All news with #backdoor found tag

Stealit Infostealer Campaign Deploys via Fake VPN Apps

🛡️ FortiGuard Labs has identified a campaign distributing the Stealit infostealer via disguised game and VPN installers shared on file‑hosting sites and platforms like Discord. Attackers use Node.js Single Executable Apps (SEA) and PyInstaller bundles, heavy obfuscation and multiple anti‑analysis techniques to avoid detection. Once executed, Stealit harvests data from browsers, game clients, messaging apps and cryptocurrency wallets, and its operators rotate C2 domains while marketing the toolkit commercially.

Rust-Based ChaosBot Backdoor Uses Discord for C2 Operations

🔒 eSentire disclosed a Rust-based backdoor named ChaosBot that leverages Discord channels for command-and-control, allowing operators to perform reconnaissance and execute arbitrary commands on compromised systems. The intrusion, first observed in late September 2025 at a financial services customer, began after attackers used compromised Cisco VPN credentials and an over-privileged Active Directory service account via WMI. Distribution included phishing LNK files that launch PowerShell and display a decoy PDF, while the payload sideloads a malicious DLL through Microsoft Edge to deploy an FRP reverse proxy. ChaosBot supports commands to run shells, capture screenshots, and transfer files, and newer variants employ ETW patching and VM detection to evade analysis.

From HealthKick to GOVERSHELL: UTA0388's Malware Evolution

🔎 Volexity attributes a series of tailored spear‑phishing campaigns to a China‑aligned actor tracked as UTA0388, which delivers a Go-based implant named GOVERSHELL. The waves used multilingual, persona-driven lures and legitimate cloud hosting (Netlify, Sync, OneDrive) to stage ZIP/RAR archives that deploy DLL side‑loading and a persistent backdoor. As many as five GOVERSHELL variants emerged between April and September 2025, succeeding an earlier C++ family called HealthKick. Volexity also observed the actor abusing LLMs such as ChatGPT to craft phishing content and automate workflows.

From Infostealer to PureRAT: Dissecting an Escalating Attack

🔍 Huntress Labs analyzed a multi-stage intrusion that began with a phishing ZIP and DLL sideloading and escalated to deployment of the commercial PureRAT backdoor. The operator combined bespoke Python loaders and a Python-based infostealer with compiled .NET loaders, process hollowing, AMSI/ETW tampering, and reflective DLL injection to evade detection. Final-stage configuration revealed a Vietnam-hosted C2 (157.66.26.209) and Telegram infrastructure linked to PXA Stealer, underscoring a shift from custom theft to a professional RAT.

AI-Powered Cyberattacks Escalate Against Ukraine in 2025

🔍 Ukraine's SSSCIP reported a sharp rise in AI-enabled cyber operations in H1 2025, documenting 3,018 incidents versus 2,575 in H2 2024. Analysts found evidence that attackers used AI not only to craft phishing lures but also to generate malware samples, including a PowerShell stealer identified as WRECKSTEEL. Multiple UAC clusters—such as UAC-0219, UAC-0218, and UAC-0226—deployed stealers and backdoors via booby-trapped archives, SVG attachments, and ClickFix-style tactics. The report also details zero-click exploitation of Roundcube and Zimbra flaws and widespread abuse of legitimate cloud and collaboration services for hosting and data exfiltration.

Threat actors repurpose open-source monitor as beacon

⚠️ Attackers linked to China turned a benign open-source network monitoring agent into a remote access beacon using log poisoning and a tiny web shell. Huntress says they installed the legitimate Nezha RMM via a poisoned phpMyAdmin log and then deployed Ghost RAT for deeper persistence. The intrusion affected more than 100 hosts across Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong and was contained in August 2025.

Nezha Agent Linked to New Web Application Compromises

🔍 Huntress analysts uncovered a sophisticated campaign beginning in August 2025 that used log poisoning to plant a PHP web shell and then manage compromised servers via AntSword. The operators downloaded a file named 'live.exe' — identified as the open-source Nezha agent — which connected to a command server at c.mid[.]al and enabled remote tasking. Nezha was used to execute PowerShell commands to disable Windows Defender and to deploy 'x.exe', a Ghost RAT variant that persisted as 'SQLlite'. More than 100 systems, primarily in Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong, were observed communicating with the attackers' dashboard.

XWorm Backdoor Returns with Ransomware and 35+ Plugins

🛡️ New variants of the XWorm backdoor (6.0, 6.4, 6.5) are being distributed via phishing campaigns after the original author, XCoder, abandoned the project. Multiple operators have adopted these builds, which now support more than 35 plugins enabling data theft, remote control, and a ransomware module that encrypts user files and drops HTML ransom notes. Trellix observed diverse droppers and recommends layered defenses including EDR, email/web protections, and network monitoring.

Chinese Cybercrime Group Runs Global SEO Fraud Ring

🔍 UAT-8099, a Chinese-speaking cybercrime group, has been linked to a global SEO fraud operation that targets Microsoft IIS servers to manipulate search rankings and harvest high-value data. The actor gains access via vulnerable or misconfigured file upload features, deploys web shells and privilege escalation to enable RDP, then uses Cobalt Strike and a modified BadIIS module to serve malicious content when requests mimic Googlebot. Infections have been observed across India, Thailand, Vietnam, Canada, and Brazil, affecting universities, telecoms and technology firms and focusing on mobile users.

New Chinese Group Hijacks IIS Servers for SEO Fraud

🔍 Cisco Talos warns a Chinese‑speaking threat group tracked as UAT-8099 is actively compromising misconfigured Microsoft IIS servers to run SEO fraud and harvest high-value data. The actors favor high-reputation domains in universities, technology firms, and telecom providers across India, Thailand, Vietnam, Canada and Brazil to reduce detection. They exploit unrestricted file uploads to install web shells, escalate a guest account to admin, enable RDP and deploy the BadIIS SEO malware, then persist with hidden accounts and VPN/backdoor tools. Talos has published indicators and mitigation guidance, including blocking script execution in upload folders, disabling RDP and enabling MFA.

Detour Dog Using DNS to Distribute Strela Stealer Campaigns

🛡️ Infoblox links a threat actor dubbed Detour Dog to campaigns distributing the Strela Stealer, using compromised WordPress sites to host first-stage backdoors such as StarFish. The actor leverages DNS TXT records and modified name servers to deliver Base64-encoded commands and delivery URLs, selectively triggering redirects or remote execution to minimize detection. Infoblox and Shadowserver sinkholed multiple C2 domains in July–August 2025.

Chinese Cybercriminals Hijack IIS Servers for SEO Fraud

🔍 A Chinese-speaking cybercrime group tracked as UAT-8099 is hijacking trusted Microsoft IIS servers worldwide to run SEO scams that redirect users to unauthorized adverts and illegal gambling sites. According to Cisco Talos, attackers exploit server vulnerabilities, upload web shells, and conduct reconnaissance before enabling the guest account, escalating privileges and activating RDP. For persistence they deploy SoftEther VPN, EasyTier and the FRP reverse proxy and install the BadIIS malware variants designed to evade detection.

Chinese-speaking Group UAT-8099 Targets IIS Servers

🔐 Cisco Talos recently disclosed activity by a Chinese-speaking cybercrime group tracked as UAT-8099 that compromises legitimate Internet Information Services (IIS) web servers across several countries. The actors use automation, custom malware and persistence techniques to manipulate search results for profit and to exfiltrate sensitive data such as credentials and certificates. Talos notes the group maintains long-term access and actively protects compromised hosts from rival attackers. Organizations should hunt for signs of BadIIS, unauthorized web shells and anomalous RDP/VPN activity and share IOCs promptly.

Confucius Targets Pakistan with WooperStealer and Anondoor

🔒 Fortinet researchers attribute a renewed phishing campaign to Confucius, which has repeatedly targeted Pakistani government, military, and defense industry recipients using spear‑phishing and malicious documents. Attack chains observed from December 2024 through August 2025 delivered WooperStealer via DLL side‑loading using .PPSX and .LNK lures, and later introduced a Python implant, Anondoor. The group layered obfuscation and swapped tools and infrastructure to sustain credential theft, screenshot capture, file enumeration, and persistent exfiltration while evading detection.

Confucius Shifts to Python Backdoors Targeting Windows

🛡️ FortiGuard Labs reports that the long-running cyber-espionage group Confucius has shifted tactics against Microsoft Windows users, moving from document stealers like WooperStealer to Python-based backdoors such as AnonDoor. The change, observed between December 2024 and August 2025, favors persistent access and command execution over simple data exfiltration. Researchers describe layered evasion and persistence techniques including DLL side-loading, obfuscated PowerShell, scheduled tasks and stealthy exfiltration to minimize detection. Targeting remains focused in South Asia, particularly Pakistan.

Malicious PyPI soopsocks package abused to install backdoor

⚠️ Cybersecurity researchers flagged a malicious PyPI package named soopsocks that claimed to provide a SOCKS5 proxy while delivering stealthy backdoor functionality on Windows. The package, uploaded by user 'soodalpie' on September 26, 2025, had 2,653 downloads before removal and used VBScript or an executable (_AUTORUN.VBS/_AUTORUN.EXE) to bootstrap additional payloads. Analysts at JFrog reported the executable is a compiled Go binary that runs PowerShell, adjusts firewall rules, elevates privileges, performs reconnaissance and exfiltrates data to a hard-coded Discord webhook.

Confucius Espionage: Evolution from Stealer to Backdoor

🔐 FortiGuard Labs documents the Confucius espionage group’s shift from document-stealing malware to a stealthy Python-based backdoor targeting Microsoft Windows. Recent campaigns used spear-phishing with weaponized Office PPSX files, malicious LNK loaders, and staged PowerShell installers to deploy runtimes and execute AnonDoor modules. The actor leveraged DLL side-loading, scheduled tasks, and HKCU registry Load persistence to maintain stealth and periodic execution. Fortinet urges layered defenses, updated signatures, and user training to mitigate these threats.

Researchers Find Physical Interposer Attacks on Intel, AMD

🔓 Researchers disclosed two physical interposer attacks—Battering RAM and Wiretrap—that bypass Trusted Execution Enclaves on Intel (SGX) and AMD (SEV‑SNP) platforms. Both attacks exploit deterministic memory encryption by inserting an interposer between CPU and DRAM to capture ciphertext in transit. Battering RAM can replay ciphertext and create memory aliases to expose plaintext and implant backdoors, while Wiretrap enables ciphertext-based key recovery. Practical mitigation today is limited to preventing physical access and strengthening supply‑chain and data‑center controls such as those in ISO/IEC 27001.

Chinese APT 'Phantom Taurus' Targets Gov and Telecom

🔎 Researchers at Palo Alto Networks have attributed two years of coordinated espionage to a previously unreported Chinese-aligned threat actor dubbed Phantom Taurus. The group targets government and telecommunications organizations across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, focusing on foreign ministries, embassies, geopolitical events and military operations to maintain persistent covert access. Its toolkit includes a new IIS web-server backdoor suite called NET-STAR, DNS- and remote-access tools, in-memory implants and a wide mix of dual-use utilities. Operators have shifted from Exchange mailbox harvesting via ProxyLogon and ProxyShell exploits to targeted SQL database searches and WMI-driven data extraction.

Phantom Taurus: China-Aligned Hackers Target State, Telecom

🔍Phantom Taurus, newly designated by Unit 42, is a China-aligned cyber-espionage group that has targeted government and telecommunications organizations across Africa, the Middle East and Asia for at least two and a half years. Researchers traced the activity from earlier cluster tracking through a 2024 campaign codename, noting a 2025 elevation to a distinct group. Phantom Taurus has shifted from email-server exfiltration to directly querying SQL Server databases via a custom mssq.bat executed over WMI, and deploys a previously undocumented .NET IIS malware suite dubbed NET-STAR.