Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - March 13–17

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - March 13–17 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing • March 17, 2023

The Good

This week, the CISA launched a pilot program to help critical infrastructure organizations deal with ransomware threats. Created under the purview of recent incident reporting legislation, and in collaboration with the FBI, the program will be used to warn organizations about the vulnerabilities lurking in their systems and software, along with the remedies to reduce the impacts of ransomware attacks. Meanwhile, the NSA and the SEC also released two different cybersecurity guidelines in an effort to improve the security posture of organizations in several critical sectors.

  • The CISA unveiled a new program named ‘The Ransomware Vulnerability Warning Pilot’ in an effort to protect critical infrastructure entities from ransomware attacks. Under this program, the law enforcement agency will warn organizations about commonly exploited vulnerabilities in ransomware attacks and provide actionable information to reduce the impact. The effort will be coordinated by the Joint Ransomware Task Force.
  • The NSA this week released the ‘Advancing Zero Trust Maturity throughout the User Pillar’ cybersecurity information sheet to help system operators mature ICAM capabilities. The guidance is aimed at reducing the impact of cyber threats on the nation’s critical infrastructure and Defense Industrial Base (DIB) systems due to immature capabilities in ICAM.
  • The SEC proposed new cyber incident reporting rules for a range of financial organizations. The new rules make it mandatory for some financial organizations to annually test and review the effectiveness of their cybersecurity policies and procedures. In case of an attack, organizations are required to report within 48 hours of detecting the incident.
  • Researchers at Kaspersky got hold of a cache of 258 private keys that enabled them to generate a decryption tool for the MeowCorp ransomware. The ransomware had emerged after the source code for Conti was leaked last year in March and targeted around 257 victims. The decryption key can help hundreds of victims recover their files for free.

The Bad

Remember the GoAnywhere MFT zero-day vulnerability that the Cl0p ransomware group had exploited to compromise over 130 organizations? This week, a data security firm confirmed that it was among those affected companies. Meanwhile, the LockBit group has set a ransom payment deadline for a SpaceX supplier following which it plans to auction the stolen 3,000 proprietary schematics of SpaceX. Besides these, researchers spotted a wave of phishing attacks that capitalized on the recent crisis at SVB to target its customers.

  • The France-based multinational aviation company, Safran Group, was found leaking sensitive data for over a year due to a misconfigured database. The leaked information included the Laravel app key, JSON web token key, MySQL credentials, and SMTP credentials for the ‘no-reply’ emails. The exposure of the keys and credentials could have enabled attackers to gain access to the website’s backend, employee computers, and other servers.
  • Data security firm Rubrik disclosed that it was the victim of a ransomware attack that targeted a zero-day vulnerability in the Fortra GoAnywhere secure file transfer platform. The firm was quick to take action by isolating the impacted IT testing environment.
  • Since November 2022, there has been a more than 200% month-on-month increase in the abuse of YouTube to spread stealer malware such as Vidar, RedLine, and Raccoon. The videos pretend to be tutorials on downloading cracked versions of popular software, such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Autodesk 3ds Max, and AutoCAD, for free.
  • DeFi platform Euler Finance was hacked for $197 million worth of cryptocurrency assets. The attackers exploited a vulnerability in the donation feature of the platform to exfiltrate legitimate funds and transfer them to an account they controlled.
  • The U.K’s Wymondham College reported a sophisticated cyberattack that disrupted some of its systems. As a result, school officials were prevented from accessing some internal files and resources. While the classes continue to run as usual, the school is working with the NCSC to take appropriate response action.
  • LockBit ransomware gang hacked SpaceX contractor Maximum Industries and stole 3,000 proprietary schematics developed by the space company. The cybercrime crew has threatened to leak or sell the blueprints from March 20 onwards, if their ransom demand is not fulfilled. In another incident, the Staples-owned wholesale distributor of office products, Essendant suffered a network outage following an attack by LockBit gang.
  • Zoll Medical Corporation has begun notifying more than one million individuals of a healthcare data breach that affected their personal information. The potentially compromised information includes names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and birthdates of patients. The investigation is still ongoing and law enforcement authorities have also been notified about the breach.
  • Multiple instances of phishing attacks leveraging the recent crisis at the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) were reported this week. In one incident, the scammers had created dubious websites to trick users into handing over their personal and financial information. In another incident, researchers discovered a significant KYC phishing campaign utilizing SVB branding in a DocuSign-themed template.
  • A convincing Twitter scam that abused the platform’s quote-tweet feature was found targeting bank customers. Scammers impersonated popular banks and responded to the issues or complaints raised by their customers. The quote tweet followed a specific template and urged users to call on the fake helpline number shared in the text.

New Threats

Coming to new threats, researchers reported the first-ever Dero cryptojacking operation that was orchestrated against exposed Kubernetes clusters. In separate news, Microsoft warned of high-volume AiTM attacks facilitated by a phishing kit from DEV-1101. In addition to these, several new malware, GoatRAT, HinataBot, and dotRunpeX to name a few, were uncovered this week in different cyberespionage campaigns across the globe.

  • Cisco Talos identified a new threat actor running several successful espionage campaigns since June 2022. Named YoroTrooper, the attacker is responsible for attacks against a critical European Union healthcare agency and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Information stolen during these incidents includes system information and credentials from multiple applications, browser histories, and cookies.
  • Microsoft discovered a new phishing kit, that has been part of several high-volume AiTM phishing attacks. Offered by a threat actor named DEV-1101, the kit was first advertised on a cybercrime forum in May 2022. The kit includes a wide range of readymade phishing pages that mimics several services such as Microsoft Office and Outlook.
  • A fake version of the ChatGPT chrome extension called Quick access to Chat GPT, was found hijacking Facebook accounts and installing backdoors that could give threat actors super-admin permissions to run paid ads and steal cookies of authorized active sessions.
  • In an update on the first-ever detected Dero cryptojacking operation, researchers revealed that threat actors have potentially deployed more than 4,000 miners since February. The operators targeted exposed Kubernetes clusters to spread the mining malware.
  • A new Android trojan named GoatRAT targeted the mobile apps of three Brazilian banks - NuBank, Banco Inter, and PagBank- to steal funds from users' accounts. The trojan uses a four-step process to perform automated transfer once it infects a user’s device. Once the targeted app is identified, it creates a fake banking overlay window above the legitimate application to hide its malicious activity.
  • Researchers shared details of a new Go-based botnet called HinataBot that abuses old vulnerabilities and weak credentials. The botnet appears to share similarities with the Mirai botnet and is still under development.
  • A newly discovered .NET malware injector is being used in the wild to deliver a wide range of malware. Tracked as dotRunpeX, the malware rose to prominence between November 2022 and January 2023. The malware leverages the process hollowing technique to hide its presence during the infection process.
  • Threat actors leveraged trojanized versions of Telegram and WhatsApp apps to target Android and Windows users with clipper malware. These malware were designed to enable their operators to steal crypto assets by switching the cryptocurrency wallet address sent by victims in chat messages with the address of the attackers.

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Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, June 09–13, 2025

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Jun 6, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, June 02–06, 2025

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May 30, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, May 26–30, 2025

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May 23, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, May 19–23, 2025

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May 16, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, May 12–16, 2025

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May 9, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, May 05–09, 2025

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May 2, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, April 28–May 02, 2025

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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.

Apr 11, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, April 07–11, 2025

The U.K. government rolled out a Cyber Governance Code of Practice aimed at directors and board members, not just CISOs. Backed by the NCSC and other national bodies, the code includes practical actions, modular training, and a board-level toolkit. Startups building the future of cyber defense are getting serious backing. The British Business Bank has committed most of a £50 million fund to Osney Capital, which will invest in early-stage cybersecurity companies across the U.K. A torrent download might be doing more than delivering cracked software. A campaign has been distributing ViperSoftX to Korean users, likely run by Arabic-speaking threat actors. Invasive spyware campaigns are zeroing in on high-risk communities. MOONSHINE and BADBAZAAR are being deployed through trojanized mobile apps to surveil Uyghur, Tibetan, and Taiwanese individuals, as well as civil society groups. Search for QuickBooks during tax season, and you might land on a trap. Threat actors are placing deceptive Google Ads that link to phishing pages almost identical to the real QuickBooks login portal. It starts with a PDF search and ends with malware on your machine. A new campaign is using fake CAPTCHAs and Cloudflare Turnstile to lure users into downloading LegionLoader. Seed phrases aren’t supposed to come from strangers. The PoisonSeed campaign is targeting crypto holders and enterprise users by compromising bulk email services. Victims are lured with fake wallet setup instructions that embed attacker-controlled recovery phrases - giving threat actors full access once the wallets are used. A Chinese-linked threat group, ToddyCat, has been exploiting a security vulnerability in ESET's software to deliver a new malware, TCESB, in Asia.

Apr 4, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, March 31–April 04, 2025

The EU is putting serious weight behind its digital ambitions. A €1.3 billion investment will fund cybersecurity and AI initiatives across the bloc from 2025 to 2027. Projects include the rollout of the EU Digital Identity Wallet, AI development hubs, and efforts to harden critical infrastructure. Canada’s privacy watchdog is giving organizations a way to think before they panic. A new online tool helps assess the risk of significant harm after a data breach, guiding users through questions about the sensitivity of exposed data and its potential misuse.

Mar 28, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, March 24–28, 2025

The U.K’s NCSC is putting domain abuse in its crosshairs. New guidance targets registrars with a push to curb malicious domain registrations and hijacks. The recommendations focus on tightening security at registration, offering enhanced protections to customers, and more. Europe is getting serious about the quantum future. ETSI has rolled out a new quantum-safe encryption standard featuring Covercrypt, a novel key encapsulation scheme with built-in access controls. By tying decryption permissions to user attributes, Covercrypt delivers speed and post-quantum security. Medusa isn’t just encrypting files, it’s dismantling defenses first. The RaaS has been leveraging a malicious driver called ABYSSWORKER in BYOVD attacks to disable endpoint protections. FamousSparrow has returned with new tools and a familiar agenda. The Chinese APT group was behind a July 2024 attack targeting a U.S. trade group and a Mexican research institute, deploying a web shell on an IIS server to drop SparrowDoor and ShadowPad. A supply chain attack snuck through npm by modifying what developers thought they could trust. Threat actors used two packages to inject malware into the widely used ethers library. Lucid isn’t just phishing - it’s engineering trust through your inbox. This advanced PhaaS platform weaponizes the built-in features of iMessage and RCS to create hyper-realistic scams. Known for years of corporate espionage, RedCurl has shifted gears with a new ransomware called QWCrypt. The malware was found in a North American network, targeting hypervisors for maximum disruption. PlayBoy Locker is offering ransomware with a user manual and tech support. The newly investigated RaaS platform operates on an affiliate model and comes packed with features. Targeting Windows, NAS, and ESXi systems, it moves laterally using LDAP scans and abuses Restart Manager DLLs to shut down active processes before encryption.