Since October 2024, Microsoft Defender Experts has observed and helped multiple customers address campaigns leveraging Node.js to deliver malware and other payloads that ultimately lead to information theft and data exfiltration.
In March 2025, our team found a suspicious mach-O file named wsus. Read the full analysis on its likely origins, target users, and observed functionality.
After the release of the Secure Annex ‘Monitor’ feature, I wanted to help evaluate a list of extensions an organization I was working with had configured for monitoring. Notifications when new changes occur is great, but in security, baselines are everything!
To cut down a list of 132 extensions in use, I identified a couple extensions that stuck out because they were ‘unlisted’ in the Chrome Web Store. Unlisted extensions are not indexed by search engines and do not show up when searching the Chrome Web Store. The only way to access the extension is by knowing the URL.
In February 2025, the cybersecurity community witnessed an unprecedented leak that exposed the internal operations of Black Basta.
As large language models (LLMs) become more advanced and are granted additional capabilities by developers, security risks increase dramatically. Manipulated LLMs are no longer just a risk of...
Key Takeaways The threat actor gained initial access by a fake Zoom installer that used d3f@ckloader and IDAT loader to drop SectopRAT. After nine days of dwell time, the SectopRAT malware dropped …
Lucid is a sophisticated Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS) platform operated by Chinese-speaking threat actors, targeting 169 entities across 88 countries globally. With 129 active instances and 1000+ registered domains, Lucid ranks among prominent PhaaS platforms, alongside Darcula and Lighthouse.
Its scalable, subscription-based model enables cybercriminals to conduct large-scale phishing campaigns to harvest credit card details for financial fraud. The platform employs an automated attack delivery mechanism, deploying customizable phishing websites distributed primarily through SMS-based lures. To enhance effectiveness, Lucid leverages Apple iMessage and Android’s RCS technology, bypassing traditional SMS spam filters and significantly increasing delivery and success rates.
Lucid incorporates advanced anti-detection and evasion techniques, such as IP blocking and user-agent filtering, to prolong the lifespan of its phishing sites. Additionally, it features a built-in card generator, enabling threat actors to validate and exploit stolen payment data efficiently. Given its advanced infrastructure and persistent activity, Lucid poses a significant and ongoing cyber threat. Its operations underscore the growing reliance on PhaaS platforms to facilitate payment fraud and financial cybercrime, necessitating heightened vigilance and proactive mitigation efforts.
Next.js is an open-source web framework built by Vercel that powers React-based apps with features like server-side and static rendering. Recently, a critical vulnerability (CVE) was disclosed that lets attackers bypass middleware-based authorization checks. The issue was originally discovered and analyzed by Rachid Allam (zhero). In this blog, we’ll break down the vulnerability and walk through their research and will create a Nuclei template to help you detect it across your assets.
Discover technical analysis of GorillaBot, a new malware variant based on the original code of the Mirai botnet.
orums as part of our Threat Discovery Process.
Designed to target Windows systems, this ransomware employs advanced encryption techniques and appends a unique file extension to compromised files. Its stealthy evasion tactics and persistence mechanisms make detection and removal challenging. This highlights the need for proactive cybersecurity measures and a robust incident response strategy to safeguard data integrity and minimize breach risks.
Target Technologies: Windows
Target Geography: France, USA.
Target Industry: Government, Manufacturing, Pharma.
Encrypted file extension: .vanhelsing
Observed First: 2025-03-16
Threat actor Communication mode: Tor
Over 100 auto dealerships were being abused compliments of a supply chain attack of a shared video service unique to dealerships. When active, the attack presented dealership visitors with a ClickFix webpage which led to a SectopRAT malware.
Discover how the ClickFix social engineering attack exploits human psychology to bypass security. Learn how hackers use this tactic and how to protect against it.
Attacks using this ransomware have displayed consistent TTPs and grown steadily since 2023.
A newly discovered global cyber threat is rapidly expanding, infecting tens of thousands of internet-connected devices to launch powerful cyberattacks.
Key Takeaways The intrusion began with the exploitation of CVE-2023-22527 on an exposed Windows Confluence server, ultimately leading to the deployment of LockBit ransomware across the environment.…
(EncryptHub) is a threat actor that has come to the forefront with highly sophisticated spear-phishing attacks since 26 June 2024. In the attacks it has carried out, it exhibits a different operational strategy by carrying out all the processes necessary to obtain initial access through personalized SMS (smishing) or by calling the person directly (vishing) and tricking the victim into installing remote monitoring and management (RMM) software. When investigating the attacks carried out by the threat actor, it is evident that their social engineering techniques and persuasion skills are highly effective.
In the first phase, the actor usually creates a phishing site that targets the organization to obtain the victim's VPN credentials. The victim is then called and asked to enter the victim's details into the phishing site for technical issues, posing as an IT team or helpdesk. If the attack targeting the victim is not a call but a direct SMS text message, a fake Microsoft Teams link is used to convince the victim. After gaining access from the victim, the team runs various stealers on the compromised machine using the PowerShell
The Lumma Stealer malware campaign is exploiting compromised educational institutions to distribute malicious LNK files disguised as PDFs, targeting industries like finance, healthcare, technology, and media. Once executed, these files initiate a stealthy multi-stage infection process, allowing cybercriminals to steal passwords, browser data, and cryptocurrency wallets. With sophisticated evasion techniques, including using Steam profiles for command-and-control operations, this malware-as-a-service (MaaS) threat highlights the urgent need for robust cybersecurity defenses. Stay vigilant against deceptive phishing tactics to protect sensitive information from cyber exploitation.
Cisco Talos has been closely monitoring reports of widespread intrusion activity against several major U.S. telecommunications companies, by a threat actor dubbed Salt Typhoon. This blog highlights our observations on this campaign and identifies recommendations for detection and prevention.
First observed in March 2024, “BlackLock” (aka El Dorado or Eldorado) has rapidly emerged as a major player in the ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) ecosystem. By Q4 2024, it ranked as the 7th most prolific ransomware group on data-leak sites, fueled by a staggering 1,425% increase in activity from Q3. BlackLock uses a double extortion tactic—encrypting data while stealing sensitive information—to pressure victims with the threat of public exposure. Its ransomware is built to target Windows, VMWare ESXi, and Linux environments, though the Linux variant offers fewer features than its Windows counterpart.
Our first network security analysis of the popular Chinese social media platform, RedNote, revealed numerous issues with the Android and iOS versions of the app. Most notably, we found that both the Android and iOS versions of RedNote fetch viewed images and videos without any encryption, which enables network eavesdroppers to learn exactly what content users are browsing. We also found a vulnerability in the Android version that enables network attackers to learn the contents of files on users’ devices. We disclosed the vulnerability issues to RedNote, and its vendors NEXTDATA, and MobTech, but did not receive a response from any party. This report underscores the importance of using well-supported encryption implementations, such as transport layer security (TLS). We recommend that users who are highly concerned about network surveillance from any party refrain from using RedNote until these security issues are resolved.
