Singapore Warns Against Crypto Scams: Best Practices to Safeguard Digital Wealth

Singapore Cyble

New Guidelines Aim to Strengthen Security Against Scams, Phishing, and Smart Contract Exploits.

Overview

The rapid adoption of cryptocurrency has opened new doors for financial innovation and investment, but it has also made this digital asset an increasingly attractive target for cybercriminals. Recognizing the growing risks in this space, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) have issued a joint advisory to help the public protect their cryptocurrency holdings. The advisory outlines the tactics employed by threat actors and provides best practices for safeguarding digital assets. This blog takes a closer look at the advisory, analyzes the evolving threats, and recommends preventive measures to ensure a safer cryptocurrency ecosystem in Singapore.

Threat Actors Target Cryptocurrency: Tactics to Watch Out For

As cryptocurrencies gain popularity, cybercriminals have refined their methods to exploit unsuspecting victims. SPF and CSA have highlighted several tactics used by threat actors:

  1. Imposter Profiles
    • Cybercriminals impersonate legitimate blockchain entities on social media platforms, offering fake giveaways or promotions. Victims are tricked into verifying their wallets by sharing sensitive information such as login credentials.
    • In some cases, attackers pose as employers in cryptocurrency companies, asking victims to demonstrate their blockchain skills by executing malicious scripts, leading to unauthorized wallet transactions.

  2. Phishing Websites
    • Fraudulent websites are created to mimic legitimate cryptocurrency wallets, exchanges, or platforms. These sites lure victims by promising lucrative investment opportunities or exclusive tokens with high returns.
    • Social media advertisements amplify the reach of these phishing schemes, making them more accessible to potential victims.

  3. Exploiting Software Vulnerabilities
    • Threat actors actively identify and exploit software flaws in smart contracts, especially those involving multi-threading or recursion. One such example is the Re-entrancy Attack, where attackers interrupt ongoing smart contract transactions to execute unintended behaviors or repeat transactions.

  4. Manipulating Automated Smart Contracts
    • Smart contracts designed for automated trading can be exploited. Cybercriminals deceive these contracts by creating liquidity pools that appear valuable, causing cryptocurrencies to flow into the attackers’ pools automatically.

Best Practices for Cryptocurrency Users

To counter these threats, SPF and CSA have outlined several precautionary measures:

  1. Use Secure Wallets
    • Store cryptocurrencies in hardware wallets to keep them offline and shield them from online attacks.
    • If frequent transactions are necessary, use reputable software wallets and ensure they are updated with the latest security patches.

  2. Set Strong Passwords and Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
    • Always use strong, unique passwords for wallets and online accounts.
    • Never share private keys, recovery phrases, or seed phrases. Keep them stored securely in physical form.
    • Enable 2FA for all accounts related to cryptocurrency to add an extra layer of protection.

  3. Regularly Monitor Accounts
    • Frequently review wallet transactions to spot unauthorized activities.
    • Use tools like blockchain explorers to manage and revoke excessive token allowances.

  4. Exercise Caution with Smart Contracts
    • Verify the legitimacy of smart contracts before interacting with them.
    • Avoid approving or signing transactions without fully understanding their implications.

  5. Beware of Phishing Attempts
    • Avoid clicking on unsolicited links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
    • Cross-check links and verify their authenticity through official channels.

  6. Stay Informed
    • Keep up-to-date with emerging cryptocurrency threats and best practices by following trusted sources and industry updates.

Responding to Cryptocurrency Crimes

Despite precautions, falling victim to cryptocurrency crimes is still a possibility. SPF and CSA recommend the following steps if you suspect or confirm an incident:

  1. Immediate Actions
    • Contact your cryptocurrency exchange to halt transactions or freeze your account.
    • Revoke any suspicious token approvals using wallet interfaces.
    • Transfer remaining assets from compromised wallets to secure ones immediately if a seed phrase is compromised.

  2. Report the Incident
    • File a report with the Police and CSA’s SingCERT by emailing singcert@csa.gov.sg or using the reporting form on the CSA website.
    • For urgent assistance, call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 or dial 999 for emergencies.
    • Use the ScamShield app or helpline (1799) to check, deter, and block scams.

Analyzing the Threat Landscape

The tactics outlined by SPF and CSA illustrate the deception of modern cybercriminals targeting cryptocurrency users. These methods leverage both technical exploits and psychological manipulation to deceive victims. For example:

  • Social Engineering: Imposter profiles and phishing schemes prey on human trust and curiosity. The promise of high returns or exclusive opportunities can cloud judgment, leading victims to unknowingly divulge critical information.
  • Technical Exploits: Attacks on software vulnerabilities highlight the need for rigorous testing of smart contracts and associated applications. Developers must adopt robust security practices to minimize risks.
  • Automation Exploitation: Automated trading mechanisms, while convenient, require enhanced safeguards to prevent exploitation by malicious actors.

Fostering a Secure Cryptocurrency Ecosystem

Cryptocurrency security is a shared responsibility among users, developers, and regulatory bodies. Here are some actionable recommendations:

  1. User Awareness
    • Public education campaigns should emphasize the importance of cybersecurity hygiene and vigilance in cryptocurrency transactions.
    • Sharing real-life case studies of cryptocurrency scams can help users recognize red flags.

  2. Developer Best Practices
    • Developers must prioritize security when designing and deploying smart contracts. Comprehensive testing and vulnerability assessments are crucial.
    • Implementing monitoring mechanisms can help identify suspicious activities in real-time.

  3. Regulatory Collaboration
    • Regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies should collaborate to track and disrupt cryptocurrency-related criminal networks.
    • Encouraging the adoption of global security standards can strengthen the resilience of cryptocurrency platforms.

A Call to Action

As threats in the cryptocurrency space continue to evolve, staying one step ahead of cybercriminals is critical. The joint advisory from SPF and CSA underscores the importance of proactive measures to protect digital assets. By adopting best practices, users can significantly reduce their risk of falling victim to scams and attacks.

It’s equally important to foster a culture of shared responsibility and collaboration. Whether you’re a cryptocurrency user, developer, or policymaker, your role is integral to creating a safer cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Source: https://www.csa.gov.sg/docs/default-source/publications/singcert/2024/joint-advisory-on-the-safeguarding-of-cryptocurrency-assets-against-threat-actors.pdf?sfvrsn=79585f8_1

The post Singapore Warns Against Crypto Scams: Best Practices to Safeguard Digital Wealth appeared first on Cyble.

Blog – Cyble – ​Read More

IT Vulnerability Report: Cleo, Windows Flaws Under Attack

Cyble IT Vulnerability

Cyble Research and Intelligence Labs (CRIL) researchers investigated 16 IT vulnerabilities and 11 dark web exploits in the week ended Dec. 10, including actively exploited vulnerabilities in Cleo managed file transfer (MFT) software and Microsoft Windows.

Other vulnerabilities analyzed by Cyble affect WordPress and Ivanti Cloud Services Appliances (CSA), while dark web exploits include claims of an exploitable zero-day vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks devices.

Here are the vulnerabilities highlighted by Cyble’s vulnerability intelligence unit as meriting high-priority attention by security teams.

The Top IT Vulnerabilities

CVE-2024-50623 hasn’t been rated by NVD yet, but researchers have discovered that this high-severity vulnerability in Cleo managed file transfer (MFT) software solutions is being actively exploited in remote code execution (RCE) data theft and corporate network attacks, and CISA added the vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog on Dec. 13. The vulnerability affects Cleo Harmony, Cleo VLTrader, and Cleo LexiCom MFT products used for secure and efficient data exchange between organizations. The flaw leads to unrestricted file upload and download, which could lead to RCE attacks.

CVE-2024-49138 is another high-severity vulnerability awaiting NVD analysis, but this one was added to CISA’s KEV Catalog as soon as Microsoft released a patch for it in its December 2024 Patch Tuesday updates. The flaw in the Windows Common Log File System (CLFS) Driver has been exploited in the wild and can enable attackers to gain SYSTEM privileges.

CVE-2024-38193 is a high-severity elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock, commonly referred to as afd.sys. The critical system driver in the Windows operating system plays a vital role in managing network communications and handles the Winsock API, which is essential for TCP/IP networking. The vulnerability was observed to be actively exploited by North Korean hackers to install a rootkit on targets in August 2024. With a recently released public proof of-concept (PoC) code available, there could be a new wave of exploitation attempts.

CVE-2024-49041 is a medium-severity spoofing vulnerability identified in Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based). The vulnerability arises from the user interface performing incorrect actions in response to user requests, which can lead to spoofing attacks. This means that an attacker could potentially manipulate the UI to mislead users into taking actions that they did not intend.

CVE-2024-11205 is an 8.5-severity vulnerability affecting WPForms, a widely used WordPress plugin designed for creating various types of online forms quickly and easily. The flaw can lead to unauthorized data modification due to a missing capability check on the ‘wpforms_is_admin_page’ function in versions starting from 1.8.4 up to and including 1.9.2.1. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to refund payments and cancel subscriptions.

CVE-2024-11639 is a 10.0-severity critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Ivanti Cloud Services Appliance (CSA), an internet appliance that serves as a secure gateway for enterprise users to access internal network resources. The flaw lies in the admin web console of Ivanti CSA before 5.0.3, allowing a remote, unauthenticated attacker to gain administrative access.

CVE-2024-11680 is a 9.8-severity improper authentication vulnerability affecting ProjectSend, an open-source file-sharing application designed for secure and private file management, particularly aimed at facilitating interactions between businesses and their clients. Remote, unauthenticated attackers can exploit this flaw by sending crafted HTTP requests to options.php, enabling unauthorized modification of the application’s configuration. Successful exploitation allows attackers to create accounts, upload webshells, and embed malicious JavaScript. Threat Actors were observed discussing exploits of the vulnerability on the dark web (see next section).

Vulnerabilities and Exploits on Underground Forums

CRIL researchers observed multiple Telegram channels and cybercrime forums where threat actors (TAs) shared or discussed exploits weaponizing vulnerabilities. Cyble also observed a TA offering an exploit chain for an undisclosed vulnerability present in Palo Alto Networks devices. The TA quoted a price of USD $5K for the exploit. The other vulnerabilities discussed by TAs include:

CVE-2024-51378: A critical security vulnerability in CyberPanel versions prior to 1c0c6cb that allows remote attackers to bypass authentication, enabling them to execute arbitrary commands on the server.

CVE-2024-11680: A critical authentication vulnerability affecting ProjectSend versions prior to r1720. Remote, unauthenticated attackers can exploit the flaw by sending crafted HTTP requests to the options.php endpoint.

CVE-2024-38144: A critical security vulnerability in Microsoft Windows, specifically related to the Kernel Streaming WOW Thunk Service Driver, that allows for Elevation of Privilege attacks.

CVE-2024-10914: A critical command injection vulnerability in legacy D-Link NAS devices that allows unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary OS commands via HTTP GET requests, exploiting the cgi_user_add function in the account_mgr.cgi script.

CVE-2024-50483: A critical vulnerability affecting the Meetup plugin for WordPress versions up to and including 0.1 that is characterized as Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key, which allows unauthenticated attackers to gain access to user accounts by exploiting improper verification processes during authentication.

CVE-2024-42327: A critical SQL injection vulnerability affecting Zabbix server versions 6.0.0 to 6.0.31, 6.4.0 to 6.4.16, and 7.0.

CVE-2023-6553: A TA shared a list of about 100,000 websites vulnerable to this critical Remote Code Execution vulnerability identified in the Backup Migration plugin for WordPress. The vulnerability affects all versions up to 1.3.7.

CVE-2024-35286, an SQL injection vulnerability, and CVE-2024-41713, a path traversal vulnerability, impact the NuPoint Unified Messaging (NPM) component and are critical vulnerabilities that could be exploited in sequence.

CVE 2024-11477: A critical vulnerability affecting versions of 7-Zip prior to 24.07 that allows for remote code execution due to an integer underflow in its Zstandard decompression feature. A TA quoted a price of USD $8K for the exploit.

Cyble Recommendations

To protect against these vulnerabilities and exploits, organizations should implement the following best practices:

  • To mitigate vulnerabilities and protect against exploits, regularly update all software and hardware systems with the latest patches from official vendors.
  • Develop a comprehensive patch management strategy that includes inventory management, patch assessment, testing, deployment, and verification. Automate the process where possible to ensure consistency and efficiency.
  • Divide your network into distinct segments to isolate critical assets from less secure areas. Use firewalls, VLANs, and access controls to limit access and reduce the attack surface exposed to potential threats.
  • Create and maintain an incident response plan that outlines procedures for detecting, responding to, and recovering from security incidents, including ransomware-resistant backups. Regularly test and update the plan to ensure its effectiveness and alignment with current threats.
  • Implement comprehensive monitoring and logging solutions to detect and analyze suspicious activities. Use SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems to aggregate and correlate logs for real-time threat detection and response.
  • Subscribe to security advisories and alerts from official vendors, CERTs, and other authoritative sources. Regularly review and assess the impact of these alerts on your systems and take appropriate actions.
  • Conduct regular vulnerability assessment and penetration testing (VAPT) exercises to identify and remediate vulnerabilities in your systems. Complement these exercises with periodic security audits to ensure compliance with security policies and standards.

Conclusion

These vulnerabilities highlight the urgent need for security teams to prioritize patching exploitable vulnerabilities in important products, as well as vulnerabilities that could be weaponized as entry points for wider attacks. With increasing discussion of these exploits on dark web forums, organizations must stay vigilant and proactive.

Implementing strong security practices is essential to protecting sensitive data and maintaining system integrity. A comprehensive threat intelligence solution like Cyble can monitor for threats and leaks specific to your environment, allowing you to respond quickly to events and prevent them from becoming wider incidents.

The post IT Vulnerability Report: Cleo, Windows Flaws Under Attack appeared first on Cyble.

Blog – Cyble – ​Read More

Telegram account hacked: what to do? | Kaspersky official blog

Account hijacking in Telegram has become a serious criminal business in today’s world. Scammers employ sophisticated methods to steal access to accounts, and then use them to attack other users through deepfakes, social engineering, and other techniques. Here’s how it typically works: having stolen an account, scammers send phishing messages to all its contacts — such as “Hi, I urgently need money. Can you help me?”, Please vote for me if you have a moment or You’ve received a gift – a one-year subscription to Telegram Premium — to hijack even more accounts.

These messages often have phishing links at the other end, which look legitimate — for example, https://t.me/premium — but actually redirect users to fraudulent websites. If you click the link and follow the scammer’s instructions, you’ll likely lose access to your Telegram account (especially if you haven’t set up two-step verification in Telegram). Your contacts may then receive similar phishing messages from your account.

Stolen or fake accounts can also be used for complex targeted attacks — sometimes employing deepfakes to deceive employees of organizations. You might encounter messages allegedly from company management that include personal details like your full name, mentioning some kind of inspection by government authorities, and demanding confidential information or financial assistance in an air of complete secrecy. These are always fake.

Meanwhile, the original Telegram account owner might not even realize at first that their account has been compromised. They continue chatting with friends, reading their favorite channels, and assuming they’re safe from scammers. How is this possible? This happens because Telegram allows multiple sessions to the same account from different devices. Having gained access to your account, scammers open a session on their device without closing your active sessions. Then they send messages, and immediately delete them on the sender’s side only. In this way, recipients see the messages, but the victim doesn’t.

As we are seeing, scammers are interested in everyone — even the most ordinary of Telegram users. In this article, we address two key questions: how to know if your Telegram account has been hacked, and if it has, what should you do?

How to know if your Telegram account has been hacked

The following are possible signs that your account has been hacked: your username or profile picture has changed; you’ve been entered into some suspicious competitions; you see a message sent from your account that’s then immediately deleted; your friends tell you they’ve received strange messages from you that you can’t see. Let’s go through these one by one…

Changes to your username or profile picture. Scammers might alter your username to include a phishing link or put the link in your bio. They might also modify your profile picture to their advantage. For example, adding a note to your photo asking for help: “I’m in trouble, please help me however you can”. Any change of information without your knowledge indicates a compromise. In short, if something has changed “by itself”, then most likely attackers are responsible: you’ve been hacked.

Participation in suspicious activities. Scammers might send you a link to activate a Telegram Premium gift subscription, and if you “activate” it, your account will be stolen. This is a fairly popular account hijacking scam, which we’ve covered in detail on the Kaspersky Daily blog. Popular, yes — but far from the only one. Here’s another one: asking for help to win a vote.

Friends report receiving strange messages from you, which you don’t see. Scammers work hard to conceal the fact that your account has been hacked. They delete all messages sent from your account on the sender’s side. The recipient gets the message (and can even reply), but you won’t know about it unless your friends inform you.

You receive a login code for a new device. However, you definitely didn’t attempt to log in, and all your known devices are already connected to your account. Scammers usually delete such messages immediately, but if you spot a request for such a code, your account is under attack right there and then.

If you notice any of these signs, act quickly — you’ve only 24 hours to save your account. Why 24 hours? Telegram has built-in protection against account theft — preventing new devices from terminating active sessions on other devices within the first 24 hours. After 24 hours, the scammers will end all other sessions on your account, and you’ll lose all access.

What to do if your Telegram account has been hacked

Here are some basic countermeasures to take if you detect signs of a Telegram account hack.

Terminate all unknown sessions

To do this, go to Settings → Devices → Terminate all other sessions (in desktop clients, this section might be called Active sessions). This will log out all sessions except the current one, cutting off the scammers’ access to your account.

How to terminate sessions in Telegram

How to terminate sessions in Telegram

Alternatively, you can choose specific sessions to terminate by selecting them and clicking Terminate Session, or by clicking Edit in the top right corner of the screen.

Contact technical support

To do this, navigate to Settings → Ask a question to reach Telegram support. While this might seem a safe option, the 24-hour timeline could play into the scammers’ hands here: Telegram support is handled by volunteers, so a response may take time in coming. So first of all, you should terminate all unknown sessions (see above), and enable two-factor authentication (see below).

If you proceed with contacting support, you’ll enter a chat with the Volunteer Support bot. Note that this bot can only be initiated through Settings → Ask a question — remember this to avoid falling victim to scams. The bot will provide instant FAQ answers, but there’s no option for “Account hacked” in its standard menu. To get help from a human, either select Skip and process to volunteers, or type your request in the chat, and press Yes, redirect me. Telegram will inform you that most volunteers communicate in Russian or English.

How to contact Telegram support and speak to a person instead of a bot

How to contact Telegram support and speak to a person instead of a bot

If you’ve already lost access to your Telegram account, there’s another way to contact Telegram support: fill out a form on the official website specifying the issue, your phone number, and your email.

Recover access to your Telegram account via SMS code

If more than 24 hours have passed and you no longer have access to your account on any device (because the hackers ended all your sessions), try recovering it with your phone number:

  1. Open the Telegram app
  2. Enter your phone number and confirm it
  3. Select Tap to get a code via SMS
  4. Enter the received code
  5. Enter your two-step verification password, if set
  6. End all other sessions

Bear in mind that you need to act quickly here: once you enter your phone number, all devices with an active session linked to this number will receive a notification in Telegram. This means the hackers will know you’re attempting to regain access.

Create a new Telegram account with the same number

If you can’t recover your account, the only way to continue using Telegram with the same phone number is to delete the old account and create a new one. However, in this case, you’ll permanently lose your chat history and administrator rights in your channels.

You can only delete your Telegram account if you have access to it, or if you’ve set up two-step verification. If you’ve at least one open session, go to Settings → Privacy and Security → Automatically delete my account if away for… → Delete Account Now.

If you don’t have access to your account but have two-step verification set up, you can delete the account as follows:

  1. Open the Telegram app
  2. Enter your phone number
  3. Select Forgot password?
  4. Select Unable to access <your email address>
  5. Select Reset account

If you don’t have access to your account on any device, and two-step verification is disabled, you can’t delete the account. Warn your friends and family about the loss of access so they don’t fall for scams sent from your account.

How to protect your Telegram account from being hacked

The best thing you can do right now to protect your account is to set up two-step verification. This means a password will be required in addition to a code when logging in from a new device. This additional security factor will make hacking more difficult, give you more time to react, and allow you to delete the account in case you lose access.

Go to Settings → Privacy and Security → Two-Step Verification. Next, create a password, enter a recovery email, and confirm it by entering the code you receive.

The password should be strong and unique to make it difficult for scammers to guess. To create and store secure passwords, we recommend using Kaspersky Password Manager.

Be sure to share this guide with friends and family — especially those new to Telegram, to help them stay safe in the digital space.

Kaspersky official blog – ​Read More

How infostealers are used in targeted cyberattacks

Although malicious programs that hunt for passwords, financial, and other sensitive data have been around for over 20 years, the word “infostealer” was coined only in the early 2010s. Recently, however, this relatively simple type of malware has been popping up in unexpected role — deployed as a springboard for major targeted hacks and cyberattacks. For example, the theft of the data of 500 million Ticketmaster customers and a ransomware attack on the Brazilian Ministry of Health were both traced to infostealers. The main challenge posed by infostealers is that they can’t be defeated solely at the infrastructure level and within a company’s perimeter. The non-work activities and personal devices of employees also need to be considered.

Modern infostealers

Infostealers are programs indiscriminately installed on any accessible devices by threat actors looking to steal sensitive information of any kind. Their primary target is account passwords, crypto wallet credentials, credit card details, and browser cookies. The latter can be used to hijack a user session in an online service. In other words, if the victim is logged in to a work account in the browser, by copying cookies to another computer an attacker in some cases can gain access to it without even knowing the victim’s credentials.

Infostealers can also:

  • Intercept email and chat messages
  • Pilfer documents
  • Steal images
  • Take screenshots of the screen or windows of specific applications

And there are exotic specimens that apply optical character recognition to read text in JPG image files (pictures of passwords and financial data, for example). The infostealer sends all collected data to the C2 server, where it’s stored pending resale on the dark web.

Among recent years’ technical developments in the field of infostealers are: new methods of stealing data from protected browser storage, modular architecture for harvesting new types of data from already infected computers, and migration to a service model for distribution of this malware.

The cybercriminal market demands versatile infostealers, capable of data theft from dozens of browsers, crypto wallets, and popular applications, such as Steam and Telegram. The stealers must also be resistant to detection by security software, requiring developers to make frequent modifications to the malware, repackage it, equip it with anti-analysis and anti-debugging tools, and beef up its stealth. The “vendors” also often need to re-upload packaged malware to different hosting sites. This is necessary because old sources of malware are quickly blocked by infosec companies in cooperation with search engines and hosting providers.

Infostealers are mainly made for Windows and macOS systems — with the latter case being far from exotic but an up-and-coming segment in the cybercriminal market. There are stealers for Android, too.

Some common delivery channels for infostealers are spam and phishing, malicious advertising, and SEO poisoning. Besides campaigns involving infostealers kitted out with hacked software or game cheats, such malware may also be installed under the guise of a browser or antivirus update, as well as video conferencing applications. But in general, attackers monitor the zeitgeist and clothe their malware accordingly: this year, fake AI image generators were popular, and during the global CrowdStrike outage, there even appeared an infostealer masquerading as device recovery instructions.

Infostealer ecosystem

A clear division of labor has taken root in the world of cybercrime. Some threat actors develop their own infostealers — plus the tools to manage them. Others get these programs onto victims’ devices using phishing and other techniques. Still others utilize stolen data. These three categories of criminals usually operate independently — not as one group, but they do have commercial relations with each other. The first of them increasingly offers infostealers under the malware-as-a-service (MaaS) model, often packaged with a handy cloud-based dashboard for customization.

The operators of actual attacks spread the malware but don’t use the stolen data themselves — instead putting large databases of harvested information up for sale on underground forums where other cybercriminals buy them and search for specific data they want using special tools. The same database can be purchased and repackaged many times: some buyers will extract gaming accounts, others look for bank card details or accounts in corporate systems. This latter type of data in particular has been gaining popularity since 2020 as threat actors have come to realize it provides a stealthy and effective way to penetrate an organization. Stolen accounts allow them to log in to a corporate system as a real user without exploiting any vulnerabilities or malware — thus arousing no suspicion.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced companies to make greater use of cloud services and allow remote access to their systems, causing the number of potentially vulnerable businesses to skyrocket. And more company employees are now using remote access from personal computers, where information security policies are less well-enforced (if at all). Thus, a home computer infected with an infostealer can ultimately lead to unwelcome guests in the corporate network.

Attackers who have obtained corporate credentials verify their validity and pass this filtered data to the operators of targeted cyberattacks.

How to guard against infostealers

Securing every corporate computer and smartphone (EDR/EMM) is only the start. You need to also protect all employees’ personal devices against infostealers, and, in case of infection, mitigate the consequences. There are several ways to address this issue — some of which complement each other:

  • Deny access to corporate systems from personal devices. The most drastic, inconvenient, and not-always-feasible solution. In any case, it doesn’t fix the problem entirely: for example, if your company uses public cloud services (email, file storage, CRM) for work tasks, a blanket ban will be impossible.
  • Use group policies to disable browser synchronization on corporate computers so that passwords don’t end up on personal devices.
  • Implement phishing-proof two-factor authentication at the corporate perimeter, in all important internal and public services.
  • Make mandatory the installation of an Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solution on personal laptops and smartphones in order to monitor their security (check for up-to-date security solution databases, whether the solution is disabled, and whether the devices are password- and encryption-protected). A properly configured EMM system maintains strict separation of work and personal data on the employee’s device and doesn’t affect personal files and applications.
  • Deploy an advanced identity management system (for the accounts of employees, devices, and software services) across your organization to help quickly locate and block accounts showing abnormal behavior; this will prevent, for example, employees from logging in to systems not needed for work or from suspicious locations.
  • Get the latest dark-web threat intelligence with live reports on fresh leaks of your corporate data (including stolen accounts).

Kaspersky official blog – ​Read More

Cyble’s Latest Sensor Intelligence Report Reveals Surge in Malware, Phishing, and IoT Vulnerabilities

Cyble Malware

Overview

Cyble has identified multiple instances of exploitation attempts, malware intrusions, financial fraud, and brute-force attacks. The data is captured in real-time via Cyble’s comprehensive network of Honeypot sensors, providing valuable insights into the nature of cyber threats.

Cyble’s latest Sensor Intelligence report from December 4th to December 10th, 2024, provides in-depth analysis on a range of vulnerabilities, including high-profile malware variants, phishing scams, and CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) attempts.

Cyble’s Global Sensors Intelligence (CGSI) network has detected several attack vectors, many of which target critical vulnerabilities in Internet of Things (IoT) devices and widely used software platforms.

The report covers a broad spectrum of threats, including well-known Linux malware variants such as Mirai and Gafgyt, along with exploitation attempts involving the Telerik UI and Cisco ASA. Below are some key insights into the most prevalent vulnerabilities observed during the reporting period.

Case Studies on Vulnerabilities and Exploits

  1. PHP CGI Argument Injection Vulnerability (CVE-2024-4577)
    A critical vulnerability in PHP configurations has been detected, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary commands through specially crafted URL parameters. This vulnerability could lead to severe system compromise if left unpatched. Organizations are urged to patch PHP configurations and restrict access to vulnerable systems to mitigate potential exploitation.
  2. OSGeo GeoServer Eval Injection Vulnerability (CVE-2024-36401)
    Cyble identified a remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in GeoServer versions prior to 2.23.6, 2.24.4, and 2.25.2. This issue arises from the unsafe evaluation of request parameters, allowing unauthenticated users to execute arbitrary code. To mitigate the threat, the report recommends updating to the latest GeoServer versions and removing the vulnerable gt-complex library.
  3. Ruby SAML Improper Signature Verification (CVE-2024-45409)
    The Ruby-SAML library, a widely used tool for implementing the client side of SAML authentication, was found to have improper cryptographic signature verification in versions 12.2 and 1.13.0 to 1.16.0. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to forge SAML responses and gain unauthorized access to systems. Updating to Ruby-SAML versions 1.17.0 or 1.12.3 is recommended to mitigate this risk.
  4. Cisco IOS XE Web UI Privilege Escalation Vulnerability (CVE-2023-20198, CVE-2023-20273)
    Cyble has reported ongoing exploitation of the web UI feature in Cisco IOS XE Software. The initial compromise occurs via the CVE-2023-20198 vulnerability, which allows attackers to gain access and escalate privileges to root. Organizations are advised to implement Cisco’s recommended patches to secure their systems.
  5. Joomla Improper Access Check-in Webservice Endpoints (CVE-2023-23752)
    An improper access check vulnerability was discovered in Joomla versions 4.0.0 through 4.2.7, allowing unauthorized access to webservice endpoints. This can expose sensitive information and allow attackers to execute malicious actions. Updating Joomla to the latest version is critical for organizations using this content management system.
  6. ownCloud GraphAPI Information Disclosure (CVE-2023-49103)
    A vulnerability in the ownCloud GraphAPI app can disclose sensitive system information, including environment variables, which may contain credentials and other sensitive data. To prevent data leaks, the app must be disabled or updated to the latest patched version.
  7. Apache OFBiz SSRF Vulnerability (CVE-2023-50968)
    Apache OFBiz was found to have a server-side request forgery (SSRF) vulnerability that attackers could exploit to read arbitrary file properties. Upgrading to version 18.12.11 is recommended to eliminate this threat.
  8. Citrix NetScaler ADC Buffer Overflow Vulnerability (CVE-2023-4966)
    Citrix NetScaler ADC and Gateway devices were found to be vulnerable to sensitive information disclosure due to a buffer overflow. This can lead to unauthorized access to internal network resources. Patch management and network monitoring are crucial to protecting against this vulnerability.

Malware and Attack Analysis

Cyble’s analysis also focuses on various malware threats observed across different regions. One notable example is the emergence of a new anti-banking Trojan called AppLite Banker. This sophisticated malware is distributed through phishing campaigns disguised as CRM applications. Once installed, it abuses Android’s Accessibility Services to overlay fake login screens on legitimate applications, tricking users into revealing their credentials.

AppLite employs advanced evasion techniques, such as manipulating APK file structures to avoid detection by static analysis tools. After installation, it can execute commands remotely, exfiltrate financial data, and even control infected devices through features like screen unlocking and interaction simulation. The malware’s global reach is further evidenced by its multilingual capabilities, making it a persistent threat to users worldwide.

CVE Attack Attempts: A Closer Look

In the past week, Cyble observed a high volume of exploit attempts targeting several CVEs. The most frequently attempted CVE was CVE-2020-11899, which saw 25,736 attack attempts. This vulnerability affects the Treck TCP/IP stack and can lead to an IPv6 out-of-bounds read. Other notable CVEs include CVE-2019-0708, a remote code execution flaw in Remote Desktop Services, and CVE-2021-44228, the infamous Log4j vulnerability, which continues to be a major vector for attacks.

Cyble’s extensive network of sensors detected these attacks and provided critical data to help organizations understand and defend against these vulnerabilities. As CVE-2020-11899 continues to be a primary target for cybercriminals, organizations are urged to patch vulnerable systems to prevent potential breaches.

Recommendations and Mitigations

To mitigate the risks highlighted in this report, Cyble recommends the following actions:

  1. Regularly update software and hardware systems to patch known vulnerabilities. This includes applying updates for CVEs and software-specific flaws identified in the report.
  2. Use threat intelligence feeds to block IP addresses associated with known attackers and malware distribution.
  3. Enforce the use of strong passwords and implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of brute-force and credential-stuffing attacks.
  4. Continuously monitor for Indicators of Compromise (IoCs), such as suspicious IP addresses, URLs, and file hashes, to detect potential attacks early.
  5. Regularly audit systems, networks, and devices for vulnerabilities and misconfigurations that attackers could exploit.

Conclusion

The findings in Cyble’s Sensor Intelligence report highlight the growing sophistication and persistence of cyber threats. Through its AI-powered intelligence, Cyble provides essential insights that help organizations protect their digital assets.

With AI-powered platforms like Cyble Vision and Cyble Hawk, businesses can access real-time threat intelligence, monitor vulnerabilities, and receive automated remediation advice. Cyble’s solutions empower enterprises, governments, and individuals to stay protected from cybercriminals at all times.

The post Cyble’s Latest Sensor Intelligence Report Reveals Surge in Malware, Phishing, and IoT Vulnerabilities appeared first on Cyble.

Blog – Cyble – ​Read More

Romania Urges Energy Sector of Proactive Scanning Amid LYNX Ransomware Threat

Cyble LYNX Ransomware

Overview

The Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate (DNSC) has issued a critical advisory urging all entities, especially those in the energy sector, to scan their IT and critical infrastructure for malicious binaries associated with the LYNX ransomware cybercrime group. This recommendation follows a ransomware attack targeting the Electrica Group, Romania’s leading energy provider.

DNSC said even organizations unaffected by the attack must act proactively to detect and mitigate potential risks. The Directorate advised using the provided YARA scanning scripts to identify the malicious binary and prevent further infiltration.

The Electrica Group Ransomware Incident

On December 9, 2024, the Electrica Group reported a ransomware attack to DNSC and claimed that the ‘cyberattack was in progress.’ The incident prompted immediate intervention from DNSC specialists and other national authorities. While critical power supply systems remain operational, investigations into the attack are ongoing.

Electrica Group, in its notification to the London Stock Exchange, reassured its commitment to managing the incident swiftly and transparently. CEO Alexandru Aurelian Chirita told stakeholders that the company’s primary focus is maintaining the continuity of electricity distribution and protecting sensitive data.

The Group urged consumers to remain vigilant against potential scams and avoid sharing personal information through unsecured channels.

Validated Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

DNSC has released critical technical details to aid entities in identifying LYNX ransomware activity. Key IOCs include:

  • File hash: c02b014d88da4319e9c9f9d1da23a743a61ea88be1a389fd6477044a53813c72
  • Malicious URL: hXXp://lynxblog.net/

The accompanying YARA rules were specifically designed to detect LYNX ransomware binaries. Entities should use these rules to perform thorough scans of their IT environments.

YARA Rules:

rule ransomware_LYNX_1 {

   meta:

      description = “Detect LYNX ransomware”

      author = “DNSC”

      date = “2024-12-10”

      hash1 = “c02b014d88da4319e9c9f9d1da23a743a61ea88be1a389fd6477044a53813c72”

   strings:

      $s1 = “[+] Successfully decoded readme!” fullword ascii

      $s2 = “[-] Failed to get service information for %s: %s” fullword wide

      $s3 = “–file C:\temp.txt,D:\temp2.txt” fullword ascii

      $s4 = “–file C:\temp.txt” fullword ascii

      $s5 = “AppPolicyGetProcessTerminationMethod” fullword ascii

      $s6 = “[-] Failed to open service manager for %s: %s” fullword wide

      $s7 = “[-] Failed to open service handle for %s: %s” fullword wide

      $s8 = “[-] Failed to enum dependent services for %s: %s” fullword wide

      $s9 = “[-] Failed to kill dependent services for %s: %s” fullword wide

      $s10 = “[%s] Try to stop processes via RestartManager” fullword wide

      $s11 = “[%s] Kill processes and services” fullword wide

      $s12 = “Load hidden drives (will corrupt boot loader)” fullword ascii

      $s13 = “README.txt” fullword wide

      $s14 = “[-] Failed to mount %s: %s” fullword wide

      $s15 = “[-] Failed to decode readme: %s” fullword ascii

      $s16 = “Try to stop processes via RestartManager” fullword ascii

      $s17 = “Kill processes/services” ascii fullword

      $s18 = “–stop-processes ” ascii fullword

      $s19 = “–stop-processes” fullword wide

      $s20 = “[%s] Encrypt network shares” fullword wide

      $op0 = { e8 22 c8 01 00 01 46 30 6a 00 11 56 34 6a 13 ff }

      $op1 = { 23 d1 89 55 d0 8b 55 e4 81 f2 ff ff ff 03 f7 d2 }

      $op2 = { 23 d1 89 55 d4 8b d7 81 f2 ff ff ff 01 f7 d2 8b }

condition:

      uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and file size < 500KB and

      ( 8 of them and all of ($op*) )

}

rule ransomware_LYNX_2 {

   meta:

      description = “Detect LYNX ransomware”

      score = 80

                md5 = “2E8607221B4AB0EB80DE460136700226”

   strings:

      $s1 = “tarting full encryption in” wide

      $s2 = “oad hidden drives” wide

      $s3 = “ending note to printers” ascii

      $s4 = “successfully delete shadow copies from %c:/” wide

      $op1 = { 33 C9 03 C6 83 C0 02 0F 92 C1 F7 D9 0B C8 51 E8 }

      $op2 = { 8B 44 24 [1-4] 6A 00 50 FF 35 ?? ?? ?? ?? 50 FF 15}

      $op3 = { 57 50 8D 45 ?? C7 45?? 00 00 00 00 50 6A 00 6A 00 6A 02 6A 00 6A 02 C7 45 ?? 00 00 00 00 FF D6 FF 75 ?? E8?? ?? ?? ?? 83 C4 04 8B F8 8D 45 ?? 50 8D 45 ?? 50 FF 75 ?? 57 6A 02 6A 00 6A 02 FF D6 }

      $op4 = { 6A FF 8D 4? ?? 5? 8D 4? ?? 5? 8D 4? ?? 5? 5? FF 15?? ?? ?? ?? 85 C0 }

      $op5 = { 56 6A 00 68 01 00 10 00 FF 15 ?? ?? ?? ?? 8B F0 83 FE FF 74 ?? 6A 00 56 FF 15 ?? ?? ?? ?? 68 88 13 00 00 56 FF 15 ?? ?? ?? ?? 56 FF 15}

   condition:

      uint16(0) == 0x5A4D and

      (

         3 of ($s*)

         or 3 of ($op*)

         or (2 of ($s*) and 2 of ($op*) )

      )

}

Recommendations for Incident Containment

DNSC advises all organizations, particularly in the energy sector, to adopt the following steps immediately:

Scan and Isolate:

  • Use the YARA scanning script to identify the malicious binary.
    • Isolate affected systems from the network to prevent further spread.

Preserve Evidence:

  • Retain copies of ransom notes and communications from attackers for investigative purposes.
    • Collect relevant logs from affected devices, network equipment, and firewalls.

Analyze and Secure:

  • Examine system logs to identify the initial compromise vector.
    • Update all software, applications, and operating systems to address known vulnerabilities.

Notify Stakeholders:

  • Inform employees, customers, and business partners about the incident.
    • Remain vigilant against phishing messages purporting to be from trusted entities.

Leverage Available Resources:

Broader Call to Action

DNSC’s proactive measures highlight the escalating threats facing critical infrastructure. The energy sector, often targeted due to its vital role, must remain vigilant. The Directorate stresses that paying the ransom is strongly discouraged, as it fuels criminal activities and does not guarantee data recovery.

DNSC’s collaboration with national authorities underscores the importance of a united response to cyber threats. Organizations must implement robust security practices and participate in information-sharing initiatives to strengthen collective defenses.

A Critical Reminder

The LYNX ransomware attack shows the vulnerabilities within IT and operational technology infrastructures. While Electrica Group’s critical systems remain intact, the incident showcases the importance of proactive measures, including scanning for IOCs, isolating threats, and updating defenses.

Organizations across all sectors should act decisively to safeguard their operations. DNSC’s guidance is a roadmap for preventing ransomware attacks and minimizing their impact on critical infrastructure. By taking these steps, entities can strengthen their cybersecurity posture and contribute to a safer digital ecosystem.

References:

https://dnsc.ro/citeste/alerta-lynx-ransomware-indicators-of-compromise-iocs

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/ELSA/cyber-attack-in-progress/16802405

The post Romania Urges Energy Sector of Proactive Scanning Amid LYNX Ransomware Threat appeared first on Cyble.

Blog – Cyble – ​Read More

Something to Read When You Are On Call and Everyone Else is at the Office Party

Something to Read When You Are On Call and Everyone Else is at the Office Party

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Threat Source newsletter. 

The new head of the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, Richard Horne, recently remarked that there is a “clearly widening gap between, on the one hand, the threat and our exposure to it and, on the other, the defences that are in place to protect us.

To those of us working in cyber security, the threat is evident. We spend our lives following the actions of threat actors and analysing their new attacks. Our thoughts and actions are rooted in how the threat landscape is evolving. Unfortunately, this is not necessarily the case for those who decide budget allocations.

Nobody wants to suffer a breach, but often security teams are frustrated by competing budget items and the difficulties of explaining complex mitigations to people who may have different priorities and interests.

If keeping informed is one half of the solution to closing the gap, the other is in recognising that we are all human. We’re all trying to do the best that we can with the information that we have available to us. What may be perceived as irrational behaviour to one observer, may be the most obvious course of action to another with a different point of view.

Constantly explaining how threat actors are changing and how attacks are evolving is vital to ensure that organisations can maintain a good security posture. Talking about cyber security to different audiences, using the language and metaphors with which they are familiar are all part of the solution in defeating cyber attacks.

If we are to move to a world free from cyber insecurity we must close the gap between threat and defense. This will take communication and understanding, both to communicate the threat, but also to understand the constraints that decision makers work under. Yet, we also need to express and recognise the effort and sometimes heroic acts of effort that cyber security teams undertake to keep businesses running and free from breaches.

This is all the more true during the holiday period, when many engineers and analysts are monitoring systems or on-call, keeping the systems running and the lights on, so that others can enjoy the festivities. If this is you, then know that we’re thinking of you.

The one big thing 

Hiding the origin and destination of network traffic is vital for the bad guys to cover their tracks and obfuscate their actions. A malicious connection that originates from the same IP space as legitimate employees’ connections is less likely to catch the attention of security teams than one from a distant country. Similarly, exfiltrating data in small chunks to many in-country residential IP addresses is less likely to raise alarms than exfiltrating to a single address.

Cybercriminals are increasingly compromising consumer and IoT devices to build vast networks of proxy systems, enabling them to mask their activities and route malicious traffic through a global pool of hijacked IP addresses.

Why do I care?

Routing malicious traffic through otherwise unsuspicious networks makes identification and attribution of attacks difficult. Owners and operators of compromised systems recruited to act as proxies suffer from reduced performance and the theft of network and CPU resources from their systems.

So now what?

Firstly, ensure that patches are applied, and default or easy to guess credentials are changed to avoid becoming part of the problem. Apply zero-trust principles to authenticate users via MFA in the context of the time and date of the access; importantly verify that the connecting device confirms to policy and is authorised to connect to corporate systems. For full details on how to respond to this threat see the blog post.

Top security headlines of the week 

Presidential Elections in Romania hit by Cyber Campaign

The first round of the presidential election in Romania has been annulled by the country’s constitutional court following claims of a foreign influence campaign to sway the vote, and cyber-attacks targeting electoral data.

(BBC News 1 & 2)

 

Secure Criminal Chat System “Matrix” Disrupted by Law Enforcement

The Matrix secure communication systems which offered encrypted messaging for criminals has been taken down by law enforcement authorities with millions of messages secured for investigation. This take down follows similar success against other criminal messaging systems such as EncroChat, Sky ECC and Ghost.

(The Register)

 

Wanted Russian Suspected Ransomware Actor Arrested

Authorities in Russia have arrested Mikhail Matveev, an individual wanted in the US in connection with alleged participation in LockBit, Hive and Babuk ransomware attacks. The broader significance of this arrest in Russia is unclear, although it does indicate that tolerance of the actions cyber criminals located within Russia does have limits.

(SecurityWeek)

 

Can’t get enough Talos? 

Upcoming events where you can find Talos

Cisco Live EMEA (February 9-14, 2025)

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Most prevalent malware files from Talos telemetry over the past week  

SHA256:9f1f11a708d393e0a4109ae189bc64f1f3e312653dcf317a2bd406f18ffcc507

MD5: 2915b3f8b703eb744fc54c81f4a9c67f 

VirusTotal: https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/9f1f11a708d393e0a4109ae189bc64f1f3e312653dcf317a2bd406f18ffcc507

Typical Filename: VID001.exe 

Claimed Product: n/a 

Detection Name: Win.Worm.Bitmin-9847045-0

 

SHA256:3294df8e416f72225ab1ccf0ed0390134604bc747d60c36fbb8270f96732e341

MD5: b6bc3353a164b35f5b815fc1c429eaab

VirusTotal:

https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/3294df8e416f72225ab1ccf0ed0390134604bc747d60c36fbb8270f96732e341

Typical Filename: b6bc3353a164b35f5b815fc1c429eaab.msi

Claimed Product: n/a 

Detection Name: Simple_Custom_Detection

 

SHA256:47ecaab5cd6b26fe18d9759a9392bce81ba379817c53a3a468fe9060a076f8ca

MD5: 71fea034b422e4a17ebb06022532fdde

VirusTotal: https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/47ecaab5cd6b26fe18d9759a9392bce81ba379817c53a3a468fe9060a076f8ca

Typical Filename: VID001.exe

Claimed Product: n/a 

Detection Name: Coinminer:MBT.26mw.in14.Talos

 

SHA256:a31f222fc283227f5e7988d1ad9c0aecd66d58bb7b4d8518ae23e110308dbf91

MD5: 7bdbd180c081fa63ca94f9c22c457376

VirusTotal: https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/a31f222fc283227f5e7988d1ad9c0aecd66d58bb7b4d8518ae23e110308dbf91

Typical Filename: img001.exe

Claimed Product: n/a 

Detection Name: Win.Trojan.Miner-9835871-0

 

SHA256:3a2ea65faefdc64d83dd4c06ef617d6ac683f781c093008c8996277732d9bd66   

MD5: 8b84d61bf3ffec822e2daf4a3665308c   

VirusTotal: https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/3a2ea65faefdc64d83dd4c06ef617d6ac683f781c093008c8996277732d9bd66/

Typical Filename: RemComSvc.exe   

Claimed Product: N/A   

Detection Name: W32.3A2EA65FAE-95.SBX.TG

Cisco Talos Blog – ​Read More

CISA Enhances Public Safety Communications with Seven New Resources in Cyber Resiliency Toolkit 

CVE-2024-49138

Overview 

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has recently updated its Public Safety Communications and Cyber Resiliency Toolkit, adding seven new resources aimed at enhancing the resilience and security of public safety communications across the nation. This update comes as part of CISA’s ongoing effort to support public safety, national security, and emergency preparedness communities in ensuring seamless and secure communications during both everyday operations and emergency situations. 

Public safety agencies rely heavily on communication systems to coordinate responses and deliver critical services. Any disruption in these communication systems can have disastrous consequences, delaying response times and potentially compromising lives. For this reason, Cyber Resiliency is a key focus for public safety organizations, which need to ensure that their communication networks can withstand and recover from cyberattacks and other disruptions. 

CISA’s toolkit is designed to support public safety agencies in supplementing these capabilities. It provides tools to assess current systems, identify vulnerabilities, and implement strategies to protect the infrastructure against online threats, including cyber incidents, ransomware, and even natural disasters like electromagnetic pulse (EMP) events. 

Recent Updates to the Public Safety Communications and Cyber Resiliency Toolkit 

As of December 2024, the toolkit has received its latest update—Version 24.2—which includes seven new resources. These resources have been specifically designed to help public safety agencies address emerging challenges in communications resilience and cyber security. The update is timely, as it follows the release of new CISA guidelines and continues the agency’s efforts to provide the most up-to-date information to the public safety sector. 

The toolkit now features resources addressing critical issues such as: 

  • Cybersecurity and Cyber Incidents: The toolkit now includes enhanced guidance on protecting communication systems from cyberattacks, including the rising threat of ransomware. With ransomware attacks becoming more sophisticated, public safety agencies need resources that help them prevent, respond to, and recover from these types of incidents. The toolkit provides a comprehensive Cyber Resiliency strategy that emphasizes preparedness and swift recovery. 

  • Next Generation 911 (NG911): NG911 represents the future of emergency communications, enabling more advanced features such as text-to-911, multimedia messaging, and real-time data sharing. However, NG911 systems also come with increased vulnerabilities. The updated toolkit includes new resources focused on securing NG911 systems and preventing cyber risks that may target them. For example, the Cyber Risks to Next Generation 911 guide is designed to familiarize public safety managers with the risks associated with NG911 and offers best practices to improve cybersecurity in these systems. 

  • Power and Infrastructure Dependencies: Power disruptions and dependency on critical infrastructure are persistent challenges for public safety agencies. The updated toolkit includes resources like the Infrastructure Dependency Primer, which helps planners better understand the complex web of dependencies that can impact community resilience. By identifying and mitigating potential weaknesses in critical infrastructure, public safety organizations can strengthen their overall Cyber Resiliency. 

  • Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) and Jamming: Both EMP and radio frequency (RF) jamming can significantly disrupt public safety communications, especially during emergencies. The toolkit now provides updated guidance on how to protect communication systems from these emerging threats. The Radio Frequency Interference Best Practices Guidebook offers public safety organizations practical advice on recognizing, responding to, and mitigating the effects of jamming and interference. 

Key Resources in the Toolkit 

The Public Safety Communications and Cyber Resiliency Toolkit has become an important tool for public safety agencies across the country, offering resources that cover a wide range of critical topics: 

  1. Resiliency Planning: Tools such as the Infrastructure Resilience Planning Framework help state, local, tribal, and territorial governments develop effective strategies to identify vulnerabilities and build resilient communication networks. This framework is crucial for ensuring that public safety agencies can maintain their operations during both normal and emergency conditions. 

  1. Priority Services and Telecommunications: The Priority Telecommunications Services section offers detailed information on how public safety agencies can ensure priority access to communication networks during times of crisis. Services such as Wireless Priority Services (WPS) and Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) enable emergency personnel to maintain communication when networks are overloaded. 

  1. Cyber Resiliency for Public Safety: The toolkit includes resources designed to help agencies assess their cybersecurity posture. The Cyber Resiliency Resources for Public Safety document, for example, compiles tools and programs from federal agencies, industry, and trade associations to help agencies improve their cybersecurity defenses. This resource is especially valuable in light of increasing cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure. 

  1. Public Safety Communications Ecosystem: The toolkit offers an interactive graphic that outlines key components of the emergency communications ecosystem, helping users understand the interplay between various systems and technologies. This visualization aids public safety officials in recognizing potential vulnerabilities in their networks. 

  1. Procurement and Vendor Guidance: New documents, such as the Connected Communities Procurement and Implementation Guidance, provide public safety leaders with questions to ask when selecting vendors. These resources ensure that vendors’ products and services align with the public safety agency’s cybersecurity policies and operational needs. 

A Living Document 

One of the most valuable features of CISA’s Public Safety Communications and Cyber Resiliency Toolkit is its ability to evolve in response to new threats and emerging technologies. As new resources are developed and identified, the toolkit is regularly updated to reflect the latest best practices and recommendations for public safety agencies. 

Since its last major update in April 2024, CISA has added several key resources, highlighting the agency’s commitment to providing public safety agencies with the tools they need to protect their networks and systems. Users are encouraged to revisit the toolkit regularly to ensure they are leveraging the most current and relevant information available. 

Conclusion 

The Public Safety Communications and Cyber Resiliency Toolkit remains an indispensable resource for public safety agencies seeking to protect their communication systems against cyber threats. 

By using the toolkit, agencies can better prepare for the challenges of today and tomorrow, ensuring that they remain resilient in the face of natural disasters, cyberattacks, and other disruptions.  

For more information, public safety officials and decision-makers are encouraged to explore the CISA toolkit and make use of the new resources now available in Version 24.2. 

The post CISA Enhances Public Safety Communications with Seven New Resources in Cyber Resiliency Toolkit  appeared first on Cyble.

Blog – Cyble – ​Read More

Access and Use ANY.RUN’s TI Feeds via MISP

As cybersecurity threats grow more sophisticated, collaboration becomes a cornerstone of effective defense strategies. This is where MISP, an open-source threat intelligence sharing platform, comes into play.  

Recognizing its value, we are excited to announce the launch of our own MISP instance, enabling users to access and use indicators of compromise (IOCs) from ANY.RUN’s Threat Intelligence Feeds

What is MISP? 

MISP, which stands for Malware Information Sharing Platform, is a free, open-source platform designed to facilitate the exchange, storage, and correlation of threat intelligence data. MISP lets organizations and researchers: 

  • Exchange critical data points to identify cyber threats. 
  • Share signals or attributes indicating the compromise of information systems. 
  • Automate the process of data sharing and find correlations between threat data. 

Benefits of ANY.RUN’s MISP Instance 

With ANY.RUN’s MISP instance, you can: 

1. Access ANY.RUN’s TI Feeds 

Receive a direct stream of the latest malicious IPs, URLs, domains, ports, file names, and hashes. These are extracted from public malware and phishing samples, including ones not found elsewhere, submitted and analyzed in ANY.RUN’s Interactive Sandbox by security professionals worldwide. IOCs are pulled from different sources, including network activities and malware configurations. 

Want to integrate TI Feeds via MISP?
Reach out to us and we’ll help you set it up 



Contact us


2. Integrate It with Your Security Tools via API 

MISP attributes dashboard in Elastic Search

Connect your own monitoring and triage tools and systems, such as SIEM/XDR solutions, to ANY.RUN’s MISP instance via API. 

3. Improve Threat Detection  

Correlate and enrich your IOCs with ANY.RUN’s to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the threat landscape. 

4. Generate IDS Rules 

Export indicators (attributes) from ANY.RUN’s MISP instance in NIDS-compatible formats and import them in your detection tools like IDS/IPS or NGFW to improve network security of your organization and ensure proactive defense against current threats. 

5. Create Custom Workflows 

Leverage ANY.RUN’s indicators in your automated threat analysis workflows. 

6. Synchronize MISP Instances 

Synchronize your MISP instance with ANY.RUN’s to get relevant threat data. 

7. Visualize Threat Intelligence Data

Visual representation of IOC data

Ensure a more convenient view of relevant threats by visualizing ANY.RUN’s TI Feeds data. 

8. Enrich with Your Threat Data 

Add your IOCs to the ones provided by ANY.RUN to gain a better picture of the threats at hand.

How to Integrate with ANY.RUN’s MISP Instance 

ANY.RUN offers demo feeds samples in STIX and MISP formats 

To get started with ANY.RUN’s MISP instance, simply contact our team via this page

You can test MISP feeds by getting a free demo sample here

About ANY.RUN  

ANY.RUN helps more than 500,000 cybersecurity professionals worldwide. Our interactive sandbox simplifies malware analysis of threats that target both Windows and Linux systems. Our threat intelligence products, TI Lookup, YARA Search and Feeds, help you find IOCs or files to learn more about the threats and respond to incidents faster.  

Get a 14-day free trial of ANY.RUN’s Threat Intelligence service →

The post Access and Use ANY.RUN’s TI Feeds via MISP appeared first on ANY.RUN’s Cybersecurity Blog.

ANY.RUN’s Cybersecurity Blog – ​Read More

Hacktivist Alliances Target France Amidst Political Crisis

Hacktivist

Executive Summary

On December 6, 2024, Cyble Research & Intelligence Labs (CRIL) observed that the hacktivist alliance known as the “Holy League” on their Telegram channel declared cyberattacks against France. According to the alliance, these operations were executed in retaliation to France’s continued support of Ukraine and Israel. Prominent members of the alliance, including the pro-Russian group NoName057(16), the pro-Islamic threat actor Mr. Hamza, and the pro-Palestinian collective Anonymous Guys, amplified the announcement across their platforms. Shortly after, these groups actively participated in coordinated attacks, demonstrating a unified effort among ideologically diverse threat actors to target French assets.

The timing of the attacks coincides with a political crisis in France and the visit of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. On December 5, the French Parliament passed a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Michel Barnier. President Emmanuel Macron now faces mounting pressure to appoint a successor, with some calling for his resignation.

This political turmoil has created a vulnerable environment, providing hacktivist groups with an opportunity to sow chaos, disrupt public order by disrupting public and critical infrastructure, and amplify uncertainty within the nation.

Another startling development observed during the campaign is the collaboration between pro-Islamic and pro-Russian hacktivist collectives, especially when pro-Islamic groups are supporting revolutionary movements in Syria that have led to the ousting of erstwhile President Bashar-al-Assad, previously staunchly supported by Russia. This alliance highlights a pragmatic convergence of interests, where shared objectives in destabilizing common adversaries outweigh ideological differences.

“Holy League” members initiated sustained attacks on France from December 7, 2024. CRIL investigated these cyberattacks on France distinctively in two categories: coordinated attacks by the alliance members and systematic attacks individually by each group as per their modus operandi. Moreover, the “Holy League” has threatened to launch similar attacks against other countries, such as Germany.

Observations and Analysis

In a post on the Telegram channel on December 6, 2024, “Holy League” announced the campaign against France immediately after December 4, 2024, when Prime Minister Michel Barnier was ousted through a no-confidence vote. The agenda seems evident: to reap this opportunity to stir public unrest.

Figure 1 – Holy League Announces Attack on France

Between December 7 and December 10, 2024, hacktivists executed DDoS attacks, compromised Industrial Control Systems (ICS), conducted website defacements, and claimed data breaches of several French entities. This analysis will dissect each attack vector and attribute activities to specific threat groups where possible.

DDOS Attacks

Several hacktivists launched a wave of DDoS attacks on French entities from December 7 to December 10, 2024, prominent ones being NoName057(16), People’s Cyber Army, and Mr. Hamza.

Hacktivist, DDoS
Figure 2 – DDoS claims by different hacktivist groups

NoName057(16) and the People’s Cyber Army primarily focused on the official websites of French cities and other private entities, including the major French financial corporation AXA.

Mr. Hamza concentrated on high-value governmental targets, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the French Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE), the French National Nuclear Energy Commission (CEA), and the French National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI).

Anonymous Guys directed their efforts towards several key ministries and government departments, such as the Ministry of Armed Forces, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and the Ministry of Solidarity and Health, among others.

According to CRIL, more than 50 separate DDoS attacks were identified against French websites over these four days, affecting multiple sectors of the economy and government. 

Hacktivist

Defacement

The pro-Russian group Z-Pentest’s defacement attacks were primarily focused on small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) from diverse industries in France, including Energy and utilities, Agriculture and livestock, Automotive, and Hospitality. Notably, Energy and Utility firms such as Atlantic Energies Pose and Electricité Générale Lespiau and 10 other websites were defaced with pro-Russian statements.

Hacktivist, Defacement
Figure 3 – Defaced webpage of egp-peinture-decoration.fr

Unauthorized Access to CCTV and SCADA

Four Holy League members—Hunt3rKill3rs, Shadow Unit, EvilNet, and KozSec—have claimed unauthorized access to several systems in France.

Hacktivist, CCTV
Figure 4 – CCTV Access

Shadow Unit, a pro-Islamic hacktivist collective, claimed the breach of the SCADA systems of Corus Nuclear Power Plant and the French Marne Aval station.

SCADA, Critical Infrastructure, Hacktivist

Hacktivist
Figure 5 – Shadow Unit Hacktivist Group Claims Access to French SCADA Systems

KozSec, A pro-Russian collective, claimed to target an undisclosed French industry. The hacktivist group shared screenshots and videos of the intrusion, emphasizing their successful access to sensitive industrial systems.

Hacktivist
Figure 6 – ICS of Unknown French Facility Targeted by KozSec

Data Breaches

Two groups associated with the Holy LeagueShadow Unit and UserSec, claimed separately. Compromising the website plubioclimatique.paris.fr and exfiltrating over 50 PDF documents and over 100GB of data from French Government websites, respectively.

Hacktivist, Holy League, Shadow Unit

Hacktivist, Data Breach
Figure 7 – UserSec & Shadow Unit Claims about Data Breaches

Conclusion

The recent cyberattacks by the “Holy League” underscore a new, broader geopolitical landscape where hacktivist alliances can sow and exploit discord for their objectives. The collaboration between ideologically diverse groups, such as pro-Islamic and pro-Russian hacktivists, signals a shift in how adversaries may align their interests against common targets. The implications extend beyond France, as similar threats loom over other nations, signaling a new era of cyber conflict where common adversaries may overshadow ideological differences.

The post Hacktivist Alliances Target France Amidst Political Crisis appeared first on Cyble.

Blog – Cyble – ​Read More