CyberSecurity news
FlagThis - #cryptocurrency
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Nicholas Kitonyi@NFTgators
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A pro-Israel hacking group, known as Predatory Sparrow, has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack against Nobitex, Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. The attack resulted in the theft of approximately $90 million in various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Dogecoin, as well as over 100 other cryptocurrencies. According to blockchain analytics firm Elliptic, the funds were drained from the exchange’s wallets into blockchain addresses containing anti-government messages explicitly referencing Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The attackers, instead of attempting to profit financially, intentionally destroyed the stolen cryptocurrency in what has been described as a symbolic political statement. The funds were sent to blockchain addresses with the phrase "F***iRGCTerrorists" embedded within them. Experts say that generating addresses with such specific terms requires significant computing power, suggesting the primary goal was to send a message rather than to gain financially. The incident underscores the rising geopolitical tensions between Israel and Iran and the vulnerability of cryptocurrency exchanges to politically motivated cyberattacks. The cyberattack on Nobitex is part of a broader pattern of cyber warfare between Israel and Iran. While the physical conflict has seen airstrikes and other military actions, the digital realm has become another battleground, with potentially significant repercussions for both countries and the wider global community. This incident also follows reports of internet restrictions within Iran, limiting citizens' access to information and communication amidst escalating tensions. The global cybersecurity community needs to stay prepared for security repercussions for the two combatants and the wider global community as the cyberwarfare portion of the conflict is already spilling over off the battlefield and outside the region. Recommended read:
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Editor-In-Chief, BitDegree@bitdegree.org
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The BitMEX cryptocurrency exchange has successfully thwarted an intrusion attempt orchestrated by the Lazarus Group, a notorious hacking organization with ties to North Korea. The exchange's security team detected the attack, preventing any compromise of their systems. In a significant countermove, BitMEX's security team managed to access one of the Lazarus Group's servers, providing valuable insights into their operations and tactics.
Researchers at BitMEX uncovered critical missteps made by the Lazarus Group during their campaigns, including exposed IP addresses and an accessible database. One key finding involved a rare slip-up where a hacker inadvertently revealed their real IP address, which was traced to Jiaxing, China. This location is near Shanghai and represents a notable lapse in security for the typically secretive group. BitMEX also blocked a phishing attempt linked to the Lazarus Group, where attackers posed as NFT partners on LinkedIn to trick one of its employees. The Lazarus Group's attack strategy often begins with relatively unsophisticated methods like phishing to gain initial access to targeted systems. In this case, the attackers invited a BitMEX employee to a private GitHub repository containing code for a fake Next.js/React website. The goal was to make the victim run the project, which included malicious code, on their computer. BitMEX emphasized that the "Lazarus Group" comprises multiple hacking teams under the control of the North Korean government, responsible for stealing significant sums of money through various cyberattacks. Recommended read:
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lucija.valentic@reversinglabs.com (Lucija@Blog (Main)
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A malicious Python package named `solana-token` has been discovered on the Python Package Index (PyPI) targeting Solana developers. This rogue package, posing as a utility for the Solana blockchain, was designed to exfiltrate source code and developer secrets from compromised machines to a hard-coded IP address. The ReversingLabs research team uncovered this supply chain attack, highlighting the increasing trend of malicious actors targeting cryptocurrency projects. Before being taken down, the `solana-token` package was downloaded over 600 times, potentially distributed through developer-focused platforms.
The malicious package contained telltale signs of compromise, including hardcoded IP addresses, outbound communications to non-standard network ports, and code that reads local files, typical of information stealers. One insidious method employed by the package scanned the Python execution stack, copied, and exfiltrated source code contained in all the files in the execution chain to a remote server. The objective was to steal sensitive information such as developer secrets and hardcoded crypto credentials, which could grant attackers unauthorized access to cryptocurrency wallets and critical infrastructure. This incident is not isolated, a previous package with the same name was published and removed in 2024, suggesting that the same malicious actors may be behind the new malicious version, said the report. Cybersecurity experts recommend that organizations respond to address the increasing number of supply chain threats targeting cryptocurrency projects by aggressively monitoring for suspicious activity and unexplained changes within open source and commercial, third-party software modules. By stopping malicious code before it is allowed to penetrate secure development environments, teams can prevent destructive supply chain attacks. Recommended read:
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Graham Cluley@Graham Cluley
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Noah Urban, a 20-year-old from Palm Coast, Florida, has pleaded guilty to charges related to cryptocurrency thefts, conspiracy, wire fraud, and identity theft. Urban, known online as "King Bob," was a key member of the notorious Scattered Spider hacking gang. The charges stem from two federal cases, one in Florida and another in California. Urban's activities involved orchestrating sophisticated attacks, including SIM swapping, to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency from investors. He was arrested in January 2024, and during the raid, he reportedly attempted to wipe his computer and social media history in an effort to destroy evidence.
The cybercriminal's operations involved stealing victims' personal information and using it to hijack their phone numbers through SIM swap fraud. This allowed Urban and his accomplices to bypass two-factor authentication and gain unauthorized access to cryptocurrency wallets. They then transferred the cryptocurrency to their own accounts, netting significant profits. Urban's activities also extended to leaking songs from famous music artists after breaking into the accounts of music industry executives, disrupting planned album releases and causing financial and emotional strain on the artists involved. As part of his plea agreement, Urban has agreed to forfeit his jewelry, currency, and cryptocurrency assets. He will also pay US $13 million in restitution to 59 victims. Urban is expected to be sentenced within the next 75 days. He faces a potentially long prison term, which will include an additional two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft, as it cannot be served concurrently with other charges. Other suspected members of the Scattered Spider gang remain under investigation, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat this cybercriminal syndicate. Recommended read:
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info@thehackernews.com (The@The Hacker News
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A new phishing campaign called 'PoisonSeed' has emerged, posing a significant cybersecurity threat by targeting customer relationship management (CRM) platforms and bulk email service providers. The campaign leverages compromised credentials to distribute emails containing cryptocurrency seed phrases, aiming to drain victims' digital wallets. This activity forms part of a broader supply chain attack, impacting enterprise organizations and individuals outside the cryptocurrency industry, with crypto companies like Coinbase and Ledger and bulk email providers such as Mailchimp, SendGrid, Hubspot, Mailgun, and Zoho among the targeted companies.
PoisonSeed's method involves creating convincing phishing pages mimicking login portals for popular CRM and email platforms. These deceptive pages trick victims into revealing their credentials, after which the attackers automate the export of email lists and create API keys for persistent access. Compromised accounts are then used to send bulk phishing emails with urgent lures, such as fake wallet migration notices, urging recipients to set up new cryptocurrency wallets using a provided seed phrase. If entered, this seed phrase allows attackers to access the wallet and steal funds, initiating a cryptocurrency seed phrase poisoning attack. Silent Push analysts have identified an extensive list of Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) associated with PoisonSeed's infrastructure, including phishing domains like mailchimp-sso[.]com and C2 Servers with IP addresses such as 212.224.88[.]188. While PoisonSeed shares some tactics with known groups like Scattered Spider and CryptoChameleon, it's considered a distinct entity with a focus on cryptocurrency theft rather than ransomware attacks. This malicious campaign exploits CRM credentials to spread cryptocurrency seed phrase attacks, placing many wallets at risk of compromise. Recommended read:
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info@thehackernews.com (The@The Hacker News
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The PoisonSeed phishing campaign represents a new and evolving cyber threat, targeting individuals with access to critical systems like Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms and bulk email services. This large-scale operation compromises corporate email marketing accounts to distribute emails containing crypto seed phrases, ultimately used to drain cryptocurrency wallets. Attackers focus on high-value targets, employing detailed reconnaissance to ensure their phishing emails reach the most impactful individuals. By mimicking legitimate services through carefully crafted emails and fake login pages, PoisonSeed exemplifies the evolving nature of phishing threats, deceiving victims into believing they are from legitimate sources.
PoisonSeed's attack methodology is distinguished by its sophisticated approach, targeting individuals with access to CRM systems and bulk email platforms. The first stage involves meticulous target identification, focusing on those with access to CRM systems and bulk email platforms, as these targets provide significant leverage for further attacks. The reconnaissance process includes analyzing the email services used by companies and identifying employees in relevant positions. Once targets are identified, the attackers craft professional phishing emails designed to deceive recipients, sending them from spoofed addresses to enhance their authenticity, often containing links to fake login pages hosted on carefully named domains. The phishing pages deployed by PoisonSeed are designed to capture sensitive information, particularly cryptocurrency wallet seed phrases. Victims are tricked into entering attacker-provided seed phrases while setting up new cryptocurrency wallets, allowing the attackers to monitor and eventually take control of these wallets once funds are deposited. Compromised accounts are then used to send bulk phishing emails, employing urgent lures, such as notifications about "restricted sending privileges" or fake wallet migration notices. Domains such as mail-chimpservices[.]com have been used to deceive MailChimp users, showcasing the campaign's attention to detail. Recommended read:
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do son@securityonline.info
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A new "ClickFake Interview" campaign, attributed to the Lazarus Group, is targeting professionals in the cryptocurrency sector with fraudulent job offers. Security researchers at Sekoia discovered the operation, revealing that threat actors impersonate recruiters on platforms like LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) to lure victims into fake job interviews. These interviews are designed to trick candidates into opening malicious documents or clicking on compromised links, ultimately leading to malware infection and potential data theft.
The malware, dubbed "ClickFix" or sometimes distributed through the GolangGhost backdoor, grants attackers remote access to compromised systems. This allows the Lazarus Group to steal sensitive information, including cryptocurrency wallet credentials, execute arbitrary commands, and maintain persistent access. Sekoia warns that this campaign reflects a new Lazarus strategy targeting cryptocurrency industry employees, even those with limited technical expertise, making them less likely to detect malicious activity during the interview process. Professionals are advised to verify recruiter identities, avoid downloading files from unknown sources, and utilize endpoint protection to mitigate risks. Recommended read:
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