Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - May 06–10

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - May 06–10 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing May 10, 2024

The Good

In a pivotal move towards fortifying vulnerability management, theCISA launched an innovative initiative, Vulnrichment, aimed at enhancing the speed and efficiency of NIST’s NVD. Concurrently, the DOS unveiled a new international cyberspace strategy promoting global collaboration for a secure, inclusive digital future. This forward-thinking strategy champions digital solidarity, urging rights-respecting users worldwide to unite against cyber threats and foster a resilient and prosperous digital ecosystem.

  • The CISA announced a new project called Vulnrichment to address the slowdown in the NIST National Vulnerability Database (NVD). The Vulnrichment project aims to enrich CVE records with key decision points using a SSVC decision tree model. The project has already enriched 1,300 CVEs and will continue to assess and categorize vulnerabilities based on their impact and exploitability.

  • The CISA extended the comment period for new regulations under the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act in response to requests from various industries. The CISA is seeking feedback on how to strengthen regulations aimed at enhancing federal cyber incident and ransomware payment tracking activities. This decision follows concerns raised by lawmakers and industry representatives about excessive restrictions on critical infrastructure organizations.

  • The ASD's ACSC, the CISA, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS), the NCSC-U.K, and the NCSC-NZ released guidance on Secure by Design Choosing Secure and Verifiable Technologies to help organizations make secure and informed choices when procuring digital products and services. The guidance provides considerations for incorporating secure design principles into procurement processes and offers sample questions to use at each stage of the process. Nearly 70 leading software companies signed this voluntary pledge.

  • The DOS announced an international cyberspace strategy centered around fostering collaboration for a more secure and inclusive world. The strategy emphasizes digital solidarity and calls for rights-respecting users to work together for increased security, resilience, and prosperity. It outlines guiding principles and areas of action, focusing on creating an open, resilient, and secure digital ecosystem while addressing cyber threats and malicious actors.

The Bad

In a series of troubling developments, the project management tool Monday[.]com has eliminated its Share Update feature due to misuse in phishing scams by attackers who targeted the platform's users with phishing emails. Simultaneously, the FBI has warned U.S. retailers of Storm-0539, a hacking group that has been exploiting gift card departments since January 2024. Additionally, the BogusBazaar crime ring has defrauded 850,000 individuals globally, netting around $50 million from fake online stores.

  • The project management platform Monday[.]com removed its "Share Update" feature after it was abused by threat actors in phishing attacks. The attackers sent phishing emails to Monday[.]com customers using the platform's own email accounts. The emails contained links to phishing forms on formstack.com, and the platform has since disabled the forms. Monday[.]com stated that the abuse of the feature allowed users to send notifications to people outside their organization.
  • The FBI alerted U.S. retail companies against malicious activities by Storm-0539, a hacking group targeting gift card department employees since January 2024. Storm-0539 employs sophisticated phishing kits to bypass MFA, infiltrate accounts, and steal credentials and SSH passwords. They then generate fraudulent gift cards using compromised accounts. The FBI advises corporations to update incident response plans, train employees to recognize phishing, and enforce MFA.
  • The BogusBazaar crime ring defrauded 850,000 individuals worldwide, amassing approximately $50 million over three years through fake online stores spanning 22,500 domains. Operating mainly in Western Europe, Australia, and the U.S., the scam involved selling nonexistent or counterfeit goods and harvesting credit card details. The network evaded law enforcement by decentralizing its operations and swiftly deploying new fake websites using US-hosted servers running WordPress with WooCommerce.
  • In a different report, ASEC uncovered an attack campaign distributing RemcosRAT via steganography. Initially, attackers use a Word document employing template injection to initiate the attack, followed by an RTF file exploiting a vulnerability in the equation editor. The RTF file downloads obfuscated VBScripts, executing PowerShell scripts to decode Base64 data hidden within images. This decoded data ultimately loads RemcosRAT.
  • AhnLab confirmed the ongoing distribution of abnormal-sized shortcut files (*.LNK) targeting South Korean individuals concerned with North Korea. The investigation revealed that the files contained the RokRAT malware. The malware utilizes cloud APIs to collect user data, transmitting it to the threat actor's cloud servers through services like pCloud and Yandex. Malicious behaviors include command execution, file deletion, and information collection.
  • Finland's Traficom alerted citizens about an Android malware campaign impersonating banks, urging victims to install a fake McAfee app. Legitimate-appearing SMS messages direct recipients to call a specified number for "protection.” Once installed, the app grants threat actors access to victims' bank accounts. Financial institutions like the OP Financial Group also cautioned against sharing sensitive data or downloading apps prompted by such messages.

New Threats

As AI adoption grows globally, new threats pop up. In one such development, the Sysdig Threat Research Team has uncovered LLMjacking, an attack exploiting cloud-hosted LLM services through stolen credentials. Meanwhile, a new variant of the zEus stealer, hidden within a Minecraft source pack distributed via YouTube, poses a significant threat by stealing sensitive data. Additionally, Google has patched 26 vulnerabilities in Android, including a critical flaw in Android 14 that allowed privilege escalation.

  • The Sysdig Threat Research Team has discovered a new attack called LLMjacking, which targets cloud-hosted LLM services using stolen cloud credentials. The attackers breach vulnerable systems, exfiltrate cloud credentials, and access LLM models hosted by cloud providers. They use tools to validate credentials, set up reverse proxy servers, and query logging settings to evade detection. This attack allows them to monetize access to LLMs while the cloud account owner unknowingly bears the cost.
  • A variant of the zEus stealer was discovered embedded within a crafted Minecraft source pack, distributed through YouTube. Mimicking a Windows screensaver file, the malware extracts itself via a WinRAR self-extract archive, initiating the theft of sensitive data upon execution. zEus employs anti-analysis techniques, such as checking system parameters, to evade detection. It extensively harvests information, including IP details, hardware specifications, browser data, and login credentials, saving them in predefined folders.
  • Google released security updates for Android, addressing 26 vulnerabilities, including a critical flaw (CVE-2024-23706) in the System component of Android 14 that allowed privilege escalation. The first update covered eight flaws, including four elevation of privilege bugs in the Framework component. The other update fixed 18 vulnerabilities in kernel, Arm, MediaTek, and Qualcomm components. Pixel devices also received updates for seven vulnerabilities in Bluetooth, Mali GPU driver, and Qualcomm components.
  • ASEC reported the discovery of a new variant of CHM malware targeting Korean users. This malware strain disguises itself within seemingly innocuous files and employs multiple scripts to exfiltrate user information and perform keylogging activities. Some notable changes from its previous version included a switch in the operation process and obfuscation methods to evade detection.
  • HijackLoader has undergone significant updates to enhance its evasion techniques and expand its malware distribution capabilities. It now employs advanced methods such as bypassing Windows Defender and User Account Control and utilizing PNG image delivery for payload deployment. Recent analysis reveals its distribution of various malware families, including Amadey, Lumma Stealer, and Remcos RAT. The updates also include utilizing modular architecture and a dynamic API resolution tactic for evasion.
  • Iran's APT42 is deploying two new backdoors, Nicecurl and Tamecat, in cyberespionage campaigns. These custom tools facilitate data harvesting and arbitrary command execution on infected machines. Nicecurl, written in VBScript, drops additional modules, while Tamecat, a PowerShell tool, executes malicious macros via documents. The group targets NGOs, governments, and intergovernmental organizations, often masquerading as media entities and NGOs to steal login credentials.

Related Threat Briefings

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.

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’.