Intelligence

Pierluigi Paganini August 01, 2025
ToolShell under siege: Check Point analyzes Chinese APT Storm-2603

Storm-2603 group exploits SharePoint flaws and uses a custom C2 framework, AK47 C2, with HTTP- and DNS-based variants named AK47HTTP and AK47DNS. Check Point Research is tracking a ToolShell campaign exploiting four Microsoft SharePoint flaws, linking it to China-nexus groups APT27, APT31, and a new cluster, Storm-2603. The researchers pointed out that Storm-2603’s goals remain […]

Pierluigi Paganini July 31, 2025
Russia-linked APT Secret Blizzard targets foreign embassies in Moscow with ApolloShadow malware

Russia-linked Secret Blizzard targets foreign embassies in Moscow via ISP-level AitM attacks, deploying custom ApolloShadow malware. Microsoft researchers uncovered a cyberespionage campaign by the Russia-linked APT group Secret Blizzard (aka Turla, Snake, Uroburos, Waterbug, Venomous Bear and KRYPTON)  targeting foreign embassies in Moscow. The threat actor uses an adversary-in-the-middle (AiTM) method at the ISP level to deploy custom malware called ApolloShadow. This […]

Pierluigi Paganini July 28, 2025
China-linked group Fire Ant exploits VMware and F5 flaws since early 2025

China-linked group Fire Ant exploits VMware and F5 flaws to stealthily breach secure systems, reports cybersecurity firm Sygnia. China-linked cyberespionage group Fire Ant is exploiting VMware and F5 vulnerabilities to stealthily access secure, segmented systems, according to Sygnia. Since early 2025, the group has targeted virtualization and networking infrastructure, primarily VMware ESXi and vCenter environments. […]

Pierluigi Paganini July 26, 2025
Arizona woman sentenced for aiding North Korea in U.S. IT job fraud scheme

Arizona woman gets 8 years for helping North Korea-linked threat actors to infiltrate 309 U.S. firms with fake IT jobs. Christina Marie Chapman (50) from Arizona, was sentenced to 102 months in prison for aiding North Korean IT workers in infiltrating 309 U.S. companies. She pleaded guilty to charges including aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to […]

Pierluigi Paganini July 25, 2025
Operation CargoTalon targets Russia’s aerospace with EAGLET malware,

Operation CargoTalon targets Russia’s aerospace and defense sectors with EAGLET malware, using TTN documents to exfiltrate data. SEQRITE Labs researchers uncovered a cyber-espionage campaign, dubbed Operation CargoTalon, targeting Russia’s aerospace and defense sectors, specifically Voronezh Aircraft Production Association (VASO), via malicious TTN documents. “Товарно-транспортная накладная” (TTN) is a “goods and transport invoice” or “consignment note” used […]

Pierluigi Paganini July 23, 2025
Microsoft linked attacks on SharePoint flaws to China-nexus actors

Microsoft linked SharePoint exploits to China-nexus groups Linen Typhoon, Violet Typhoon, and Storm-2603, active since July 7, 2025. Microsoft confirmed that China-linked groups Linen Typhoon, Violet Typhoon, and Storm-2603 exploited SharePoint flaws for initial access as early as July 7, 2025. “As of this writing, Microsoft has observed two named Chinese nation-state actors, Linen Typhoon […]

Pierluigi Paganini July 22, 2025
SharePoint under fire: new ToolShell attacks target enterprises

While SentinelOne did not attribute the attack to a specific threat actor, The Washington Post linked it to China-nexus acors. On July 19, Microsoft confirmed active exploitation of a zero-day vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-53770 in on-prem SharePoint Servers. The IT giant issued emergency patches for SharePoint Subscription Edition and 2019, with 2016 updates pending. Microsoft […]

Pierluigi Paganini July 21, 2025
MuddyWater deploys new DCHSpy variants amid Iran-Israel conflict

Iran-linked APT MuddyWater is deploying new DCHSpy spyware variants to target Android users amid the ongoing conflict with Israel. Lookout researchers observed Iran-linked APT MuddyWater  (aka SeedWorm, TEMP.Zagros, and Static Kitten) is deploying a new version of the DCHSpy Android spyware in the context of the Israel-Iran conflict. The first MuddyWater campaign was observed in late 2017, when the APT group targeted entities in […]

Pierluigi Paganini July 16, 2025
Salt Typhoon breach: Chinese APT compromises U.S. Army National Guard network

China-linked APT Salt Typhoon breached a U.S. Army National Guard unit’s network, accessed configs, and intercepted communications with other units. A DoD report warns that China-nexus hacking group Salt Typhoon breached a U.S. state’s Army National Guard network from March to December 2024. The APT stole network configs, admin credentials, and data exchanged with units […]

Pierluigi Paganini July 14, 2025
Spain awarded €12.3 million in contracts to Huawei

Spain gives Huawei wiretap contracts, sparking concerns over potential Chinese government access due to Huawei’s links to Beijing. The Spanish Ministry of the Interior has awarded €12.3 million ($14.3 million) contracts to manage and store judicially authorized wiretaps used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies, raising concerns about potential Chinese government access due to the […]