• Home
  • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber warfare
  • APT
  • Data Breach
  • Deep Web
  • Digital ID
  • Hacking
  • Hacktivism
  • Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Laws and regulations
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • Reports
  • Security
  • Social Networks
  • Terrorism
  • ICS-SCADA
  • POLICIES
  • Contact me
MUST READ

SonicWall fixed critical flaw in SMA 100 devices exploited in Overstep malware attacks

 | 

DSPM & AI Are Booming: $17.87B and $4.8T Markets by 2033

 | 

Stealth backdoor found in WordPress mu-Plugins folder

 | 

U.S. CISA adds CrushFTP, Google Chromium, and SysAid flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

U.S. CISA urges FCEB agencies to fix two Microsoft SharePoint flaws immediately and added them to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

Sophos fixed two critical Sophos Firewall vulnerabilities

 | 

French Authorities confirm XSS.is admin arrested in Ukraine

 | 

Microsoft linked attacks on SharePoint flaws to China-nexus actors

 | 

Cisco confirms active exploitation of ISE and ISE-PIC flaws

 | 

SharePoint under fire: new ToolShell attacks target enterprises

 | 

CrushFTP zero-day actively exploited at least since July 18

 | 

Hardcoded credentials found in HPE Aruba Instant On Wi-Fi devices

 | 

MuddyWater deploys new DCHSpy variants amid Iran-Israel conflict

 | 

U.S. CISA urges to immediately patch Microsoft SharePoint flaw adding it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

Microsoft issues emergency patches for SharePoint zero-days exploited in "ToolShell" attacks

 | 

SharePoint zero-day CVE-2025-53770 actively exploited in the wild

 | 

Singapore warns China-linked group UNC3886 targets its critical infrastructure

 | 

U.S. CISA adds Fortinet FortiWeb flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

SECURITY AFFAIRS MALWARE NEWSLETTER ROUND 54

 | 

Security Affairs newsletter Round 533 by Pierluigi Paganini – INTERNATIONAL EDITION

 | 
  • Home
  • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber warfare
  • APT
  • Data Breach
  • Deep Web
  • Digital ID
  • Hacking
  • Hacktivism
  • Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Laws and regulations
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • Reports
  • Security
  • Social Networks
  • Terrorism
  • ICS-SCADA
  • POLICIES
  • Contact me
  • Home
  • Breaking News
  • Intelligence
  • Malware
  • Android spyware hidden in mapping software targets Russian soldiers

Android spyware hidden in mapping software targets Russian soldiers

Pierluigi Paganini April 24, 2025

A new Android spyware was discovered in a fake Alpine Quest app, reportedly used by Russian soldiers for war zone planning.

Doctor Web researchers uncovered a new spyware, tracked as Android.Spy.1292.origin, targeting Russian military personnel. The malicious code was hidden in a trojanized Alpine Quest app and spread via Russian Android catalogs. The malware steals contacts, geolocation, and file info, it can also download extra modules to exfiltrate stored data when instructed.

“Alpine Quest is topographic software that allows different maps to be used both in online and offline mode. It is popular among athletes, travelers, and hunters but also widely used by Russian military personnel in the Special Military Operation zone—and this is what the malware campaign organizers decided to exploit.” reads the report published by Doctor Web. Threat actors embedded Android.Spy.1292.origin into one of the older Alpine Quest app versions and distributed the trojanized variant under the guise of a freely available version of Alpine Quest Pro, a program with advanced functionality.”

Threat actors set up a fake Telegram channel to distribute the trojanized Alpine Quest app. They shared a link to download the app from a Russian app catalog and later used the same channel to push a malicious “update.”.”

Android.Spy.1292.origin is embedded within a genuine copy of the Alpine Quest app, making it appear and function like the original, to avoid detection. Each time the app is launched, the trojan silently gathers and transmits data such as the user’s phone number, accounts, contact list, current date, geolocation, stored file details, and the app version to a command-and-control server. Simultaneously, it shares some of this data, such as updated geolocation, directly with the attackers’ Telegram bot whenever the device’s location changes.

Once the trojan gathers file information, attackers can instruct it to download and run extra modules to steal specific data. The threat actors behind the malicious app appear interested in confidential documents shared through Telegram and WhatsApp and the locLog file generated by Alpine Quest. This enables Android.Spy.1292.origin to track user locations and exfiltrate sensitive files. Its modular design also allows it to expand its capabilities and perform a broader range of malicious activities.

“As a result, Android.Spy.1292.origin not only allows user locations to be monitored but also confidential files to be hijacked. In addition, its functionality can be expanded via the download of new modules, which allows it to then execute a wider spectrum of malicious tasks.” concludes the report.

The researchers recommend downloading Android apps only from trusted sources like official app stores, avoiding Telegram channels and shady sites, especially those offering free versions of paid apps. Users should also verify app distributors, as attackers often impersonate legitimate developers with similar names and logos.

Follow me on Twitter: @securityaffairs and Facebook and Mastodon

Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, Android spyware)


facebook linkedin twitter

Alpine Quest Android Android Spyware Hacking hacking news information security news Intelligence IT Information Security malware Pierluigi Paganini Security Affairs Security News

you might also like

Pierluigi Paganini July 24, 2025
SonicWall fixed critical flaw in SMA 100 devices exploited in Overstep malware attacks
Read more
Pierluigi Paganini July 24, 2025
DSPM & AI Are Booming: $17.87B and $4.8T Markets by 2033
Read more

leave a comment

newsletter

Subscribe to my email list and stay
up-to-date!

    recent articles

    SonicWall fixed critical flaw in SMA 100 devices exploited in Overstep malware attacks

    Security / July 24, 2025

    DSPM & AI Are Booming: $17.87B and $4.8T Markets by 2033

    Security / July 24, 2025

    Stealth backdoor found in WordPress mu-Plugins folder

    Malware / July 24, 2025

    U.S. CISA adds CrushFTP, Google Chromium, and SysAid flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

    Hacking / July 24, 2025

    U.S. CISA urges FCEB agencies to fix two Microsoft SharePoint flaws immediately and added them to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

    Hacking / July 23, 2025

    To contact me write an email to:

    Pierluigi Paganini :
    pierluigi.paganini@securityaffairs.co

    LEARN MORE

    QUICK LINKS

    • Home
    • Cyber Crime
    • Cyber warfare
    • APT
    • Data Breach
    • Deep Web
    • Digital ID
    • Hacking
    • Hacktivism
    • Intelligence
    • Internet of Things
    • Laws and regulations
    • Malware
    • Mobile
    • Reports
    • Security
    • Social Networks
    • Terrorism
    • ICS-SCADA
    • POLICIES
    • Contact me

    Copyright@securityaffairs 2024

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT