organizations about ongoing brute force attacks by the Fancy Bear group. Human errors continue to plague the healthcare sector as UofL Health ended up leaking the PHI of thousands of patients.

  • A threat actor was found using the leaked Babuk Locker builder tool to target victims across the world. The ransomware demands .006 Bitcoins in ransom from the victims to decrypt their files.
  • U.K Police warned against a WhatsApp fraud campaign that tricks users into sharing their verification code for the purpose of stealing their accounts.
  • UofL Health, Kentucky, is notifying more than 40,000 patients about a data breach that affected their PHI. The incident occurred after the healthcare system erroneously sent sensitive data to an email address outside its network.
  • Russia-linked Nobelium APT group compromised Denmark’s central bank and had access to its network for more than six months. This was an aftermath of the SolarWinds supply chain attack.
  • An ongoing malware campaign is leveraging famous dating and instant messaging apps to distribute a version of PJobRAT spyware. The campaign is active since January and targeting Indian military personnel.
  • Data of 700 million LinkedIn users have been leaked on RaidForums dark marketplace. The hacker claims to have posted the records that include full names, gender, email addresses, phone numbers, and industry information.
  • The U.S. and the U.K warned businesses about a global threat campaign that leverages brute force tactics and hundreds of organizations have already fallen victim to these attacks. The attacks have been attributed to the Russian GRU.

New Threats

Some threat actors strive on expanding their capabilities to wreak havoc on as many as organizations possible. One such threat actor, REvil, came up with a Linux version of its ransomware. The TA543 threat actor also revamped its malware and is using that to target organizations in various industries. The week also witnessed a new ransomware that has been linked to the TrickBot gang and shares quite a few similarities with the Conti ransomware.

  • The China-based IndigoZebra threat actor group is leveraging Dropbox cloud storage service to launch attacks against the Afghan National Security Council by sending phishing emails. The attack leverages the BoxCaon backdoor to steal confidential data.
  • Indexsinas or NSABuffMiner worm is targeting Windows systems to launch cryptojacking attacks. It uses EternalBlue, DoublePulsar, and EternalRomance exploits to distribute across systems.
  • Researchers have discovered a Linux version of the REvil ransomware that targets VMware ESXi virtual machines. This new edition is a part of its evasion tactic.
  • A new spear-phishing campaign is targeting aviation companies with a malicious link to disseminate AsyncRAT. The email pretends to be from the federal aviation authority and is carefully crafted to create a sense of urgency among the recipients.
  • Yoroi researchers discovered a new 'WayBack' attack campaign delivering over 900 pieces of malware. Active since 2019, the campaign targets European organizations and uses new serverless techniques to evade traditional security infrastructure.
  • A new Hive ransomware group allegedly leaked stolen files from real estate software solutions firm Altus Group.
  • TA543 cybercrime group was found deploying a new JSSLoader variant to target hundreds of organizations across a wide range of industries, including finance, manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation.
  • The new Diavol ransomware variant has been linked to the Wizard Spider gang. Diavol shares similarities with Conti ransomware.
  • The new Lil’ Skimmer malware has been identified on a number of compromised websites that impersonate Google. The skimmer has been around for a year and was used for stealing credit card data.
  • A new version of the Babuk Locker ransomware is back to targeting corporate networks. The gang has moved its operations to a new leak site that already has some victims listed on it.

Related Threat Briefings

Aug 29, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, August 25–29, 2025

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Aug 22, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, August 18–22, 2025

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Aug 8, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, August 04–08, 2025

In the wake of recent cyberattacks, the US federal judiciary is locking down sensitive court documents with a fortified approach to cybersecurity. Courts nationwide are enforcing stricter access controls, monitored handling procedures, and a mandatory IT security “scorecard” for annual self-assessments to pinpoint vulnerabilities. DARPA is raising the stakes at DEF CON, pitting seven AI-powered cyber reasoning systems against each other to secure the open-source software underpinning critical infrastructure. These autonomous tools, designed to detect and patch vulnerabilities in code vital to water systems and financial institutions, analyzed 7.8 million lines in preliminary rounds, catching 59% of synthetic flaws and uncovering real ones. Akira ransomware is striking with surgical precision, exploiting a suspected zero-day flaw in SonicWall SSL VPN devices, even those fully patched. Since mid-July 2025, attackers have used Virtual Private Server logins to bypass MFA, hitting multiple targets in rapid succession. A stealthy Python-based PXA Stealer is sweeping across 62 countries, pilfering sensitive data from unsuspecting victims. This infostealer campaign has exfiltrated hundreds of thousands of passwords and more. Phishing emails disguised as court summons are delivering a malicious payload to Ukrainian government and defense sectors, courtesy of UAC-0099. A cunning Android RAT, PlayPraetor, is sweeping through six countries, already compromising over 11,000 devices with its deceptive tactics. It masquerades as legitimate apps via fake Google Play Store pages and Meta Ads. ClickTok is luring TikTok Shop users into a trap with a crafty blend of phishing and malware. This global campaign deploys over 10,000 fake TikTok websites and 5,000 malicious apps, impersonating TikTok’s e-commerce platforms to steal cryptocurrency wallet credentials. Ghost Calls, a new evasion tactic, is turning Zoom and Microsoft Teams into covert channels for malicious activity, slipping past traditional defenses with ease.

Aug 1, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, July 28–August 01, 2025

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Jul 25, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, July 21–25, 2025

The BlackSuit ransomware crew just lost its home turf. As part of Operation Checkmate, international law enforcement has seized the group’s dark web extortion and negotiation sites. New York is taking aim at cyber threats to its water systems. A newly proposed set of regulations outlines mandatory IT and OT cybersecurity measures for water and wastewater infrastructure, aligning with federal guidelines and introducing funding to support modernization across the state. Not every scam needs sophistication, sometimes all it takes is a lonely heart and a convincing profile picture. SarangTrap, a massive mobile spyware campaign, is luring victims on Android and iOS through fake dating apps. Storm-2603 is slipping through SharePoint’s cracks and locking the doors behind it. The suspected China-based threat group is exploiting two SharePoint vulnerabilities to deploy Warlock ransomware. A trusted source turned treacherous. Hackers launched a supply chain attack on Arch Linux by slipping malware into three AUR packages. These packages silently deployed a RAT that gave attackers persistent control over infected machines. A browser tweak here, a fake mod there, and suddenly your crypto wallet spills its secrets. In a new campaign, the Scavenger trojan exploits DLL Search Order Hijacking to infiltrate password managers and wallets. A new RaaS group called Chaos is conducting high-impact ransomware campaigns through a number of tactics, using remote management tools for long-term access. Mimo is getting stealthier and greedier. The financially motivated group has moved from targeting Craft CMS to Magento, exploiting PHP-FPM vulnerabilities to deploy malware via fileless techniques.

Jul 18, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, July 14–18, 2025

A keyboard army just lost its command center. Europol’s Operation Eastwood has crippled the pro-Russian hacktivist group NoName057(16). The international effort, involving law enforcement from 12 nations, led to two arrests and the takedown of over 100 servers linked to the group’s “DDoSia” project. Britain wants bug-hunters on its side. The NCSC has launched the Vulnerability Research Initiative, a new program inviting external researchers to help uncover security flaws in widely used hardware and software. Cisco Talos uncovered a MaaS campaign targeting Ukraine, where attackers used Amadey malware and GitHub repositories to stage payloads. The setup mimics tactics from a SmokeLoader phishing operation. Over 600 malicious domains are distributing fake Telegram APKs to unsuspecting users. Most are hosted in China and exploit the Janus vulnerability in Android. Users who trusted GravityForms’ official site got more than they expected. A supply chain attack injected backdoors into plugin files distributed via the official site and Composer. The H2Miner botnet has resurfaced with updated scripts that mine Monero, kill rival malware, and deploy multiple malware. Bundled with it is Lcrypt0rx, a likely AI-generated ransomware that exhibits sloppy logic, malformed syntax, and weak encryption using XOR. A new Konfety variant uses the same package name as a legitimate app but hides the real payload in a lookalike version distributed through third-party stores. One sandbox escape makes five. Google patched a high-severity Chrome flaw that lets attackers break out of the browser’s sandbox using crafted HTML and unvalidated GPU commands.

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.