Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, October 07 - October 11, 2019

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, October 07 - October 11, 2019 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing October 11, 2019

The Good

Before we get ready to welcome the weekend, let’s explore all the cybersecurity happenings this week. We’ll start by looking at the positive advancements and then move to security compromises and threats. Researchers are working on a new technology called Cyber Anomaly Detection System that can warn pilots when there is a cyber attack. On the other hand, delegates from nearly 50 countries participated in the Warsaw Process cybersecurity group discussions in Seoul. Meanwhile, a new cybersecurity method inspired by the human body is being developed to predict cyber attacks.

  • Researchers are working on a new technology called Cyber Anomaly Detection System that can detect cyber intrusion on drones and military helicopters. This new warning system can detect attacks as of now. Future versions are expected to fight against attacks and possibly repair the damage.
  • The Warsaw Process cybersecurity group convened in Seoul on October 7 and 8. Nearly 50 countries participated in this meeting co-chaired by the Republic of Korea, Poland, and the United States. The delegates discussed promoting cyberspace stability, preventing malicious cyber activity, combating cybercrime, and safeguarding critical infrastructure.
  • Researchers are developing a new cybersecurity method that is inspired by the human body. Using machine learning, the system would be taught to recognize various cyber threats. This method is expected to predict an attack before it happens by observing changes in the environment.
  • A new machine-learning model that can detect serial hijackers before the attack, is being developed by researchers. The system can identify Autonomous Systems (ASes) that exhibit characteristics similar to that of serial hijackers. This will help proactively prevent hijackers from launching an attack.
  • The Australian Cyber Security Center (ACSC) has published a cybersecurity guide for small businesses. The guide provides information about the common cyber threats and ways to prevent them. It also outlines various software considerations and recommendations in terms of people and procedures that businesses can adopt.

The Bad

Several data breaches and incidents were reported this week. The website of T? Ora Compass Health was hit by a cyberattack possibly compromising the medical data of a million New Zealanders. The data of 8.7 million customers is being sold online after Beeline, the Russian internet service provider suffered a data breach. In other news, more than 6,500 firms were affected because of a cyber attack on eCommerce software company Volusion.

  • The T? Ora Compass Health notified of a cyber attack on its website that put the medical data of a million New Zealanders at risk. The possibly compromised information includes names, dates of birth, ethnicity, addresses, National Health Index Number, and enrolment information at medical centers. The attack occurred in August and officials were unable to confirm if any information was accessed.
  • Russian internet service Beeline fell victim to a data breach that resulted in the data of 8.7 million customers being sold online. The data contains personal information including names, phone numbers, and addresses. Beeline said that the compromised data belonged to Russian customers who opted for home broadband connections before November 2016.
  • Attackers launched a cyber attack on Volusion, an eCommerce software firm, impacting more than 6,500 firms. The attack involved delivering malicious code to harvest payment card details entered by users online. The attack was launched after the hackers gained unauthorized access to Volusion's Google Cloud infrastructure and injected malicious code to harvest payment details.
  • An unsecured cloud database belonging to Freedom Healthcare Staffing exposed over 957,000 healthcare records. The exposed data includes employee marital status, job seeker and recruiter data, and internal communication records among others. The database is now secured with a password and the data is encrypted with an algorithm.
  • UAB Medical’s payroll department was hit with a phishing attack that compromised the health information of 19,557 patients. Patient names, treatment information, dates of birth, diagnosis and certain patients’ social security numbers were among the compromised records. The medical center is sending out notifications to the affected patients.
  • An unauthorized access to TransUnion Canada web portal caused the leakage of consumer credit files. Credentials were stolen from a TransUnion customer with access to the web portal to launch the attack. With the right search query, credit files with name, date of birth, current and previous addresses, and credit information will be accessible to the attackers.
  • Malaysian firm Hibiscus Petroleum announced that it was hit by a cyber attack. Certain parts of the system that were affected were isolated and partially shut down. The firm said that the systems were being restored and production was not affected.
  • Methodist Hospitals in Indiana disclosed a possible exposure of data belonging to 68,039 individuals because of a phishing attack. Although there is no evidence yet of misuse of the information, officials have not ruled out the possibility. The exposed information includes names, usernames and passwords, Social Security Numbers, and dates of birth apart from other information.

New Threats

This week, a number of new threats were discovered. A decryptor for the Nemty ransomware that recovers impacted files has been published. In other news, a BitPaymer ransomware campaign exploiting a zero-day vulnerability in iTunes for Windows was reported. The United Kingdom NCSC issued a warning about APT groups leveraging vulnerabilities in certain enterprise VPNs.

  • Researchers have published a decryptor for the Nemty ransomware that allows victims to recover files at no cost. The decryptor currently works only for certain file types such as AVI, GIF, and MP4 among others. The generation of the decryption key is done on the researchers’ servers to prevent hackers from analyzing the decryptor.
  • A BitPaymer ransomware campaign that exploits a zero-day vulnerability in the iTunes for Windows has been observed. Researchers found the campaign targets public and private sectors in the U.S. The security flaw is in the Bonjour Updater that delivers updates.
  • The United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued a warning that Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups are exploiting recently disclosed vulnerabilities in VPN products from Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, and Pulse Secure. The vulnerabilities potentially allow attackers to retrieve files containing sensitive data including authentication credentials.
  • A major security flaw was discovered in the Indian local search app Justdial. Hackers could exploit the vulnerability to log in to the accounts of any of the 156 million users. The company said that there was no loss of data and that the bug was patched.
  • An old Twitter API used by many iOS apps was discovered to be vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks. It could potentially allow hackers to take over Twitter accounts and third-party apps with the ‘Login with Twitter’ feature. The vulnerability is due to a flawed TwitterKit library that was replaced by Twitter.
  • Security researchers discovered a vulnerability in Ghidra, the reverse engineering tool developed by the NSA. The vulnerability can allow hackers to execute arbitrary code in the affected application. However, it can only be exploited when experimental mode in Ghidra is enabled.
  • A new zero-day kernel privilege bug that can compromise certain Android devices has been reported. The flaw can be exploited via the Chrome sandbox. It is said that a patch will be released along with the October operating system update.
  • Researchers have discovered a new spy platform named Attor with GSM fingerprinting abilities. Attacks using this cyber-espionage platform targeted government and diplomatic entities in the Eastern parts of Europe. It was observed targeting specific processes including those associated with Russian social networks.
  • Researchers have disclosed a remote code execution vulnerability in certain models of D-Link routers. Since the affected products have been discontinued, there will be no security patch released for the vulnerability. It is considered a critical vulnerability as it can be exploited remotely without authentication.
  • A remote code execution vulnerability that was already patched, was discovered being used in various cyber-attacks. Dubbed Drupalgeddon2, the bug affects the open-source Drupal content management system. Researchers said that it can be exploited through malicious GIF files.
  • The FBI issued a security advisory about an increasing number of social engineering and technical attacks that could bypass multifactor authentication. The advisory also warned about SIM swapping, vulnerabilities in online pages handling MFA operations, and the use of tools such as NecroBrowser. FBI urged private industry partners to consider the warning as a precaution and recommended the use of MFA.
  • Threat actors responsible for the RobbinHood ransomware have changed their language in the ransom note. The ransom message indicates that the files cannot be decrypted for free. It also warns not to contact any security organization, turn off the system, or rename files

Related Threat Briefings

Aug 8, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, August 04–08, 2025

In the wake of recent cyberattacks, the US federal judiciary is locking down sensitive court documents with a fortified approach to cybersecurity. Courts nationwide are enforcing stricter access controls, monitored handling procedures, and a mandatory IT security “scorecard” for annual self-assessments to pinpoint vulnerabilities. DARPA is raising the stakes at DEF CON, pitting seven AI-powered cyber reasoning systems against each other to secure the open-source software underpinning critical infrastructure. These autonomous tools, designed to detect and patch vulnerabilities in code vital to water systems and financial institutions, analyzed 7.8 million lines in preliminary rounds, catching 59% of synthetic flaws and uncovering real ones. Akira ransomware is striking with surgical precision, exploiting a suspected zero-day flaw in SonicWall SSL VPN devices, even those fully patched. Since mid-July 2025, attackers have used Virtual Private Server logins to bypass MFA, hitting multiple targets in rapid succession. A stealthy Python-based PXA Stealer is sweeping across 62 countries, pilfering sensitive data from unsuspecting victims. This infostealer campaign has exfiltrated hundreds of thousands of passwords and more. Phishing emails disguised as court summons are delivering a malicious payload to Ukrainian government and defense sectors, courtesy of UAC-0099. A cunning Android RAT, PlayPraetor, is sweeping through six countries, already compromising over 11,000 devices with its deceptive tactics. It masquerades as legitimate apps via fake Google Play Store pages and Meta Ads. ClickTok is luring TikTok Shop users into a trap with a crafty blend of phishing and malware. This global campaign deploys over 10,000 fake TikTok websites and 5,000 malicious apps, impersonating TikTok’s e-commerce platforms to steal cryptocurrency wallet credentials. Ghost Calls, a new evasion tactic, is turning Zoom and Microsoft Teams into covert channels for malicious activity, slipping past traditional defenses with ease.

Aug 1, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, July 28–August 01, 2025

Picture this: a tool so fast it dissects malware at lightning speed, giving your team the edge in a digital arms race. Meet Thorium, the CISA’s latest open-source gem. This platform automates cyberattack investigations, processing over 1,700 jobs per second and ingesting 10 million files per hour per permission group. Meanwhile, as AI reshapes the battlefield, OWASP is arming professionals with fresh guidance to secure agentic AI applications driven by LLMs. It’s a playbook for locking down user authentication with OAuth 2.0, encrypting sensitive data, and bolstering supply chain security. Cybercriminals are donning digital disguises, impersonating trusted enterprises with fake Microsoft OAuth applications to steal credentials and bypass multi-factor authentication. Hackers exploited a critical SAP NetWeaver flaw to deploy the Auto-Color Linux malware. This malware, equipped with a rootkit and adaptive evasion tactics, adjusts its behavior based on user privileges. Operation CargoTalon, tied to threat cluster UNG0901, targeted organizations with EAGLET malware hidden in fake invoice files, quietly siphoning off sensitive data to a C2 server. A newly discovered cyberattack technique, dubbed Man in the Prompt, is turning browser extensions into unwitting accomplices in data theft from generative AI tools. DoubleTrouble is targeting users through Discord-hosted APKs, disguising itself as a legitimate app to slip past defenses. A stealthy Android banking trojan, RedHook, is targeting Vietnamese users through phishing sites mimicking trusted agencies. Spread via a malicious APK on an exposed AWS S3 bucket, it exploits accessibility services to steal credentials and banking details, with over 500 infections tied to Chinese-speaking actors.

Jul 25, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, July 21–25, 2025

The BlackSuit ransomware crew just lost its home turf. As part of Operation Checkmate, international law enforcement has seized the group’s dark web extortion and negotiation sites. New York is taking aim at cyber threats to its water systems. A newly proposed set of regulations outlines mandatory IT and OT cybersecurity measures for water and wastewater infrastructure, aligning with federal guidelines and introducing funding to support modernization across the state. Not every scam needs sophistication, sometimes all it takes is a lonely heart and a convincing profile picture. SarangTrap, a massive mobile spyware campaign, is luring victims on Android and iOS through fake dating apps. Storm-2603 is slipping through SharePoint’s cracks and locking the doors behind it. The suspected China-based threat group is exploiting two SharePoint vulnerabilities to deploy Warlock ransomware. A trusted source turned treacherous. Hackers launched a supply chain attack on Arch Linux by slipping malware into three AUR packages. These packages silently deployed a RAT that gave attackers persistent control over infected machines. A browser tweak here, a fake mod there, and suddenly your crypto wallet spills its secrets. In a new campaign, the Scavenger trojan exploits DLL Search Order Hijacking to infiltrate password managers and wallets. A new RaaS group called Chaos is conducting high-impact ransomware campaigns through a number of tactics, using remote management tools for long-term access. Mimo is getting stealthier and greedier. The financially motivated group has moved from targeting Craft CMS to Magento, exploiting PHP-FPM vulnerabilities to deploy malware via fileless techniques.

Jul 18, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, July 14–18, 2025

A keyboard army just lost its command center. Europol’s Operation Eastwood has crippled the pro-Russian hacktivist group NoName057(16). The international effort, involving law enforcement from 12 nations, led to two arrests and the takedown of over 100 servers linked to the group’s “DDoSia” project. Britain wants bug-hunters on its side. The NCSC has launched the Vulnerability Research Initiative, a new program inviting external researchers to help uncover security flaws in widely used hardware and software. Cisco Talos uncovered a MaaS campaign targeting Ukraine, where attackers used Amadey malware and GitHub repositories to stage payloads. The setup mimics tactics from a SmokeLoader phishing operation. Over 600 malicious domains are distributing fake Telegram APKs to unsuspecting users. Most are hosted in China and exploit the Janus vulnerability in Android. Users who trusted GravityForms’ official site got more than they expected. A supply chain attack injected backdoors into plugin files distributed via the official site and Composer. The H2Miner botnet has resurfaced with updated scripts that mine Monero, kill rival malware, and deploy multiple malware. Bundled with it is Lcrypt0rx, a likely AI-generated ransomware that exhibits sloppy logic, malformed syntax, and weak encryption using XOR. A new Konfety variant uses the same package name as a legitimate app but hides the real payload in a lookalike version distributed through third-party stores. One sandbox escape makes five. Google patched a high-severity Chrome flaw that lets attackers break out of the browser’s sandbox using crafted HTML and unvalidated GPU commands.

Jul 4, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, June 30–July 04, 2025

It looked like a crypto investment until €460 million vanished. Operation BORRELLI dismantled a global fraud ring that scammed over 5,000 victims, with arrests in Madrid and the Canary Islands. A fake workforce was quietly funding a real regime. The DoJ disrupted a North Korean scheme where remote IT workers used stolen identities to get jobs at over 100 U.S. companies. The operation funneled $5 million to the DPRK, exposed military tech, and led to raids across 16 states. Sometimes, the app that looks harmless is just the decoy. Recent investigations uncovered massive Android fraud schemes, including IconAds and Kaleidoscope, which used icon hiding, fake apps, and third-party distribution to flood ad networks with billions of fake requests. Two different names - same tactics, same tools, same playbook. Researchers have found striking overlaps between TA829 and the lesser-known UNK_GreenSec, both of which use phishing lures and REM Proxy services through compromised MikroTik routers. It starts with what looks like an official message from the Colombian government. Behind it is a phishing campaign delivering DCRAT, a modular remote access tool designed for theft and system control. Botnet operators are now turning broken routers into system wreckers. RondoDox is a new Linux-based botnet exploiting CVE-2024-3721 and CVE-2024-12856 to gain remote access to TBK DVRs and Four-Faith routers. That Zoom update request on Telegram? It could be a trap. North Korean actors are deploying NimDoor malware to infiltrate Web3 and crypto platforms using social engineering via Telegram. Google has patched CVE-2025-6554, a critical zero-day in Chrome’s V8 engine that was exploited in the wild to execute arbitrary code.

Jun 27, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, June 23–27, 2025

A Common Good Cyber Fund was launched to support non-profits delivering critical cybersecurity services for public benefit. The fund is backed by the U.K and Canada, with G7 leaders endorsing similar initiatives. A phishing email is all it takes to breach critical infrastructure. The OneClik APT campaign is targeting energy and oil sectors using Microsoft ClickOnce to deliver a .NET loader and Golang backdoor. A handful of outdated routers is all it takes to build a persistent espionage network. The LapDogs campaign is targeting SOHO devices with a custom backdoor called ShortLeash, giving attackers root access and control over compromised systems. A familiar package name could be hiding far more than useful code. North Korean actors behind the Contagious Interview campaign have published 35 malicious npm packages, including keyloggers and multi-stage malware. A fake Windows update might just be the start of something worse. The EvilConwi campaign is abusing ConnectWise ScreenConnect to deliver signed malware through tampered installers. Encrypted messaging apps aren’t immune to state-backed malware delivery. APT28 is targeting Ukrainian government entities via Signal, sharing macro-laced documents that deploy a backdoor named Covenant. Some WordPress plugins are doing a lot more than extending site functionality. Researchers uncovered a long-running malware campaign that uses rogue plugins to skim credit card data, steal credentials, and manage backend systems on infected sites.

Jun 20, 2025

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence, June 16–20, 2025

As cybercriminals weave intricate webs in the digital underworld, global defenders are cutting through the chaos. Six nations toppled Archetyp Market, a darknet drug bazaar with €250 million ($288 million) in Monero deals, nabbing its admin and vendors while seizing €7.8 million ($9 million) in assets. The U.K unveiled a Cyber Growth Action Plan, injecting £16m ($21.2m) to fortify its £13.2bn ($17.5bn) cybersecurity industry after attacks bled retailers like M&S. Stateside, the U.S. reclaimed $225 million in crypto from investment scams, marking the Secret Service’s biggest digital heist bust yet. Cloud services are being quietly turned into covert attack channels. The Serpentine#Cloud campaign is abusing Cloudflare Tunnels and Python to deploy fileless malware via invoice-themed phishing lures. A popular WordPress plugin is exposing sites to full takeover. It affects the AI Engine plugin, impacting over 100,000 websites and opening the door to site-wide compromise. An official-looking email from the tax department may be anything but. Silver Fox APT is targeting Taiwanese users with phishing emails posing as the National Taxation Bureau, delivering malware like Winos 4.0, HoldingHands RAT, and Gh0stCringe. A new Android trojan is turning devices into data-harvesting tools under attackers’ full control. Attributed to the LARVA-398 group, AntiDot has infected thousands of devices through phishing and malicious ads. A fake job offer could now come bundled with custom-built spyware. PylangGhost is targeting crypto professionals in India. Delivered through spoofed job sites, the malware includes registry tampering, remote control, and data exfiltration modules aimed at compromising Windows systems. One compromised travel site is now a launchpad for infostealer infections. A new ClickFix variant, LightPerlGirl, is using fake Cloudflare CAPTCHA prompts and clipboard hijacking to deliver the Lumma infostealer.

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.