Cookie Settings

This website uses cookies and similar technologies to provide essential functionality and improve your experience. Some features, such as demo scheduling and chat support, require marketing cookies to function. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to all cookies. Alternatively, you can customize your preferences, but note that declining marketing cookies will limit certain website features.

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, November 28 - December 02, 2022

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, November 28 - December 02, 2022 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing Dec 2, 2022

The Good

Fraud and forgery have become serious cybercrimes globally. This week, Spanish authorities knocked down a cybercrime organization that created fake investment sites impersonating crypto platforms to steal millions from victims across Europe. In an effort to put an end to counterfeiting and online piracy, law enforcement agencies from 27 countries operated together to shut down 12,526 websites hosting illegal content.

  • The EU Council issued a new cybersecurity directive, NIS2, which would set standards for cyber risk management and reporting obligations across every sector. The new directive aims to harmonize cybersecurity requirements and measures across member states by establishing minimum rules for a regulatory framework and laying down mechanisms for effective cooperation among relevant authorities.

  • The Spanish National Police took down a cybercrime operation that leveraged fake cryptocurrency investment sites to defraud 300 victims, across Europe, and steal over $12.8 million. During the investigation, six members of the cybercrime organization were arrested in Madrid and Barcelona and will face charges of suspected fraud, money laundering, and usurpation of marital status.

  • Law enforcement across 27 countries, along with Europol, took down 12,526 websites hosting illegal content related to counterfeiting and online piracy. The police disconnected 32 servers used to distribute the content for 2294 television channels. They also shuttered 15 online stores selling counterfeit products on social media sites and seized 127,365 fake clothes, watches, shoes, accessories, perfumes, electronics, and other items worth over $3.9 million.

  • The Australian government awarded up to $25.4 million in grants under the second round of the Cyber Security Skills Partnership Innovation Fund. The objective is to support projects that improve the quality and diversity of Australia’s cybersecurity professionals by funding collaborative projects between industry and the education sector.

The Bad

The week witnessed several new ransomware intrusions. A British water supplier disclosed being attacked by ransomware that may have exposed the personal as well as bank details of the victims. Another target was a multinational healthcare organization whose websites were shut down and operations were disrupted in a ransomware attack. Also, Canadian retailer Harry Rosen fell victim to a cyberattack by the BianLian ransomware group.

  • South Staffordshire Water, England, revealed that a ransomware attack it suffered in August may have resulted in the exposure of sensitive personal information and bank details. Customers who have been paying via debit card seem to be victims of this attack. The Cl0p ransomware group is a potential suspect in the crime.

  • Schools in Gloucester County, New Jersey, notified parents of a significant breach that has impacted their operations, leading to the cancelation of multiple activities across schools. There’s no clue so far about the involvement of any hacker group, however, the investigation is ongoing.

  • A cyberattack crippled the networks of Accuro, a New Zealand-based health insurance firm, restricting users’ access to core systems. It’s unclear what all customer data was exposed to hackers. The company has sent out a message about keeping the systems offline for some time and urged everyone to cooperate.

  • LastPass and its parent company GoTo disclosed a security incident wherein an unauthorized party illegally accessed some of their customers’ information. It added that all the customer passwords are safe. Other stolen data remains unclear.

  • The RansomHouse ransomware group targeted Keralty, a multinational healthcare organization, knocking its websites offline and interrupting the operations of the company and its subsidiaries. The healthcare giant operates 12 hospitals and 371 medical centers in Latin America, the U.S., Spain, and Asia.

  • ENC Security, Netherlands, was found blurting out its API keys and certificate files for over a year owing to a misconfiguration. The company is a third-party vendor for Sony, Lexar, and Sandisk USB keys as it provides encryption solutions for data safety. The data was accessible from May 27, 2021, up until November 9, 2022.

  • Pediatric-specific health IT solutions company Connexin Software confirmed that it suffered a security incident that impacted nearly 2.2 million individuals. The ripple effects of the attacks have impacted the networks of about 120 pediatric physician practices and practice groups. The leaked database comprised PII, and a variety of medical and insurance records.

  • Unauthorized access at Community Health Network, Indiana, impacted approximately 1.5 million individuals. The incident involves the use of website tracking codes by some third parties. These helped them in teleporting certain patient information from the site to the tracking technology vendors.

  • A previously reported ransomware strain has been rebranded as Trigona and researchers claimed to have found multiple victims of the new strain. Moreover, hackers behind it have released a new negotiation site on Tor where they ask for ransom in Monero. However, It remains obscure how hackers penetrate the target networks to deploy ransomware.

  • China-linked cyberespionage group UNC4191 has been observed targeting public and private entities in Southeast Asia, Asia-Pacific, the U.S., and Europe, with increased attention on the Philippines. Hackers attempt to steal data from air-gapped systems through self-replicating malware on USB drives. The three malware families, dubbed MISTCLOAK, DARKDEW, and BLUEHAZE, can help achieve backdoor access to compromised devices.

  • Guilford College, North Carolina, disclosed a ransomware attack that culminated in the leak of sensitive data of students, faculty, and staff. The Hive group took full responsibility for the attack and threatened to leak the stolen data if the ransom amount is not paid. In response to the attack, the impacted networks were brought offline.

  • It is estimated that personal records pertaining to over 5.4 million Twitter users, containing non-public information, are being shared for free on the dark web. The data was reportedly extracted by exploiting an API flaw that was fixed in January. The leaked information includes the phone numbers and email addresses of the users.

  • All data with the Zwijndrecht police in Antwerp, Belgium, from 2006 until September 2022 was published by the Ragnar Locker ransomware group. The leak exposes thousands of car number plates, fines, personnel details, investigation reports, crime report files, and more. This particular attack was originally planned against the municipality of Zwijndrecht.

  • Canadian retailer Harry Rosen revealed it fell victim to a cyberattack. Ransomware group BianLian has listed the company as a victim on its leak site and released a 1GB file as proof of its attack. Written for Windows systems in the Go language, the ransomware presumably runs its encryption at a much greater speed. The lesser-known ransomware group was initially spotted in August.

New Threats

Malware is everywhere! A low-profile ransomware was rebranded and came to prominence again as the new Trigona ransomware. A new commercial spyware came under observation that abuses Microsoft Defender security software and browsers such as Chrome and Firefox. Meanwhile, researchers identified a malicious Android App that exfiltrates SMS data for fake account creation. In another incident, cybercriminals exploited a TikTok trend to install malware on thousands of devices through a fake software offer.

  • AquaSec security firm spotted a new Go-based malware, dubbed Redigo, launching attacks on Redis servers. The adversaries are exploiting a critical flaw, CVE-2022-0543, in Redis servers. The flaw—CVSS score 10.0—is a Lua sandbox escape flaw that impacts Debian and Debian-derived Linux distributions.
  • Google TAG uncovered Heliconia, a commercial spyware, designed to exploit flaws in Microsoft Defender security software, and Chrome and Firefox browsers. The malware framework comprises three key components—Heliconia Noise, Heliconia Soft, and Files. Google has urged users to update browsers and software as a defense against exploits.
  • McAfee’s Mobile Research team identified a fake version of a legitimate mobile security app on the Google Play Store targeting Japanese users. The threat actors used Google Drive to distribute the malware. The malware can extract passwords and abuse reverse proxy to snoop around mobile payment services.
  • Approximately 300,000 users across 71 countries have fallen victim to a new Android threat campaign. According to Zimperium, a mobile security firm, the malicious software posed as a legitimate education-themed application to harvest users’ Facebook credentials. The trojan used native libraries such as "libabc.so" to dodge device security.
  • Researchers at Lookout discovered roughly 300 Android and iOS apps manipulating individuals into taking loans. It is specifically targeting those who do not qualify for a traditional loan. Through unfair loan terms, hackers attempt to exfiltrate a wide range of user data and use it later to blackmail them for repayment.
  • ‘Invisible Challenge’ on TikTok is being exploited by cybercriminals to install malware on thousands of devices through a fake software offer. The fake software, in fact, installs the W4SP Stealer malware. Through this, hackers attempt to pilfer passwords and compromise cryptocurrency wallets and Discord accounts. These videos had already garnered over a million views.
  • Evina researcher Maxime Ingrao uncovered Symoo, a fake Android SMS app with 100,000 downloads. It acts as an SMS relay service for account creation for the likes of Google, Instagram, Microsoft, Telegram, and Facebook. It was observed that Symoo exfiltrates SMS data to a domain in use by another application on Google Play, Virtual Number (not available anymore).
  • Cyble researchers laid bare a variant of Punisher ransomware that has been propagating through a COVID-19 theme-based phishing website. Disguised as a COVID tracking application, it targeted Chilean users and demanded the equivalent of $1000 in BTC for decrypting the files of the victims.

Related Threat Briefings

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.