Tag Kaspersky

New TCESB Malware Discovered in Active Attacks Targeting ESET Security Scanner

Published: April 9, 2025
Category: Windows Security / Vulnerability

A Chinese-affiliated threat actor known for cyber-attacks in Asia has been seen exploiting a vulnerability in ESET security software to deploy previously unknown malware dubbed TCESB. According to Kaspersky’s recent analysis, “Previously unseen in ToddyCat attacks, [TCESB] is engineered to stealthily execute payloads, bypassing installed protection and monitoring tools.” The ToddyCat threat activity cluster has targeted various entities across Asia, with operations traced back to at least December 2020. In the prior year, a Russian cybersecurity company detailed the group’s use of multiple tools to maintain persistent access and conduct large-scale data harvesting from organizations in the Asia-Pacific region. Kaspersky’s investigation into ToddyCat incidents in early 2024 revealed a suspicious DLL file…

Newly Discovered TCESB Malware Targets ESET Security Software April 09, 2025 Recent cybersecurity developments have illuminated a new malware strain known as TCESB, which is being actively deployed in ongoing attacks. This malware, linked to a Chinese-affiliated threat actor, exploits vulnerabilities in ESET security software. Analysts at Kaspersky have highlighted…

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New TCESB Malware Discovered in Active Attacks Targeting ESET Security Scanner

Published: April 9, 2025
Category: Windows Security / Vulnerability

A Chinese-affiliated threat actor known for cyber-attacks in Asia has been seen exploiting a vulnerability in ESET security software to deploy previously unknown malware dubbed TCESB. According to Kaspersky’s recent analysis, “Previously unseen in ToddyCat attacks, [TCESB] is engineered to stealthily execute payloads, bypassing installed protection and monitoring tools.” The ToddyCat threat activity cluster has targeted various entities across Asia, with operations traced back to at least December 2020. In the prior year, a Russian cybersecurity company detailed the group’s use of multiple tools to maintain persistent access and conduct large-scale data harvesting from organizations in the Asia-Pacific region. Kaspersky’s investigation into ToddyCat incidents in early 2024 revealed a suspicious DLL file…

Lazarus Hacker Group Adapts Tactics, Tools, and Targets in DeathNote Campaign

The North Korean cyber threat group known as Lazarus has been observed changing its strategies and rapidly enhancing its tools within its ongoing DeathNote campaign. While historically focused on the cryptocurrency sector, recent attacks have also expanded to include the automotive, academic, and defense sectors in Eastern Europe and beyond. This shift is seen as a major change in approach. Kaspersky researcher Seongsu Park noted that the group has switched its decoy documents to job descriptions for defense contractors and diplomatic services, marking a strategic pivot that began in April 2020. This campaign is also identified by other names such as Operation Dream Job or NukeSped, with Google-owned Mandiant linking certain activities to this evolving threat.

Lazarus Hacker Group Adapts Strategies in Ongoing DeathNote Campaign April 13, 2023 Cyber Attack / Cyber Threat The Lazarus Group, a North Korean cyber threat actor, has been observed refining its strategies and expanding its targets in an ongoing campaign known as DeathNote. Traditionally focused on the cryptocurrency sector, this…

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Lazarus Hacker Group Adapts Tactics, Tools, and Targets in DeathNote Campaign

The North Korean cyber threat group known as Lazarus has been observed changing its strategies and rapidly enhancing its tools within its ongoing DeathNote campaign. While historically focused on the cryptocurrency sector, recent attacks have also expanded to include the automotive, academic, and defense sectors in Eastern Europe and beyond. This shift is seen as a major change in approach. Kaspersky researcher Seongsu Park noted that the group has switched its decoy documents to job descriptions for defense contractors and diplomatic services, marking a strategic pivot that began in April 2020. This campaign is also identified by other names such as Operation Dream Job or NukeSped, with Google-owned Mandiant linking certain activities to this evolving threat.

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.

New QBot Banking Trojan Campaign Exploits Business Emails to Distribute Malware April 17, 2023 Financial Security / Malware Recent research from Kaspersky has unveiled a new initiative utilizing the QBot banking Trojan to compromise business email communications as a method to disseminate malware. This latest campaign began on April 4,…

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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.

Lazarus Group Leverages Google Chrome Vulnerability to Take Control of Compromised Devices

Oct 24, 2024
Vulnerability / Cyber Attack

The Lazarus Group, a North Korean cyber threat actor, has been linked to the exploitation of a zero-day vulnerability in Google Chrome, allowing them to control infected devices. Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky reported this discovery, which stemmed from a new attack chain identified in May 2024. The attack targeted the personal computer of an unnamed Russian individual using the Manuscrypt backdoor. This involved triggering the zero-day exploit simply by visiting a counterfeit gaming website, “detankzone[.]com,” which aimed at cryptocurrency users. It is believed this campaign began in February 2024. Kaspersky researchers Boris Larin and Vasily Berdnikov noted that the website masqueraded as a professionally designed page for a decentralized finance (DeFi) NFT-based multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) tank game, enticing users to download a trial version. However, this was merely a façade.

Lazarus Group Exploits Google Chrome Vulnerability to Compromise Targeted Devices On October 24, 2024, cybersecurity experts revealed that the Lazarus Group, a notorious North Korean cyber threat actor, has exploited a recently patched zero-day vulnerability in Google Chrome to gain control over infected devices. The findings were reported by Kaspersky,…

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Lazarus Group Leverages Google Chrome Vulnerability to Take Control of Compromised Devices

Oct 24, 2024
Vulnerability / Cyber Attack

The Lazarus Group, a North Korean cyber threat actor, has been linked to the exploitation of a zero-day vulnerability in Google Chrome, allowing them to control infected devices. Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky reported this discovery, which stemmed from a new attack chain identified in May 2024. The attack targeted the personal computer of an unnamed Russian individual using the Manuscrypt backdoor. This involved triggering the zero-day exploit simply by visiting a counterfeit gaming website, “detankzone[.]com,” which aimed at cryptocurrency users. It is believed this campaign began in February 2024. Kaspersky researchers Boris Larin and Vasily Berdnikov noted that the website masqueraded as a professionally designed page for a decentralized finance (DeFi) NFT-based multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) tank game, enticing users to download a trial version. However, this was merely a façade.

Stealthy New Ymir Ransomware Utilizes Memory Exploits to Target Corporate Networks

November 12, 2024
Cyber Attack / Cybercrime

Cybersecurity experts have identified a new ransomware variant, Ymir, which was deployed in an attack just two days after systems were compromised by RustyStealer, a type of credential-stealing malware. Kaspersky, a prominent Russian cybersecurity firm, noted that “Ymir ransomware features a distinctive mix of technical capabilities and tactics that bolster its effectiveness.” The attackers employed an unusual combination of memory management functions—malloc, memmove, and memcmp—to execute malicious code directly within system memory. This method diverges from the conventional execution flow found in common ransomware, significantly enhancing its stealth. Kaspersky reported observing this ransomware in an attack on an unnamed Colombian organization, with the threat actors leveraging stolen corporate credentials acquired through RustyStealer to gain unauthorized access.

New Ymir Ransomware Unveiled: A Stealthy Threat to Corporate Networks November 12, 2024 Cyber Attack / Cybercrime Cybersecurity experts have identified a newly emerged ransomware variant dubbed Ymir, which has been linked to a recent cyberattack. This attack occurred just two days after an initial compromise via a stealer malware…

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Stealthy New Ymir Ransomware Utilizes Memory Exploits to Target Corporate Networks

November 12, 2024
Cyber Attack / Cybercrime

Cybersecurity experts have identified a new ransomware variant, Ymir, which was deployed in an attack just two days after systems were compromised by RustyStealer, a type of credential-stealing malware. Kaspersky, a prominent Russian cybersecurity firm, noted that “Ymir ransomware features a distinctive mix of technical capabilities and tactics that bolster its effectiveness.” The attackers employed an unusual combination of memory management functions—malloc, memmove, and memcmp—to execute malicious code directly within system memory. This method diverges from the conventional execution flow found in common ransomware, significantly enhancing its stealth. Kaspersky reported observing this ransomware in an attack on an unnamed Colombian organization, with the threat actors leveraging stolen corporate credentials acquired through RustyStealer to gain unauthorized access.

Cloud Atlas Unleashes VBCloud Malware: Over 80% of Affected Targets in Russia

Dec 27, 2024
Cyber Attack / Data Theft

The cyber threat group known as Cloud Atlas has been detected utilizing a newly identified malware named VBCloud in its attack campaigns throughout 2024. According to Kaspersky researcher Oleg Kupreev, victims are infected through phishing emails containing a malicious document that exploits a vulnerability in the formula editor (CVE-2018-0802) to download and run malware code. Notably, over 80% of the targets are based in Russia, with additional victims reported in Belarus, Canada, Moldova, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Vietnam. Cloud Atlas, also known as Clean Ursa, Inception, Oxygen, and Red October, is an unidentified threat actor group that has been operational since 2014. In December 2022, the group was tied to cyber attacks on Russia, Belarus, and Transnistria, deploying a PowerShell-based backdoor called PowerShower.

Cloud Atlas Unleashes VBCloud Malware: Majority of Targets Located in Russia December 27, 2024 Cyber Attack / Data Theft Recent observations have revealed that the cyber threat group known as Cloud Atlas has deployed an emerging malware variant referred to as VBCloud in a series of targeted attacks throughout 2024.…

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Cloud Atlas Unleashes VBCloud Malware: Over 80% of Affected Targets in Russia

Dec 27, 2024
Cyber Attack / Data Theft

The cyber threat group known as Cloud Atlas has been detected utilizing a newly identified malware named VBCloud in its attack campaigns throughout 2024. According to Kaspersky researcher Oleg Kupreev, victims are infected through phishing emails containing a malicious document that exploits a vulnerability in the formula editor (CVE-2018-0802) to download and run malware code. Notably, over 80% of the targets are based in Russia, with additional victims reported in Belarus, Canada, Moldova, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Vietnam. Cloud Atlas, also known as Clean Ursa, Inception, Oxygen, and Red October, is an unidentified threat actor group that has been operational since 2014. In December 2022, the group was tied to cyber attacks on Russia, Belarus, and Transnistria, deploying a PowerShell-based backdoor called PowerShower.

Microsoft Uncovers Russian Hackers Aiming at Foreign Embassies

New Malware Exploit: ApolloShadow Targets Vulnerable Networks In a recent cybersecurity breach, researchers have identified a new malware strain dubbed ApolloShadow that exploits captive portal mechanisms to gain unauthorized access to systems. This sophisticated malware primarily targets Windows devices, taking advantage of their connectivity routines to execute its malicious agenda.…

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The Kremlin’s Cunning Hacking Group Leverages Russian ISPs to Deploy Spyware

The Russian hacker group Turla, known for their advanced cyberespionage techniques, has been linked to a new spying method that demonstrates their sophisticated approach to cyber operations. This group has made headlines for utilizing unorthodox methods, such as embedding malware communications in satellite connections or commandeering other hackers’ operations to…

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Researchers Discover Batavia Windows Spyware Targeting Russian Firms to Steal Documents

Cyber Espionage / Threat Intelligence
July 08, 2025

An ongoing cyber-espionage campaign has been identified, targeting Russian organizations with a new strain of Windows spyware known as Batavia. According to cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, the operation has been active since July 2024. The attack typically begins with phishing emails that contain malicious links, disguised as communications regarding contract agreements. “The primary objective of this attack is to deploy the previously unknown Batavia spyware to steal internal documents from the targeted organizations,” Kaspersky reported. These emails originate from the domain “oblast-ru[.]com,” believed to be controlled by the attackers. The links in these emails lead recipients to download an archive file that contains a malicious Visual Basic Encoded script (.VBE). Once executed, the script gathers system information from the compromised host and transmits it to a remote server, paving the way for the subsequent delivery of a next-stage payload.

Unveiling Batavia: New Spyware Targeting Russian Firms for Cyber Espionage In a recent development within the sphere of cyber espionage, researchers have identified a previously unreported piece of Windows spyware dubbed Batavia, specifically designed to infiltrate Russian organizations. This activity, which cybersecurity firm Kaspersky reports has been ongoing since July…

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Researchers Discover Batavia Windows Spyware Targeting Russian Firms to Steal Documents

Cyber Espionage / Threat Intelligence
July 08, 2025

An ongoing cyber-espionage campaign has been identified, targeting Russian organizations with a new strain of Windows spyware known as Batavia. According to cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, the operation has been active since July 2024. The attack typically begins with phishing emails that contain malicious links, disguised as communications regarding contract agreements. “The primary objective of this attack is to deploy the previously unknown Batavia spyware to steal internal documents from the targeted organizations,” Kaspersky reported. These emails originate from the domain “oblast-ru[.]com,” believed to be controlled by the attackers. The links in these emails lead recipients to download an archive file that contains a malicious Visual Basic Encoded script (.VBE). Once executed, the script gathers system information from the compromised host and transmits it to a remote server, paving the way for the subsequent delivery of a next-stage payload.