APT

Pierluigi Paganini June 30, 2023
Iran-linked Charming Kitten APT enhanced its POWERSTAR Backdoor

Iran-linked Charming Kitten group used an updated version of the PowerShell backdoor called POWERSTAR in a spear-phishing campaign. Security firm Volexity observed the Iran-linked Charming Kitten (aka APT35, Phosphorus, Newscaster, and Ajax Security Team) group using an updated version of the PowerShell backdoor POWERSTAR in a spear-phishing campaign. Iran-linked Charming Kitten group, (aka APT35, Phosphorus, Newscaster, and Ajax Security Team) made the headlines in 2014 when experts at iSight issued […]

Pierluigi Paganini June 30, 2023
North Korea-linked Andariel APT used a new malware named EarlyRat last year

North Korea-linked cyberespionage group Andariel used a previously undocumented malware called EarlyRat. Kaspersky researchers reported that the North Korea-linked APT group Andariel used a previously undocumented malware dubbed EarlyRat in attacks exploiting the Log4j Log4Shell vulnerability last year. The Andariel APT (aka Stonefly) has been active since at least 2015, it was involved in several attacks attributed to the North Korean government. The […]

Pierluigi Paganini June 26, 2023
China-linked APT group VANGUARD PANDA uses a new tradecraft in recent attacks

China-linked APT group VANGUARD PANDA, aka Volt Typhoon, was spotted observing a novel tradecraft to gain initial access to target networks. CrowdStrike researchers observed the China-linked APT group VANGUARD PANDA, aka Volt Typhoon, using a novel tradecraft to gain initial access to target networks. The Volt Typhoon group has been active since at least mid-2021 […]

Pierluigi Paganini June 21, 2023
Russia-linked APT28 hacked Roundcube email servers of Ukrainian entities

Russia-linked APT28 group hacked into Roundcube email servers belonging to multiple Ukrainian organizations. A joint investigation conducted by Ukraine’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-UA) and Recorded Future revealed that the Russia-linked APT28 group hacked into Roundcube email servers belonging to multiple Ukrainian organizations. The APT28 group (aka Fancy Bear, Pawn Storm, Sofacy Group, Sednit, BlueDelta, and STRONTIUM) has been active since at least 2007 […]

Pierluigi Paganini June 15, 2023
Barracuda ESG zero-day exploited by China-linked APT

Experts linked the UNC4841 threat actor behind the attacks exploiting the recently patched Barracuda ESG zero-day to China. Mandiant researchers linked the threat actor UNC4841 to the attacks that exploited the recently patched Barracuda ESG zero-day vulnerability to China. “Through the investigation, Mandiant identified a suspected China-nexus actor, currently tracked as UNC4841, targeting a subset […]

Pierluigi Paganini June 15, 2023
Russia-linked APT Gamaredon update TTPs in recent attacks against Ukraine

Russia-linked APT group Gamaredon is using a new toolset in attacks aimed at critical organizations in Ukraine. The Gamaredon APT group (aka Shuckworm, Actinium, Armageddon, Primitive Bear, UAC-0010, and Trident Ursa) continues to carry out attacks against entities in Ukraine, including security services, military, and government organizations. Symantec researchers reported that in some cases, the cyberespionage group remained undetected in the […]

Pierluigi Paganini June 14, 2023
Microsoft links Cadet Blizzard APT to Russia’s military intelligence GRU

Microsoft linked a series of wiping attacks to a Russia-linked APT group, tracked as Cadet Blizzard, that is under the control of the GRU. Microsoft attributes the operations carried out by the Russia-linked APT group tracked as Cadet Blizzard to the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). The IT giant pointed out that Cadet Blizzard is […]

Pierluigi Paganini June 14, 2023
China-linked APT UNC3886 used VMware ESXi Zero-Day

A China-linked APT group tracked as UNC3886 has been spotted exploiting a VMware ESXi zero-day vulnerability. Mandiant researchers observed a China-linked cyberespionage group, tracked as UNC3886, exploiting a VMware ESXi zero-day vulnerability tracked as CVE-2023-20867. “VMware Tools contains an Authentication Bypass vulnerability in the vgauth module.” reads the advisory published by VMware. “A fully compromised […]

Pierluigi Paganini June 09, 2023
Stealth Soldier backdoor used is targeted espionage attacks in Libya

Researchers detected a cyberespionage campaign in Libya that employs a new custom, modular backdoor dubbed Stealth Soldier. Experts at the Check Point Research team uncovered a series of highly-targeted espionage attacks in Libya that employ a new custom modular backdoor dubbed Stealth Soldier. Stealth Soldier is surveillance software that allows operators to spy on the victims […]

Pierluigi Paganini June 08, 2023
Experts detail a new Kimsuky social engineering campaign

North Korea-linked APT Kimsuky has been linked to a social engineering campaign aimed at experts in North Korean affairs. SentinelLabs researchers uncovered a social engineering campaign by the North Korea-linked APT group Kimsuky that is targeting experts in North Korean affairs. The attacks are part of a broader campaign recently detailed in a joint advisory published by […]