AI-Based Attacks, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Fraud Management & Cybercrime OpenAI CEO Asserts AI Surpasses Voice Recognition, While Experts Remain Skeptical Suparna Goswami (gsuparna) • August 6, 2025 OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (Image: U.S. Senate) OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman…
GLOBAL GROUP RaaS Launches Operations with AI-Powered Negotiation Tools
July 15, 2025
Cybercrime / Ransomware
Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a new ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation called GLOBAL GROUP, which has been targeting various sectors across Australia, Brazil, Europe, and the United States since its debut in early June 2025. According to EclecticIQ researcher Arda Büyükkaya, GLOBAL GROUP was “advertised on the Ramp4u forum by the threat actor known as ‘$$$.'” This same individual is associated with the BlackLock RaaS and has previously overseen the Mamona ransomware operations. It is believed that GLOBAL GROUP represents a rebranding of BlackLock, following the defacement of its data leak site by the DragonForce ransomware cartel in March. Notably, BlackLock itself was a rebranding of an earlier RaaS scheme called Eldorado. This financially motivated group is known for relying heavily on initial access brokers (IABs) to deploy ransomware, utilizing vulnerable edge appliances from Cisco, Fortinet, and Palo Alto Networks.
GLOBAL GROUP RaaS Expands Operations with Advanced AI Negotiation Tools July 15, 2025 Cybercrime / Ransomware A newly identified ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) entity, referred to as GLOBAL GROUP, has rapidly gained traction, targeting various sectors across Australia, Brazil, Europe, and the…
The number of violent “wrench attacks” targeting cryptocurrency holders has escalated alarmingly in 2025, as reported by Alena Vranova, founder of SatoshiLabs, a hardware wallet manufacturer. During her address at the Baltic Honeybadger 2025 conference held in Riga, Latvia, she…
Published: July 10, 2025
Category: Vulnerability / AI Security
Cybersecurity experts have identified a serious vulnerability in the open-source mcp-remote project, posing a risk of executing arbitrary operating system commands. This vulnerability, designated CVE-2025-6514, has received a CVSS severity score of 9.6 out of 10.0. According to Or Peles, Team Leader of JFrog Vulnerability Research, “This flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands on machines using mcp-remote when connecting to untrusted MCP servers, potentially leading to complete system compromise.” Mcp-remote emerged following the launch of Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open-source framework designed to standardize how large language model (LLM) applications integrate and share data with external sources. It serves as a local proxy, facilitating communication between MCP clients like Claude Desktop and remote MCP servers, rather than relying solely on local execution.
Critical Vulnerability in mcp-remote Poses Serious Threat with Potential for Remote Code Execution July 10, 2025 In a significant development within the cybersecurity landscape, researchers have identified a critical vulnerability in the open-source mcp-remote project, a tool used widely in…
China-Aligned MirrorFace Hackers Lure EU Diplomats with World Expo 2025 Scheme
Date: Nov 07, 2024
Category: Threat Intelligence / Cyber Espionage
The China-aligned hacking group MirrorFace has recently targeted a diplomatic organization within the European Union for the first time. According to ESET’s APT Activity Report for April to September 2024, the attackers exploited the upcoming World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, as bait. This incident illustrates that while their geographic focus is shifting, MirrorFace continues to emphasize connections to Japan and related events. Also known as Earth Kasha, MirrorFace is part of a broader group, APT10, which includes other clusters like Earth Tengshe and Bronze Starlight. The group has been actively cyber-spying on Japanese organizations since at least 2019, with a recent expansion in 2023 that included targets in Taiwan and India. Over time, their malware tools have significantly advanced, showcasing their persistent threat landscape.
China-Aligned MirrorFace Hackers Target EU Diplomats with World Expo 2025 Bait On November 7, 2024, cybersecurity experts from ESET reported a significant development in cyber espionage, revealing that the China-aligned hacking group known as MirrorFace has set its sights on…
Streaming Service Vulnerabilities Exposed at Defcon Conference Recent revelations at the Defcon security conference in Las Vegas have shed light on critical vulnerabilities present in some streaming platforms, particularly those utilized for corporate broadcasts and sports live streams. Leading streaming…
Data Breach Notification, Data Privacy, Data Security Lawmakers Press UnitedHealth Group for Clarification Following New Breach Marianne Kolbasuk McGee (HealthInfoSec) • August 7, 2025 Recent developments have placed UnitedHealth Group (UHG) in a precarious position following the revelation of a…
Scattered Spider Compromises VMware ESXi to Launch Ransomware Against Critical U.S. Infrastructure
July 28, 2025
Cyber Attack / Ransomware
The infamous cybercrime group Scattered Spider is targeting VMware ESXi hypervisors in a series of attacks against the retail, airline, and transportation sectors in North America. According to an in-depth analysis by Google’s Mandiant team, “The group’s core tactics remain unchanged and do not depend on software exploits. Instead, they employ a strategic playbook that primarily involves phone calls to IT help desks.” The actors are described as aggressive and innovative, particularly adept at using social engineering to bypass even robust security systems. Their operations are precision-driven campaigns focused on the most critical systems and data of their victims. Also known as 0ktapus, Muddled Libra, Octo Tempest, and UNC3944, these threat actors have a track record of executing sophisticated social engineering tactics to gain initial access to target environments, subsequently employing a “living-off-the-land” (LotL) strategy by leveraging trusted administrative tools.
Scattered Spider Breaches VMware ESXi to Launch Ransomware Attacks on Critical U.S. Infrastructure July 28, 2025 In a concerning escalation of cyber threats, the cybercriminal group known as Scattered Spider has been orchestrating targeted attacks on VMware ESXi hypervisors, primarily…
Computer code and text displayed on computer screens. Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg © 2021 Bloomberg Finance LP Data breaches pose significant threats to individuals and businesses alike, often resulting in identity theft and associated financial damages. In 2023 alone, approximately 5.5…
Cybersecurity experts have unveiled a new malware campaign known as CRON#TRAP, which infiltrates Windows systems through a Linux virtual machine that harbors a backdoor for remote access. The campaign initiates with a malicious Windows shortcut (LNK) file, typically distributed as a ZIP archive in phishing emails. Researchers Den Iuzvyk and Tim Peck from Securonix highlighted that the Linux instance is pre-configured with a backdoor that automatically connects to an attacker-controlled command-and-control (C2) server. This enables attackers to maintain a hidden presence on the compromised system, facilitating further malicious activities within a concealed environment, thus evading detection by traditional antivirus solutions. The phishing messages often disguise themselves as an “OneAmerica survey.”
New CRON#TRAP Malware Targets Windows Systems via Linux Virtual Machine, Evading Detection November 8, 2024 Cybersecurity experts have identified a sophisticated malware campaign dubbed CRON#TRAP that infiltrates Windows systems through a concealed Linux virtual machine (VM). This innovative approach allows…
