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@securityonline.info
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North Korea-linked APT group Kimsuky, also known as Monolithic Werewolf, has resurfaced with an evolved version of its AppleSeed campaign, targeting Korean users via social media. The Genians Security Center (GSC) detected this activity, noting that it spanned from March to April 2025. The attackers leveraged multiple communication channels, including Facebook, email, and Telegram, to distribute malicious files, demonstrating a multi-platform infiltration model. This campaign specifically targeted individuals involved in North Korean defector support, using coordinated social engineering efforts to gain trust.
The attackers employed various techniques to bypass security measures and achieve persistence. They used two Facebook accounts to initiate conversations, posing as missionaries or church researchers to build rapport with their targets. Once trust was established, they sent password-protected EGG-format archives containing a malicious JScript file, designed to evade mobile-based scanning and force execution on Windows PCs. The malicious JScript file then triggered a chain of file drops and stealthy installations, including decoding Base64-encoded DLLs using PowerShell and Certutil, and achieving persistence by adding a Run registry entry. The AppleSeed malware functions as a remote access trojan (RAT), capable of collecting sensitive system information, encrypting it, and sending it back to the attackers. The final-stage payload collects host information, checks for admin privileges and UAC settings, then compresses and encrypts the data. The campaign reveals the group's adaptive tactics, utilizing Facebook for initial contact and lure delivery, email for follow-up spear phishing with EGG archives, and Telegram for targets whose phone numbers were obtained. Security analysts are recommending proactive threat hunting and triage strategies to defend against this evolving threat.
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@cyberscoop.com
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INTERPOL has announced the successful culmination of Operation Secure, a global initiative targeting the infrastructure of information-stealing malware. The operation, which spanned from January to April 2025, involved law enforcement agencies from 26 countries who worked collaboratively to locate servers, map physical networks, and execute targeted takedowns. This coordinated effort resulted in the dismantling of more than 20,000 malicious IP addresses and domains associated with 69 different variants of infostealer malware, significantly disrupting cybercriminal activities worldwide.
Operation Secure also led to the seizure of 41 servers and over 100 GB of data, providing valuable insights into the operations of cybercriminals. A total of 32 suspects were arrested across multiple countries in connection with illegal cyber activities, demonstrating the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating cybercrime. Eighteen arrests occurred in Vietnam, where authorities confiscated devices, SIM cards, business registration documents, and a substantial sum of cash, revealing a scheme to open and sell corporate accounts for illicit purposes. The operation was further bolstered by the contributions of private sector cybersecurity firms, including Group-IB, Kaspersky, and Trend Micro, who provided critical intelligence and Cyber Activity Reports to assist cyber teams. This collaboration resulted in the takedown of 79% of identified suspicious IP addresses. Hong Kong police played a key role by analyzing over 1,700 pieces of intelligence and identifying 117 command-and-control servers used by cybercriminals to orchestrate phishing schemes, online fraud, and social media scams.
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drewt@secureworldexpo.com (Drew@SecureWorld News
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A surge in malicious packages targeting crypto wallets, Telegram tokens, and codebase integrity has been reported across npm, PyPI, and RubyGems, highlighting the persistent vulnerability of the open-source software supply chain. Threat actors are actively exploiting human trust by publishing clones of legitimate software packages. Once installed, these malicious clones execute harmful payloads, ranging from cryptocurrency theft to complete codebase deletion. Researchers have uncovered instances where Telegram API traffic is rerouted to attacker-controlled command-and-control servers, exfiltrating sensitive data like bot tokens, chat IDs, message content, and attached files.
This malicious activity is not limited to package repositories. A sophisticated campaign has been uncovered, utilizing deceptive websites spoofing Gitcodes and Docusign, to trick users into running malicious PowerShell scripts on their Windows machines. These websites lure victims into copying and pasting scripts into the Windows Run prompt, leading to the installation of the NetSupport RAT (Remote Access Trojan). The scripts often employ multi-stage downloaders, retrieving additional payloads from various domains to further compromise the infected system. Sophos researchers also exposed a large-scale GitHub campaign where backdoored malware was disguised as legitimate tools. This campaign revolved around numerous repositories posing as exploits, game cheats, and open-source tools. Compiling the code triggered infection chains involving VBS scripts, PowerShell downloads, and obfuscated Electron apps, ultimately deploying info-stealers and RATs. These campaigns use various methods of deception, including automated commits to give the impression of active development and obfuscation of payloads to avoid detection, showing the lengths these actors will go to to exploit the software supply chain.
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