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XCSSET malware
Google Chrome macOS malware skype Telegram XCSSET malware

XCSSET, a MacOS malware, Targets Google Chrome and Telegram Software

 

As part of further "refinements in its tactics," a malware notorious for targeting the macOS operating system has been updated to add more elements to its toolset that allow it to accumulate and exfiltrate sensitive data saved in a range of programmes, including apps like Google Chrome and Telegram. This macOS malware can collect login credentials from a variety of apps, allowing its operators to steal accounts. 

XCSSET was discovered in August 2020, when it was found to be targeting Mac developers using an unusual method of propagation that entailed injecting a malicious payload into Xcode IDE projects, which is executed when the project files are built in Xcode. XCSSET collects files containing sensitive information from infected computers and delivers them to the command and control (C2) server. 

Telegram, an instant messaging service, is one of the apps that has been attacked. The virus produces the “telegram.applescript” archive in the Group Containers directory for the “keepcoder.Telegram” folder. By obtaining the Telegram folder, the hackers are able to log into the messaging app as the account's legal owner. The attackers gain access to the victim's account by moving the stolen folder to another machine with Telegram installed, according to Trend Micro researchers. Normal users have read and write permissions to the Application sandbox directory, XCSSET can steal sensitive data this way. 

The malware can read and dump Safari cookies, inject malicious JavaScript code into multiple websites, steal information from programmes like Notes, WeChat, Skype, and Telegram, and encrypt user files, among other things. Earlier this month, XCSSET received an update that allowed malware developers to target macOS 11 Big Sur as well as Macs with the M1 chipset by getting beyond Apple's new security standards in the current operating system. 

"The malware downloads its own open tool from its C2 server that comes pre-signed with an ad-hoc signature, whereas if it were on macOS versions 10.15 and lower, it would still use the system's built-in open command to run the apps," Trend Micro researchers previously noted. 

According to a new report released by the cybersecurity firm on Thursday, XCSSET uses a malicious AppleScript file to compress the Telegram data folder ("/Library/Group Containers/6N38VWS5BX.ru.keepcoder.Telegram") into a ZIP archive file before uploading it to a remote server under their control, allowing the threat actor to log in using the victim's account. 

"The discovery of how it can steal information from various apps highlights the degree to which the malware aggressively attempts to steal various kinds of information from affected systems," the researchers said.
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Zero- day vulnerability
Apple Cyber Security macOS XCSSET malware Zero- day vulnerability

Apple’s Big Sur 11.4 Patches a Security Flaw that Could be Exploited to Take Screenshots

 

Big Sur 11.4 was updated this week to fix a zero-day vulnerability that allowed users to capture screenshots, capture video, and access files on another Mac without being noticed. The flaw lets users go around Apple's Transparency Consent and Control (TCC) architecture, which manages app permissions. 

According to Jamf's blog, the issue was identified when the XCSSET spyware "used this bypass especially for the purpose of taking screenshots of the user's desktop without requiring additional permissions." By effectively hijacking permissions granted to other programmes, the malware was able to get around the TCC. 

Researchers identified this activity while analyzing XCSSET "after detecting a considerable spike of identified variations observed in the wild". In its inclusion in the CVE database, Apple has yet to offer specific details regarding the issue. “The exploit in question could allow an attacker to gain Full Disk Access, Screen Recording, or other permissions without requiring the user’s explicit consent–which is the default behaviour,” researchers said. 

Last August, Trend Micro researchers identified the XCSSET malware after they detected fraudsters introducing malware into Xcode developer projects, causing infestations to spread. They recognized the virus as part of a package known as XCSSET, which can hijack the Safari web browser and inject JavaScript payloads that can steal passwords, bank data, and personal information, as well as execute ransomware and other dangerous functionalities. 

At the time, Trend Micro researchers discovered that XCSSET was exploiting two zero-day flaws: one in Data Vault, which allowed it to bypass macOS' System Integrity Protection (SIP) feature, and another in Safari for WebKit Development, which permitted universal cross-site scripting (UXSS). 

According to Jamf, a third zero-day issue can now be added to the list of flaws that XCSSET can attack. Jamf detailed how the malware exploits the issue to circumvent the TCC.

Avast Security Evangelist Luis Corrons recommends not waiting to update your Mac. “All users are urged to update to the latest version of Big Sur,” he said. “Mac users are accustomed to receiving prompts when an app needs certain permissions to perform its duties, but attackers are bypassing that protection completely by actively exploiting this vulnerability.”
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zero Day vulnerability
Apple macOS Vulnerabilities and Exploits XCSSET malware zero Day vulnerability

Apple Fixes macOS Zero Day Vulnerability, Abused by XCSSET macOS Malware

 

Apple has released security updates for a variety of its products, including a patch for three macOS and tvOS zero-day vulnerabilities. The patch comprises a zero-day vulnerability fix that has been exploited in the wild for nearly a year by the XCSSET malware gang. 

Apple said it was aware of allegations that the security flaws "may have been actively exploited" in all three cases, but it didn't go into detail about the assaults or threat actors who might have exploited the zero-days. 

WebKit on Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD devices is affected by two of the three zero-days (CVE-2021-30663 and CVE-2021-30665). Webkit is an HTML rendering engine used by Apple's web browsers and applications on its desktop and mobile platforms, including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and iPadOS.Threat actors might use maliciously generated web content to attack the two vulnerabilities, which would allow arbitrary code execution on unpatched devices due to a memory corruption issue. 

The third zero-day (CVE-2021-30713) is a permission issue found in the Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) framework that affects macOS Big Sur devices. The TCC framework is a macOS subsystem that prevents installed apps from accessing sensitive user information without asking the user for explicit permission via a pop-up message. A maliciously constructed application could be used to exploit this issue, bypassing Privacy settings and gaining access to sensitive user data. 

While Apple didn't provide much detail about how the three zero-days were exploited in assaults, Jamf researchers found that the macOS zero-day (CVE-2021-30713) patched was leveraged by the XCSSET malware to get beyond Apple's TCC privacy measures. 

According to the researchers, "the exploit in question could allow an attacker to gain Full Disk Access, Screen Recording, or other permissions without requiring the user's explicit consent — which is the default behavior." 

"We, the members of the Jamf Protect detection team, discovered this bypass being actively exploited during the additional analysis of the XCSSET malware, after noting a significant uptick of detected variants observed in the wild. The detection team noted that once installed on the victim’s system, XCSSET was using this bypass specifically for the purpose of taking screenshots of the user’s desktop without requiring additional permissions." 

Trend Micro's Mac Threat Response and Mobile Research teams first detected XCSSET in August 2020. According to the researchers, the vulnerability can be used to provide malicious applications with permissions such as disk access and screen recording. As a result of this, threat actors will be able to take screenshots of affected PCs. 

Last month, Trend Micro discovered a new XCSSET version that was upgraded to work with the newly launched Apple-designed ARM Macs. The CVE-2021-30713 vulnerability was discovered shortly after Craig Federighi, Apple's head of software stated that macOS has an "unacceptable" level of malware, which he linked to the diversity of software sources. 

Apple addressed two iOS zero-days in the Webkit engine earlier this month, allowing arbitrary remote code execution (RCE) on vulnerable devices solely by visiting malicious websites. In addition, Apple has been releasing fixes for a number of zero-day bugs that have been exploited in the wild in recent months, including one that was resolved in macOS in April and a bunch of other iOS vulnerabilities that were resolved in the prior months.  
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