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Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, May 18 - 22, 2020

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, May 18 - 22, 2020 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing May 22, 2020

The Good

Enhancing users’ privacy and security while surfing online has been a primary focus of web browsers. Keeping this in mind, Google has introduced Enhanced Safe Browsing protection in Chrome to protect users from phishing attacks and malicious file downloads. On the other hand, security researchers managed to dissect the source code of the GhostDNS exploit kit after hackers uploaded the file on an unprotected file-sharing platform.

  • Security researchers obtained the source code of GhostDNS exploit kit which was left unprotected by hackers. This allowed the experts to analyze the functionalities of the router hijacking exploit kit.

  • The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) took into custody a threat actor named Sanix, who is responsible for putting a massive database - named Collection1 - of 773 million email addresses and 21 million passwords up for sale last year.

  • French police cracked down on an international ATM jackpotting group by arresting two suspects. It is said that the criminal group worked across Europe to insert malware into ATMs.

  • Google added Enhanced Safe Browsing protection in Chrome to protect users from phishing sites, malicious file downloads, and cross-product alerts.

  • Tutanota is working with the L3S Research Institute of Leibniz University on a new project called PQmail that aims to keep email secure by using post-quantum cryptography for encryption.

The Bad

This week saw the leak of confidential data belonging to several organizations such as Toll Group, Fresenius Medical Care unit, and Covve. Most of the leaked data included personal details of either employees or customers.

  • After the Texas court system, the state transportation agency fell victim to a ransomware attack. Some of the features of the department’s website were unavailable due to the attack.

  • Confidential data belonging to the Toll Group made its way to dark web forums. This included personal data of some former and current employees.

  • More than 2,000 Israeli websites were defaced to show an anti-Israeli message. Attributed to a hacker group called ‘Hackers of Savior,’ the attacks were executed by exploiting a vulnerability in a WordPress plugin.

  • Snake ransomware operators shared a small batch of data stolen from the Fresenius Medical Care unit on a paste website. It contained less than 200 records that included first and last names, gender, birth dates, postal addresses, and phone numbers of patients.

  • Details of 40 million users registered on the Wishbone app were sold for a price of approximately $8000 on a dark web marketplace. The breached data included usernames, email addresses, and hashed passwords of users.

  • A flaw in the website of the Paycheck Protection Program exposed the personal data of several claimants in Arkansas and Chicago. The issue also impacted the business of Bank of America after information for some of its clients, who applied for loans, were leaked on the internet.

  • A database containing 129 million records of Russian car owners was offered for sale on the dark web. The dataset included model numbers, registration dates, and manufacturing dates of cars.

  • A cybercriminal group that hacked Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks last week, auctioned the sensitive documents of the international singer, Madonna, after claiming to have sold the data related to the US President.

  • Covve leaked 23 million email addresses and other personal information details due to an unprotected Elasticsearch database. In total, the database contained 90GB of personal information.

  • A threat actor leaked a trove of personal and electoral data belonging to 2.3 million Indonesian citizens. The data appeared to be stolen from the official website of the General Elections Commission of Indonesia.

New Threats

Talking of new threats reported this week, Netwalker operators improved the evasion capabilities of the ransomware by integrating a reflective dynamic-link library (DLL) injection technique. On the other hand, researchers uncovered a new attack method against networking chips that leverages a class of vulnerabilities called Spectra.

  • Security researchers disclosed an Iranian cyber espionage campaign directed against critical infrastructure facilities in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The campaign was launched by the Chafer APT group using several exploit kits including a tool that uses the ‘living off the land’ attack technique.
  • Hackers were found exploiting a three-year-old vulnerability in a Magento plugin to take over e-commerce sites. The purpose was to steal payment card details of shoppers.
  • Both Mirai and Hoaxcalls botnets exploited a post-authentication remote code execution vulnerability in legacy Symantec Web Gateway 5.0.2.8 to gain access to enterprise systems.
  • New research showed that vulnerabilities in popular hardware-based cryptocurrency wallets could be exploited to obtain PIN numbers. The attack was demonstrated on products from Coinkite and Shapeshift.
  • Netwalker ransomware evolved to include a reflective dynamic-link library (DLL) injection as one of its evasion techniques. The technique allows the injection of a DLL from memory rather than from disk.
  • A new trojan - WolfRAT - targeted Thai users through WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Line messaging apps. The trojan is a modified version of the DenDroid trojan.
  • Academics from Germany and Italy found a new method to break the separation between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies. The attack relies on a new class of vulnerability called Spectra.
  • Fake Zoom installers were back in the threat landscape in a couple of campaigns that distributed a backdoor and the Devil Shadow botnet to target user devices.
  • A new variant of Zeus banking trojan, named ZLoader/Terdot Zbot, has popped up to capitalize on coronavirus fears to pilfer login credentials of customers of certain banks.
  • Winnti hacker group targeted video game companies with a new PipeMon backdoor to achieve persistence. PipeMon’s first stage consists of a password-protected RARSFX executable embedded in the .rsrc section of its launcher.
  • Microsoft issued a security advisory for the NXNSAttack vulnerability affecting its DNS servers. The vulnerability could allow attackers to launch a large-scale DDoS attack.
  • Microsoft also warned about a COVID-19 themed phishing campaign that distributed the NetSupport Manager RAT. The attack started with a phishing email that appeared to be from the Johns Hopkins Center.

Related Threat Briefings

Feb 14, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, February 10–14, 2025

Cyber defenders are sharpening their tools, and EARLYCROW is the latest weapon against stealthy APT operations. This method detects C2 activity over HTTP(S) using a novel traffic analysis format called PAIRFLOW. India is taking digital banking security up a notch. The RBI is launching a dedicated domain to curb financial fraud and enhance trust in online banking. Starting April 2025, financial institutions will register under this domain. China’s RedMike hackers are dialing into telecom networks - literally. Between December 2024 and January 2025, they targeted over 1,000 unpatched Cisco devices. Their primary focus? Global telecoms and university networks in Argentina, Bangladesh, and the U.S. Russia’s Sandworm hackers are using pirated software as bait. Their latest attack on Ukrainian Windows users disguises malware inside trojanized KMS activators and fake Windows updates. Love is in the air, but so are phishing scams. In late January, cybercriminals launched a Valentine’s-themed phishing campaign, offering fake gift baskets in exchange for stolen credentials. Cybercriminals are upping their game with Astaroth, a phishing kit that doesn’t just steal credentials but also hijacks entire sessions. By using a reverse proxy, Astaroth intercepts logins and 2FA tokens in real time, allowing attackers to bypass security measures undetected. South America’s foreign ministry was caught in the crosshairs of an advanced cyber-espionage campaign. In November 2024, attackers linked to REF7707 deployed the PATHLOADER and FINALDRAFT malware to infiltrate diplomatic networks. A new malware named Ratatouille is stirring up trouble by bypassing UAC and using I2P for anonymous communications. Spreading through phishing emails and fake CAPTCHA pages, it tricks victims into running an embedded PowerShell script.

Feb 7, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, February 03–07, 2025

PyPI is taking a "dead but not gone" approach to abandoned software with Project Archival, a new system that flags inactive projects while keeping them accessible. Developers will see warnings about outdated dependencies, helping them make smarter security choices and avoid relying on unmaintained code. The U.K is bringing earthquake-style metrics to cybersecurity with its new Cyber Monitoring Centre, designed to track digital disasters as precisely as natural ones. Inspired by the Richter scale, the CMC will quantify cyber incidents based on financial impact and affected users, offering clearer insights for national security planning. Kimsuky is back with another phishing trick, this time using fake Office and PDF files to sneak forceCopy malware onto victims' systems. Its latest campaign delivers PEBBLEDASH and RDP Wrapper by disguising malware as harmless shortcuts, ultimately hijacking browser credentials and sensitive data. Hackers have found a new way to skim credit card data - by hiding malware inside Google Tag Manager scripts. CISA is flagging major security holes in Microsoft Outlook and Sophos XG Firewall, urging agencies to patch them before February 27. One flaw allows remote code execution in Outlook, while another exposes firewall users to serious risks. Bitcoin scammers are switching tactics, swapping static images for video attachments in MMS to make their schemes more convincing. A recent case involved a tiny .3gp video luring victims into WhatsApp groups where scammers apply pressure to extract money or personal data. XE Group has shifted from credit card skimming to zero-day exploitation, now targeting manufacturing and distribution companies. A new version of ValleyRAT is making the rounds, using stealthy techniques to infiltrate systems. Morphisec found the malware being spread through fake Chrome downloads from a fraudulent Chinese telecom site.

Jan 10, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, January 06–10, 2025

The U.K is fortifying its digital defenses with the launch of Cyber Local, a £1.9 million initiative to bridge cyber skills gaps and secure the digital economy. Spanning 30 projects across England and Northern Ireland, the scheme emphasizes local business resilience, neurodiverse talent, and cybersecurity careers for youth. Across the Atlantic, the White House introduced the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark, a consumer-friendly cybersecurity labeling program for smart devices. Overseen by the FCC, the initiative tests products like baby monitors and security systems for compliance with rigorous cybersecurity standards, ensuring Americans can make safer choices for their connected homes. China-linked threat actor RedDelta has ramped up its cyber-espionage activities across Asia, targeting nations such as Mongolia, Taiwan, Myanmar, and Vietnam with a modified PlugX backdoor. Cybercriminals have weaponized trust by deploying a fake PoC exploit tied to a patched Microsoft Windows LDAP vulnerability. CrowdStrike reported a phishing operation impersonating the company, using fake job offers to lure victims into downloading a fraudulent CRM application. Once installed, the malware deploys a Monero cryptocurrency miner. A new Mirai-based botnet, dubbed Gayfemboy, has emerged as a formidable threat, leveraging zero-day exploits in industrial routers and smart home devices. With 15,000 active bot nodes daily across China, the U.S., and Russia, the botnet executes high-intensity DDoS attacks exceeding 100 Gbps. In the Middle East, fraudsters are posing as government officials in a social engineering scheme targeting disgruntled customers. Cybercriminals have weaponized WordPress with a malicious plugin named PhishWP to create realistic fake payment pages mimicking services like Stripe. The plugin not only captures payment details in real time but also sends fake confirmation emails to delay detection.

Dec 20, 2024

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, December 16–20, 2024

In a digital age where borders are blurred, governments are sharpening their strategies to outpace cyber adversaries. The draft update to the National Cyber Incident Response Plan (NCIRP) introduces a comprehensive framework for managing nationwide cyberattacks that impact critical infrastructure and the economy. Meanwhile, the fiscal year 2025 defense policy bill, recently approved by the Senate, emphasizes strengthening cybersecurity measures both at home and abroad. A deceptive health app on the Amazon Appstore turned out to be a Trojan horse for spyware. Masquerading as BMI CalculationVsn, the app recorded device screens, intercepted SMS messages, and scanned for installed apps to steal sensitive data. Malicious extensions targeting developers and cryptocurrency projects have infiltrated the VSCode marketplace and NPM. Disguised as productivity tools, these extensions employed downloader functionality to deliver obfuscated PowerShell payloads. The BADBOX botnet has resurfaced, compromising over 192,000 Android devices, including high-end smartphones and smart TVs, directly from the supply chain. Industrial control systems are facing heightened risks as malware like Ramnit and Chaya_003 targets engineering workstations from Mitsubishi and Siemens. Both malware families exploit legitimate services, complicating detection and mitigation efforts in ICS environments. The Chinese hacking group Winnti has been leveraging a PHP backdoor called Glutton, targeting organizations in China and the U.S. This modular ELF-based malware facilitates tailored attacks across industries and even embeds itself into software packages to compromise other cybercriminals. A tax-themed phishing campaign, dubbed FLUX#CONSOLE, is deploying backdoor payloads to compromise systems in Pakistan. Threat actors employ phishing emails with double-extension files masquerading as PDFs.

Dec 13, 2024

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, December 09–13, 2024

Cybercrime’s web of deception unraveled in South Korea as authorities dismantled a fraud network responsible for extorting $6.3 million through fake online trading platforms. Dubbed Operation Midas, the effort led to the arrest of 32 individuals and the seizure of 20 servers. In a significant move to combat surveillance abuses, the U.S. defense policy bill for 2025 introduced measures to shield military and diplomatic personnel from commercial spyware threats. The legislation calls for stringent cybersecurity standards, a review of spyware incidents, and regular reporting to Congress. The subtle art of deception found a new stage with a Microsoft Teams call, as attackers used social engineering to manipulate victims into granting remote access. By convincing users to install AnyDesk, they gained control of systems, executing commands to download the DarkGate malware. Russian APT Secret Blizzard has resurfaced and used the Amadey bot to infiltrate Ukrainian military devices and deploy their Tavdig backdoor. In a phishing spree dubbed "Aggressive Inventory Zombies (AIZ)," scammers impersonated brands like Etsy, Amazon, and Binance to target retail and crypto audiences. Surveillance has reached unsettling new depths with the discovery of BoneSpy and PlainGnome, two spyware families linked to the Russian group Gamaredon. Designed for extensive espionage, these Android malware tools track GPS, capture audio, and harvest data. A new Android banking trojan has already caused havoc among Indian users, masquerading as utility and banking apps to steal sensitive financial information. With 419 devices compromised, the malware intercepts SMS messages, exfiltrates personal data via Supabase, and even tricks victims into entering details under the pretense of bill payment. Iranian threat actors have set their sights on critical infrastructure, deploying IOCONTROL malware to infiltrate IoT and OT/SCADA systems in Israel and the U.S.

Dec 6, 2024

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, December 02–06, 2024

NIST sharpened the tools for organizations to measure their cybersecurity readiness, addressing both technical and leadership challenges. The two-volume guidance blends data-driven assessments with managerial insights, emphasizing the critical role of leadership in applying findings. The Manson Market, a notorious hub for phishing networks, fell in a sweeping Europol-led takedown. With over 50 servers seized and 200TB of stolen data recovered, the operation spanned multiple countries, including Germany and Austria. Russian APT group BlueAlpha leveraged Cloudflare Tunnels to cloak its GammaDrop malware campaign from prying eyes. The group deployed HTML smuggling and DNS fast-fluxing to bypass detection, targeting Ukrainian organizations with precision. Earth Minotaur intensified its surveillance operations against Tibetan and Uyghur communities through the MOONSHINE exploit kit. The kit, now updated with newer exploits, enables the installation of the DarkNimbus backdoor on Android and Windows devices. Cloudflare Pages became an unwitting ally in the sharp rise of phishing campaigns, with a staggering 198% increase in abuse cases. Cybercriminals exploited the platform's infrastructure to host malicious pages, fueling a surge from 460 incidents in 2023 to over 1,370 by October 2024. DroidBot has quietly infiltrated over 77 cryptocurrency exchanges and banking apps, building a web of theft across Europe. Active since June 2024, this Android malware operates as a MaaS platform, enabling affiliates to tailor attacks. Rockstar 2FA, a phishing platform targeting Microsoft 365 users, has set the stage for large-scale credential theft. With over 5,000 phishing domains launched, the platform is marketed on Telegram. The Gafgyt malware is shifting gears, targeting exposed Docker Remote API servers through legitimate Docker images, creating botnets capable of launching DDoS attacks.