CyberSecurity news
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SC Staff@scmagazine.com
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A new cyberespionage campaign, attributed to the hacking group UAC-0226, is actively targeting Ukrainian organizations. The campaign, ongoing since February 2025, focuses on stealing sensitive information from military formations, law enforcement agencies, and local government bodies, particularly those near the country's eastern border with Russia. The hackers are exploiting trust by impersonating Ukrainian state agencies and drone manufacturers in their attacks.
The UAC-0226 group employs spear-phishing tactics, using malicious Microsoft Excel files (.xlsm) as the primary attack vector. These files often reference sensitive topics such as landmine clearance, administrative fines, drone production, and compensation for destroyed property. When opened and macros are enabled, the files deploy malware, including a PowerShell script and a new stealer malware dubbed GIFTEDCROOK. GIFTEDCROOK is designed to steal browser data like cookies, browsing history, and saved passwords from Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, before exfiltrating it via Telegram. CERT-UA (Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine) has issued warnings and recommendations to remain vigilant against these attacks. They advise system administrators and security teams to enhance email and web server log monitoring to identify and mitigate malicious activity, especially phishing attempts originating from compromised accounts. CERT-UA has been tracking this activity since February, but has not yet attributed the campaign to any known hacker group. Recommended read:
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Veronika Telychko@SOC Prime Blog
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The Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine (CERT-UA) has reported a series of ongoing cyberattacks targeting Ukrainian state administration bodies and critical infrastructure. These attacks, attributed to the hacking group UAC-0219, have been ongoing since late 2024 and involve the use of the WRECKSTEEL PowerShell stealer to harvest data from infected computers. The attackers are distributing malware via phishing emails containing links to file-sharing platforms such as DropMeFiles and Google Drive, often disguised as research invitations or important documents like employee lists.
The multi-stage infection process begins with victims unknowingly downloading a VBScript loader from these links. Once executed, the loader deploys a PowerShell script that searches for and exfiltrates sensitive files, including documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and images. CERT-UA's analysis indicates that UAC-0219 has been refining its techniques over time. Indicators of compromise (IOCs) have been shared publicly to aid detection efforts, and CERT-UA urges organizations to remain vigilant and report any signs of compromise immediately. Recommended read:
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do son@securityonline.info
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Cybercriminals are actively exploiting the Signal messaging application to distribute an information-stealing Remote Access Trojan (RAT), raising serious privacy concerns. According to a recently published report, a cybercriminal group identified as UNC-200 is behind the campaign, which involves targeting high-value individuals within Ukraine's defense sector. The Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine (CERT-UA) has issued warnings about this campaign, which utilizes the Dark Crystal RAT (aka DCRat) to compromise systems.
This malicious activity involves distributing messages via Signal that contain what appears to be meeting minutes. These messages are sent from compromised accounts to enhance credibility, enticing unsuspecting users to download malicious archive files. The archives contain a decoy PDF and an executable that deploys the DCRat malware, giving attackers remote access and control, stealing valuable information and executing arbitrary commands. CERT-UA attributes this activity to UAC-0200, active since summer 2024, who noted that the use of popular messengers increases the attack surface, including due to the creation of uncontrolled information exchange channels. Recommended read:
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Veronika Telychko@SOC Prime Blog
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Criminal group UAC-0173 is actively targeting Ukrainian notaries in a series of cyberattacks. These attacks, which have been ongoing since mid-January 2025, involve the use of DARKCRYSTALRAT malware. The cybercriminals are exploiting RDP tools to breach Ukraine's notarial offices, aiming to manipulate state registers. CERT-UA has issued an alert, CERT-UA#13738, regarding these activities.
SOC Prime has released Sigma rules to detect UAC-0173 attacks leveraging DARKCRYSTALRAT malware, providing cybersecurity professionals with tools to identify and mitigate these threats. These attacks by UAC-0173 highlight the ongoing cyber warfare impacting critical infrastructure and organizations within Ukraine. CERT-UA reports Hackers Exploit RDP Tools to Breach Ukraine’s Notarial Offices. Recommended read:
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