threat actor Archives

Tech Optimizer

April 3, 2025

1,500+ PostgreSQL Servers Compromised With Fileless Malware Attack

A cryptojacking campaign has targeted over 1,500 organizations by exploiting inadequately secured PostgreSQL database servers. The attackers, identified as JINX-0126, use advanced techniques including credential brute-forcing and fileless execution to deploy Monero (XMR)-mining malware. Approximately 30% of cloud-hosted PostgreSQL servers are affected due to weak or default credentials. The attackers execute commands using PostgreSQL’s COPY FROM PROGRAM function, bypassing standard detection mechanisms. They have been linked to three cryptocurrency wallets with around 550 active mining workers, generating a hashrate of 4.04 GH/s and approximately €10.40 per hour in XMR revenue. The attack begins with credential spraying against default accounts, followed by an SQL injection to fetch the payload. The malware operates in memory, modifies PostgreSQL’s configuration to maintain persistence, and creates cron jobs for reactivation. The campaign reveals significant security gaps in cloud environments, with recommendations for improved access controls and monitoring.

Tech Optimizer

April 2, 2025

Over 1,500 PostgreSQL Servers Hit by Fileless Malware Attack

A malware campaign has compromised over 1,500 PostgreSQL servers using fileless techniques to deploy cryptomining payloads. The attack, linked to the threat actor group JINX-0126, exploits publicly exposed PostgreSQL instances with weak or default credentials. The attackers utilize advanced evasion tactics, including unique hashes for binaries and fileless execution of the miner payload, making detection difficult. They exploit PostgreSQL’s COPY ... FROM PROGRAM function to execute malicious payloads and perform system discovery commands. The malware includes a binary named “postmaster,” which mimics legitimate processes, and a secondary binary named “cpu_hu” for cryptomining operations. Nearly 90% of cloud environments host PostgreSQL databases, with about one-third being publicly exposed, providing easy entry points for attackers. Each wallet associated with the campaign had around 550 active mining workers, indicating the extensive scale of the attack. Organizations are advised to implement strong security configurations to protect their PostgreSQL instances.

Tech Optimizer

March 31, 2025

Fileless XMRig-C3 Cryptominer Targets PostgreSQL Servers

Wiz Threat Research has reported a new variant of a malicious campaign targeting misconfigured and publicly exposed PostgreSQL servers, attributed to the threat actor JINX-0126. This actor exploits vulnerable PostgreSQL instances with weak login credentials to gain unauthorized access and deploy XMRig-C3 cryptominers. The campaign has evolved to include advanced evasion techniques, such as using unique hashes for binaries and executing payloads in a fileless manner to avoid detection. The analysis indicates that the threat actor assigns unique mining workers to each victim, with three distinct wallets identified, suggesting over 1,500 affected victims. Nearly 90% of cloud environments host PostgreSQL instances, with about one-third publicly exposed. The threat actor scans for poorly configured services, exploiting default weak credentials to gain access and execute malicious payloads. Upon successful login, the actor performs reconnaissance and executes a dropper script to deploy an obfuscated Golang binary, which contains an encrypted configuration with critical system information. The malware establishes persistence by creating cron jobs and modifying access controls. The actor also creates high-privilege roles for continued access and weakens the default admin user. The analysis identified three wallets associated with the campaign, with each wallet having around 550 workers. The Wiz Dynamic Scanner can identify exposed PostgreSQL services, while the Wiz Runtime Sensor detects malicious activities associated with this threat. The report includes specific wallet addresses, a file hosting service, and file hashes related to the malware. Techniques used by the malware align with various MITRE ATT&CK® techniques, including credential access, defense evasion, and resource hijacking.

AppWizard

March 28, 2025

PJobRAT Android RAT as Dating & Instant Messaging Apps Attacking Military Personnel

PJobRAT is an Android Remote Access Trojan (RAT) that re-emerged in 2023 with improved capabilities and a refined targeting strategy, previously known for attacking Indian military personnel in 2021. It is now targeting users in Taiwan through social engineering tactics, disguising itself as legitimate dating and messaging apps. The malware is distributed via compromised WordPress sites hosting fake applications like “SaangalLite” and “CChat.” The infection footprint is small, indicating highly targeted attacks rather than widespread campaigns. PJobRAT retains its core functionality of exfiltrating sensitive information, including SMS messages, contacts, and media files, while enhancing command execution capabilities. Upon installation, the malicious apps request extensive permissions to operate continuously in the background. The malware uses a dual-channel communication infrastructure, with Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) as the primary command channel and a secondary HTTP-based channel for data exfiltration to a command-and-control server. The campaign appears to have concluded, but the evolution of PJobRAT highlights the ongoing threat of sophisticated mobile malware targeting high-value individuals.

AppWizard

March 26, 2025

Devious new Android malware uses a Microsoft tool to avoid being spotted

Cybercriminals are using legitimate software tools to create deceptive Android applications that steal sensitive user information. McAfee's findings indicate that hackers are exploiting the .NET MAUI framework to develop sophisticated malware that can evade traditional antivirus detection. The malware uses a multi-stage dynamic loading process, incrementally loading and decrypting code, making it difficult for security software to identify the applications' true nature. Hackers add extraneous settings and permissions to confuse security scanners and use encrypted communications for data transmission instead of standard internet requests. These malicious applications are not found in reputable app stores like Google Play but are distributed through unofficial app stores, often accessed via phishing links. Examples include a counterfeit banking app and a fraudulent social networking service targeting the Chinese-speaking community. The main goal of these apps is to secretly extract user data and send it to the attackers' servers. Users are advised to download apps only from official repositories and to be cautious by reviewing user feedback before installation.

Winsage

March 26, 2025

Hackers Exploit Windows MMC Zero-Day Vulnerability to Execute Malicious Code

Russian threat actors are exploiting a zero-day vulnerability in the Microsoft Management Console (MMC), identified as CVE-2025-26633, allowing them to bypass security features and execute harmful code. The hacking group Water Gamayun, also known as EncryptHub and Larva-208, is behind this campaign, using a weaponized version of the vulnerability called “MSC EvilTwin” to deploy various malicious payloads, including information stealers and backdoors. The vulnerability affects multiple Windows versions, particularly older systems like Windows Server 2016. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added CVE-2025-26633 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, requiring federal agencies to patch affected systems by April 1, 2025. Microsoft included this vulnerability in its March 2025 Patch Tuesday update. Recommended mitigations include applying security patches, restricting network access to MMC ports, and monitoring for unusual MMC activity.

Winsage

March 25, 2025

EncryptHub linked to zero-day attacks targeting Windows systems

A newly identified threat actor, EncryptHub, is involved in Windows zero-day attacks exploiting a vulnerability in the Microsoft Management Console (MMC), known as 'MSC EvilTwin' (CVE-2025-26633). This vulnerability allows attackers to bypass Windows file reputation protections by manipulating MSC files on unpatched systems. Attackers can execute code without user alerts through email or web-based attacks. Trend Micro's research indicates that EncryptHub has used CVE-2025-26633 to deploy various malicious payloads, including the EncryptHub stealer and DarkWisp backdoor, to extract data from compromised systems. The threat actor employs multiple delivery methods and custom payloads to maintain persistence and exfiltrate sensitive information. EncryptHub has been linked to breaches affecting at least 618 organizations globally and is known to deploy ransomware after stealing sensitive data. Microsoft has also patched another zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2025-24983) in the Windows Win32 Kernel Subsystem.

Winsage

March 20, 2025

Flaw in Windows shortcut abused by at least 11 threat groups

Attackers are using Windows shortcut (.lnk) files to execute malicious code, with at least 11 threat actor groups exploiting this method, including the North Korea-linked Evil Corp group, which is responsible for 45% of 1,000 observed incidents. The majority of these attacks (70%) are espionage-related, while 20% focus on stealing financial records. Microsoft has been informed of the issue but does not classify it as a CVE-eligible vulnerability and has not issued a patch, stating that the software functions as designed. Trend Micro is providing YARA rules and indicators of compromise to help detect potential attacks.

Winsage

March 19, 2025

Microsoft Windows File Explorer Vulnerability Let Attackers Perform Network Spoofing

A vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-24071 has been discovered in Windows File Explorer, allowing attackers to extract NTLM hashed passwords with minimal user interaction. This high-severity flaw, termed “NTLM Hash Leak via RAR/ZIP Extraction,” exploits Windows Explorer’s automatic file processing when a specially crafted .library-ms file is extracted from a compressed archive. The file contains a malicious SMB path that triggers an NTLM authentication handshake, leaking the victim’s NTLMv2 hash. Microsoft addressed this issue in its March 2025 updates. A proof-of-concept exploit was published by researcher 0x6rss, and evidence suggests the vulnerability may have been exploited in the wild prior to its disclosure. Users are advised to apply security updates and implement protections against NTLM relay attacks.

AppWizard

March 6, 2025

BadBox Malware Infects 50,000+ Android Devices via 24 Apps on Google Play

HUMAN's Satori Threat Intelligence and Research team has identified a cyberattack named "BADBOX 2.0," which has compromised over 1 million consumer devices globally through 24 malicious applications on the Google Play Store. The operation utilizes a backdoor called BB2DOOR for persistent access to infected devices, primarily distributed via pre-installed apps on low-cost Android devices and third-party marketplaces. Four threat actor groups—SalesTracker Group, MoYu Group, Lemon Group, and LongTV—collaborate in this operation, which supports fraudulent activities such as residential proxy services, programmatic ad fraud, and click fraud, generating up to 5 billion fraudulent bid requests weekly. Despite efforts by HUMAN and Google to disrupt BADBOX 2.0, the threat actors may continue their operations due to the resilience of their supply chain. Users are advised to download apps only from official marketplaces to reduce infection risks.