The Russian-backed group is using a novel access vector to harvest victim data and compromise devices in a large-scale intelligence-gathering operation.

Source: Funtap via Shutterstock

"Midnight Blizzard," a threat group linked to Russia's foreign intelligence service, is stoking more concern than usual for both its sheer scope and its use of a new tactic for harvesting information and gaining control of victim systems.

Microsoft this week said its threat intelligence group observed Midnight Blizzard actors sending out thousands of spear-phishing emails to targeted individuals at more than 100 organizations worldwide since Oct. 22.

**Large-Scale Campaign**

Besides its wide scope, the campaign is noteworthy for Midnight Blizzard's use of a digitally signed Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) configuration file in its spear-phishing emails. The RDP file connects to a server controlled by a threat actor; when the file is opened, it allows the attacker to harvest user credentials and detailed system information to aid further exploit activity.

"The emails were highly targeted, using social engineering lures relating to Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and the concept of zero trust," Microsoft said on its threat intelligence group blog this week. "Microsoft has observed this campaign targeting governmental agencies, higher education, defense, and non-governmental organizations in dozens of countries, but particularly in the UK, Europe, Australia, and Japan."

Midnight Blizzard — aka Cozy Bear, APT29, and UNC2452 — has been the proverbial thorn in the side of security organizations for some years now. The group's many victims include SolarWinds, Microsoft, HPE, multiple US federal government agencies, and diplomatic entities worldwide. Its well-documented tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) include using spear phishing, stolen credentials, and supply chain attacks for initial access. Midnight Blizzard actors have also targeted vulnerabilities in widely used networking and collaboration technologies such as those from Fortinet, Pulse Secure, Citrix, and Zimbra to gain an initial toehold on a target network.

**Bidirectional Connection**

The RDP file in the Microsoft, AWS, and zero-trust themed emails in Midnight Blizzard's latest campaign allows the attacker to establish a quick, bidirectional connection with a compromised device. The threat actor is using it to harvest a range of information including user credentials, files, and directories on the victim system and connected network drives; information from connected smart cards and other peripherals; Web authentication credentials; and clipboard data. The RDF file is signed with a LetsEncrypt certificate to lend it an air of legitimacy. "This access could enable the threat actor to install malware on the target's local drive(s) and mapped network share(s), particularly in AutoStart folders, or install additional tools such as remote access Trojans (RATs) to maintain access when the RDP session is closed," Microsoft cautioned.

Stephen Kowski, field CTO at SlashNext, says Midnight Blizzard's use of signed RDP files in its current campaign is significant. Signed RDP files can bypass traditional security controls since they appear to come from a legitimate source, he points out.

"This technique is particularly cunning because RDP files are commonly used in business environments, making them less likely to raise immediate suspicion, while the legitimate signature helps evade standard malware detection systems," he says. He advocates that organizations scan all email attachments in real time, with a particular focus on RDP files and other seemingly legitimate Microsoft-related content. "The use of legitimately signed files creates a significant blind spot for conventional security tools that rely heavily on signature-based detection or reputation scoring," Kowski advises.

**Mitigating the Threat**

Microsoft has released a list of indicators of compromise for the new Midnight Blizzard campaign, including email sender domains, RDP files, and RDP remote computer domains. It has recommended that security teams review their organizational email security settings and antivirus and anti-phishing measures; turn on Safe Links and Safe Attachments settings in Office 365; and enable measures for quarantining sent email if needed. Other recommendations include using firewalls to block RDP connections, implementing multifactor authentication, and strengthening endpoint security configurations.

Venky Raju, field CTO at ColorTokens, says the campaign is a reminder why organizations need to maintain a tight rein over the use of Microsoft's remote desktop. While it can be useful to share devices, folders, and clipboard content over an RDP session, it gives attackers a way into a user's device. "Signing the RDP configuration file may prevent email security systems from classifying the email as having a suspicious link or attachment. It may also reduce the warnings presented by the RDP client," he points out.

**About the Author**

Jai Vijayan is a seasoned technology reporter with over 20 years of experience in IT trade journalism. He was most recently a Senior Editor at Computerworld, where he covered information security and data privacy issues for the publication. Over the course of his 20-year career at Computerworld, Jai also covered a variety of other technology topics, including big data, Hadoop, Internet of Things, e-voting, and data analytics. Prior to Computerworld, Jai covered technology issues for The Economic Times in Bangalore, India. Jai has a Master's degree in Statistics and lives in Naperville, Ill.

'Midnight Blizzard' Targets Networks With Signed RDP Files

A deserialization vulnerability in the component \controller\Index.php of Thinkphp v6.1.3 to v8.0.4 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code.

**Exploitability Metrics**

Attack Vector: This metric reflects the context by which vulnerability exploitation is possible. This metric value (and consequently the resulting severity) will be larger the more remote (logically, and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerable system. The assumption is that the number of potential attackers for a vulnerability that could be exploited from across a network is larger than the number of potential attackers that could exploit a vulnerability requiring physical access to a device, and therefore warrants a greater severity.

Attack Complexity: This metric captures measurable actions that must be taken by the attacker to actively evade or circumvent existing built-in security-enhancing conditions in order to obtain a working exploit. These are conditions whose primary purpose is to increase security and/or increase exploit engineering complexity. A vulnerability exploitable without a target-specific variable has a lower complexity than a vulnerability that would require non-trivial customization. This metric is meant to capture security mechanisms utilized by the vulnerable system.

Attack Requirements: This metric captures the prerequisite deployment and execution conditions or variables of the vulnerable system that enable the attack. These differ from security-enhancing techniques/technologies (ref Attack Complexity) as the primary purpose of these conditions is not to explicitly mitigate attacks, but rather, emerge naturally as a consequence of the deployment and execution of the vulnerable system.

Privileges Required: This metric describes the level of privileges an attacker must possess prior to successfully exploiting the vulnerability. The method by which the attacker obtains privileged credentials prior to the attack (e.g., free trial accounts), is outside the scope of this metric. Generally, self-service provisioned accounts do not constitute a privilege requirement if the attacker can grant themselves privileges as part of the attack.

User interaction: This metric captures the requirement for a human user, other than the attacker, to participate in the successful compromise of the vulnerable system. This metric determines whether the vulnerability can be exploited solely at the will of the attacker, or whether a separate user (or user-initiated process) must participate in some manner.

**Vulnerable System Impact Metrics**

Confidentiality: This metric measures the impact to the confidentiality of the information managed by the VULNERABLE SYSTEM due to a successfully exploited vulnerability. Confidentiality refers to limiting information access and disclosure to only authorized users, as well as preventing access by, or disclosure to, unauthorized ones.

Integrity: This metric measures the impact to integrity of a successfully exploited vulnerability. Integrity refers to the trustworthiness and veracity of information. Integrity of the VULNERABLE SYSTEM is impacted when an attacker makes unauthorized modification of system data. Integrity is also impacted when a system user can repudiate critical actions taken in the context of the system (e.g. due to insufficient logging).

Availability: This metric measures the impact to the availability of the VULNERABLE SYSTEM resulting from a successfully exploited vulnerability. While the Confidentiality and Integrity impact metrics apply to the loss of confidentiality or integrity of data (e.g., information, files) used by the system, this metric refers to the loss of availability of the impacted system itself, such as a networked service (e.g., web, database, email). Since availability refers to the accessibility of information resources, attacks that consume network bandwidth, processor cycles, or disk space all impact the availability of a system.

**Subsequent System Impact Metrics**

Confidentiality: This metric measures the impact to the confidentiality of the information managed by the SUBSEQUENT SYSTEM due to a successfully exploited vulnerability. Confidentiality refers to limiting information access and disclosure to only authorized users, as well as preventing access by, or disclosure to, unauthorized ones.

Integrity: This metric measures the impact to integrity of a successfully exploited vulnerability. Integrity refers to the trustworthiness and veracity of information. Integrity of the SUBSEQUENT SYSTEM is impacted when an attacker makes unauthorized modification of system data. Integrity is also impacted when a system user can repudiate critical actions taken in the context of the system (e.g. due to insufficient logging).

Availability: This metric measures the impact to the availability of the SUBSEQUENT SYSTEM resulting from a successfully exploited vulnerability. While the Confidentiality and Integrity impact metrics apply to the loss of confidentiality or integrity of data (e.g., information, files) used by the system, this metric refers to the loss of availability of the impacted system itself, such as a networked service (e.g., web, database, email). Since availability refers to the accessibility of information resources, attacks that consume network bandwidth, processor cycles, or disk space all impact the availability of a system.

GHSA-pjhx-j53p-c5f5: ThinkPHP deserialization vulnerability

A malvertising campaign is exploiting Meta’s platform to spread SYS01 infostealer, targeting men 45+ via fake ads for…

A malvertising campaign is exploiting Meta’s platform to spread SYS01 infostealer, targeting men 45+ via fake ads for popular software. The malware steals Facebook credentials, hijacks accounts espicially those administrating business pages, and spreads further attacks globally.

A new malvertising campaign is exploiting Meta’s advertising platform to spread the **SYS01 infostealer**, a cybersecurity threat known to Meta and particularly Facebook users for stealing their personal information.

What makes this attack targeted is that millions of users globally, specifically men aged 45 and above, are potential victims of this ongoing attack, which cleverly disguises itself as advertisements for popular software, games, and online services.

This campaign, first detected in September 2024, stands out due to its impersonation tactics and popular brands that it exploits. Instead of focusing on a single lure, the attackers mimic a broad range of trusted brands, including productivity tools like Office 365, creative software like Canva and Adobe Photoshop, VPN services like ExpressVPN, streaming platforms like Netflix, messaging apps like Telegram, and even popular video games like Super Mario Bros Wonder.

****How the Attack Works:****

According to Bitdefender’s **blog post** shared with Hackread.com ahead of publishing on Wednesday, the malicious ads often lead to MediaFire links offering direct downloads of seemingly legitimate software. These downloads, packaged as zip archives, contain a malicious Electron application.

Once executed, this application drops and **runs the SYS01 infostealer**, often while displaying a decoy app that mimics the advertised software. This deceptive tactic makes it difficult for victims to realize they’ve been compromised.

For your information, an Electron application is a type of desktop app built with web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Electron is an open-source framework developed by GitHub that allows developers to create cross-platform applications that run on Windows, macOS, and Linux, all from a single codebase.

In this attack however, behind the scenes, the Electron app uses obfuscated Javascript code and a standalone 7zip executable to extract a password-protected archive containing the core malware components. This archive includes PHP scripts responsible for **installing the infostealer** and establishing persistence on the victim’s system. The malware also incorporates anti-sandbox checks to evade detection by security researchers.

****Stealing Data and Hijacking Accounts:****

The primary goal of the SYS01 infostealer is to harvest Facebook credentials, particularly those associated with business accounts. These compromised accounts are then used to further attacks/scams.

What’s worse, the attack also leverages the advertising capabilities of hijacked accounts, allowing attackers to create **new malicious ads** that appear more legitimate and easily bypass security filters. This creates a self-sustaining cycle where stolen accounts are used to spread the malware even further. The stolen credentials are also likely sold on underground marketplaces, further enriching the criminals.

Fake Netflix, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and other malicious ads are currently being used in the campaign (Via Bitdefender)

****Global Reach and Protection****

While the campaign has a global reach, impacting users in the EU, North America, Australia, and Asia, Bitdefender could not verify the full extent of its impact, especially outside the EU, which remains unclear due to limited data transparency.

Nevertheless, if you are on Facebook—especially if you run a business page—you must watch out for SYS01 Infostealer and **similar threats**. While using common sense is essential, here are some vital steps you should take:

1.  **Monitor your accounts:** Regularly check your Facebook and other social media accounts for suspicious activity. Report any unauthorized access immediately and change your passwords.
2.  **Be wary of ads:** Exercise caution when clicking on ads, especially those offering free downloads or deals that seem too good to be true. Verify the source before downloading any software.
3.  **Stick to official sources:** Download software directly from official websites or trusted app stores. Avoid third-party platforms and file-sharing services.
4.  **Use strong security software:** Install reputable security software and keep it updated. Choose a solution that offers real-time protection and advanced threat detection.
5.  **Enable two-factor authentication (2FA):** Activate 2FA on your Facebook and other important online accounts for added security.

1.  **Fake GTA VI Beta Download Spreads Malware**
2.  **ALPHV Ransomware Uses Google Ads to Target Victims**
3.  **Fake WhatsApp clone steals crypto on Android and Windows**
4.  **Facebook, Meta, Apple, Amazon Most Impersonated in Scams**
5.  **Fake ChatGPT and Facebook Ads Used in DNS Investment Scam**

Fake Meta Ads Hijacking Facebook Accounts to Spread SYS01 Infostealer

PRESS RELEASE

DALLAS, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MEF, a global consortium of network, cloud, security, and technology providers driving enterprise digital transformation, today announced significant advancements in its MEF 3.0 Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Certification Program. Technology providers Fortinet and Versa have achieved full SASE certification, while service providers AT&T, BT, Colt, Comcast Business, Console Connect, Liberty Latin America, Lumen, Orange Business, TPG, and Verizon have also earned full SASE certification. Additionally, technology providers Broadcom Inc. and Palo Alto Networks, and service provider Sparkle, are expected to achieve full SASE certification shortly. Organizations that achieve SASE certification through MEF’s rigorous independent program receive a rating on product effectiveness and are listed in MEF’s registry of certified companies. SASE certification is now available to all MEF members.

"As cyber threats continue to escalate in complexity and frequency, enterprises need absolute confidence in their security solutions,” said Nan Chen, Chief Executive Officer, MEF. “MEF's independent SASE certification program provides that assurance, enabling organizations to choose validated solutions that protect their digital assets and support their transformation initiatives."

Validated Security for the Enterprise   
MEF's comprehensive certification program addresses today's critical cybersecurity threats through rigorous testing of SASE, which includes Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN), Security Service Edge (SSE), and Zero Trust (ZT) capabilities. The program is delivered in partnership with CyberRatings.org (CRO), a world-class testing laboratory that ensures transparency and confidence in cybersecurity solutions.

Technology providers must successfully complete all three certification modules to achieve full SASE certification. Service providers can achieve certification by integrating MEF-certified technology solutions, ensuring enterprise customers can trust the security and performance of their provider's ecosystem.

"Building secure, high-performing networks is critical to enterprise success,” said Pascal Menezes, Chief Technology Officer, MEF. “By achieving SASE certification, technology and service providers are proving their commitment to delivering reliable, scalable, and secure solutions."

Setting the Standard for Network Security   
The certification program validates compliance with MEF standards, including MEF SD-WAN (MEF 70.1) and industry-first standards for SASE (MEF 117) and Zero Trust (MEF 118). Certified solutions receive detailed ratings displayed in MEF's certification registry, enabling enterprises to make informed decisions about their security investments.

As SASE becomes central to Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) offerings, certified solutions give enterprises confidence in the cybersecurity embedded within their network environments. To help organizations navigate this landscape, MEF recently released its "State of the Industry Report: SASE – Validating Cyber Defense in an Era of Unprecedented Threats."

More information about MEF’s SASE certification program can be found here.

SASE certifications and advancements will be featured at MEF’s Global Network-as-a-Service Event (GNE) from Oct 28–30, 2024, in Dallas, Texas. Visit gne.mef.net.

About MEF  
MEF is a global consortium of service, cloud, cybersecurity, and technology providers collaborating to accelerate enterprise digital transformation. It delivers standards-based frameworks, services, technologies, APIs, and certification programs to enable Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) across an automated ecosystem. MEF is the defining authority for certified Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) business and operational APIs and Carrier Ethernet, SASE, SD-WAN, Zero Trust, and Security Service Edge (SSE) technologies and services. MEF’s Global NaaS Event (GNE) convenes industry leaders building, delivering and consuming the next generation of NaaS solutions. For more information about MEF, visit MEF.net and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

15 Leading Technology and Service Providers Achieve SASE Certification

PRESS RELEASE

RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- ALL THINGS OPEN 2024 -- After a year-long, global, community design process, the Open Source Definition (OSAID) v.1.0 is available for public use.

The release of version 1.0 was announced today at All Things Open 2024, an industry conference focused on common issues of interest to the worldwide Open Source community. The OSAID offers a standard by which community-led, open and public evaluations will be conducted to validate whether or not an AI system can be deemed Open Source AI. This first stable version of the OSAID is the result of multiple years of research and collaboration, an international roadshow of workshops, and a year-long co-design process led by the Open Source Initiative (OSI), globally recognized by individuals, companies and public institutions as the authority that defines Open Source.

"The co-design process that led to version 1.0 of the Open Source AI Definition was well-developed, thorough, inclusive and fair," said Carlo Piana, OSI board chair. "It adhered to the principles laid out by the board, and the OSI leadership and staff followed our directives faithfully. The board is confident that the process has resulted in a definition that meets the standards of Open Source as defined in the Open Source Definition and the Four Essential Freedoms, and we're energized about how this definition positions OSI to facilitate meaningful and practical Open Source guidance for the entire industry."

"The new definition requires Open Source models to provide enough information about their training data so that a 'skilled person can recreate a substantially equivalent system using the same or similar data,' which goes further than what many proprietary or ostensibly Open Source models do today," said Ayah Bdeir, who leads AI strategy at Mozilla. "This is the starting point to addressing the complexities of how AI training data should be treated, acknowledging the challenges of sharing full datasets while working to make open datasets a more commonplace part of the AI ecosystem. This view of AI training data in Open Source AI may not be a perfect place to be, but insisting on an ideologically pristine kind of gold standard that will not actually be met by any model builder could end up backfiring."

"We welcome OSI's stewardship of the complex process of defining Open Source AI," said Liv Marte Nordhaug, CEO of the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) secretariat. "The Digital Public Goods Alliance secretariat will build on this foundational work as we update the DPG Standard as it relates to AI as a category of DPGs."

"Transparency is at the core of EleutherAI's non-profit mission. The Open Source AI Definition is a necessary step towards promoting the benefits of Open Source principles in the field of AI," said Stella Biderman, executive director at the EleutherAI Institute. "We believe that this definition supports the needs of independent machine learning researchers and promotes greater transparency among the largest AI developers."

"Arriving at today's OSAID version 1.0 was a difficult journey, filled with new challenges for the OSI community," said OSI Executive Director, Stefano Maffulli. "Despite this delicate process, filled with differing opinions and uncharted technical frontiers—and the occasional heated exchange—the results are aligned with the expectations set out at the start of this two-year process. This is a starting point for a continued effort to engage with the communities to improve the definition over time as we develop with the broader Open Source community the knowledge to read and apply OSAID v.1.0."

The text of the OSAID v.1.0 as well as a partial list of the many global stakeholders who endorse the definition can be found here:

https://opensource.org/ai

About the Open Source Initiative   
Founded in 1998, the Open Source Initiative (OSI) is a non-profit corporation with global scope formed to educate about and advocate for the benefits of Open Source and to build bridges among different constituencies in the Open Source community. It is the steward of the Open Source Definition and the Open Source AI Definition, setting the foundation for the global Open Source ecosystem. Join and support the OSI mission today at https://opensource.org/join.

The Open Source Initiative Announces Open Source AI Definition

PRESS RELEASE

LONDON, Oct. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- VIPRE Security Group, a global leader and award-winning cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection company, has released its Q3 2024 Email Threat Trends Report, shedding light on the evolving cybersecurity landscape. This comprehensive analysis of real-world data reveals the sophisticated strategies and techniques employed by cybercriminals, with a particular persistent focus on the highly lucrative tactic of business email compromise (BEC). VIPRE processed 1.8 billion emails globally, of which 208 million were malicious.

BEC impersonation weaponisation  

In this third quarter of 2024, cybercriminals intensified their efforts to exploit organisational vulnerabilities through employee deception. BEC scams surged, accounting for 58% of phishing attempts. Notably, 89% of these BEC attacks involved impersonation of authority figures, including CEOs, senior executives, and IT staff, underscoring the sophisticated tactics employed by malicious actors.

BEC aims for the manufacturing sector 

The manufacturing sector saw a significant rise in BEC attacks, potentially driven by financial fraud. These incidents increased from just 2% in Q1 to 10% in Q3 this year. This rise may be attributed to the industry's widespread use of mobile sign-ins at various worksites. Employees accessing systems "on the go", often under pressure to meet production deadlines, are more susceptible to phishing attempts.

Subtler tactics are a larger threat

Email threats in Q3 were dominated by scams (34%), commercial spam (30%), and phishing (20%). These email threats overshadowed ransomware and malware combined, which comprised less than 20% of all email attacks. Interestingly, despite their lower prevalence, ransomware and malware continue to receive disproportionate attention from the cybersecurity industry.

Sneakier attachments 

To counter advancing email security solutions, criminals are deploying increasingly more intricate methods to bypass defenses. Attackers are employing sneakier techniques such as disguising malicious attachments as voicemail recordings or critical security updates to lure unsuspecting users into downloading them.

Additionally, Microsoft PDFs and .DOCX files remain the most common forms of malicious attachments. In Q3 2024, 2.18 million emails were detected containing harmful attachments, marking a 30% increase from the previous quarter's 21% attachment-based attacks.

Phishing links and compromised websites

Cybercriminals continue to favour the URL redirection technique, a tactic that typically proves effective at evading security controls. This deceptive ploy utilises a "clean" URL within the body of the email, which then redirects unsuspecting users to a malicious one once inside. In Q3 2024, URL redirection accounted for 52% of such attacks, leading victims to meticulously crafted fraudulent websites designed to appear authentic, and gain trust.

Malspam pendulum swing from malicious links to attachments

When it comes to malspam, there is a pendulum swing from a preference for malicious links to attachments. During Q3, malspam efforts were centered on malicious attachments (64%), while only 36% employed a link. The attachment formats used were predominantly LNK, ZIP, and DOCX. Only a quarter ago, links were the tool of choice by a factor of nearly nine-to-one (86% links to 14%).

The 'Malware Family of the Quarter' goes to Redline

Redline is the top malspam family of Q3 2024, a spot it has maintained since the corresponding quarter in 2023. RedLine is designed to steal sensitive information from web browsers, such as credentials and payment data. Typically distributed via phishing emails or malicious websites, it sends stolen data to a command-and-control server controlled by the attacker. It can completely take over a compromised machine and uses multiple infiltration methods.

"The findings of this report yet again illustrate the sophistication of criminal tactics. BEC email and phishing attacks are becoming more targeted and convincing," Usman Choudhary, CPTO, VIPRE Security Group, says. "Additionally, malware distribution through malicious spam campaigns continues to pose a serious threat to organisations. These findings stress the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures and ongoing employee education to combat these evolving threats, especially as bad actors gear up for the upcoming holiday season – Black Friday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year."

To read the full report, click here: VIPRE's Email Threat Trends Report: Q3 2024. 

VIPRE leverages its vast understanding of email security to equip businesses with the information they need to protect themselves. This report is based on proprietary intelligence gleaned from round-the-clock vigilance of the cybersecurity landscape.

About VIPRE Security Group

VIPRE Security Group, part of Ziff Davis, Inc., is a leading provider of internet security solutions purpose-built to protect businesses, solution providers, and home users from costly and malicious cyber threats. With over 25 years of industry expertise, VIPRE is one of the world's largest threat intelligence clouds, delivering exceptional protection against today's most aggressive online threats. Our award-winning software portfolio includes next-generation antivirus endpoint cloud solutions, advanced email security products, along with threat intelligence for real-time malware analysis, and security awareness training for compliance and risk management. VIPRE solutions deliver easy-to-use, comprehensive layered defense through cloud-based and server security, with mobile interfaces that enable instant threat response. VIPRE is a proud Advanced Technology Partner of Amazon Web Services operating globally across North America and Europe.

Business Email Compromise (BEC) Impersonation: The Weapon of Choice of Cybercriminals

Russian state-sponsored hackers Cozy Bear are targeting over 100 organizations globally with a new phishing campaign. This sophisticated…

Russian state-sponsored hackers Cozy Bear are targeting over 100 organizations globally with a new phishing campaign. This sophisticated attack uses signed RDP files disguised as legitimate documents to gain remote access and steal sensitive data. Learn how to protect yourself and your organization from this threat.

Microsoft has revealed that the Russian state-sponsored threat actor Cozy Bear (or APT29, UNC2452, and Midnight Blizzard) has launched a new phishing campaign targeting over 100 organizations worldwide, especially Ukraine, the United States and Europe.

The campaign, active since October 22, 2024, involves highly targeted emails designed to trick users into opening malicious files, ultimately granting the attackers access to sensitive information.

The attackers are mainly focusing on organizations in critical sectors such as government, defence, academia, and non-governmental organizations. This aligns with Cozy Bear’s previous pattern of targeting entities holding valuable intelligence.

****What’s new this time?****

Cozy Bear is using a never-before-seen approach involving signed Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) configuration files. These apparently harmless files are sent as attachments in phishing emails, often disguised with lures related to Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and the concept of Zero Trust. The emails are composed with sophistication, even impersonating Microsoft employees to enhance their credibility.

****How does it work?****

According to Microsoft’s blog post shared with Hackread.com ahead of publishing, when a user opens the malicious RDP file, a connection is established to a server controlled by Cozy Bear.

This connection grants the attackers access to a wide range of resources on the victim’s device, including files, connected peripherals, clipboard data, and even authentication features. This access can be exploited to install malware, steal sensitive data, and maintain persistent access even after the RDP session is closed.

****What’s at risk?****

The potential consequences of a successful attack are significant. Cozy Bear could gain access to confidential government information, intellectual property, and sensitive data belonging to various organizations. The compromised devices could also be used as launchpads for further attacks, potentially spreading the infection to other connected systems.

Patrick Harr, CEO of Pleasanton, Calif.-based SlashNext Email Security+, commented on the recent developments, warning organizations about the increasing sophistication of phishing attacks.

_“_This attack once again highlights that phishing continues to be the most dangerous threat to your organization which is why companies must not only continuously train their users, they must also employ AI detection and phishing sandboxes for malicious links and files directly in their email, collaboration and messaging apps,_“_ Patrick advised.

_“_These new sophisticated attacks, many of them AI-generated, evade current secure email gateways (SEGs) and even Microsoft Defender for Office. The only way organizations can defend themselves is by using AI to prevent these attacks before successful breaches._“_

Microsoft, along with CERT-UA and Amazon, has confirmed the ongoing campaign and is working to notify affected customers. Cybersecurity experts urge organizations and individuals to be alert, especially when dealing with emails containing attachments or requests for remote access.

Additionally, enabling multi-factor authentication, using phishing-resistant authentication methods, and educating users about these phishing techniques are important steps in mitigating this attack.

1.  TeamViewer Confirms Breach by Midnight Blizzard
2.  Midnight Blizzard Hacked UK Home Office via Microsoft
3.  Midnight Blizzard Hackers Hit MS Teams in Precision Attack
4.  Iranian Hackers Hit Microsoft 365 Users with MFA Push Bombing
5.  Russian Malware Attack Hits Ukrainian Military Recruits via Telegram

Russian Cozy Bear Hackers Phish Critical Sectors with Microsoft, AWS Lures

With a lack of cybersecurity awareness training resources for all employees, organizations are more susceptible to being breached or falling short when it comes to preventing threats.

New studies show that cybersecurity executives often fail to prioritize software security training for the entirety of a company, instead only deeming it necessary for a select few — and not always for the right reasons.

Nearly half of cybersecurity leaders who provide these kind of training tools don't consider awareness efforts to be essential within their organizations, according to a study conducted by CMD+CTRL Security and Wakefield Research. In addition to this, half of the leaders who do provide security training do so to build a "security culture," but only 41% say they provide training because of the increased risk from third parties and supply chains.

In "Enhancing Cybersecurity: The Critical Role of Software Training," the research data showed that executives who implement these kinds of trainings are highly motivated by factors such as customer satisfaction, time to market, and financial costs when implementing training resources.

Further, cyber leaders who recognize the need for this kind of software security training don't tend to prioritize customized training solutions, either because they don't consider it important or because they don't have the resources to provide it. Ultimately, this leads to a focus on developer-only training, or broad-based training programs that aren't effective, according to the findings.

With the risks that come with inadequate training, however, it's essential that company executives implement effective resources for all employees, tailored to their roles in an organization, the research concluded: "Employees gain the knowledge and skills necessary to identify vulnerabilities and adhere to best practices, learning about the latest threats and how to mitigate against them. This ultimately leads to fewer cyber breaches and a better resilience in an organization's supply chain."

**About the Author**

Cybersecurity Training Resources Often Limited to Developers

A new variant of the sophisticated attacker tool gives cybercriminals even more control over victim devices to conduct various malicious activities, including fraud and cyber espionage.

Source: Brian Jackson via Alamy Stock Photo

A new variant of a sophisticated malware that helps attackers carry out advanced voice and mobile phishing (aka vishing and mishing) attacks against Android users has evolved with new capabilities that extend their control over compromised devices to commit further malicious activities.

FakeCall, a malware that's been tracked by various research groups since at least 2022, conducts the attacks by tricking victims into calling fraudulent phone numbers controlled by the attacker, and then impersonating a typical conversation with bank employees or other entities aimed at defrauding the user in some way.

FakeCall's capability historically lies inherently in its design for communicating with an attacker-controlled command-and-control (C2) server, enabling it to execute a range of actions aimed at deceiving the end user. In addition to allowing attackers to control a person's phone calls, it also allows them to gain access to various permissions to Android devices for other malicious activity.  

Researchers at Zimperium zLabs now have discovered a new variant of FakeCall that adds novel capabilities — some of which appear to be under development — that give attackers even more capabilities to monitor people's device activity and control the device with even more precision, they revealed in a blog post published today.

Related:Dark Reading Confidential: Meet the Ransomware Negotiators

The variant demonstrates attackers coming up with new and strategic ways to create a more seamless integration with Android devices, which can help the malware avoid detection and remain active on a user's device without them knowing, the researchers found.

**FakeCall's Extension of Malicious Capabilities**

Specifically, one of the features allows for the malware to integrate with Android's Accessibility Service to give attackers "significant control over the user interface and the ability to capture information displayed on the screen," according to the post.

The feature demonstrates how attackers can evolve past simple device permissions to abuse an even more complex attack vector, "granting attackers near-total control to intercept calls, access sensitive data, and manipulate the user interface," notes Jason Soroko, senior fellow at Sectigo, a provider of certificate life-cycle management (CLM).

By seamlessly mimicking legitimate interfaces, attackers also are making detection by users "nearly impossible," he says, highlighting a critical need for advanced security solutions capable of detecting this threat.

Other new features extend FakeCall's persistent spyware capabilities, which have existed since it was first discovered and set it apart from other vishing and mishing attacks, which tend to be a one-time engagement. One of these is a Bluetooth receiver that acts as a listener to monitor Bluetooth status and changes, while the other is similar, but it acts as a screen receiver to monitor the state of the device's screen.

Related:French ISP Confirms Cyberattack, Data Breach Affecting 19M

**How a FakeCall Attack Works**

FakeCall was first detailed by researchers at Kaspersky in April 2022 as a banking Trojan with extended capability to intercept calls that users make with their banks, to create a fake customer-service experience for malicious purposes.

The malware also had some spyware capabilities, including a feature to turn on a device's microphone and send recordings from it to an attacker's C2 server; the ability to secretly broadcast audio and video from the phone in real time; and the option to pinpoint device location.

A typical FakeCall attack begins when victims download a malicious APK file (masquerading as a legitimate app) onto an Android mobile device through a phishing attack, which acts as a dropper for FakeCall. When launched, the app prompts the user to set it as the default call handler and, once designated, attackers can manage all incoming and outgoing calls. The malware then displays a custom interface mimicking the native Android dialer, seamlessly integrating its malicious functionality.

Related:Delta Launches $500M Lawsuit Against CrowdStrike

While the primary function of FakeCall is to monitor outgoing calls and transmit info to attackers via a C2 server, cyberattackers also can commit other malicious activities using the malware. These include identity fraud, which can be done by exploiting FakeCall's position as the default call handler. The malware can modify the dialed number, replacing it with a malicious one and thus deceiving users into making fraudulent calls.

Attackers also can use FakeCall's adversary-in-the-middle (AitM) approach to hijack incoming and outgoing calls, to make unauthorized connections with other mobile device users. "In this case, users may be unaware until they remove the app or restart their device," according to the post.

**Defending Against FakeCall Attacks**

As vishing and mishing attacks have become a worldwide epidemic that defrauds users of millions of dollars annually — including even the most tech-savvy individuals — it's imperative that people learn to defend themselves from sophisticated versions of these attacks, experts say.

One way to do this is to scrutinize carefully any Android apps being downloaded or used on devices, and to only acquire apps from trusted app stores, Soroko says.

FakeCall is especially dangerous to enterprises given that mobile these days is a primary tool for doing business. This makes compromise of that device potentially "catastrophic," notes Mika Aalto, co-founder and CEO at Hoxhunt, a human risk management platform.

To avoid this scenario, the most important thing that companies can do, Aalto says, is to "equip senior management and employees with the skills and tools to recognize and safely report a mobile phishing attack."

**About the Author**

Elizabeth Montalbano is a freelance writer, journalist, and therapeutic writing mentor with more than 25 years of professional experience. Her areas of expertise include technology, business, and culture. Elizabeth previously lived and worked as a full-time journalist in Phoenix, San Francisco, and New York City; she currently resides in a village on the southwest coast of Portugal. In her free time, she enjoys surfing, hiking with her dogs, traveling, playing music, yoga, and cooking.

Vishing, Mishing Go Next-Level With FakeCall Android Malware

Ubuntu Security Notice 7084-1 - It was discovered that urllib3 didn't strip HTTP Proxy-Authorization header on cross-origin redirects. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to obtain sensitive information.

==========================================================================  
Ubuntu Security Notice USN-7084-1  
October 29, 2024

python-urllib3 vulnerability  
==========================================================================

A security issue affects these releases of Ubuntu and its derivatives:

- Ubuntu 24.10  
- Ubuntu 24.04 LTS  
- Ubuntu 22.04 LTS  
- Ubuntu 20.04 LTS  
- Ubuntu 18.04 LTS  
- Ubuntu 16.04 LTS

Summary:

urllib3 could leak sensitive information.

Software Description:  
- python-urllib3: HTTP library with thread-safe connection pooling

Details:

It was discovered that urllib3 didn't strip HTTP Proxy-Authorization header  
on cross-origin redirects. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue  
to obtain sensitive information.

Update instructions:

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following  
package versions:

Ubuntu 24.10  
  python3-urllib3                 2.0.7-2ubuntu0.1

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS  
  python3-urllib3                 2.0.7-1ubuntu0.1

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS  
  python3-urllib3                 1.26.5-1~exp1ubuntu0.2

Ubuntu 20.04 LTS  
  python3-urllib3                 1.25.8-2ubuntu0.4

Ubuntu 18.04 LTS  
  python-urllib3                  1.22-1ubuntu0.18.04.2+esm2  
                                  Available with Ubuntu Pro  
  python3-urllib3                 1.22-1ubuntu0.18.04.2+esm2  
                                  Available with Ubuntu Pro

Ubuntu 16.04 LTS  
  python-urllib3                  1.13.1-2ubuntu0.16.04.4+esm2  
                                  Available with Ubuntu Pro  
  python3-urllib3                 1.13.1-2ubuntu0.16.04.4+esm2  
                                  Available with Ubuntu Pro

In general, a standard system update will make all the necessary changes.

References:  
  https://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7084-1  
  CVE-2024-37891

Package Information:  
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/python-urllib3/2.0.7-2ubuntu0.1  
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/python-urllib3/2.0.7-1ubuntu0.1  
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/python-urllib3/1.26.5-1~exp1ubuntu0.2  
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/python-urllib3/1.25.8-2ubuntu0.4

Tag

#auth