Kaspersky analysis of the backdoor in XZ
Kaspersky analysis of the backdoor recently found in XZ, which is used in many popular Linux distributions and in OpenSSH server process.
Distinctive Campaign Evolution of Pikabot Malware
Authored by Anuradha and Preksha Introduction PikaBot is a malicious backdoor that has been active since early 2023. Its modular design is comprised of a
North Korea’s Post-Infection Python Payloads – One Night in Norfolk
Throughout the past few months, several publications have written about a North Korean threat actor group’s use of NPM packages to deploy malware to developers and other unsuspecting victims. This blog post provides additional details regarding the second and third-stage malware in these attacks, which these publications have only covered in limited detail.
Threat Actors Deliver Malware via YouTube Video Game Cracks
Key takeaways Proofpoint identified multiple YouTube channels distributing malware by promoting cracked and pirated video games and related content. The video descriptions include links leading t...
AceCryptor malware has surged in Europe, researchers say
Researchers at ESET say they spotted thousands of new infections with AceCryptor, which allows malware to slip into systems without being detected by anti-virus software.
DarkGate Opens Organizations for Attack via Skype, Teams
From July to September, we observed the DarkGate campaign (detected by Trend Micro as TrojanSpy.AutoIt.DARKGATE.AA) abusing instant messaging platforms to deliver a VBA loader script to victims. This script downloaded and executed a second-stage payload consisting of a AutoIT scripting containing the DarkGate malware code. It’s unclear how the originating accounts of the instant messaging applications were compromised, however is hypothesized to be either through leaked credentials available through underground forums or the previous compromise of the parent organization.
European Parliament finds spyware on defense committee members’ phones
Officials handling security and defense issues were the target of phone hacking, internal email says.
Poland's PM says authorities in the previous government widely and illegally used Pegasus spyware | AP News
Poland’s new prime minister says he has documentation proving that state authorities under the previous government used the powerful Pegasus spyware illegally and targeted a “very long” list of hacking victims.
Hackers exploit Ivanti SSRF flaw to deploy new DSLog backdoor
Hackers are exploiting a server-side request forgery (SSRF) vulnerability in Ivanti Connect Secure, Policy Secure, and ZTA gateways to deploy the new DSLog backdoor on vulnerable devices.
New RustDoor macOS malware impersonates Visual Studio update
A new Rust-based macOS malware spreading as a Visual Studio update to provide backdoor access to compromised systems uses infrastructure linked to the infamous ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware gang.
Chinese spies hacked Dutch defence network last year - intelligence agencies
Chinese state-backed cyber spies gained access to a Dutch military network last year, Dutch intelligence agencies said on Tuesday, calling it part of a trend of Chinese political espionage against the Netherlands and its allies.
Chinese hackers infect Dutch armed forces network with malware
A Chinese cyber-espionage group breached the Dutch Ministry of Defence last year and deployed malware on compromised devices, according to the Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) of the Netherlands.
DarkGate malware delivered via Microsoft Teams - detection and response
While most end users are well-acquainted with the dangers of traditional phishing attacks, such as those delivered via email or other media, a large proportion are likely unaware that Microsoft Teams chats could be a phishing vector. Most Teams activity is intra-organizational, but Microsoft enables External Access by default, which allows members of one organization to add users outside the organization to their Teams chats. Perhaps predictably, this feature has provided malicious actors a new avenue by which to exploit untrained or unaware users.
Evolution of UNC4990: Uncovering USB Malware's Hidden Depths
UNC4990 uses USB devices for initial infection, and is likely motivated by financial gain.
New Go-based Malware Loader Discovered I Arctic Wolf
Arctic Wolf Labs has discovered, based on recent intrusion observations, a new Go-based malware loader named CherryLoader
Info Stealing Packages Hidden in PyPI
An info-stealing PyPI malware author was identified discreetly uploading malicious packages.
A backdoor with a cryptowallet stealer inside cracked macOS software
We review a new macOS backdoor that piggybacks on cracked software to replace Bitcoin and Exodus wallets with malware.
Balada Injector Infects Over 7,100 WordPress Sites Using Plugin Vulnerability
Over 7,100 WordPress sites have been hit by the 'Balada Injector' malware, which exploits sites using a vulnerable version of the Popup Builder plugin
Jamf Threat Labs Discovers Pirated macOS Apps Similar to ZuRu Malware
Jamf Threat Labs discovers new pirated macOS applications that establish communication with attacker infrastructure, allowing the victim's computer to be controlled by the attacker.
MacOS info-stealers quickly evolve to evade XProtect detection
Multiple information stealers for the macOS platform have demonstrated the capability to evade detection even when security companies follow and report about new variants frequently.
Analyzing DPRK's SpectralBlur
In both his twitter (err, X) thread and in a subsequent posting he provided a comprehensive background and triage of the malware dubbed SpectralBlur. In terms of its capabilities he noted: SpectralBlur is a moderately capable backdoor, that can upload/download files, run a shell, update its configuration, delete files, hibernate or sleep, based on commands issued from the C2. -Greg He also pointed out similarities to/overlaps with the DPRK malware known as KandyKorn (that we covered in our “Mac Malware of 2024” report), while also pointing out there was differences, leading him to conclude: We can see some similarities ... to the KandyKorn. But these feel like families developed by different folks with the same sort of requirements. -Greg
Objective-See's Blog
A comprehensive analysis of the year's new malware