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Spear Phishing
Business Security Cyber Attacks Malicious Campaign Russian Hacker Spear Phishing

Microsoft Warns of Russian Spear-Phishing Campaign Targeting Multiple Organizations

 

Microsoft Threat Intelligence has discovered a new attack campaign by Russian hacker group Midnight Blizzard, targeted at thousands of users from over 100 organisations. The attack uses spear-phishing emails that contain RDP configuration files, allowing perpetrators to connect to and potentially compromise the targeted systems. 

The malicious campaign targeted thousands of users from higher education, defence, non-governmental organisations, and government institutions. Dozens of nations have been impacted, mainly in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and Japan, consistent with previous Midnight Blizzard phishing attacks. 

In the most recent Midnight Blizzard assault campaign, victims received meticulously targeted emails including social engineering lures related to Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and the concept of Zero Trust. 

According to Microsoft Threat Intelligence, the emails were sent using email addresses from legitimate organisations obtained by the threat actor during earlier breaches. Every email included an RDP configuration file signed with a free LetsEncrypt certificate and included multiple sensitive parameters. When the user accessed the file, an RDP connection was established with an attacker-controlled system. 

The threat actor could then use the established RDP connection to acquire information regarding the targeted device, such as files and folders, connected network drives, and peripherals such as printers, microphones, and smart cards. 

It would also allow for the collection of clipboard data, web authentication via Windows Hello, passkeys and security keys, and even point-of-sale devices. Such a link may also enable the threat actor to install malware on the targeted device or mapped network share(s). 

Outbound RDP connections were established to domains constructed to deceive the victim into thinking they were AWS domains. Amazon, which is collaborating with the Ukrainian CERT-UA to combat the threat, began grabbing affected domains immediately in order to stop operations. Meanwhile, Microsoft alerted all impacted customers who had been targeted or compromised.
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vigilance
Cyber Fraud Cyber Threats Cybersecurity Data Theft phishing Scams Sensitive Information Spear Phishing Spoofing vigilance

The Evolution of Phishing Emails: From Simple Scams to Sophisticated Cyber Threats

 

Phishing emails have undergone significant changes over the past few decades. Once simple and easy to detect, these scams have now evolved into a sophisticated cyber threat, targeting even the most tech-savvy individuals and organizations. Understanding the development of phishing attacks is key to protecting yourself from these ever-evolving cyber dangers.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, phishing emails were quite basic and easily identifiable. One of the most well-known scams was the "Nigerian Prince" email. These messages claimed to be from foreign royalty or officials, offering large sums of money in return for a small processing fee. The common signs included poor language, unrealistic promises, and large financial rewards—elements that eventually made these scams easy for users to recognize and dismiss.

As people became aware of these early scams, phishing attacks shifted focus, aiming to steal sensitive financial information. By the mid-2000s, attackers began impersonating banks and financial institutions in their emails. These messages often used fear-inducing language, such as warnings of account breaches, to pressure recipients into handing over personal details like login credentials and credit card information. During this time, phishing attempts were still marked by clear warning signs: poorly written emails, generic greetings, and inaccurate logos. However, as technology advanced, so did the attackers' ability to produce more convincing content.

The evolution of phishing took a major step forward with the introduction of spear phishing. Unlike traditional phishing, which targets a broad audience, spear phishing focuses on specific individuals or companies. Attackers gather personal information through social media and public records to craft emails that appear highly legitimate, often addressing the victim by name and referencing workplace details. This tailored approach makes the scam more believable and increases the chances of success.

Phishing emails today have become highly sophisticated, utilizing advanced techniques such as email spoofing to mimic trusted sources. Attackers frequently impersonate colleagues, supervisors, or official entities, making it difficult for users to tell the difference between genuine and malicious messages. Modern phishing schemes often rely on psychological tactics, using fear or urgency to pressure recipients into clicking harmful links or downloading malware. This evolution reflects the growing complexity of cybercriminal activities, demanding greater awareness and stronger cybersecurity defenses.

In summary, phishing emails have evolved from basic scams to intricate, personalized attacks that are harder to detect. Being informed about these tactics and staying vigilant is critical in the digital age. If you're ever in doubt about an email’s legitimacy, contact your Information Security Team for verification.
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Spear Phishing
Critical Infrastructure Cyber Attacks cybercrime group Defense Kaspersky Russian Government Spear Phishing

Awaken Likho Targets Russian Agencies with MeshCentral Remote Access Tool

 

Awaken Likho, also referred to as Core Werewolf or PseudoGamaredon, is a cyber threat group targeting Russian government agencies and industrial entities. Since June 2024, a new campaign has been observed, where attackers have shifted from using UltraVNC to MeshCentral’s legitimate agent for remote access to compromised systems. The campaign primarily focuses on Russian government contractors and industrial enterprises, as reported by Kaspersky. Spear-phishing is a key method employed by Awaken Likho, with malicious executables disguised as Word or PDF files. 

These files trick victims by using double extensions such as “.doc.exe” or “.pdf.exe,” making them appear like standard document formats. When opened, these files trigger the installation of UltraVNC or, in the new campaign, MeshCentral’s MeshAgent tool, which grants the attackers full control over the compromised system. Awaken Likho’s cyberattacks date back to at least August 2021, first gaining attention through targeting Russia’s defense and critical infrastructure sectors. However, more recently, the group has shifted to using self-extracting archives (SFX) to covertly install UltraVNC, along with presenting decoy documents. 

In its latest campaigns, an SFX archive triggers the execution of a file named “MicrosoftStores.exe,” which unpacks an AutoIt script. This script eventually runs the MeshAgent tool, facilitating ongoing remote control via the MeshCentral server. By creating a scheduled task, Awaken Likho ensures persistence within the infected system. The scheduled task consistently runs the command file, which in turn launches MeshAgent, allowing communication with the MeshCentral server. This tactic gives the attackers access to the system long after the initial breach. Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky has revealed that the campaign’s primary focus remains within Russian government bodies, contractors, and industrial enterprises. 

Additionally, earlier findings from BI.ZONE in June 2023 indicated that Awaken Likho has targeted sectors including defense and critical infrastructure, emphasizing the group’s intent on penetrating Russia’s most vital industries. A notable attack in May 2023 targeted a Russian military base in Armenia, as well as a research institute involved in weapons development. These actions suggest Awaken Likho’s primary focus on entities involved in Russia’s security and defense sectors, with significant consequences for the country’s critical infrastructure. 

This new chapter in Awaken Likho’s activity signals the group’s evolving tactics and its continued interest in leveraging spear-phishing attacks with more sophisticated tools. By transitioning to the MeshCentral platform, the group showcases its adaptability in maintaining control over systems while evading detection, making it a significant threat to Russian entities in the future.
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Threat Landscape
Cyber Security Cybersecurity Agencies Iran hackers Spear Phishing Threat Landscape

UK and US Warn of Rising Iranian Spear Phishing Threat

 

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) collaborated with government agencies across the Atlantic to issue a new alert regarding Iranian cyber-threats last week. 

The security advice, issued in collaboration with the FBI, US Cyber Command - Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF), and the Department of the Treasury (Treasury), claimed that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was behind the spear phishing attack. 

The campaign is aimed at individuals "with a nexus to Iranian and Middle Eastern affairs," but it is also focused on US political campaigns, with the ultimate goal of expanding its information operations, the advice stated. Current or former top government officials, think tank personnel, journalists, activists, and lobbyists seem to be potential targets. 

Threat actors change their strategies according to the specific target, which could involve impersonating family members, professional contacts, prominent journalists, and/or email providers. The lure may be an interview, an invitation to a conference or embassy event, a speaking engagement, or another political or foreign policy dialogue. 

“The actors often attempt to build rapport before soliciting victims to access a document via a hyperlink, which redirects victims to a false email account login page for the purpose of capturing credentials,” the report reads. 

“Victims may be prompted to input two-factor authentication codes, provide them via a messaging application, or interact with phone notifications to permit access to the cyber actors. Victims sometimes gain access to the document but may receive a login error.” 

Prevention tips

The advisory advised readers to be suspicious of unsolicited contact, attempts to send links or files via social media and other online services, email messages flagging alerts for online accounts, emails purporting to be from legitimate services and shortened links. It also recommended enterprises to:

  • Implement a user training program for phishing awareness.
  • Recommend users only use work emails for official business, always keep software updated, switch on multi-factor authentication, and never click on links or open attachments in unsolicited emails.
  • Users are recommended to use advanced protection services and hardware security keys. 
  • Switch on anti-phishing and spoofing security features. 
  • Block automatic email forwarding to external addresses.
  • Monitor email servers for changes to configuration and custom rules.
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Spear Phishing
Business Security Consumer Data Cyber Attacks Infostealer Infostealer Malware Malvertising Malware Campaign Spear Phishing

Marko Polo Infostealer Campaigns Target Thousands Across Platforms

 

The cybercriminal group “Marko Polo” is behind a major malware operation, running 30 infostealer campaigns targeting a wide array of victims. Using techniques such as spear-phishing, malvertising, and brand impersonation, the group spreads over 50 malware payloads, including AMOS, Stealc, and Rhadamanthys, across different sectors like gaming, cryptocurrency, and software. 

According to Recorded Future’s Insikt Group, Marko Polo’s campaigns have compromised thousands of devices globally, posing a significant threat to consumer privacy and business security, with potential financial losses in the millions. The group primarily uses spear-phishing tactics via direct messages on social media, targeting high-value individuals like cryptocurrency influencers, gamers, and software developers. 

They impersonate popular brands such as Fortnite, Zoom, and RuneScape, creating fake job offers and project collaborations to deceive victims into downloading malware. In addition to these impersonations, Marko Polo even fabricates its own brand names like VDeck, Wasper, and SpectraRoom to lure unsuspecting users. The Marko Polo operation is highly versatile, capable of infecting both Windows and macOS platforms. On Windows, they use a tool called “HijackLoader” to deliver malware like Stealc, designed to extract data from browsers, and Rhadamanthys, which targets a wide array of applications and data types. 

Rhadamanthys has also added advanced features, such as a cryptocurrency clipper to redirect payments to the attackers’ wallets, and the ability to evade Windows Defender. When it comes to macOS, the group deploys Atomic (AMOS), an infostealer launched in 2023, which they rent out to cybercriminals for $1,000 per month. AMOS is highly effective at extracting sensitive data stored on macOS systems, such as Apple Keychain passwords, MetaMask seeds, WiFi credentials, credit card details, and other encrypted information. 

The Marko Polo campaign’s widespread nature highlights the dangers of information-stealing malware, and users need to be vigilant against unsolicited links and downloads from unknown sources. One of the most effective ways to protect against such malware is to download software exclusively from official websites and ensure your antivirus software is up-to-date. This ensures the detection of malicious payloads before they can compromise your system. 

Information-stealing malware campaigns are becoming increasingly common, with Marko Polo’s operation serving as a stark reminder of the sophisticated tactics cybercriminals employ today. These stolen credentials often enable hackers to breach corporate networks, engage in data theft, and disrupt business operations. Therefore, cybersecurity awareness and strong preventive measures are crucial for protecting against such malicious activities.
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Spear Phishing
Cyber Crime cyber espionage Hackers Russia Spear Phishing

Inside the Espionage: How Nobelium Targets French Diplomatic Staff


Cybersecurity threats have become increasingly sophisticated, and state-sponsored actors continue to target government institutions and diplomatic entities. One such incident involves a Russian threat actor known as “Nobelium,” which has been launching spear phishing attacks against French diplomats.

ANSSI Issued an Alert

France's cybersecurity agency, ANSSI, has issued a notice outlining a Russian spear phishing attempt aimed at French diplomats, the Record writes. The CIA connects the campaign to "Nobelium," a threat actor linked to Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).

The Campaign

Nobelium, believed to have ties to Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (the SVR), primarily uses compromised legitimate email accounts belonging to diplomatic staff to conduct these attacks. The goal is to exfiltrate valuable intelligence and gain insights into French diplomatic activities.

Compromising Email Accounts of French Ministers

These events included the penetration of email accounts at the French Ministry of Culture and the National Agency for Territorial Cohesion, but according to ANSSI, the hackers were unable to access any elements of those networks other than the compromised inboxes.

However, the hackers subsequently used those email addresses to target other organizations, including France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ANSSI stated that Nobelium attempted to acquire remote access to the network by installing Cobalt Strike, a penetration testing system infamous for being abused by bad actors, but was unsuccessful.

Other occurrences reported by ANSSI included the use of a French diplomat's stolen email account to send a malicious message falsely proclaiming the closure of the French Embassy in South Africa due to an alleged terror assault.

Tactics and Techniques

Nobelium’s spear phishing campaigns are highly targeted. They craft convincing lure documents tailored to specific individuals within diplomatic institutions, embassies, and consulates. Here are some tactics and techniques they employ:

Email Spoofing: Nobelium impersonates trusted senders, often using official-looking email addresses. This makes it challenging for recipients to discern the malicious intent.

Lure Documents: The threat actor attaches seemingly innocuous files (such as PDFs or Word documents) to their emails. These files contain hidden malware or exploit vulnerabilities in software applications.

Social Engineering: Nobelium leverages social engineering techniques to manipulate recipients into opening the attachments. They might use urgent language, reference official matters, or create a sense of curiosity.

Credential Harvesting: Once the recipient opens the attachment, the malware may attempt to steal login credentials or gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems.

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Spear Phishing
AI threats Business Email Compromise CISOs Cyber Security Email Safety Generative AI Impersonation online threats Security Policies Spear Phishing

Adapting Cybersecurity Policies to Combat AI-Driven Threats

 

Over the last few years, the landscape of cyber threats has significantly evolved. The once-common traditional phishing emails, marked by obvious language errors, clear malicious intent, and unbelievable narratives, have seen a decline. Modern email security systems can easily detect these rudimentary attacks, and recipients have grown savvy enough to recognize and ignore them. Consequently, this basic form of phishing is quickly becoming obsolete. 

However, as traditional phishing diminishes, a more sophisticated and troubling threat has emerged. Cybercriminals are now leveraging advanced generative AI (GenAI) tools to execute complex social engineering attacks. These include spear-phishing, VIP impersonation, and business email compromise (BEC). In light of these developments, Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) must adapt their cybersecurity strategies and implement new, robust policies to address these advanced threats. One critical measure is implementing segregation of duties (SoD) in handling sensitive data and assets. 

For example, any changes to bank account information for invoices or payroll should require approval from multiple individuals. This multi-step verification process ensures that even if one employee falls victim to a social engineering attack, others can intercept and prevent fraudulent actions. Regular and comprehensive security training is also crucial. Employees, especially those handling sensitive information and executives who are prime targets for BEC, should undergo continuous security education. 

This training should include live sessions, security awareness videos, and phishing simulations based on real-world scenarios. By investing in such training, employees can become the first line of defense against sophisticated cyber threats. Additionally, gamifying the training process—such as rewarding employees for reporting phishing attempts—can boost engagement and effectiveness. Encouraging a culture of reporting suspicious emails is another essential policy. 

Employees should be urged to report all potentially malicious emails rather than simply deleting or ignoring them. This practice allows the Security Operations Center (SOC) team to stay informed about ongoing threats and enhances organizational security awareness. Clear policies should emphasize that it's better to report false positives than to overlook potential threats, fostering a vigilant and cautious organizational culture. To mitigate social engineering risks, organizations should restrict access to sensitive information on a need-to-know basis. 

Simple policy changes, like keeping company names private in public job listings, can significantly reduce the risk of social engineering attacks. Limiting the availability of organizational details helps prevent cybercriminals from gathering the information needed to craft convincing attacks. Given the rapid advancements in generative AI, it's imperative for organizations to adopt adaptive security systems. Shifting from static to dynamic security measures, supported by AI-enabled defensive tools, ensures that security capabilities remain effective against evolving threats. 

This proactive approach helps organizations stay ahead of the latest attack vectors. The rise of generative AI has fundamentally changed the field of cybersecurity. In a short time, these technologies have reshaped the threat landscape, making it essential for CISOs to continuously update their strategies. Effective, current policies are vital for maintaining a strong security posture. 

This serves as a starting point for CISOs to refine and enhance their cybersecurity policies, ensuring they are prepared for the challenges posed by AI-driven threats. In this ever-changing environment, staying ahead of cybercriminals requires constant vigilance and adaptation.
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Unfading Sea Haze
Cyber Security cyber threat Data Exfiltration LNKs Spear Phishing Unfading Sea Haze

Hidden Cyber Threat Exposed After Six Years

 


A newly identified cyber threat group, known as "Unfading Sea Haze," has been secretly infiltrating military and government networks in the South China Sea region since 2018, according to a recent report by Bitdefender researchers. The group's activities align with Chinese geopolitical interests, focusing on gathering intelligence and conducting espionage. Unfading Sea Haze shares many tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) with other Chinese state-sponsored hacking groups, particularly APT41.

The group's attacks typically begin with spear-phishing emails containing malicious ZIP files disguised as legitimate documents. These ZIP files, often named to appear as Windows Defender installers, contain LNK files with obfuscated PowerShell commands. If an ESET security executable is detected on the target system, the attack is halted. Otherwise, the PowerShell script uses Microsoft's msbuild.exe to launch fileless malware directly into memory, leaving no traces on the victim's machine.

The code executed by MSBuild installs a backdoor called 'SerialPktdoor,' which gives the attackers remote control over the compromised system. Additionally, the hackers use scheduled tasks and manipulate local administrator accounts to maintain their presence on the network. By resetting and enabling the typically disabled local admin account, they create a hidden profile for continuous access.

Unfading Sea Haze employs a variety of custom tools and malware. Among these are 'xkeylog,' a keylogger for capturing keystrokes, info-stealers targeting browser data, and PowerShell scripts for extracting information. Since 2023, the group has adopted stealthier methods, such as abusing msbuild.exe to load C# payloads from remote SMB shares and deploying different variants of the Gh0stRAT malware.


Bitdefender has identified several Gh0stRAT variants used by the hackers:

1. SilentGh0st: A variant with extensive functionality through numerous commands and modules.

2. InsidiousGh0st: A Go-based evolution with enhanced capabilities, including TCP proxy, SOCKS5, and improved PowerShell integration.

3. TranslucentGh0st, EtherealGh0st, and FluffyGh0st: Newer variants designed for evasive operations with dynamic plugin loading and a lighter footprint.

Earlier attacks utilised tools like Ps2dllLoader for loading .NET or PowerShell code into memory and SharpJSHandler, a web shell for executing encoded JavaScript via HTTP requests. The group also created a tool to monitor newly connected USB and Windows Portable Devices every ten seconds, reporting device details and specific files to the attackers.

For data exfiltration, Unfading Sea Haze initially used a custom tool named 'DustyExfilTool,' which securely extracted data via TLS over TCP. In more recent attacks, the group has shifted to using a curl utility and the FTP protocol, with dynamically generated credentials that are frequently changed to enhance security.

The sophisticated techniques employed by Unfading Sea Haze highlight the need for robust cybersecurity defences. Organisations should implement a comprehensive security strategy that includes regular patch management, multi-factor authentication (MFA), network segmentation, traffic monitoring, and advanced detection and response tools.

By adopting these measures, organisations can better defend against the persistent and evolving threats posed by groups like Unfading Sea Haze. The group's ability to remain undetected for six years sets a strong precedent for the critical importance of vigilance and continuous improvement in cybersecurity practices.



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Threat Intelligence
Cyber Attacks DarkBeatC2 Iran hackers Spear Phishing Targeted Attack Threat Intelligence

Iranian Hackers Use New C2 Tool 'DarkBeatC2' in Recent Operation

 

MuddyWater, an Iranian threat actor, has used a novel command-and-control (C2) infrastructure known as DarkBeatC2 in its the most recent attack. This tool joins a list of previously used systems, including SimpleHarm, MuddyC3, PhonyC2, and MuddyC2Go.

In a recent technical study, Deep Instinct security researcher Simon Kenin stated that, despite periodic modifications in remote administration tools or changes in C2 frameworks, MuddyWater's strategies consistently follow a pattern.

MuddyWater, also known as Boggy Serpens, Mango Sandstorm, and TA450, is linked to Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and has been operational since at least 2017. The group orchestrates spear-phishing attacks, which result in the installation authorised Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) solutions on compromised systems. 

Prior intelligence from Microsoft connects the group to another Iranian threat cluster known as Storm-1084 (also known as DarkBit), which has been involved in devastating wiper assaults against Israeli entities.

The latest attack, which Proofpoint revealed last month, starts off with spear-phishing emails sent from compromised accounts. These emails include links or attachments hosted on services such as Egnyte, which facilitate the distribution of the Atera Agent software.

One of the URLs used is "kinneretacil.egnyte[.]com," with the subdomain "kinneretacil" referring to "kinneret.ac.il," an Israeli educational institution. 

Lord Nemesis (also known as Nemesis Kitten or TunnelVision) targeted a Rashim customer's supply chain. Lord Nemesis, who is accused of orchestrating operations against Israel, is employed by Najee Technology, a private contracting company linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). 

Kenin underlined the possible consequences of Rashim's breach, claiming that Lord Nemesis might have exploited the compromised email system to target Rashim's customers, giving the phishing emails a veneer of authenticity.

Although solid proof is missing, the timing and context of events indicate a possible coordination between the IRGC and MOIS to cause serious harm to Israeli entities.

Notably, the attacks leverage a collection of domains and IP addresses known as DarkBeatC2 to manage compromised endpoints. This is done using PowerShell code that creates communication with the C2 server after initial access. 

According to independent research by Palo Alto Networks Unit 42, MuddyWater used the Windows Registry's AutodialDLL function to sideload a malicious DLL and make connections with DarkBeatC2 domains.

This method entails creating persistence via a scheduled task that uses PowerShell to exploit the AutodialDLL registry entry and load the DLL for the C2 framework. MuddyWater's other approaches include sending a first-stage payload via spear-phishing emails and using DLL side-loading to execute malicious libraries. 

Upon successful communication, the infected machine receives PowerShell responses and downloads two further PowerShell scripts from the server. One script reads the contents of a file called "C:\ProgramData\SysInt.log" and sends them to the C2 server via an HTTP POST request, while the second script polls the server on a regular basis for new payloads. The particular nature of the subsequent payload is unknown, but Kenin emphasised that PowerShell remains critical to MuddyWater's operations.
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Spear Phishing
Axios Data Breach Financial Loss Ransomware Attacks. Securities and Exchange Commission Sensitive Information Spear Phishing

Security Executives: Navigating Cyber Liability Risks

Businesses and organizations across all industries now prioritize cybersecurity as a top priority in an increasingly digital world. Following cyber threats and breaches, security executives are facing increasing liability issues, as reported in recent studies. In addition to highlighting the necessity of effective cybersecurity measures, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been actively monitoring the activities of security leaders.

The SEC's recent complaint against a major corporation underscores the gravity of the situation. The complaint, filed in November 2023, alleges that the security executives failed to implement adequate measures to safeguard sensitive information, resulting in a significant data breach. The breach not only exposed sensitive customer data but also caused financial losses and reputational damage to the company. This case serves as a stark reminder that security executives can be held personally liable for lapses in cybersecurity.

As highlighted in the 2022 Axios report, boardroom cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, targeting high-level executives and their decision-making processes. Cybercriminals employ tactics such as social engineering, spear-phishing, and ransomware attacks to exploit vulnerabilities in organizational structures. This necessitates a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity that involves not only technological solutions but also robust policies, employee training, and incident response plans.

One invaluable resource for organizations striving to enhance their cybersecurity posture is the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework. This framework provides a structured approach to managing and reducing cybersecurity risks. It outlines five key functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. By following this framework, security executives can establish a clear roadmap for assessing and improving their organization's cybersecurity capabilities.

Security executives are dealing with an ever-growing amount of accountability in the field of cybersecurity. Reports and recent instances highlight the necessity of taking preventative action to reduce liability risks. An essential instrument for strengthening an organization's defenses against cyber threats is the implementation of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Organizations may better safeguard themselves, their stakeholders, and their reputations in an increasingly digital environment by implementing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.

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Thallium
APT43 Archipelago Cyber Attacks Hacker group Kimsuky Mandiant Threat Intelligence North Korea security threat Spear Phishing Thallium

APT43: Cyberespionage Group Targets Strategic Intelligence


APT43, also known as Kimsuky or Thallium, recently exposed by the Mandiant researchers, is a cyberespionage threat group supporting the objectives of the North Korean regime. By conducting credential harvesting attacks and successfully compromising its targets using social engineering, ATP43 concentrates on gathering strategic intelligence. 

Mandiant, which has been tracking APT43 since 2018, noted that the threat group supports the mission of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea's primary external intelligence agency. 

In terms of attribution indicators, APT43 shares infrastructure and tools with known North Korean operators and threat actors. Essentially, APT43 shares malware and tools with Lazarus. 

Targets of APT43 

Prior to 2021, the APT43 organization mostly targeted foreign policy and nuclear security challenges, but this changed in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

APT43 primarily targets manufacturing products including fuel, machinery, metals, transportation vehicles, and weaponry whose sale to North Korea has been banned in South Korea, the U.S., Japan, and Europe. In addition to this, the group attacks business services, education, research and think tanks focusing on geopolitical and nuclear policy and government bodies. 

Spear Phishing and Social Engineering Techniques Used by APT 43 

Spear phishing is one of the primary methods used by APT43 to compromise its targets. The group frequently fabricates plausible personas, impersonating important figures. Ones they have succeeded in compromising one such individual, the threat group proceeds into using the person’s contact lists to aim further targets with spear phishing. 

In one such instance, exposed by Google, Archipelago (a subset of APT43) would send phishing emails where they portray themselves as a representative of a media outlet or think task asking the targeted victim for an interview. To view the questions, a link must be clicked, but doing so takes the victim to a phony Microsoft 365 or Google Drive login page. The victim is directed to a paper with questions after entering their credentials. 

According to the Google report, Archipelago tends to interact with the victim for several days in order to build trust before sending the malicious link or file. 

Another tactic used by Archipelago involves sending benign PDF files purportedly from a third party that alerts the recipient to fraudulent logins they should examine. 

Malware Families and Tools Used 

APT43 employs a variety of malware families and tools. Some of the public malware families used include Gh0st RAT, Quasar RAT, and Amadey. However, the threat group mostly uses a non-public malware called LATEOP or BabyShark, apparently developed by the group itself. 

How can you Protect Yourself from the APT43 Security Threat? 

Here, we have listed some measures that could ensure protection against  malicious APT43 attacks: 

  • Educate users about the social engineering techniques used by APT43 and Archipelago.  
  • Train users to detect phishing attempts and report them immediately to their security staff. 
  • Use security solutions to detect phishing emails or malware infection attempts. 
  • Keep operating systems and software up to date and patched. 

Moreover, professionals in the field of geopolitics and international politics are advised to be trained in detecting any approach from attackers or potential threat actors, posing as a journalist or a reporter. Careful identification and examination of such individuals approaching important figures must be taken into priority, prior to any exchange of information or intelligence.  

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Spear Phishing Mails
APT-C-36 BlackBerry research Blind Eagle Check Point Cyber Attacks DNS service Hackers Spear Phishing Spear Phishing Mails

Blind Eagle: Hackers Targets Prominent Industries in Columbia


BlackBerry has recently published a report on a malicious actor, Blind Eagle. It is a cyberespionage campaign based in South America that has been targeting systems in Ecuador, Chile, Spain, and Colombia since the year 2019. 

The most recent threat activities conducted were primarily targeted at organizations in Colombia, involving sectors like “health, finance, law enforcement, immigration, and an agency in charge of peace negotiation in the country.” 

Check Point researchers, who recently examined the Blind Eagle, also known as APT-C-36, noted the adversary and its advanced toolset that includes Meterpreter payloads, distributes through spear-phishing emails. 

How Does APT-C-36 Operate? 

Blind Eagle’s phishing emails lure its victims over the false impression of fear and urgency. The email notifies its recipients that they have "obligaciones pendentes," or "outstanding obligations," with some letters informing them that their tax payments are forty-five days overdue. 

The cleverly-crafted emails are being provided with a link, navigating users to a PDF file that appears to be hosted on DIAN’s website but actually installs malware to the targeted systems, effectively launching the infection cycle. 

The BlackBerry researchers explain it further: 

"The fake DIAN website page contains a button that encourages the victim to download a PDF to view what the site claims to be pending tax invoices," says the BlackBerry researchers. "Clicking the blue button initiates the download of a malicious file from the Discord content delivery network (CDN), which the attackers are abusing in this phishing scam." 

"A malicious [remote access trojan] installed on a victim's machine enables the threat actor to connect to the infected endpoint any time they like, and to perform any operations they desire," they further add. 

The researchers also noted that the threat actors utilize dynamic DNS services such as DuckDNS in order to take control of the compromised hosts. 

Blind Eagle’s Operators are Supposedly Spanish 

Owing to the use of Spanish in its spear-phishing emails, Blind Eagle is believed to be a group of Spanish-speaking hackers. However, the headquarters from where the attacks are conducted and whether the attacks are carried out for espionage or financial gain are both currently undetermined. 

"The modus operandi used has mostly stayed the same as the group's previous efforts – it is very simple, which may mean that this group is comfortable with its way of launching campaigns via phishing emails, and feels confident in using them because they continue to work," BlackBerry said.  

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Spear Phishing Mails
Cyber Attacks Facebook Linkedin Spear Phishing Spear Phishing attacks Spear Phishing Mails

Ducktail Spear-Phishing Campaign Targets Facebook Business Accounts Via LinkedIn

 

An ongoing spear-phishing campaign dubbed “Ducktail” is targeting admin profiles of enterprise networks via LinkedIn, with the motive of taking over Facebook Business accounts and exploiting the Ads function to run malvertising campaigns. 

According to researchers at WithSecure, a popular global IT-security firm, the hackers are of Vietnamese origin and have been active since 2018. 

Modus operandi 

The Ducktail operators have a limited targeting scope and carefully choose their victims, seeking those with administrative access to their employer's social media accounts. The hacker contacts employees on LinkedIn who may have access to Facebook business accounts, such as those described as working in "digital media" and "digital marketing." 

Subsequently, the hacker lures the potential victim to download a file hosted on legitimate cloud hosting services like Dropbox or iCloud. The downloaded file contains JPEG image files and a PDF document relevant to the topic discussed between the hacker and the potential victim during the convincing stage.

Security researchers reported that the entire file is a .NET Core malware that can infect any operating system by running on computers without having to install the .NET runtime. Once it has compromised the system the malware collects browser cookies from Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and additional sensitive information to steal Facebook credentials. 

“The malware directly interacts with various Facebook endpoints from the victim’s machine using the Facebook session cookie (and other security credentials that it obtains through the initial session cookie) to extract information from the victim’s Facebook account,” researchers explained. 

The malware is then deployed to other Facebook pages owned by the victim and collects multiple tokens, IP addresses, account information, geolocation data, and other valuables to disguise itself as a legitimate admin. 

After getting access to the victim’s business profile the malware steals advertising limits, credit card details, client lists, currency, payment cycle, and more sensitive details, and finally, the stolen data is exfiltrated through Telegram bots when the malware exits or crashes. 

The phishing campaign operates on an infinite loop in the background which allows continuous exfiltration of new cookies and any update to the victim’s Facebook account. The motive is to interact with the victim’s account, and ultimately create an email account managed by the hacker with the highest privilege role; that is, admin access and finance editor roles.
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Spoofing
attacks Cyber Attacks Emails Hackers Spear Phishing Spoofing

New Spear Phishing Campaign Targets Russian Dissidents

 

In Russia, a new spear-phishing campaign targeting dissenters with alternative views to those presented by the state and national media over the war in Ukraine is underway. The campaign distributes emails to government personnel and public servants, alerting them about software and online platforms that are illegal in the country. 

The mails contain a malicious attachment or link that sends a Cobalt Strike beacon to the recipient's computer, allowing remote operators to execute eavesdropping on the victim. The campaign was discovered and reported on by Malwarebytes Labs threat analysts, who were able to sample some of the bait emails. 

Various phishing methods

To persuade recipients to open the attachment, the phishing emails pretend to be from a Russian state organisation, ministry, or federal service. The main two spoofed organizations are the "Russian Federation Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications" and the "Russian Federation Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Communications." 

To attack their targets with Cobalt Strike, the threat actors use three different file types: RTF (rich text format) files, archive attachments of malicious documents, and download links inserted in the email body. Since it involves the exploitation of CVE-2021-40444, a remote code execution flaw in the rendering engine used by Microsoft Office documents, the case of RTFs is the most interesting. 

All of the phishing emails are written in Russian, as expected, and they appear to have been created by native speakers rather than machine translated, implying that the campaign is being spearheaded by a Russian-speaking individual. Malwarebytes discovered simultaneous attempts to spread a deeply obfuscated PowerShell-based remote access trojan (RAT) with next-stage payload fetching capabilities in addition to Cobalt Strike. 

The campaign's targets are mostly employed by the Russian government and public sector, including the following organisations: 
  • Portal of authorities of the Chuvash Republic Official Internet portal
  • Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs
  • ministry of education and science of the Republic of Altai
  • Ministry of Education of the Stavropol Territory
  • Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania
  • Government of Astrakhan region
  • Ministry of Education of the Irkutsk region
  • Portal of the state and municipal service Moscow region
  • Ministry of science and higher education of the Russian Federation
As per the aforementioned organisations, phishing actors target persons in crucial positions who could cause problems for the central government by stirring anti-war movements.
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Spear Phishing attacks
Cyber Security Phishing Attack Spear Phishing Spear Phishing attacks

Hacking Group Earth Wendigo Exploits Emails via Spear-phishing Attacks


As per the cybersecurity experts, the cyberattacks are related to Earth Wendigo, a cyber criminal currently not linked to any of the hacking groups. At the start of May 2019, Trend Micro reported that multiple organizations were attacked by Earth Wendigo. The targets include research institutions, government organizations and universities. The cyberattack used spear-phishing mails to exploit its victims, which include activists and politicians based in Hong Kong, Tibet and Uyghur region. 

Trend Micro reports, "we discovered a new campaign that has been targeting several organizations — including government organizations, research institutions and universities in Taiwan — since May 2019, aiming to exfiltrate emails from targeted organizations via the injection of JavaScript backdoors to a webmail system that is widely-used in Taiwan. With no clear connection to any previous attack group, we gave this new threat actor the name “Earth Wendigo.” 

Earth Wendigo deployed spear-phishing emails that contained obfuscate Java script code, using initial attack vectors, Java script loaded corrupted scripts from remote servers controlled by attackers. The scripts were built for stealing Webmail session keys and browser cookies, spread the malicious scripts through appending code with the target's email signature, and exploiting an XSS (cross-site scripting) vulnerability in the Javascript injection Webmail server. "The Earth Wendigo threat actor will establish a WebSocket connection between the victims and their WebSocket server via a JavaScript backdoor. The WebSocket server instructs the backdoor on the victim’s browser to read emails from the webmail server and then send the content and attachments of the emails back to the WebSocket servers," says Trend Micro. 

The XSS vulnerability exploit exists in system shortcut feature of webmail, which allows the threat actor to put craft payload shortcut that replaces webmail system page's parts by corrupted JavaScript codes. "Additional investigation shows that the threat actor also sent spear-phishing emails embedded with malicious links to multiple individuals, including politicians and activists, who support movements in Tibet, the Uyghur region, or Hong Kong. However, this is a separate series of attacks from their operation in Taiwan, which this report covers," reports Trend Micro.
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Spear Phishing
Cybersecurity DNS Hijacking Microsoft Spear Phishing

Users Might be Under Risk of DNS Vulnerability


What is DNS?

 It is an essential element in the network (online infrastructure) that allows users to watch or access content on the internet by building a link between an IP address and the respective website with the help of a database. Hackers can use it as an opportunity to disturb the service, which causes altering in the domain registrars. Also known as DNS hijacking, altering domain registrars can cause DDoS attacks, DNS Tunneling, cache position, etc.


About the DNS Risk 

  • In a recent incident, a cryptocurrency exchange Japanese company named Coincheck was a victim of DNS Hijacking. The attack costed the company exposure of around 200 clients' private information and e-mails. The hackers first altered the basic DNS entry by using the company's account and Oname.com- the company's domain registrar provider. After this, the hackers used a spear-phishing technique to steal information and e-mails from the 200 clients. 


  • In another DNS hijacking incident last month, a group of experts from Israel found an "NXNS Vulnerability." The vulnerability in the DNS servers can cause massive scale DDoS attacks if exploited by hackers. To lessen the impact of the attack, Microsoft recently issued a security advisory about the vulnerability. 
It is not all; the DNS vulnerability issue is just one thing. According to cyber experts, there is another DNS threat out in the wild, and the pressing issue is that very few people know about it.

Concerns regarding DNS 

 In present times, the most pressing problem, according to cybersecurity experts, is the exploitation of unattended domains. In other words, domains that are no longer in use but still exist on the internet. It happens under the circumstances of dissolved firms, mergers, and partnerships, as the companies leave out their old domains because of the rebranding. If a domain is left out to expire, the following things can happen:

  • If the hackers re-register the expired domains and make a new e-mail server, they can have access to confidential organizational information.
  • Left out domains of stores can be re-built, and the hackers can use it to receive orders and steal the money.
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Technology
cyber espionage Spear Phishing Technology

Researchers Discover the Existence of the New APT Framework “Darkuniverse”



A new APT Framework named "DarkUniverse" was recently discovered by researchers via tips from a script that was utilized in the NSA breach in 2017 wherein the well-known hacking tools leak 'Lost in Translation' was published by shadow brokers.

Researchers believe that the "DarkUniverse" APT Framework was active in at least 8 years from 2009 until 2017, and the traces show that it's likewise tied with ItaDuke, an actor that utilized PDF exploits for dropping previously unknown malware.

There are various versions of the sample been utilized for this campaign between 2009 to 2017, and the most recent rendition of the malware utilized until 2017. The further examination uncovers that the battle is for the most part utilizing the spear-phishing emails to convey the malware through the weaponized Microsoft Office document attachment.

As indicated by Kaspersky investigate, “DarkUniverse is an interesting example of a full cyber-espionage framework used for at least eight years. The malware contains all the necessary modules for collecting all kinds of information about the user and the infected system and appears to be fully developed from scratch.”

The DarkUniverse campaign is said to gather different sensitive information including Email conversations, files from specific directories, screenshots, information from the Windows registry, sends a file to the C2, credentials from Outlook Express, Outlook, Internet Explorer, Windows Mail and more.

The malicious framework targeted on different nations including Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan, Russia, Belarus and the United Arab Emirates and the victims included both non-military personnel and military associations.
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