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Global Phishing Campaign Installs RATs via Malicious Scripts

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Last updated
πŸ“° 2 unique sources, 2 articles

Summary

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A rapidly spreading phishing campaign targets Windows users worldwide, stealing credentials and deploying remote access trojans (RATs) via malicious scripts. The campaign is particularly impacting organizations in manufacturing, technology, healthcare, construction, and retail/hospitality sectors. The attack begins with socially engineered emails leading to personalized phishing pages, which deliver JavaScript files acting as droppers for UpCrypter malware. This malware deploys various RATs, including PureHVNC, DCRat, and Babylon RAT, providing long-term access to the compromised networks. The campaign has shown rapid growth, with detection counts doubling in just two weeks. The attack chain involves obfuscated scripts, personalized phishing pages, and sophisticated evasion techniques to avoid detection. The use of ready-made tools and phishing kits from underground sites contributes to the campaign's complexity and spread. Additionally, attackers are exploiting legitimate services like Google Classroom, Microsoft 365, and OneNote for phishing campaigns, and using client-side evasion techniques to bypass defenses. Defenders are advised to implement multi-layered defenses, including strong email filters, employee training, and up-to-date security tools.

Timeline

  1. 25.08.2025 19:04 πŸ“° 1 articles

    New Phishing Techniques and Evasion Methods

    The campaign uses fake voicemail and purchase order themes to lure victims. The phishing pages display the victim's domain string and logo to appear authentic. The malicious payload is delivered via a ZIP archive containing an obfuscated JavaScript file, which performs anti-analysis and anti-virtual machine checks before downloading the next-stage malware. The loader uses steganography to embed the final payload within an image. The attack chain includes an MSIL loader that downloads an obfuscated PowerShell script, a DLL, and the main payload. The malware runs without writing to the file system, minimizing forensic traces. The campaign demonstrates an adaptable threat delivery ecosystem capable of bypassing defenses and maintaining persistence. Attackers are exploiting legitimate services like Google Classroom, Microsoft 365, and OneNote for phishing campaigns, and using client-side evasion techniques to bypass defenses.

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  2. 25.08.2025 18:13 πŸ“° 2 articles

    Global Phishing Campaign Installs RATs via Malicious Scripts

    A rapidly spreading phishing campaign targets Windows users worldwide, stealing credentials and deploying remote access trojans (RATs) via malicious scripts. The campaign is particularly impacting organizations in manufacturing, technology, healthcare, construction, and retail/hospitality sectors. The attack begins with socially engineered emails leading to personalized phishing pages, which deliver JavaScript files acting as droppers for UpCrypter malware. This malware deploys various RATs, including PureHVNC, DCRat, and Babylon RAT, providing long-term access to the compromised networks. The campaign has shown rapid growth, with detection counts doubling in just two weeks. The attack chain involves obfuscated scripts, personalized phishing pages, and sophisticated evasion techniques to avoid detection. The use of ready-made tools and phishing kits from underground sites contributes to the campaign's complexity and spread. Additionally, the campaign uses fake voicemail and purchase order themes to lure victims. The phishing pages display the victim's domain string and logo to appear authentic. The malicious payload is delivered via a ZIP archive containing an obfuscated JavaScript file, which performs anti-analysis and anti-virtual machine checks before downloading the next-stage malware. The loader uses steganography to embed the final payload within an image. The attack chain includes an MSIL loader that downloads an obfuscated PowerShell script, a DLL, and the main payload. The malware runs without writing to the file system, minimizing forensic traces. The campaign demonstrates an adaptable threat delivery ecosystem capable of bypassing defenses and maintaining persistence. Attackers are exploiting legitimate services like Google Classroom, Microsoft 365, and OneNote for phishing campaigns, and using client-side evasion techniques to bypass defenses.

    Show sources

Information Snippets

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