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Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - October 30–03

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - October 30–03 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing Nov 3, 2023

The Good

To keep pace with the rapidly changing digital threat landscape, MITRE and FIRST have released new versions of the ATT&CK and CVSS frameworks to assess emerging threats and new vulnerabilities, respectively. While the new iteration of the ATT&CK framework (v14) incorporates more information on attackers’ tactics against mobile and ICS matrices, the new version of CVSS (v4.0) comes with additional security metrics to denote the severity of vulnerabilities.

  • The Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST) officially released a new version (v4.0) of CVSS, eight years after the release of CVSS v3.0 in June 2015. The latest version addresses some of the shortcomings in the previous version by providing additional metrics such as Safety (S), Automatable (A), Recovery (R), Value Density (V), Vulnerability Response Effort (RE), and Provider Urgency (U). It also debuts a new nomenclature to enumerate CVSS scores using a combination of Base (CVSS-B), Base + Threat (CVSS-BT), Base + Environmental (CVSS-BE), and Base + Threat + Environmental (CVSS-BTE) severity ratings.

  • MITRE has announced the release of version 14 of the ATT&CK framework, bringing improvements to ICS, and mobile matrices. The new version covers a total of 760 pieces of software, 143 activity clusters (groups), and 24 campaigns across enterprise, mobile, and ICS. The mobile category has been expanded to include various types of phishing (smishing, quishing, and vishing), with structured detection methods. Additionally, the version has been enhanced to include significant detection analytics by drawing relationships between detection, data sources, and mitigations.

  • The U.S. and a consortium of 49 countries plan to sign an agreement, as part of the International Counter Ransomware Initiative, to not pay ransomware to cybercriminals. This comes as the number of ransomware attacks grows worldwide, with attendee nations pledging to improve information sharing about crypto payment accounts used by the ransomware actors. Additionally, the U.S. DoT will circulate the list of blacklisted digital wallets used by threat actors.

The Bad

On the cyberattacks and data leaks front, a major ransomware attack on western Germany paralyzed its services, including payments, emails, and phones, of 70 local municipalities. A major data leak impacting the COVID-19 test details of nearly 815 million Indians was also reported after a threat actor was found selling the stolen data on the dark web. Besides these, a critical Citrix Bleed vulnerability was exploited in different campaigns targeting government, technical, and legal organizations in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region.

  • According to crypto fraud researchers, hackers stole $4.4 million in cryptocurrency on October 25th using private keys and passphrases stored in stolen LastPass databases. Once the hackers gained access to the information, they loaded the wallets on their devices and drained funds. The amount was stolen from over 25 victims affected in a LastPass breach in 2022.

  • Mandiant researchers uncovered four active campaigns leveraging the Citrix Bleed vulnerability (CVE-2023-4966) to target government, technical, and legal organizations in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region. The flaw affects Citrix NetScaler ADC and Gateway appliances, allowing threat actors to access sensitive information on devices. All four campaigns extensively used csvde.exe, certutil.exe, local.exe, and nbtscan.exe, while two activity clusters were seen using Mimikatz.

  • The aerospace giant, Boeing, confirmed that its systems were compromised by the LockBit ransomware group. While an investigation is underway, the firm disclosed that it has begun notifying customers and suppliers about the incident. Meanwhile, the attackers had given the company until November 2 to pay the ransom or have their sensitive files released publicly.

  • A ransomware attack paralyzed 70 local municipalities in western Germany. As a result, most of the administration’s online services, including those of Wermelskirchen and Burscheid, remained unavailable and the administrations of Siegen canceled appointments with citizens.

  • An unprotected Elasticsearch instance belonging to World-in-HD (WiHD), a popular torrent tracker specializing in HD movies, exposed 97,327 accounts, including the email and passwords of users. The exposed data also included service information and hashed passwords for all the users. Threat actors can gain access to this data to perform illicit activities.

  • Data of almost 5,000 Okta employees was accessed in a third-party data breach that occurred on October 12. In a breach notification, the firm revealed that attackers stole a file containing names, Social Security numbers, and medical insurance details of current and former employees.

  • The COVID-19 test details of nearly 815 million people were dumped on the dark web and put up for sale by cybercriminals. The data sample, which amounted to over 90 GB, was in the possession of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). It included names, phone numbers, and addresses of individuals.

  • The BlackCat ransomware gang added healthcare giant Henry Schein to its dark web leak site, claiming that it stole 35 TB of their data, including payroll data and shareholder information. The group asserted that they had re-encrypted the company's devices after a failed negotiation with the victim firm, who nearly completed system restoration. Additionally, they have threatened to release internal payroll and shareholder data on a daily basis.

  • The British Library and the Toronto Public Library suffered major IT outages due to cyberattacks. While the attack at the British Library impacted some of its online services and public Wi-Fi, the attack at the Toronto Public Library disrupted its website, account features, digital collections, and printing services.

New Threats

In the new threat landscape, threat actors took advantage of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in an attempt to deploy a new wiper called BiBi Linux Wiper against Israeli entities. In other prominent news, the Russia-based Turla group introduced a new version of the Kazuar backdoor that supports over 40 malicious commands to take control of victims’ systems and pilfer sensitive data. A two-year-long cryptojacking campaign, dubbed EleKtra-Leak, was also discovered, raising security concerns about IAM credentials stored in GitHub repositories.

  • North Korean hackers suspected to be associated with the Lazarus group were observed targeting blockchain engineers in an unnamed cryptocurrency exchange platform with a new macOS malware named KANDYKORN. The malware comes with a variety of capabilities to monitor victims’ systems, avoid detection, run additional malware, exfiltrate data, and terminate processes.
  • A pro-Hamas hacking group targeted Israeli entities with a new wiper named BiBi Linux Wiper. Written in C/C++, the malware is an x64 ELF executable and can potentially destroy an entire operating system when runs with root permissions. To expedite the infection process, this threat leverages multiple threads and employs a queue to synchronize their operations.
  • An Iranian espionage group, tracked as Scarred Manticore, was caught using a new malware framework named LionTail. The attackers were linked to OilRig and employed web shells, shellcodes, and legitimate tools to perform various operations. LionTail appears to be the evolution of FoxShell and allows attackers to customize the implants with enhanced stealth.
  • Cybersecurity analysts at ASEC recently discovered a cyberespionage campaign leveraging Hangul Word Processor (HWP) software to target National Defense and press sectors. The attackers weaponized the software to send documents related to national defense, education, and broadcasting.
  • The Russia-based Turla APT deployed a new version of the Kazuar backdoor that supports over 40 commands to perform a wide range of malicious activity. Some of these commands can enable attackers to pilfer credentials, manipulate files, and execute arbitrary commands. Written in .NET, the malware is used as a second-stage payload to evade detection.
  • A supply chain attack campaign, which has been active since August, is being used to deploy malware on developers’ machines. The malware is distributed via malicious packages published on the NuGet repository. Additionally, threat actors have been observed updating tactics, such as exploiting NuGet’s MSBuild integrations feature, to stay under the radar and trick developers into downloading malware onto their systems.
  • There has been a rise in the availability of malware ‘meal kits’ for less than $100 to fuel a surge in campaigns using RATs. The sneaky kit provides low-skill attackers the ability to sidestep detection and infect unsuspecting users’ systems with RATs. According to researchers, the toolkit was observed in two separate campaigns that deployed Vjw0rm and Parallax trojans.
  • Cybercriminals were found actively exploiting Google Search Ads to deploy Bonanza malware. By disguising malicious links as legitimate ads, attackers tricked users into clicking on them, ultimately leading to malware downloads or phishing attempts. People searching for PyCharm software, and wedding plans were primarily targeted in the attacks.
  • A new threat actor named Prolific Puma was discovered running an on-demand URL-shortening service for malware gangs as part of a novel Cybercrime-as-a-Service offering. The primary purpose of the service is to provide shortened URLs that get blacklisted by security firms instead of a customer's actual infrastructure. The service has been in operation since January 2020 and is primarily used in smishing attacks.
  • Threat actors have been found actively scanning GitHub repositories for leaked AWS IAM credentials in a campaign dubbed EleKtra-Leak. The campaign has been active since December 2020 and enables attackers to gain access to AWS infrastructure and perform crypto-mining operations. The payloads are delivered via a Google Drive URL to evade detection.
  • The Iranian nation-state actor known as MuddyWater was linked to a new spear-phishing campaign targeting two Israeli entities. As part of the attack, the attackers deployed a legitimate remote administration tool from N-able called Advanced Monitoring Agent. The content of the email lured the victims into downloading an archive hosted at a.storyblok[.]com.
  • Security firm Phylum has uncovered 48 malicious packages in the npm repository. These counterfeit packages, attributed to an npm user named hktalent, deploy a reverse shell on compromised systems post-installation. These packages triggered an installation hook in the package.json file, executing JavaScript code to establish a reverse shell connection to rsh.51pwn[.]com. This would provide attackers with unauthorized access to compromised systems, potentially leading to further exploitation and data breaches.

Related Threat Briefings

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.