APT

Pierluigi Paganini December 02, 2025
MuddyWater strikes Israel with advanced MuddyViper malware

Iran-linked threat actor MuddyWater targeted multiple Israeli sectors with a new MuddyViper backdoor in recent attacks. ESET researchers uncovered a new MuddyWater campaign targeting Israeli organizations and one confirmed Egyptian target. The Iran-linked APT group MuddyWater (aka SeedWorm, TEMP.Zagros, Mango Sandstorm, TA450, and Static Kitten) deployed custom tools to evade defenses and maintain persistence. They used a Fooder loader, […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 30, 2025
Contagious Interview campaign expands with 197 npm Ppackages spreading new OtterCookie malware

North Korea-linked actors behind Contagious Interview uploaded 197 new malicious npm packages to distribute a new OtterCookie malware version. North Korea-linked threat actors added 197 new malicious npm packages to spread updated OtterCookie malware as part of the ongoing Contagious Interview campaign, cybersecurity firm Socket warns. The Contagious Interview campaign, active since November 2023 and linked to […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 26, 2025
For the first time, a RomCom payload has been observed being distributed via SocGholish

RomCom malware used the SocGholish fake update loader to deliver Mythic Agent to a U.S. civil engineering firm. In September 2025, Arctic Wolf Labs observed RomCom threat actors delivering the Mythic Agent via SocGholish to a U.S. company. The researchers noticed that the payload executed about 10 minutes after initial exploitation, marking the first time […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 22, 2025
BadAudio malware: how APT24 scaled its cyberespionage through supply chain attacks

APT24 used supply chain attacks and varied techniques to deploy the BadAudio malware in a long-running cyberespionage campaign. China-linked group APT24 used supply-chain attacks and multiple techniques over three years to deploy the BadAudio downloader and additional malware payloads, Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) warns. According to the researchers, the group shifted from broad web […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 20, 2025
Cyber-enabled kinetic targeting: Iran-linked actor uses cyber operations to support physical attacks

Iran-linked actors mapped ship AIS data ahead of a missile strike attempt, highlighting the rise of cyber operations enabling real-world attacks. Iran-linked threat actors mapped ship Automatic Identification System (AIS) data shortly before an attempted missile strike, showing how Tehran-aligned groups use cyber operations to support and amplify real-world kinetic attacks. The research demonstrates that […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 16, 2025
Anthropic: China-backed hackers launch first large-scale autonomous AI cyberattack

China-linked actors used Anthropic’s AI to automate and run cyberattacks in a sophisticated 2025 espionage campaign using advanced agentic tools. China-linked threat actors used Anthropic’s AI to automate and execute cyberattacks in a highly sophisticated espionage campaign in September 2025. The cyber spies leveraged advanced “agentic” capabilities rather than using AI only for guidance. Attackers […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 12, 2025
Australia’s spy chief warns of China-linked threats to critical infrastructure

Australia’s spy chief warns China-linked actors are probing critical infrastructure and preparing for cyber sabotage and espionage. Australia’s intelligence chief Mike Burgess warned that China-linked threat actors are probing critical infrastructure and, in some cases, have gained access. He said at least two Chinese state-sponsored groups are positioning themselves for future sabotage and espionage operations […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 08, 2025
China-linked hackers target U.S. non-profit in long-term espionage campaign

A China-linked group targeted a U.S. non-profit to gain long-term access, part of wider attacks on U.S. entities tied to policy matters. China-linked hackers breached a U.S. policy-focused nonprofit in April 2025, maintaining weeks of access. They used DLL sideloading via vetysafe.exe, a tactic used by other Chinese APT groups like Space Pirates, Kelp, and […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 07, 2025
Russia-linked APT InedibleOchotense impersonates ESET to deploy backdoor on Ukrainian systems

Russia-linked group InedibleOchotense used fake ESET installers in phishing attacks on Ukrainian targets in May 2025. Russia-linked group InedibleOchotense used trojanized ESET installers in phishing attacks against Ukrainian entities detected in May 2025. The campaign used emails and Signal messages to deliver trojanized ESET installers that installed both legitimate software and the Kalambur backdoor. “Another […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 05, 2025
SonicWall blames state-sponsored hackers for September security breach

Cybersecurity firm SonicWall attributed the September security breach exposing firewall configuration files to state-sponsored hackers. In September, SonicWall urged customers to reset credentials after firewall backup files tied to MySonicWall accounts were exposed. The company announced it had blocked attackers’ access and was working with cybersecurity experts and law enforcement agencies to determine the scope […]