CyberSecurity news
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@gbhackers.com
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Cybercriminals are increasingly leveraging adversary-in-the-middle (AiTM) attacks with reverse proxies to bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA), a security measure widely adopted to protect against unauthorized access. This sophisticated technique allows attackers to intercept user credentials and authentication cookies, effectively neutralizing the added security that MFA is designed to provide. Instead of relying on simple, fake landing pages, attackers position reverse proxies between the victim and legitimate web services, creating an authentic-looking login experience. This method has proven highly effective in capturing sensitive information, as the only telltale sign might be a subtle discrepancy in the browser's address bar.
The proliferation of Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS) toolkits has significantly lowered the barrier to entry for executing these complex attacks. Platforms like Tycoon 2FA and Evilproxy offer ready-made templates for targeting popular services and include features like IP filtering and JavaScript injection to evade detection. Open-source tools such as Evilginx, originally intended for penetration testing, have also been repurposed by malicious actors, further exacerbating the problem. These tools provide customizable reverse proxy capabilities that enable even novice cybercriminals to launch sophisticated MFA bypass campaigns. To combat these evolving threats, security experts recommend that organizations reassess their current MFA strategies and consider adopting more robust authentication methods. WebAuthn, a passwordless authentication standard utilizing public key cryptography, offers a potential solution by eliminating password transmission and rendering server-side authentication databases useless to attackers. Additionally, organizations should implement measures to detect unusual session behavior, monitor for newly registered domains, and analyze TLS fingerprints to identify potential AiTM activity. By staying vigilant and adapting their security strategies, organizations can better defend against these advanced phishing techniques and protect their valuable assets. Recommended read:
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Shivani Tiwari@cysecurity.news
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Cybersecurity firm Bitdefender has issued a warning about a significant increase in subscription scams that are cleverly disguised as legitimate online stores and enticing mystery boxes. This new wave of scams is characterized by its unprecedented sophistication, employing high-quality website design, targeted advertising, and social media exploitation to deceive unsuspecting users. Over 200 fake retail sites have been identified as part of this operation, all designed to harvest credit card data and personal information from victims globally. These sites offer a wide range of products, including clothing, electronics, and beauty items, making it harder for users to distinguish them from genuine e-commerce platforms.
This scam network leverages social media platforms, particularly Facebook, where cybercriminals deploy sponsored ads and impersonate content creators to lure victims. A key component of this fraud is the evolution of the "mystery box" scam, which promises surprise items for a nominal fee but conceals hidden subscription models in the fine print. Victims are often unknowingly enrolled in recurring payment plans, with charges ranging up to 44 EUR every 14 days, disguised as loyalty benefits or exclusive shopping privileges. The scammers exploit the human fascination with the unknown, offering boxes supposedly left at post offices or bags found at airports, requiring a small payment to claim ownership, with the primary objective being collecting financial information. Bitdefender's investigation reveals that these schemes utilize complex payment structures and convoluted terms to confuse users, transforming a seemingly one-time purchase into recurring charges. To evade detection, scammers employ techniques such as multiple ad versions, Google Drive-hosted images for easy replacement, cropped visuals to bypass pattern recognition, and homoglyph tactics to obscure malicious intent. Many of these fraudulent sites remain active, continuously targeting users globally, with specific campaigns observed in Romania, Canada, and the United States. The connection between these scams and a Cyprus-registered address raises suspicions of a coordinated operation involving offshore entities. Recommended read:
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@cyble.com
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Recent cyberattacks have targeted major UK retailers, prompting a call for increased vigilance and stronger defenses from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). High-profile organizations such as Harrods, Marks & Spencer (M&S), and Co-op have been affected, causing significant operational disruptions. These attacks have led to restricted internet access, pauses in online order processing, and in some instances, potential data extraction, highlighting the severity and broad impact of these cyber incidents on the retail sector.
The NCSC has issued an urgent warning to UK firms, emphasizing the escalating risk of ransomware attacks, particularly within the retail industry. The agency anticipates a potential increase in similar attacks in the coming days. In response, the NCSC has released a comprehensive set of guidelines designed to assist businesses in bolstering their defenses against these threats and minimizing potential financial losses. This includes reviewing password reset policies, being cautious of senior employees with escalated priviledges such as Domain Admin, Enterprise Admin and Cloud Admin accounts. The NCSC's guidelines emphasize proactive measures such as isolating and containing threats quickly by severing internet connectivity to prevent malware spread and ensuring backup servers remain unaffected. It also highlights leveraging backup systems for recovery and implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) across the board. The NCSC advises businesses to constantly be on the look out for ‘risky logins’ within Microsoft Entra ID Protection, where sign-in attempts are flagged as potentially compromised due to suspicious activity or unusual behaviour. Furthermore, the agency urges organizations to assess their cyber resilience and adopt best practices for both prevention and recovery to mitigate future attacks. Recommended read:
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Bill Toulas@BleepingComputer
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The FBI has released a comprehensive list of 42,000 phishing domains linked to the LabHost cybercrime platform. LabHost, a major phishing-as-a-service (PhaaS) platform, was dismantled in April 2024. The extensive list is designed to aid cybersecurity professionals and organizations in strengthening their defenses against phishing attacks. The domains were registered between November 2021 and April 2024, providing a historical record for threat detection.
This release offers a unique opportunity to bolster cybersecurity defenses and enhance threat detection strategies. By integrating these domains into existing security frameworks, organizations can proactively thwart potential threats. Retrospective analysis of logs from November 2021 to April 2024 can uncover previously undetected breaches, allowing organizations to address vulnerabilities. The list serves as a valuable resource for training phishing detection models, improving their accuracy and effectiveness. The release of the 42,000 domains allows for the creation of comprehensive blocklists to mitigate the risk of threat actors reusing or re-registering these domains. Cybersecurity experts can analyze domain patterns to gain insights into the operations of PhaaS platforms like LabHost. This correlation of intelligence can aid in understanding the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) employed by cybercriminals, thereby enhancing the ability to predict and counter future threats. Recommended read:
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@cloud.google.com
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Google's Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) has released its annual review of zero-day exploits, revealing a concerning shift towards enterprise-targeted attacks in 2024. The report highlights a persistent rise in zero-day exploitation, with 75 vulnerabilities actively exploited in the wild. While this number represents a decrease from the 98 exploits observed in 2023, it remains higher than the 63 recorded in 2022, indicating a continued upward trend. The GTIG's analysis divides these vulnerabilities into two main categories: end-user platforms and products, and enterprise-focused technologies such as security software and appliances.
Of the 75 zero-day exploits tracked in 2024, a significant 44% targeted enterprise products. This indicates a strategic shift from attackers who are increasingly recognizing the value in compromising systems that house sensitive data. In contrast, the exploitation of browsers and mobile devices has decreased, falling by about a third and half, respectively. This shift towards enterprise technologies suggests that attackers are focusing on more lucrative targets that offer greater potential rewards. The GTIG report also notes that exploit chains made up of multiple zero-day vulnerabilities continue to be almost exclusively used to target mobile devices. Government-backed hackers and commercial surveillance vendors (CSVs) are the primary actors behind many of these exploits. The GTIG report indicates that governments like China and North Korea, along with spyware makers, are responsible for the most recorded zero-days in 2024. Specifically, at least 23 zero-day exploits were linked to government-backed hackers, with 10 directly attributed to governments including five linked to China and five to North Korea. Additionally, spyware makers and surveillance enablers were responsible for eight exploits, suggesting that the industry will continue to grow as long as government customers continue to request and pay for these services. Recommended read:
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@www.microsoft.com
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Microsoft Threat Intelligence is reporting a significant rise in cyberattacks targeting unsecured Kubernetes clusters. These attacks are primarily aimed at illicit cryptocurrency mining, with threat actors exploiting vulnerabilities such as unsecured workload identities and inactive accounts to gain unauthorized access to containerized environments. Data from Microsoft indicates that a concerning 51% of workload identities remained inactive in the past year, creating numerous potential entry points for attackers. The increasing adoption of containers-as-a-service among organizations has expanded the attack surface, making it more attractive for cybercriminals seeking to profit from stolen computing resources.
The dynamic nature of Kubernetes environments poses significant challenges for security teams. The rapid deployment and scaling of containers make it difficult to detect runtime anomalies and trace the origins of security breaches. Attackers often exploit misconfigured resources, outdated container images, inadequate network segmentation, and overly permissive access controls to infiltrate these environments. Observed attack vectors include compromising cloud credentials, deploying malicious container images, exploiting the Kubernetes API, conducting node-level and pod escape attacks, and injecting unauthorized network traffic. A recent example involved the use of the AzureChecker.exe tool to launch password spray attacks against cloud tenants, leading to the creation of cryptomining containers within compromised resource groups. To combat these evolving threats, Microsoft has been working with MITRE to update the Kubernetes threat matrix and the ATT&CK for Containers matrix. This provides a structured framework for organizations to systematically assess and mitigate attack surfaces in containerized environments. Security best practices highlighted include implementing immutable container policies, enforcing strong authentication, employing rigorous vulnerability management, using admission controllers, establishing image assurance policies, and continuously monitoring API activity. Furthermore, a Docker malware campaign has been discovered exploiting Teneo Web3 nodes by faking heartbeat signals to earn crypto, showcasing the diverse methods attackers are using to generate revenue from compromised container environments. Recommended read:
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Stu Sjouwerman@blog.knowbe4.com
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blog.knowbe4.com
, gbhackers.com
Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting the power of artificial intelligence to enhance their malicious activities, marking a concerning trend in the cybersecurity landscape. Reports, including Microsoft’s Cyber Signals, highlight a surge in AI-assisted scams and phishing attacks. Guardio Labs has identified a specific phenomenon called "VibeScamming," where hackers leverage AI to create highly convincing phishing schemes and functional attack models with unprecedented ease. This development signifies a "democratization" of cybercrime, enabling individuals with limited technical skills to launch sophisticated attacks.
Cybersecurity researchers at Guardio Labs conducted a benchmark study that examined the capabilities of different AI models in facilitating phishing scams. While ChatGPT demonstrated some resistance due to its ethical guardrails, other platforms like Claude and Lovable proved more susceptible to malicious use. Claude provided detailed, usable code for phishing operations when prompted within an "ethical hacking" framework, while Lovable, designed for easy web app creation, inadvertently became a haven for scammers, offering instant hosting solutions, evasion tactics, and even integrated credential theft mechanisms. The ease with which these models can be exploited raises significant concerns about the balance between AI functionality and security. To combat these evolving threats, security experts emphasize the need for organizations to adopt a proactive and layered approach to cybersecurity. This includes implementing zero-trust principles, carefully verifying user identities, and continuously monitoring for suspicious activities. As threat actors increasingly blend social engineering with AI and automation to bypass detection, companies must prioritize security awareness training for employees and invest in advanced security solutions that can detect and prevent AI-powered attacks. With improved attack strategies, organizations must stay ahead of the curve by continuously refining their defenses and adapting to the ever-changing threat landscape. Recommended read:
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Stu Sjouwerman@blog.knowbe4.com
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A widespread smishing campaign targeting toll road users across the United States has been uncovered by cybersecurity researchers. The campaign, active since October 2024, involves attackers sending fraudulent SMS messages claiming that victims owe small amounts, typically under $5, for unpaid tolls. These messages warn of late fees and redirect recipients to spoofed websites designed to mimic legitimate toll service platforms like E-ZPass. The goal is to steal sensitive user information, including personal details and credit card information.
These fraudulent websites prompt victims to solve a fake CAPTCHA before being redirected to a webpage displaying a fabricated bill. The bill includes the victim’s name and warns of a $35 late payment fee, urging them to proceed with payment. Once victims click “Proceed Now,” they are taken to another fake page where they are asked to provide personal details such as their name, address, phone number, and credit card information. This data is then stolen by the threat actors. The campaign spans at least eight states, including Washington, Florida, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Texas, Ohio, Illinois, and Kansas, identified through spoofed domains containing state-specific abbreviations observed in the SMS messages. Cisco Talos attributes this campaign to multiple financially motivated threat actors using smishing kits developed by an individual known as “Wang Duo Yu.” These kits have been previously linked to large-scale smishing attacks targeting mail services like USPS and financial institutions. Wang Duo Yu operates several Telegram channels and forums promoting smishing kits and offering tutorials on phishing techniques. His kits are priced between $20 and $50 depending on the features and support provided. The typosquatted domains used in the campaign resolve to specific IP addresses: 45[.]152[.]115[.]161, 82[.]147[.]88[.]22, and more recently 43[.]156[.]47[.]209. Recommended read:
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Sathwik Ram@seqrite.com
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Pakistan-linked SideCopy APT has escalated its cyber operations, employing new tactics to infiltrate crucial sectors. Seqrite Labs APT team uncovered these new tactics deployed since the last week of December 2024. The Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) group, previously focused on Indian government, defence, maritime sectors, and university students, is expanding its targeting scope.
The group has broadened its targets to include critical sectors such as railways, oil & gas, and external affairs ministries. One notable shift in their recent campaigns is the transition from using HTML Application (HTA) files to adopting Microsoft Installer (MSI) packages as a primary staging mechanism. This evolution is marked by increasingly sophisticated methods, such as reflective DLL loading and AES encryption via PowerShell. Furthermore, SideCopy is actively repurposing open-source tools like XenoRAT and SparkRAT to enhance their penetration and exploitation capabilities. The group customizes these tools and employs a newly identified Golang-based malware dubbed CurlBack RAT, specifically designed to execute DLL side-loading attacks. Recent campaigns demonstrate an increased use of phishing emails masquerading as government officials to deliver malicious payloads, often using compromised official domains and fake domains mimicking e-governance services. Recommended read:
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@slashnext.com
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A new AI platform called Xanthorox AI has emerged in the cybercrime landscape, advertised as a full-spectrum hacking assistant and is circulating within cybercrime communities on darknet forums and encrypted channels. First spotted in late Q1 2025, this tool is marketed as the "killer of WormGPT and all EvilGPT variants," suggesting its creators intend to supplant earlier malicious AI models. Unlike previous malicious AI tools, Xanthorox AI boasts an independent, multi-model framework, operating on private servers and avoiding reliance on public cloud infrastructure or APIs, making it more difficult to trace and shut down.
Xanthorox AI provides a modular GenAI platform for offensive cyberattacks, offering a one-stop shop for developing a range of cybercriminal operations. This darknet-exclusive tool uses five custom models to launch advanced, autonomous cyberattacks, marking a new era in AI-driven threats. The toolkit includes Xanthorox Coder for automating code creation, script development, malware generation, and vulnerability exploitation. Xanthorox Vision adds visual intelligence by analyzing uploaded images or screenshots to extract data, while Reasoner Advanced mimics human logic to generate convincing social engineering outputs. Furthermore, Xanthorox AI supports voice-based interaction through real-time calls and asynchronous messaging, enabling hands-free command and control. The platform emphasizes data containment and operates offline, ensuring users can avoid third-party AI telemetry risks. SlashNext refers to it as “the next evolution of black-hat AI” because Xanthorox is not based on existing AI platforms like GPT. Instead, it uses five separate AI models, and everything runs on private servers controlled by the creators, meaning it has few ways for defenders to track or shut it down. 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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@gbhackers.com
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gbhackers.com
, Malwarebytes
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Cybercriminals are increasingly employing sophisticated tactics to bypass traditional security measures and ensnare unsuspecting users in phishing scams. One notable trend is the use of benign-worded email subjects such as "request," "forward," and "report" to lower suspicion. Additionally, attackers are leveraging URL shorteners and QR codes to mask malicious links, making it harder for users and security systems to identify threats. These techniques allow cybercriminals to evade detection and increase the likelihood of successful attacks aimed at stealing personal and financial information.
Tax-themed phishing campaigns are surging as the United States approaches Tax Day on April 15th. Microsoft has observed threat actors exploiting tax-related anxieties through emails containing malicious attachments. These attachments frequently include QR codes that redirect users to fake login pages designed to steal credentials. In other instances, attackers embed DoubleClick URLs in PDF attachments that redirect users through shortened links to fake DocuSign pages, serving either malicious JavaScript files leading to malware installation or benign decoy files based on filtering rules. The malware families being deployed in these campaigns are becoming increasingly advanced. Latrodectus, for example, features dynamic command-and-control configurations and anti-analysis capabilities, allowing attackers to execute Windows commands remotely and establish persistence through scheduled tasks. BruteRatel C4 (BRc4), originally designed for red-teaming exercises, is being exploited for post-exploitation activities, enabling attackers to bypass security defenses. According to Kendall McKay, strategic lead for cyber threat intelligence at Cisco’s Talos division, phishing scams are constantly evolving to maintain their effectiveness. Recommended read:
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info@thehackernews.com (The@The Hacker News
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The Lucid PhaaS platform, operated by the XinXin group, is being used in sophisticated smishing campaigns targeting 169 entities across 88 countries. This Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS) platform leverages legitimate communication channels like Apple iMessage and Android RCS to bypass traditional SMS spam filters, significantly increasing delivery and success rates. Cybercriminals are using Lucid to harvest credit card details and personally identifiable information (PII) for financial fraud.
The platform employs social engineering tactics, including impersonating postal services, courier companies, and tax refund agencies. It offers credit card validation tools and can clone any brand's website to create phishing versions. Telecom providers face challenges in preventing these attacks due to the end-to-end encryption of iMessage and RCS. Cybersecurity experts recommend that users independently verify communications with trusted organizations through official channels to avoid falling victim to these scams. Recommended read:
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Bill Mann@CyberInsider
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CISA, along with the NSA, FBI, and international cybersecurity partners, has issued a joint advisory regarding the increasing use of the "fast flux" technique by cybercriminals and nation-state actors. This DNS evasion method allows attackers to rapidly change the DNS records associated with their malicious servers, making it difficult to track and block their activities. This tactic is used to obfuscate the location of malicious servers, enabling them to create resilient and highly available command and control infrastructures while concealing malicious operations.
Fast flux, characterized by quickly changing IP addresses linked to a single domain, exploits weaknesses in network defenses. The advisory, titled 'Fast Flux: A National Security Threat,' urges organizations, internet service providers (ISPs), and security firms to strengthen their defenses against these attacks. Service providers, especially Protective DNS providers (PDNS), are urged to track, share information, and block fast flux activity to safeguard critical infrastructure and national security. Recommended read:
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Fogerlog@Phishing Tackle
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A new sophisticated Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS) platform, dubbed "Morphing Meerkat," is exploiting DNS MX records to dynamically deliver tailored phishing pages, targeting over 100 brands. This operation enables both technical and non-technical cybercriminals to launch targeted attacks, bypassing security systems through the exploitation of open redirects on adtech servers and compromised WordPress websites. The platform's primary attack vector involves mass spam delivery and dynamic content tailoring, evading traditional security measures.
Researchers have discovered that Morphing Meerkat queries DNS MX records using Cloudflare DoH or Google Public DNS to customize fake login pages based on the victim's email service provider. This technique allows the platform to map these records to corresponding phishing HTML files, featuring over 114 unique brand designs. This personalized phishing experience significantly increases the likelihood of successful credential theft. The phishing kit also uses code obfuscation and anti-analysis measures to hinder detection, supporting over a dozen languages to target users globally. Recommended read:
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@The DefendOps Diaries
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Vivaldi browser has integrated Proton VPN directly into its system, offering users a seamless way to protect their data from 'Big Tech' surveillance. The integration means users can now access VPN services without the need for external downloads or plugin activations. This move signifies a commitment to enhancing user privacy and challenging the data collection practices of major tech firms. The VPN button is available directly in the toolbar to improve user experience.
Vivaldi's partnership with Proton VPN brings browser-level privacy tools to users, allowing them to encrypt all internet traffic and protect them from persistent tracking. When enabled, browsing activity is transmitted through Proton VPN's encrypted tunnels, which obfuscates the user's IP address. The integration aims to provide enhanced protection against tracking and surveillance and sets new standards in digital security. Recommended read:
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Deeba Ahmed@hackread.com
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A new wave of Android malware campaigns are exploiting Microsoft’s .NET MAUI framework to target users, particularly in India and China. Cybersecurity researchers at McAfee Labs have identified these malicious applications, which disguise themselves as legitimate services like banking and social media apps, to steal sensitive user information. These fake apps, collectively codenamed FakeApp, are not distributed through official channels like Google Play, but rather through bogus links sent via messaging apps and unofficial app stores. .NET MAUI, designed as a cross-platform development framework, allows these threats to conceal malicious code, making them difficult to detect by traditional antivirus solutions.
Researchers have found that the malware's core functionalities are written entirely in C# and stored as binary large objects, evading detection methods that typically analyze DEX files or native libraries. For instance, a fraudulent banking app impersonates IndusInd Bank, targeting Indian users by prompting them to enter personal and financial details, which are then sent to the attacker's command-and-control server. Another instance involves a fake social networking service app aimed at Chinese-speaking users, employing multi-stage dynamic loading to decrypt and execute its payload in separate stages, further complicating analysis and disrupting security tools. Recommended read:
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@cyberalerts.io
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The FBI has issued a warning about the rising trend of cybercriminals using fake file converter tools to distribute malware. These tools, often advertised as free online document converters, are designed to trick users into downloading malicious software onto their computers. While these tools may perform the advertised file conversion, they also secretly install malware that can lead to identity theft, ransomware attacks, and the compromise of sensitive data.
The threat actors exploit various file converter or downloader tools, enticing users with promises of converting files from one format to another, such as .doc to .pdf, or combining multiple files. The malicious code, disguised as a file conversion utility, can scrape uploaded files for personal identifying information, including social security numbers, banking information, and cryptocurrency wallet addresses. The FBI advises users to be cautious of such tools and report any instances of this scam to protect their assets. The FBI Denver Field Office is warning that they are increasingly seeing scams involving free online document converter tools and encourages victims to report any instances of this scam. Malwarebytes has identified some of these suspect file converters, which include Imageconvertors.com, convertitoremp3.it, convertisseurs-pdf.com and convertscloud.com. The agency emphasized the importance of educating individuals about these threats to prevent them from falling victim to these scams. Recommended read:
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@itpro.com
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A supply chain attack has targeted the widely used GitHub Action 'tj-actions/changed-files-action,' leading to the leakage of secrets from numerous repositories. This incident, first reported by Step Security, involved the compromise of the action, allowing attackers to inject malicious code into CI workflows. This code was designed to dump CI runner memory, potentially exposing sensitive information like API keys and passwords in public repository workflow logs. The compromised 'tj-actions/changed-files' repository and the GitHub gist hosting the malicious script have since been removed to mitigate further exploitation.
This vulnerability, assigned CVE-2025-30066, affected all versions of 'tj-actions/changed-files' as of March 15, 2025. The malicious code was introduced through a spoofed commit from the Renovate bot, enabling unauthorized access and modification of the action's code. While no external exfiltration of secrets to an attacker-controlled server has been observed, the exposure within affected repositories remains a significant risk. Impacted organizations are urged to take immediate action to mitigate the risk of credential theft and CI pipeline compromise, particularly in public repositories where secrets in workflow logs are publicly accessible. Recommended read:
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Sunny Yadav@eSecurity Planet
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Cybersecurity experts are warning of a coordinated surge in Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) exploitation attempts across multiple platforms. Threat intelligence firm GreyNoise reported on March 9, 2025, that approximately 400 unique IP addresses were actively involved in exploiting multiple SSRF vulnerabilities simultaneously. These attacks span several countries, including the United States, Germany, Singapore, India, Japan, and Lithuania, targeting critical systems in cloud environments and enterprise infrastructures.
This alarming trend highlights the persistent risks organizations face from evolving attack methods. The SSRF vulnerabilities being exploited include critical flaws in widely used software platforms like Zimbra Collaboration Suite (CVE-2020-7796), VMware products (CVE-2021-21973 and CVE-2021-22054), and multiple CVEs in GitLab's CE/EE versions, along with targets in DotNetNuke and Ivanti Connect Secure. GreyNoise also observed Grafana path traversal attempts preceding the SSRF surge, indicating attackers may be using Grafana as a foothold for deeper exploitation. Defenders should identify and disrupt early-stage activity by monitoring for reconnaissance behaviors, such as path traversal attempts, which may provide early warning signs before full-scale exploitation occurs. Organizations should act now to patch vulnerable systems, restrict access where possible, and monitor for unexpected outbound requests that could indicate SSRF exploitation. The attacks reflect a shift from opportunistic scanning to more deliberate, coordinated campaigns that aim to breach internal systems and extract valuable data. Recommended read:
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@zdnet.com
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Federal cybersecurity agencies, including the FBI and CISA, have issued an urgent advisory regarding the escalating threat of Medusa ransomware. Since its emergence in 2021, Medusa has targeted over 300 victims across various critical infrastructure sectors, including medical, education, legal, insurance, technology, and manufacturing. The group's activities have accelerated in recent months, prompting immediate action recommendations for organizations. Medusa operates as a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, now recruiting affiliates from criminal forums to launch attacks, encrypt data, and extort victims worldwide.
Medusa actors leverage common ransomware tactics, including phishing campaigns and exploiting unpatched software vulnerabilities. They employ a double extortion strategy by encrypting victim data and threatening to publicly release it if the ransom is not paid. To mitigate the risk, CISA and the FBI recommend organizations update systems regularly to close known vulnerabilities, implement network segmentation to restrict lateral movement, and enable multi-factor authentication for all services. They also urge organizations to report incidents promptly to aid in tracking and combating the growing threat. Recommended read:
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Dhara Shrivastava@cysecurity.news
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February witnessed a record-breaking surge in ransomware attacks, fueled by the prolific activity of groups like CL0P, known for exploiting MFT vulnerabilities. The ransomware landscape is also seeing significant activity from groups like Akira and RansomHub.
Recent analysis reveals a notable development with the Black Basta and CACTUS ransomware groups, uncovering a shared BackConnect module. This module, internally tracked as QBACKCONNECT, provides extensive remote control capabilities, including executing commands and exfiltrating sensitive data. The Qilin ransomware group has also claimed responsibility for attacks on the Utsunomiya Central Clinic (UCC), a cancer treatment center in Japan, and Rockhill Women's Care, a gynecology facility in Kansas City, stealing and leaking sensitive patient data. Recommended read:
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@World - CBSNews.com
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The U.S. Justice Department has indicted 12 Chinese nationals for their alleged involvement in state-linked cyber operations. The individuals include employees of the Chinese technology firm i-Soon, members of the APT27 group (also known as Emissary Panda, TG-3390, Bronze Union, and Lucky Mouse), and two officers from China's Ministry of Public Security. These indictments shed light on the hacking tools and methods allegedly employed in a global hacking scandal. The Justice Department stated that the Ministry of State Security (MSS) and Ministry of Public Security (MPS) utilized an extensive network of private companies, including i-Soon, to conduct unauthorized computer intrusions in the U.S. and elsewhere.
The U.S. DoJ charges these individuals with data theft and suppressing dissent worldwide. i-Soon, identified as one of the private companies involved, allegedly provided tools and methods to customers and hacked for the PRC (People's Republic of China). These actions highlight a significant cybersecurity concern involving state-sponsored actors and their use of private firms to conduct cyber espionage. Recommended read:
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