Google Reports APT41’s Exploitation of Open Source GC2 Tool to Target Media and Job Websites

April 17, 2023
Cyber Threat / Cloud Security

A Chinese nation-state group has reportedly targeted an unnamed Taiwanese media outlet using an open-source red teaming tool called Google Command and Control (GC2). This activity is part of a larger trend of utilizing Google’s infrastructure for malicious purposes. Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) attributes the operation to a threat actor known as HOODOO, also identified as APT41, Barium, Bronze Atlas, Wicked Panda, and Winnti. The attack begins with a phishing email that includes links to a password-protected file on Google Drive. This file contains the Go-based GC2 tool, which retrieves commands from Google Sheets and exfiltrates data via the cloud storage service. “Once installed on the victim’s machine, the malware queries Google Sheets for attacker commands,” stated Google’s cloud division in its latest Threat Horizons Report.

APT41 Exploits Open Source Tool to Target Taiwanese Media Outlets

In a recently uncovered cyber operation, Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) reported that a Chinese state-sponsored threat actor known as APT41 has aimed its sights on a Taiwanese media organization. This campaign involved the use of a red teaming tool called Google Command and Control (GC2), which is categorized as an open-source utility. TAG has identified this group under various names, including Barium, Bronze Atlas, Wicked Panda, and Winnti, but refers to them under the geographical theme of “HOODOO.”

The attack’s initiation came via a phishing email that directed the recipient to a password-protected file hosted on Google Drive. This file contained the GC2 tool, engineered in Go, which is capable of executing commands pulled from Google Sheets. Once embedded in the victim’s system, the malware queries Google Sheets to retrieve instructions from the attacker and subsequently exfiltrates sensitive data using the same cloud service.

This incident forms part of a broader trend involving the misuse of Google’s infrastructure for malicious activities—a pattern that has raised significant concerns within the cybersecurity community. Google’s cloud division elaborated in its latest Threat Horizons Report, explaining the implications and mechanics of the malware once it is operational on the targeted machine.

The tactics utilized in this cyber operation are consistent with several techniques outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework. Initial access may have been achieved through phishing, a common entry point for threat actors. Following this, the persistence of the malware within the victim’s environment could be linked to the adversary’s ability to execute commands remotely and maintain an ongoing presence through cloud services. Furthermore, privilege escalation may have been a consideration if the attackers sought to acquire elevated permissions within the compromised system.

The implications of this attack resonate strongly, particularly for business owners who must remain vigilant against sophisticated cyber threats. The use of open-source tools by advanced persistent threats underscores a growing trend where accessible resources are leveraged for malicious intents. As cyber risks continue to evolve, organizations must employ robust security measures and remain informed about the tactics employed by adversaries in the ever-changing landscape of cybersecurity.

Source link

Related Posts

Critical Vulnerabilities in Android and Novi Survey Under Ongoing Exploitation

April 14, 2023
Mobile Security / Cyber Threat

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added two vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog due to active exploitation evidence. The vulnerabilities include:

  • CVE-2023-20963 (CVSS score: 7.8) – Android Framework Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
  • CVE-2023-29492 (CVSS score: TBD) – Novi Survey Insecure Deserialization Vulnerability

CISA’s advisory for CVE-2023-20963 notes that the Android Framework contains an unspecified vulnerability that enables privilege escalation when an app is updated to a higher Target SDK without requiring additional execution privileges. Google acknowledged in its March 2023 Android Security Bulletin that there are signs of limited, targeted exploitation of CVE-2023-20963. This revelation follows a report from Ars Technica that Android apps digitally signed by a Chinese e-commerce entity may be affected.

New QBot Banking Trojan Campaign Exploits Business Emails to Distribute Malware

April 17, 2023
Financial Security / Malware

Recent findings by Kaspersky reveal a fresh QBot malware campaign that uses compromised business correspondence to deceive victims into installing the malicious software. This ongoing operation, which began on April 4, 2023, is primarily targeting users in Germany, Argentina, Italy, Algeria, Spain, the U.S., Russia, France, the U.K., and Morocco.

QBot, also known as Qakbot or Pinkslipbot, has been active since at least 2007. It not only steals passwords and cookies from web browsers but also acts as a backdoor for delivering next-stage payloads like Cobalt Strike or ransomware. Distributed through phishing campaigns, QBot has undergone continuous updates to incorporate techniques that evade detection, such as anti-VM, anti-debugging, and anti-sandbox measures. Notably, it emerged as the most prevalent malware in March 2023, according to Check Point. In its early distribution, it relied on infected websites and other methods.

Iranian State-Sponsored Hackers Target U.S. Energy and Transportation Infrastructure

April 19, 2023
Cyber Threat / SCADA

A subgroup of Iranian state-backed hackers, identified as Mint Sandstorm, has been implicated in a series of attacks against critical U.S. infrastructure from late 2021 to mid-2022. According to Microsoft’s Threat Intelligence team, this group demonstrates a high level of technical expertise, with the ability to create custom tools and rapidly exploit known vulnerabilities. Their operational focus aligns closely with Iran’s national interests, targeting seaports, energy firms, transit systems, and a major U.S. utility and gas company. These cyber activities are believed to be retaliatory, stemming from prior attacks on Iran’s maritime, railway, and gas station payment systems between May 2020 and late 2021. Iran has alleged that these earlier attacks were orchestrated by Israel and the U.S. to incite domestic unrest.

U.S. and U.K. Alert on Russian Hackers Utilizing Cisco Router Vulnerabilities for Espionage

April 19, 2023
Network Security / Cyber Espionage

Cybersecurity and intelligence agencies from the U.S. and U.K. have issued a warning about Russian state-sponsored actors exploiting recently patched vulnerabilities in Cisco networking equipment for reconnaissance and malware deployment against specific targets. These intrusions occurred in 2021 and affected a limited number of entities across Europe, U.S. government agencies, and around 250 Ukrainian victims. The activity has been linked to the threat group APT28, also known as Fancy Bear, Forest Blizzard (formerly Strontium), FROZENLAKE, and Sofacy, which is connected to the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) noted that APT28 gained access to vulnerable routers using default and weak SNMP community strings, as well as by exploiting CVE-2017-6742, a remote code execution vulnerability with a CVSS score of 8.8.