Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - March 18–22

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - March 18–22 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing March 22, 2019

The Good

We’re back with the most interesting threat intel of the week. As is our custom, let’s first acknowledge all the positive advancements that took place in the cybersecurity landscape over the past week. Instagram is testing a new feature that**** automatically locks users’ old usernames for 14 days after switching to a new handle. National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) has published a guide to protect mobile devices from data breaches. Meanwhile, DHS is requesting a budget of $11.4 million to support the addition of new 150 cybersecurity positions by the end of fiscal 2020.

  • National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) has published a guide titled ‘Mobile Device Security: Cloud and Hybrid Build’ for organizations to protect mobile devices from data breaches. This publication is a ‘how to guide’ for organizations and government agencies to protect mobile devices via commercially available technology.
  • Instagram is testing a new feature that**** automatically locks users’ old usernames for 14 days after switching to a new handle. This ‘username auto-lock’ feature will put an end to hackers who use bots to grab usernames as soon as the users switch to a new handle.
  • The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is requesting a budget of $11.4 million to support the addition of new 150 cybersecurity positions by the end of fiscal 2020. In order to remain competitive with the private sector, the government has given DHS the authority to exempt its cyber employees from certain hiring and compensation requirements.
  • Europol has announced the adoption of the new Law Enforcement Emergency Response Protocol that covers malicious and criminal cyber incidents. The new protocol focuses on rapid assessment, sharing of information, and coordination of the international aspects of an investigation.
  • Brunei**** is planning to set up a National Cyber Security Centre in order to safeguard the country from cyber threats in line with the government’s strategy to equip technology for economic gain. National Cyber Security Centre will help Brunei to monitor and coordinate efforts at the national level in order to defend cybersecurity threats.

The Bad

Over the past week, several data breaches and massive cyber attacks came to light. Gnosticplayers seller, who disclosed 800 million profiles, has made a comeback with the fourth batch of stolen data put up for sale in the DreamMarket marketplace. The aluminum giant, Norsk Hydro suffered a cyber attack switching some of its operations to a manual mode. In the meantime, Facebook revealed that almost hundreds of millions of users passwords were stored in a readable format on its internal data storage systems.

  • Gnosticplayers, who exposed and sold 800 millions of user records in February 2019, has yet again come out with the fourth batch of 26 million user records put up for sale in the DreamMarket marketplace. The stolen data belongs to customers of six companies across the world such as GameSalad, Estante Virtual, Coubic, LifeBear, Bukalapak, and YouthManual.
  • Norsk Hydro, one of the world's largest aluminum producers suffered a cyber attack switching some of its operations to a manual mode. The cyber attack has impacted Hydro’s operations and IT systems in most of the business areas across the globe. However, people safety is not affected by the attack.
  • A new sextortion scam campaign is underway pretending to come from the technical collection officer of the Central Intelligence Agency and claiming that you are involved in a case that deals with the distribution of child pornography. The scam emails state that you will be arrested as a part of an international operation and demands $10000 in bitcoin to remove your details from the case list.
  • Researchers discovered an unprotected database that contained over 1.5 million customer records from online retail sites such as GearBest, Zaful, Rosegal, and DressLily. The exposed information includes customers’ names, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, location addresses, IP addresses, nation ID, passport details, account passwords, customers’ orders, payment methods, and invoices.
  • ‘Bad Tidings’ phishing campaign targets Saudi Arabia government agencies and a single Saudi-based financial institution impersonating the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Interior’s e-Service Absher. This campaign leveraged three spoofing techniques including Punycode spoofing, SubDomain spoofing, and Typosquatting.
  • Researchers observed two new active phishing campaigns targeting Netflix and American Express (AMEX) users to steal users’ personal information, payment card details, login credentials, and social security information. The phishing emails sent to Netflix and AMEX users included a web fillable form attachment that urges users to download the attachment and fill out the form.
  • Magecart threat group targeted the bedding websites MyPillow.com and Amerisleep.com in order to steal customers’ personal information and payment card information. While MyPillow has restored its site after the attack, Amerisleep is yet to respond with a fix.
  • The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) has been hit by a ransomware attack. The ransomware attack encrypted several databases and servers, making data and email services inaccessible. The impacted databases and servers include the PFEW national members database, claims case management system, and the booking system for conference and hotel facilities.
  • The social media Giant Facebook revealed that hundreds of millions of users’ passwords were stored in a readable format on its internal data storage systems. However, Facebook confirmed that there has been no evidence of any misuse of user passwords by its employees.

New Threats

Several vulnerabilities and malware strains emerged over the past week. Researchers observed a new variant of the Mirai botnet that uses 11 new exploits and targets smart TVs and wireless presentation systems. Researchers uncovered the Google photos vulnerability that could allow attackers to infer the metadata of the images stored in Google Photos. Last but not least, a new malspam campaign disguised as leaked documents that contain information about the ‘Boeing 737 Max crashes’ was observed in the wild distributing H-Worm RAT and Adwind info-stealer malware.

  • Researchers observed a new variant of the Mirai botnet that uses 11 new exploits and targets LG Supersign TVs and WePresent WiPG-1000 wireless presentation systems. In addition to using new exploits in its multi-exploit battery, this new variant also includes new credentials to use in brute force attacks against devices.
  • A new malspam campaign disguised as leaked documents that contain information about the ‘Boeing 737 Max crashes’ distributes H-Worm RAT and Adwind info-stealer malware to the recipients’ computer.
  • A German pen-testing firm named SySS GmbH disclosed that Fujitsu LX901 wireless desktop sets consisting of a wireless mouse and wireless keyboard are vulnerable to keystroke injection attacks. Fujitsu LX901 wireless keyboard sets are vulnerable to keystroke attacks due to ‘an insecure implementation of the data communication’.
  • Researchers observed a new NETWIRE phishing campaign that uses a ‘Process Hollowing’ technique that involves VBScript, PowerShell, and the .NET framework to perform a code injection attack.
  • Researchers observed the come back of Fin7 threat group with a new administrative panel and previously unseen malware samples. In the new campaigns, researchers observed two new malware samples ‘SQLRat’, ‘DNSbot’ and the threat group’s new attack administrative panel ‘Astra’.
  • A security researcher uncovered that Google Photos is vulnerable to a browser-based timing attack called Cross Site Search. This vulnerability could allow attackers to infer the metadata of the images stored in Google Photos. To be precise, the vulnerability could allow attackers to know where, when, and with whom your photos were taken.
  • New ransomware dubbed ‘JNEC.a’ propagates by exploiting the WinRAR ACE vulnerability. Researchers noted that this the first ransomware that spreads via the 19-year-old WinRAR ACE exploit. Once the ransomware encrypts files in a computer, it generates a Gmail address that victims need to create through which they will receive the decryption key.
  • A security researcher discovered a critical bug in the open-source, reverse engineering tool ‘Ghidra’. The vulnerability found in Ghidra could be exploited with a remote code execution attack. This bug has been addressed in the latest version of Ghidra v9.0.1.
  • Cardinal RAT has resurfaced after two years with a new variant. The updated variant of the Cardinal RAT is used in a series of attacks against Israel-based financial technology firms. Researchers noted that this new Cardinal RAT variant shares a relationship with another malware family named EVILNUM.
  • A critical bug was detected in the SSH client PuTTY that could allow Man in the Middle (MitM) attacks. The vulnerability which is designated as vuln-dss-verify primarily affects DSA signature checking and provides the attacker with an opportunity to bypass signature checks.

Related Threat Briefings

Jun 6, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, June 02–06, 2025

Authorities have taken down a major hub for stolen financial data. The DOJ seized approximately 145 domains associated with the BidenCash marketplace, which had evolved from a small credit card shop in 2022 into a massive hub for stolen payment data. In a move to reinforce Europe’s cyber defenses, Microsoft is stepping in with strategic support. The newly launched European Security Program offers EU governments free access to AI-driven threat intelligence, vulnerability alerts, and guidance to counter attacks from state-sponsored actors. Not all GitHub projects are built with good intentions. Researchers uncovered a widespread campaign involving more than 130 repositories booby-trapped with malware disguised as game cheats, hacking tools, and utilities. A free software download could end up costing your entire crypto wallet. ViperSoftX is back in circulation, targeting crypto users with malicious PowerShell scripts bundled into cracked apps, keygens, and torrent packages. Some attackers mine crypto, JINX-0132 mines misconfigurations. This threat actor is running a stealthy cryptojacking campaign against DevOps platforms, exploiting exposed defaults and overlooked RCE flaws. Destruction masquerading as maintenance tools is hitting Ukraine’s infrastructure. Researchers attributed a new wiper malware called PathWiper to a Russia-linked APT group, targeting critical systems by leveraging legitimate administrative frameworks. A few swapped letters could be all it takes to get owned. A new supply chain attack targets Python and npm developers through typo-squatting and name confusion. A new Android banking trojan, named Crocodilus, has emerged in the threat landscape. It masquerades as legitimate apps like Google Chrome and uses overlay attacks to steal credentials from financial apps.

May 30, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, May 26–30, 2025

Under the hood of vulnerability management, NIST just added a sharper diagnostic tool. The new Likely Exploited Vulnerabilities metric offers deeper insight into which CVEs are likely being used in the wild, complementing EPSS with more contextual signals. Digital warfare is no longer a future threat, it's a current investment. The U.K. Ministry of Defence has unveiled a £1 billion Cyber and Electromagnetic Command to protect military networks and support offensive cyber missions. With AI-driven systems like the Digital Targeting Web in development, the goal is seamless coordination across weapons platforms. A quiet but relentless campaign has been unfolding across multiple industries. The Chinese group Earth Lamia is targeting finance, government, logistics, and more by exploiting known web app vulnerabilities. APT41 hides malware commands where no one’s looking: your calendar. In a creative twist on C2 infrastructure, China-backed APT41 embedded encrypted instructions inside Google Calendar events. AyySSHush doesn’t make noise, it builds armies. More than 9,000 ASUS routers have been compromised by this botnet, which quietly slips in through a CVE-2023-39780 exploit. Fake CAPTCHA prompts are now doing more than testing if you're human—they're installing malware. EDDIESTEALER, a new Rust-based infostealer, spreads through deceptive CAPTCHA pages that trigger malicious PowerShell scripts. Threat actors are wrapping their tools in layers of obfuscation, and DOUBLELOADER is no exception. This new backdoor uses the ALCATRAZ obfuscator—once seen in the game-hacking scene—to disguise its presence. A new Go-based botnet called PumaBot is clawing its way through Linux IoT devices. It brute-forces SSH credentials, impersonates Redis files for stealth, and deploys rootkits to mine crypto and steal credentials.

May 23, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, May 19–23, 2025

Operation Endgame just dealt a major blow to the ransomware supply chain. Europol led the charge in dismantling malware infrastructure tied to multiple malware families, seizing 300 servers and more. Japan has officially gone on the cyber offense. The new Active Cyberdefense Law allows preemptive strikes against foreign cyber threats. It enables traffic analysis and takedowns of hostile servers. Think twice before clicking on that Ledger update. A new macOS malware campaign is deploying fake versions of the Ledger Live app to steal cryptocurrency seed phrases. A Turkish phishing lure leads straight to SnakeKeylogger. Fake AI tools are the new phishing lures and they’re convincing. Cybercriminals cloned Kling AI’s brand through Facebook ads and spoofed websites to trick users into downloading malware. The DBatLoader (aka ModiLoader) malware is making the rounds again - this time disguised as a Turkish bank email. The copyright threat in your inbox might be bait. A phishing campaign sweeping across central and eastern Europe is using fake legal complaints to deliver the Rhadamanthys Stealer. Two years of silence, 6,200 downloads later - the malware is finally found. A malicious campaign targeting JavaScript developers slipped past detection by disguising harmful npm packages as plugins for frameworks like React, Vue.js, Vite, and Quill Editor. Researchers uncovered a stealthy new backdoor paired with a Monero coinminer, using the PyBitmessage library for encrypted peer-to-peer communications.

May 9, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, May 05–09, 2025

Another blow to DDoS-for-hire networks. Europol has shut down six services used to launch global cyberattacks, arresting suspects in Poland and seizing domains in the U.S. The UN has launched a new framework to help policymakers make sense of cyber intrusions. Called UNIDIR Intrusion Path, it complements models like MITRE ATT&CK but simplifies the technical details. It breaks down attacker activity into three layers, making it easier to evaluate threats in a policy context. Old routers are becoming cybercrime goldmines. The FBI has warned that end-of-life routers are being hijacked with malware like TheMoon and sold on proxy networks such as 5Socks and Anyproxy. These compromised devices are used for crypto theft, cybercrime-as-a-service, and even espionage. Crypto users on Discord are the latest targets of a phishing campaign tied to Inferno Drainer. Attackers were found impersonating the Collab.Land bot to trick users into signing malicious transactions. The Play ransomware group has joined the list of actors exploiting CVE-2025-29824. This Windows zero-day in the CLFS driver enables privilege escalation via a race condition during file operations. Linked to the Balloonfly group, the attacks targeted a U.S. organization and included deployment of the Grixba infostealer. COLDRIVER’s latest malware, LOSTKEYS, is now in play. The Russian state-backed group is deploying this tool to steal files and system data from advisors, journalists, NGOs, and individuals linked to Ukraine. Agenda’s playbook just got upgraded. The ransomware group has added two new tools: SmokeLoader and a stealthy .NET-based loader called NETXLOADER. The latter leverages techniques like JIT hooking and AES decryption to deploy ransomware. Corporate HR teams are the latest target in a spear-phishing spree by Venom Spider. Disguised as job applications, these emails deliver More_eggs backdoor, now upgraded with advanced features.

May 2, 2025

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

The FBI just dropped a massive breadcrumb trail. Details of 42,000 phishing domains tied to the LabHost platform have been released to help defenders investigate potential breaches. The service enabled the theft of 500,000 credit cards and over a million credentials. The takedown of JokerOTP has exposed just how far phishing has evolved. The tool was used in more than 28,000 attacks across 13 countries, tricking victims into handing over 2FA codes by mimicking trusted brands. The operation cost victims £7.5 million and has now led to serious criminal charges, thanks to a joint effort involving Europol and Dutch authorities. Malware’s now hitching a ride on Go modules. Socket has uncovered three malicious packages hiding disk-wiping payloads, designed to cause irreversible data loss, especially on Linux systems. These modules take advantage of Go’s decentralized ecosystem. In the shadows of the cybersecurity landscape, MintsLoader emerges as a formidable adversary, orchestrating a multi-faceted infection strategy that deploys the notorious GhostWeaver RAT. Some PyPI packages are doing more than importing functions. Researchers uncovered seven malicious Python packages under the “Coffin” naming scheme, using Gmail’s SMTP service as a stealthy C2 channel. Ransomware groups aren’t always the ones breaking the door open. Researchers have uncovered ToyMaker, an initial access broker selling network entry to ransomware groups. Using a custom malware strain called LAGTOY, ToyMaker establishes reverse shells and executes commands on compromised systems. New vulnerabilities in Apple’s AirPlay protocol, collectively dubbed AirBorne, expose billions of devices to remote code execution without user interaction. Sharp and TX stealers are back, donning a new cloak - named Hannibal Stealer. It is going after credentials from browsers, crypto wallets, FTP clients, and VPN apps. It even captures Discord tokens and Steam sessions.

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 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.

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.