Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence

PondRAT is lurking in poisoned Python packages, quietly infiltrating Linux and macOS systems through PyPI downloads. Linked to the Gleaming Pisces group, this campaign targets developers’ endpoints in a clever bid to compromise software supply chain vendors and their customers.

Earth Baxia has left its mark, slipping through government networks in Taiwan and the broader APAC region by weaponizing a GeoServer flaw and spear-phishing campaigns. Armed with EAGLEDOOR and custom Cobalt Strike payloads, the attackers set their sights on critical sectors like energy and telecommunications.

A critical vulnerability in GitLab’s SAML authentication has put self-managed instances at risk, with attackers exploiting flaws in the OmniAuth-SAML and Ruby-SAML libraries to bypass authentication. GitLab has issued urgent patches, urging users to upgrade while providing clues to spot unauthorized access before damage is done.

Top Malware Reported in the Last 24 Hours

Gleaming Pisces campaign spreads PondRAT

Unit 42 researchers identified the PondRAT campaign distributing backdoors through poisoned Python packages on Linux and macOS. The attackers, likely linked to the Gleaming Pisces group, uploaded malicious packages to PyPI. PondRAT is believed to be a lighter version of the known POOLRAT. The objective is to infiltrate developers' endpoints to reach supply chain vendors and their customers. The poisoned packages campaign targeted supply chain vendors through developers' endpoints, using evasive infection chains to avoid detection and compromise organizations.

Earth Baxia targets APAC, deploys new backdoor

Earth Baxia targeted a government organization in Taiwan and potentially other countries in the APAC region, using spear-phishing emails and the GeoServer vulnerability CVE-2024-36401. The threat actor utilized GrimResource and AppDomainManager injection to deploy additional payloads, including customized Cobalt Strike components and a new backdoor named EAGLEDOOR. The threat actor's activities were primarily targeted at government agencies, telecommunication businesses, and the energy industry in countries such as the Philippines, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Thailand.

New Raptor Train IoT botnet

A new botnet called Raptor Train, likely operated by a Chinese nation-state group called Flax Typhoon, has been uncovered. This sophisticated botnet comprises SOHO and IoT devices, targeting routers, cameras, and NAS servers. The botnet's infrastructure consists of compromised devices, exploitation servers, and management nodes. It has been used in multiple campaigns since 2020, with evidence suggesting possible exploitation attempts against various sectors. The botnet had over 260,000 devices, with victims across multiple continents. However, the DOJ and the FBI took down this massive operation.

Top Vulnerabilities Reported in the Last 24 Hours

GitLab patches critical flaw

GitLab released security updates for a critical SAML authentication bypass vulnerability affecting self-managed installations of GitLab CE and EE. The vulnerability arises from a flaw in the OmniAuth-SAML and Ruby-SAML libraries, allowing attackers to manipulate the SAML response and gain unauthorized access to GitLab instances. The impacted GitLab versions have been identified, and users are urged to upgrade to the latest version. GitLab also provided signs of potential exploitation, including unusual authentication logs and unrecognized access patterns.

Two bugs in Proroute H685t-w 4G Router

Two vulnerabilities were found in the Proroute H685t-w 4G Router, specifically in firmware version 3.2.334. The first vulnerability is an authenticated command injection that allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands through the router's web interface. The second vulnerability is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issue that enables attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the victim's browser session. Both vulnerabilities were disclosed to Proroute and users are advised to update their routers to firmware version 3.2.335 or higher to patch these vulnerabilities.

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, November 21, 2024

With advanced techniques and creative exploits, cybercriminals are escalating their attacks on users' digital and financial lives. A revamped version of NodeStealer is targeting Facebook Ads Manager accounts to extract sensitive information and steal credit card data from web browsers. The malware employs sophisticated methods to access credit card details, which are then exfiltrated via Telegram. The WorkflowKit Race Vulnerability in macOS has exposed users to potential data breaches and remote code execution. The flaw arises from a race condition during the shortcut extraction process, allowing malicious apps to intercept and modify shortcuts during import. Apple addressed this critical issue in macOS 14.5 with enhanced sandbox restrictions. Adding to these growing concerns, criminals have devised a new scam known as Ghost Tap, exploiting NFC technology in mobile payment services. Using phishing tactics and mobile banking malware, attackers capture victims’ card credentials, link them to mobile wallets, and deploy mules to make fraudulent purchases at physical stores.

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, November 20, 2024

Cybercriminals and nation-state actors are fine-tuning their craft, targeting everything from IoT devices to global telecom networks. The Ngioweb malware has been used to assemble a botnet of over 35,000 compromised IoT devices and SOHO routers, to sell residential proxies on platforms like NSOCKS. A China-linked group, LIMINAL PANDA, has been conducting cyberespionage against telecommunications entities in South Asia and Africa since 2020. Armed with custom malware like SIGTRANslator and PingPong, they exploit telecom protocols to exfiltrate data and maintain persistent access, employing advanced tactics. Meanwhile, the CISA has issued warnings about three actively exploited vulnerabilities in networking products. These include a critical Kemp LoadMaster OS flaw and two Palo Alto PAN-OS vulnerabilities. The vulnerabilities have been added to the the KEV catalog.

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, November 19, 2024

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, attackers are leveraging tailored tactics to exploit both individuals and organizations. BabbleLoader, a stealthy malware loader, is delivering information stealers like WhiteSnake and Meduza, targeting users searching for cracked software and professionals in finance and administration by disguising itself as accounting software. Its advanced evasion techniques bypass antivirus and sandbox defenses, disrupting analysis and detection. Critical vulnerabilities are also under scrutiny. The LibreNMS project revealed CVE-2024-51092, a flaw in its network monitoring platform that allows authenticated attackers to execute OS commands and potentially take over servers. Users are strongly advised to update to version 24.10.0 to mitigate these risks. Meanwhile, phishing campaigns continue to escalate. DocuSign phishing attacks targeting state and municipal contractors have surged by 98% in just one week. Exploiting licensing cycles and spoofing government agencies like the Department of Health, these campaigns aim to trick businesses into signing fake documents for financial gain.

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, November 18, 2024

Threat actors are employing sophisticated techniques to breach defenses across industries, from maritime manufacturing to WordPress websites and software impersonation campaigns. A DONOT APT campaign has been targeting Pakistan’s manufacturing sector supporting maritime and defense operations. The attackers use malicious LNK files disguised as RTF documents, leveraging dynamic domain generation and updated encryption to maintain persistence and evade detection. Meanwhile, a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in the Really Simple Security WordPress plugin is putting over four million sites at risk, granting attackers full administrative access. Another vulnerability in the WPLMS Learning Management System exposes sites to arbitrary file reading and deletion, prompting emergency patches and forced updates by WordPress. On the social engineering front, researchers highlighted the rise of ClickFix campaigns, impersonating trusted software to deliver malware like AsyncRAT and Lumma Stealer. A fake CAPTCHA variant in these campaigns recently tricked users into executing malicious payloads, impacting hundreds of organizations globally.

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, November 15, 2024

From app stores to online shopping platforms, cybercriminals are exploiting trust to infiltrate systems and steal sensitive data. Eight trojan-infected Android apps were spotted on the Google Play Store, downloaded over two million times. These apps, containing Android.FakeApp.1669, connect to malicious DNS servers to display deceptive links. Meanwhile, the CISA has issued a warning about two critical vulnerabilities in Palo Alto Networks Expedition software, citing active exploitation. These flaws allow attackers to execute commands as root and access sensitive database contents. In another alarming campaign, Chinese threat actor SilkSpecter has created over 4,500 fake domains impersonating brands like North Face and Ikea to steal credit card details from shoppers in the U.S. and Europe.

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, November 14, 2024

The lines between digital espionage and warfare blur as state-sponsored threat actors employ increasingly advanced methods to compromise their targets. China’s APT41 has launched a cyberespionage campaign targeting organizations in South Asia, utilizing the DeepData Framework. This Windows-based toolkit consists of 12 malicious plugins that are designed to harvest a wide range of sensitive data. Meanwhile, the Lazarus Group has turned its sights on macOS users with a new malware strain, RustyAttr. Built using the Tauri framework, the malware exploits extended file attributes to execute a malicious shell script that loads a Rust-based backend via a fake webpage. In another wave of attacks, a critical zero-day vulnerability is being exploited to target Windows systems in Ukraine. This vulnerability allows attackers to take control of systems when users interact with malicious URL files delivered through phishing emails.

Cyware Daily Threat Intelligence, November 13, 2024

From deceptive apps to vulnerabilities and developer-targeted tools, attackers are exploiting every corner of the digital landscape. SpyNote is posing as a fake antivirus, giving attackers full control over Android devices, stealing credentials, and targeting cryptocurrency users. In its November Patch Tuesday, Microsoft patched 89 security flaws, including two actively exploited vulnerabilities, urging immediate updates. Meanwhile, a new tool named GoIssue is being sold to attackers, allowing bulk theft of developer credentials from GitHub profiles, enabling supply chain attacks.

Top Malware Reported in the Last 24 Hours

Top Vulnerabilities Reported in the Last 24 Hours

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Nov 21, 2024