All news with #malware tag

🕵️ ESET researchers uncovered GhostRedirector, a previously undocumented actor that compromised at least 65 Windows servers across Brazil, Thailand, Vietnam and other countries. The intrusions deployed a passive C++ backdoor, Rungan, and a native IIS module, Gamshen, to enable remote command execution and conduct SEO fraud that targets search-engine crawlers. Attackers also used public LPE exploits (EfsPotato, BadPotato) and PowerShell-based payloads; ESET attributes the activity to a China-aligned actor with medium confidence.

⚠️ ReversingLabs researchers uncovered a supply chain campaign that used Ethereum smart contracts to conceal URLs for malware delivered via rogue GitHub repositories and npm packages. The packages colortoolsv2 and mimelib2 were intentionally minimal and designed to be pulled as dependencies from fraudulent repositories posing as cryptocurrency trading bots. Attackers inflated commit histories with sockpuppet accounts and automated pushes to appear legitimate, then used on-chain storage to hide secondary payload locations and evade URL-scanning defenses.

🔒 Cybersecurity researchers discovered two malicious npm packages that use Ethereum smart contracts to hide commands and deliver downloader malware to compromised systems. The packages — colortoolsv2 (7 downloads) and mimelib2 (1 download) — were uploaded in July 2025 and removed from the registry. The campaign leveraged a network of GitHub repositories posing as crypto trading tools and is linked to a distribution-as-service operation called Stargazers Ghost Network. Developers are urged to scrutinize packages and maintainers beyond surface metrics before adopting libraries.

🛡️A new campaign used malicious npm packages to hide command-and-control URLs inside Ethereum smart contracts, evading typical static detection. ReversingLabs researcher Karlo Zanki uncovered packages colortoolsv2 and mimelib2 that delivered second-stage payloads via blockchain-held URLs. The threat also included fake GitHub projects, such as solana-trading-bot-v2, built to appear legitimate. Developers are urged to vet dependencies and maintainers beyond superficial metrics.

📍 Geolocation data from smartphones, apps and IPs can be weaponized by threat actors to launch precise, geographically targeted attacks such as localized phishing and malware activation. These attacks can act as "floating zero days," remaining dormant until they reach a specific location, as seen with Stuxnet and modern campaigns like Astaroth. Organizations should adopt multilayered defenses — robust endpoint detection, decoys, location baselines and stronger multi-factor verification — to mitigate this evolving threat.

🛡️ Researchers at S2 Grupo’s LAB52 disclosed NotDoor, a VBA-based Outlook backdoor attributed to Russia-backed APT28 that monitors incoming mail for trigger phrases to exfiltrate data, upload files and execute arbitrary commands. The malware abuses Outlook event-driven macros, employs DLL side-loading via a signed OneDrive.exe to load a malicious SSPICLI.dll, and persists by disabling security prompts and enabling macros. Organizations are advised to disable macros by default, monitor Outlook activity and inspect email-based triggers.

⚠️ A malicious npm package named nodejs-smtp impersonating the popular nodemailer library was discovered to both send mail and inject malware into Electron-based desktop cryptocurrency wallets. When imported, it unpacked and tampered with Atomic Wallet on Windows, replacing vendor files and repackaging the app to silently redirect transactions to attacker-controlled addresses. Socket's researchers prompted npm to remove the package and suspend the account.

🛡️ Researchers found a malicious npm package named nodejs-smtp that impersonated the nodemailer mailer to avoid detection and entice installs. On import the module uses Electron tooling to unpack an app.asar, replace a vendor bundle with a payload, repackage the application, and erase traces to inject a clipper into Windows desktop wallets. The backdoor redirects BTC, ETH, USDT, XRP and SOL transactions to attacker-controlled addresses while retaining legitimate mailer functionality as a cover.

🛡️ Security researchers warn that Android dropper apps are increasingly used to deliver not only banking trojans but also SMS stealers, spyware and lightweight payloads. According to ThreatFabric, attackers in India and parts of Asia are packaging payloads behind benign "update" screens to evade targeted Play Protect Pilot Program checks, fetching and installing the real payload only after user interaction. Google says it found no such apps on Play and continues to expand protections, while Bitdefender links malvertising campaigns to Brokewell distribution.

⚠️Cybercriminals are abusing Meta advertising to distribute a malicious Android app impersonating TradingView Premium. Bitdefender says the campaign, active since at least July 22, redirects Android users to a counterfeit site that serves a trojanized tw-update.apk and requests accessibility rights while simulating an OS update to capture PINs. The installed Brokewell variant escalates privileges to exfiltrate credentials and 2FA codes, hijack SMS, record screens and audio, and accept remote commands for theft and device control.

🔍 Threat actors used Google ads to promote a fraudulent AppSuite PDF Editor that silently delivered the TamperedChef infostealer. Multiple domains hosted signed installers with revoked certificates; the malicious payload was activated after a delay and is launched with the "-fullupdate" argument, checking for security agents and extracting browser secrets via DPAPI. Operators also pushed related apps such as OneStart, ManualFinder and Epibrowser, and in some cases converted hosts into residential proxies; Truesec and Expel published IoCs for detection.

📡 Trend Micro reports that threat actors leveraged an abandoned Sogou Zhuyin update server to distribute multiple malware families, including C6DOOR, GTELAM, DESFY, and TOSHIS. The campaign, tracked as TAOTH and identified in June 2025, used hijacked automatic updates, spear-phishing, and fake cloud/login pages to target dissidents, journalists, researchers, and business figures across East Asia. The adversary registered the lapsed domain sogouzhuyin[.]com in October 2024 and exploited third-party cloud services like Google Drive to conceal callbacks and exfiltrate data.

🛡️ Malicious updates to the Nx npm package were published on 26 August, briefly delivering AI-assisted data‑stealing malware to developer systems. The infected releases injected crafted prompts into local AI CLIs (Anthropic’s Claude, Google Gemini, Amazon Q) to locate GitHub/npm tokens, SSH keys, .env secrets and cryptocurrency wallets, then encoded and uploaded the harvest by creating public repositories under victims' accounts. StepSecurity says eight compromised versions were live for five hours and 20 minutes and that attackers subsequently weaponized stolen GitHub CLI OAuth tokens to expose and fork private organization repositories. Recommended mitigation includes revoking tokens and SSH/GPG keys, making exposed repos private, disconnecting affected users and following a full remediation plan.

🛡️ Cybersecurity researchers report a malvertising campaign that lures users to counterfeit sites offering a trojanized PDF installer for AppSuite PDF Editor, which drops an information stealer named TamperedChef. The installer presents a license prompt while covertly downloading the editor, setting persistence via Windows Registry autorun entries and scheduled tasks that pass --cm arguments. Analysts at Truesec and G DATA found the backdoor harvests credentials and cookies and can download additional payloads.

🔒 A coordinated supply-chain campaign compromised multiple npm packages — most notably the Nx build system — and used post-install scripts to harvest developer assets across enterprise environments. Wiz found the malware weaponized local AI CLI tools to exfiltrate filesystem contents, tokens, SSH keys, and environment variables. Separately, JFrog uncovered obfuscated malicious React packages designed to steal Chrome data. Vendors removed the packages and recommend rotating credentials, removing affected versions, and auditing developer and CI systems.

🔍 ReversingLabs has exposed a campaign in which malicious Visual Studio Code extensions exploited a name-reuse loophole on the VS Code Marketplace. A downloader extension named ahbanC.shiba executed the command shiba.aowoo to fetch a second payload that encrypted files and demanded one Shiba Inu token, although no wallet address was provided. The vulnerability arises because removed extensions free their names for reuse, contrary to Marketplace guidance that names are unique. Researchers demonstrated the issue by republishing test extensions under previously used names and warned developers to exercise greater caution when installing Marketplace packages.

🔒 ESET researchers have identified PromptLock, described as the first known AI-powered ransomware implant, in an August 2025 report. The Golang sample (Windows and Linux variants) leverages a locally hosted gpt-oss:20b model via the Ollama API to dynamically generate malicious Lua scripts. Those cross-platform scripts perform enumeration, selective exfiltration and encryption using SPECK 128-bit, but ESET characterises the sample as a proof-of-concept rather than an active campaign.

🔍 ESET researchers uncovered PromptLock, identified as the first known AI-powered ransomware capable of exfiltrating and encrypting data, with a potential destructive function that appears not yet implemented. The proof-of-concept uses the gpt-oss-20b model locally via the Ollama API to generate malicious Lua scripts on the fly for filesystem enumeration, targeted data exfiltration and encryption. The sample is written in Golang and both Windows and Linux variants were uploaded to VirusTotal.

🛡️Researchers at Zimperium zLabs have detected a new variant of the Hook Android banking Trojan that expands beyond banking fraud to include ransomware-style overlays and advanced surveillance tools. The sample supports 107 remote commands, 38 of which are newly introduced, enabling fake NFC prompts, lock-screen bypasses, transparent gesture-capturing overlays and real-time screen streaming. Operators are distributing malicious APKs via GitHub repositories and continue to exploit Android Accessibility Services for automated fraud and persistent control. Industry observers warn the campaign is global and rapidly escalating, increasing risks to both enterprises and individual users.

🔒 FortiGuard Labs has detailed a global phishing campaign that uses personalized HTML attachments and spoofed websites to deliver a custom loader, UpCrypter, which installs multiple remote access tools. The operation uses tailored lures—voicemail notices and purchase orders—embedding recipient emails and company logos to appear legitimate. The delivered ZIPs contain obfuscated JavaScript that runs PowerShell, fetches further payloads (sometimes hidden via steganography) and ultimately loads RATs such as PureHVNC, DCRat and Babylon, while UpCrypter checks for sandboxes, enforces persistence and can force reboots to hinder analysis.