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Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - September 19–23

Cyware Weekly Threat Intelligence - September 19–23 - Featured Image

Weekly Threat Briefing Sep 23, 2022

The Good

In a bid to make digital infrastructures resilient, the Biden Administration has launched a cyber grant program of up to $1 billion. The goal of this program is to address the enormous challenge that the state and local governments currently face when defending against cyber threats. Meanwhile, the NSA and CISA have issued several new guidelines to improve the security of ICS/OT networks. The new guidelines are built upon the 2021 guidance provided to stop malicious ICS activity against connected OT and the 2020 guidance to reduce OT exposure.

  • The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has launched two guides to help organizations in the retail, hospitality, and utility sectors protect themselves and their customers online. These guides are called ‘Authentication methods: choosing the right type,’ and ‘Removing malicious content to protect your brand.’
  • The Biden Administration launched a cyber grant program of up to $1 billion for state and local governments to fortify their digital defenses. The program will be administered by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
  • The United Veterinary Services Association has published four cybersecurity recommendations following a ransomware attack that impacted 700 animal and healthcare networks worldwide.
  • The NSA and CISA published an advisory to improve the security of OT/ICS assets. The advisory builds upon the 2021 guidance provided to stop malicious ICS activity against connected OT, and the 2020 guidance to reduce OT exposure.
  • Victims of the LockerGoga ransomware can now recover their encrypted files using a decryption tool that is available for free via the NoMoreRansom project. The decryptor is the outcome of collaboration between Bitdefender and the NoMoreRansom project.

The Bad

Another week, another new attack on a DeFi protocol was reported, with crypto trading firm Wintermute being the latest victim. As a result, the firm suffered a loss of over $160 million in crypto assets. A reputed US airline carrier and a fintech startup also had the personal information of their customers compromised after falling victim to phishing attacks.

  • In a technical report on cyberattacks against the Albanian government, the FBI and CISA revealed that the Iranian hackers had acquired access to the networks approximately 14 months before launching the attacks. The attackers used ransomware and disk-wiping malware to target victims.

  • Frontline operations in Suffolk County, New York, came to a halt following a ransomware attack. With all the systems impacted, the 911 operators were forced to work with pen and paper.

  • Cryptocurrency market maker Wintermute was breached, with attackers stealing $162.5 million worth of cryptocurrency from the company’s DeFi business. The hackers exploited a privileged function with the private key leak to replace a swap contract with their contract. This is the fifth largest cryptocurrency theft, so far, this year.

  • American Airlines reported a data breach that affected the names, birth dates, mailing addresses, and passport numbers of its customers. The incident occurred after a few employee email addresses were compromised through phishing emails.

  • Fintech startup Revolut also confirmed a data breach that affected around 50,000 of its customers. The attackers gained unauthorized access to the personal information of customers.

  • Hive ransomware claimed an attack on the New York Racing Association (NYRA). The attack took place on June 30 and resulted in the exfiltration of customers’ data such as their Social Security Numbers, health records, and health insurance information.

  • American video game publisher 2K confirmed that its help desk platform was hacked and used to infect customers with RedLine Stealer malware. The malware was distributed via fake support tickets.

  • The spell-checking feature in Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers was found leaking sensitive user information when users filled out forms for websites or cloud-based web services. The issue, dubbed ‘Spell-jacking,’ could affect users of various enterprise applications, including Alibaba, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, LastPass, and Office 365.

  • A phishing email that appeared to be from British email security firm Egress was used to trick Microsoft users to share their credentials. The threat actors used a valid sender signature to bypass email security filters.

  • Phishing actors are abusing LinkedIn’s Smart Link feature to bypass email security products. This can enable the bad actors to redirect users to phishing pages designed to steal their payment information.

  • The UK and international allies issued a joint advisory to highlight new threats from cyber actors affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The advisory reveals that attackers are exploiting vulnerabilities on unprotected networks to launch ransomware operations.

  • Threat actors exploited an unauthorized access vulnerability to target over 39000 Redis servers to deploy XMRig cryptominer. Most of the vulnerable Redis servers were located in China, followed by Germany and Singapore.

  • Microsoft warned of an ongoing large-scale click fraud campaign targeting gamers by stealthily deploying extensions on their systems. A threat cluster tracked as DEV-0796 is behind this campaign.

  • The City of Quincy, Illinois, recently revealed that the personal information— SSNs, names, and health insurance information—of some residents was potentially compromised in a data breach earlier this year.

  • Australia-based telecommunications provider Optus notified that it is dealing with a cyberattack that might have affected its customers’ personal data. The information which may have been exposed includes names, dates of birth, phone numbers, ID document numbers, and email addresses of customers.

  • GitHub is warning of an ongoing phishing campaign that leverages fake CircleCI notifications to target its users. CircleCI has also posted a notice on its forum to raise awareness of the malicious campaign.

New Threats

An unpatched 15-year-old Python flaw has slithered into software worldwide, leaving multiple applications vulnerable to remote code execution attacks. Given the risks associated, the vulnerability can open doors for widespread software supply chain attacks. There’s a rising concern about the LockBit spinoff groups after since the leak of the Lockbit Black builder. The BlackCat ransomware gang has revised its double extortion strategy as it adds a new version of the ExMatter exfiltration tool to its arsenal.

  • An unpatched 15-year-old flaw in Python affected more than 350,000 open-source repositories. The flaw can lead to code execution and is assigned with CVE number CVE-2007-4559. It exists in the Python tarfile package.
  • An info-stealing malware detected as TrojanSpy:AndroidOS/Banker.O was distributed via fake banking rewards apps mimicking Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, and the State Bank of India (SBI). Links to these apps were propagated via SMS messages claiming to be a reward from the bank.
  • The builder for LockBit 3.0 ransomware was leaked on Twitter, which will likely lead to a rise in other threat actors using it to launch their own attacks. The builder can allow anyone to quickly build the executables required to launch their own ransomware operation, including an encryptor, decryptor, and specialized tools to launch the decryptor in certain ways.
  • Multiple fake Zoom download sites were found spreading Vidar stealer malware to Zoom users. The malware could steal banking information, saved passwords, IP addresses, login credentials, and crypto-wallets from the infected systems.
  • UAC-0113 (aka Sandworm), a threat group sponsored by Russia, masqueraded as telecom providers, in an attempt to target Ukrainian entities. The aim was to deliver the Colibri Loader and Warzone RAT on critical Ukrainian systems.
  • Recorded Future detected 569 e-commerce domains infected with web skimmers. While 314 were confirmed to be infected by a Google Tag Manager (GTM) based e-skimmer variant, 255 had infections that exfiltrated stolen data to malicious domains associated with GTM abuse.
  • The BlackCat ransomware is back with a new data exfiltration tool used for double extortion attacks. Named Exmatter, the tool comes with multiple features such as exfiltrating PDF, DOC, DOCX, XLS, PNG, JPG, JPEG, TXT, BMP, RDP, SQL, MSG, PST, ZIP, RTF, IPT, and DWG file types.
  • A malicious NPM package masquerading as the Material Tailwind CSS framework is being used to distribute malicious code in open source software repositories. The package has been downloaded 320 times on September 15.
  • Avast researchers analyzed Roshtyak, the backdoor component part of the Raspberry Robin USB-based worm, that has been wreaking havoc across corporate networks.
  • The ASEC analysis team observed a new FARGO ransomware targeting vulnerable MS-SQL servers. It is believed to be the new version of the Mallox ransomware.
  • A new APT group called Metador has been found targeting telcos, internet service providers, and universities across the Middle East and Africa. The threat actor uses two malware platforms to target Windows systems, along with at least one Linux implant.
  • Kaspersky revealed that over 190 fake apps providing premium services are used to distribute Harly Android trojan. These apps have been collectively downloaded more than 4.8 million times.
  • Researchers observed a surge in hacking attempts targeting a critical vulnerability in Magento 2. The flaw, tracked as CVE-2022-24086 can allow attackers to execute code on unpatched e-commerce websites.

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.