EncryptHub Exploits MSC EvilTwin Vulnerability to Deploy Fickle Stealer

A new ransomware strain, HybridPetya, has been discovered. It resembles the Petya/NotPetya malware and can bypass UEFI Secure Boot using the CVE-2024-7344 vulnerability. HybridPetya encrypts the Master File Table (MFT) on NTFS-formatted partitions and installs a malicious EFI application on the EFI System Partition. The ransomware has two main components: a bootkit and an installer. The bootkit handles encryption and decryption processes, displaying fake CHKDSK messages to deceive victims. The ransom note demands $1,000 in Bitcoin, with a wallet receiving $183.32 between February and May 2025. HybridPetya exploits a remote code execution vulnerability in the Howyar Reloader UEFI application, allowing it to bypass Secure Boot. The variant uses a specially crafted file named 'cloak.dat' to load the bootkit binary. Microsoft revoked the vulnerable binary in January 2025. ESET's telemetry data indicates no evidence of HybridPetya being used in the wild, suggesting it may be a proof-of-concept (PoC). The ransomware incorporates characteristics from both Petya and NotPetya, including the visual style and attack chain. It drops several files into the EFI System Partition, including configuration, validation, and encryption progress tracking files. The ransom note provides a 32-character key for decryption and system restoration upon payment. Indicators of compromise for HybridPetya are available on a GitHub repository. Microsoft fixed CVE-2024-7344 with the January 2025 Patch Tuesday updates.

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate Microsoft for alleged cybersecurity negligence that facilitated ransomware attacks on U.S. critical infrastructure, including healthcare networks. Wyden's call follows a ransomware attack on Ascension, a healthcare system, which resulted in the theft of personal and medical information of nearly 5.6 million individuals. The attack, attributed to the Black Basta ransomware group, exploited insecure default settings in Microsoft software and the RC4 encryption algorithm. The breach occurred when a contractor clicked on a malicious link in Microsoft's Bing search engine, leading to malware infection and subsequent elevated access to Ascension's network. Wyden's office highlighted Microsoft's continued support for RC4, an outdated and insecure encryption technology, as a significant vulnerability. Microsoft has acknowledged the issues and plans to deprecate RC4 support in future updates to Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025. The company also outlined mitigations to protect against Kerberoasting attacks, which target the Kerberos authentication protocol. Wyden's office urged Microsoft to warn customers about the dangers of using RC4 instead of AES 128/256, and Microsoft responded with a technical blog post in October 2024, which was criticized for not clearly conveying the warning to decision-makers. Microsoft is actively working to gradually remove RC4 and is providing advice for using the algorithm in the safest ways possible.

The ChillyHell macOS backdoor malware, initially observed in 2022, has resurfaced with a new version. This modular backdoor allows attackers remote access and the ability to drop payloads, brute-force passwords, and evade detection. The malware, disguised as an executable applet, was discovered on VirusTotal and had been publicly hosted on Dropbox since 2021. The malware employs multiple persistence mechanisms and communicates over various protocols, making it highly flexible. It can exfiltrate data, drop additional payloads, and enumerate user accounts. Apple has revoked the notarization of the developer certificates associated with the malware. The resurgence of ChillyHell highlights the increasing threat landscape for macOS, emphasizing the need for robust security measures. A new Go-based remote access trojan (RAT) named ZynorRAT has been discovered, targeting Windows and Linux systems. ZynorRAT uses a Telegram bot for command and control and supports a wide range of functions, including file exfiltration and system enumeration.

A new variant of a TOR-based cryptojacking campaign targets misconfigured Docker APIs to propagate malware. The attack chain involves exploiting exposed Docker instances to deploy XMRig miners and reconnaissance tools. The malware also scans for additional ports and attempts to propagate via Telnet and Chromium remote debugging ports. The campaign may be setting up a complex botnet. The attack leverages Base64-encoded payloads and TOR domains for anonymity. It includes a dropper written in Go that parses user login information and uses Masscan for further propagation. The malware's source code includes an emoji, suggesting it may have been crafted using a large language model (LLM). The attackers mount the host root to the fresh container, allowing them to manipulate the host system and escape the container. The attackers modify the SSH configuration of the host system to elevate privileges and provide backdoor access. The attackers create a cron job that executes every minute to block access to the Docker API’s port 2375, denying other attackers future access to the exposed instance. The threat actors deploy tools to perform mass scans for other open 2375 ports, which are used for malware propagation through the creation of new containers using the identified exposed APIs. The malware installs curl and tor, launches a Tor daemon, and waits for confirmation of the connection by accessing Amazon's checkip.amazonaws.com service over a SOCKS5 proxy. The malware appends an attacker-controlled public key to /root/.ssh/authorized_keys on the mounted host filesystem to enable persistent SSH access. The malware writes a base64-encoded cron job on the host, which executes every minute and blocks external access to port 2375 using available firewall utilities. The malware downloads a Zstandard-compressed Go binary over Tor, decompresses it, and runs it as a dropper. The Go binary parses the host’s utmp file to identify logged-in users. The malware attempts to infect other exposed Docker APIs and removes competitor containers after gaining access. The malware includes inactive logic for exploiting Telnet (port 23) using default router credentials and for interacting with Chrome’s remote debugging interface (port 9222). The malware's behavior suggests it is an initial version of a complex botnet with capabilities for lateral movement, persistence, and potential future expansion for credential theft and browser hijacking. The campaign highlights the importance of securing Docker APIs and segmenting networks to prevent such attacks.

A new malware campaign, tracked as MostereRAT, targets Japanese Windows users with sophisticated evasion techniques. MostereRAT disables antivirus and endpoint defenses, uses an obscure programming language, and abuses legitimate remote access tools to maintain persistent control over compromised systems. The malware's capabilities include privilege escalation, keylogging, data exfiltration, and the creation of hidden administrator accounts. The campaign's long-term objectives and the full extent of its impact remain unclear. MostereRAT employs Easy Programming Language (EPL) to evade detection and uses Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) filters to block security telemetry. The malware deploys legitimate remote access tools like AnyDesk, TigerVNC, and TightVNC, making it difficult to detect. The campaign highlights the importance of removing local administrator privileges and blocking unapproved remote access tools to reduce the attack surface. The malware uses mutual TLS (mTLS) to secure command-and-control (C2) communications and can run as TrustedInstaller, a built-in Windows system account with elevated permissions. MostereRAT can monitor foreground window activity associated with Qianniu - Alibaba's Seller Tool, facilitate RDP logins, and create hidden administrator accounts.